Hebrews 5 - Jesus our Advocate and High Priest

Jesus our Advocate and High Priest

I WOULD LIKE TO PROVIDE SOME DEEPER BACKGROUND ABOUT THE BOOK OF HEBREWS THAT WAS WRITTEN TO A COMMUNITY OF JEWISH CHRISTIANS WHO HAD COME TO BELIEVE THAT JESUS WAS THE LONG-AWAITED MESSIAH. HOWEVER, THEY WERE LIKELY FACING PERSECUTION FROM THEIR OWN PEOPLE FOR THEIR NEWFOUND FAITH.

THIS CHURCH MAY HAVE BEEN STRUGGLING WITH DOUBTS ABOUT THEIR CONVERSION AND FEELING PRESSURE TO RETURN TO JUDAISM.

ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS FOR THIS WAS THEIR DEEP FAMILIARITY AND COMFORT WITH THE JEWISH RITUALS AND MOSAIC SYSTEM.

TO ADDRESS THESE CONCERNS, THE AUTHOR OF HEBREWS EXTENSIVELY REFERENCES THE OLD TESTAMENT, DEMONSTRATING HOW JESUS CHRIST IS THE ULTIMATE FULFILLMENT OF THE JEWISH SACRIFICIAL SYSTEM AND PRIESTHOOD.

THE AUTHOR USES AS EVIDENCE FOR HIS ARGUMENTS, OLD TESTAMENT REFERENCES WHICH DEMONSTRATE HOW JESUS CHRIST IS THE ULTIMATE FULFILLMENT OF THE LAW AND HE ALONE IS OUR HIGH PRIEST. SO LET US QUICKLY REVIEW CHAPTER 1-4.

CHAPTER 1 MADE THE CASE JESUS WAS SUPERIOR TO THE ANGELS.

IN CHAPTER 2 OF HEBREWS, THESE JEWISH CONVERTS ARE ADMONISHED NOT TO DRIFT AWAY FROM THEIR FAITH. THE CHAPTER ALSO REINFORCES THAT MAN IS NOT ABOVE JESUS, EMPHASIZING HIS SUPREMACY.

HOWEVER, IT ALSO PAINTS A CRUCIAL PICTURE—WHEN JESUS TOOK ON FLESH, HE TEMPORARILY BECAME LOWER THAN THE ANGELS. THIS WAS NECESSARY FOR HIM TO BECOME THE ONCE-AND-FOR-ALL SACRIFICE FOR HUMANITY’S SALVATION.

CHAPTER 3 IS CRITICAL BECAUSE IT ESTABLISHES THAT JESUS IS GREATER THAN MOSES. THIS IS ESPECIALLY SIGNIFICANT SINCE MOSES WAS THE CENTRAL FIGURE AND HERO OF THE JEWISH NATION. THE CHAPTER CONCLUDES WITH A STRONG WARNING TO THIS YOUNG HEBREW CHURCH:

THEY MUST NOT FALL INTO UNBELIEF OR TURN AWAY, AS THEIR ANCESTORS DID IN THE WILDERNESS.

LAST WEEK, WE EXAMINED CHAPTER 4, TITLED "THE BELIEVER’S REST." THIS CHAPTER OFFERS ENCOURAGEMENT BOTH TO US AS BELIEVERS TODAY AND TO THE JEWISH CONVERTS IT WAS ORIGINALLY WRITTEN FOR.

IT REMINDS US THAT WE ARE INVITED TO ENTER INTO GOD’S REST—NOT JUST AS A FUTURE PROMISE, BUT AS A PRESENT REALITY.

THIS REST IS NOT MERELY ABOUT PHYSICAL RELAXATION BUT ABOUT A DEEP, ABIDING TRUST IN GOD, WHERE WE CEASE STRIVING FOR SALVATION THROUGH OUR OWN EFFORTS AND FULLY RELY ON CHRIST’S FINISHED WORK.

JUST AS THESE JEWISH CONVERTS WERE BEING CALLED TO EMBRACE THIS REST INSTEAD OF RETURNING TO THE RITUALS OF THE LAW, WE TOO ARE CALLED TO LIVE AND WALK DAILY IN THE PEACE AND SECURITY OF HIS REST.

(SLIDE) TODAY WE TURN TO CHAPTER 5:

JESUS THE PERFECT HIGH PRIEST

I WILL MAKE 3 POINTS TODAY:

POINT 1: HIGH PRIEST MUST BE APPOINTED BY GOD 1-5

POINT 2: JESUS THE PERFECT HIGH PRIEST 6-10

POINT 3: WHAT DOES THIS MEAN TO THE BELIEVER? 11-14

POINT 1: HIGH PRIEST MUST BE APPOINTED BY GOD (END OF SLIDE)

THIS CHAPTER IS EXTREMELY CRITICAL AS THE JEWISH CONVERTS OF THIS HEBREW CHURCH, HAD TO BE CONVINCED AND BELIEVE JESUS WAS INDEED THE PERFECT HIGH PRIEST.

HIGHER THAN MOSES, HIGHER THAN MELCHISEDECK (MEL-CHUH-ZEH-DUHK) WHOM WE WILL TALK ABOUT IN THIS CHAPTER AND OTHER CHAPTERS.

IT IS A CRUCIAL POINT THAT ANY HIGH PRIEST MUST BE CHOSEN AND ORDAINED BY GOD. AARON THE FIRST HIGH PRIEST WAS APPOINTED BY GOD.

WE READ IN (SLIDE) EXODUS 28:1-2 GOD WAS GIVING MOSES DIRECT INSTRUCTIONS IN THESE PASSAGES. GOD CHOSE AS WE READ “THEN BRING NEAR TO YOURSELF AARON YOUR BROTHER, AND HIS SONS WITH HIM, FROM AMONG THE SONS OF ISRAEL, TO MINISTER TO ME AS HIGH PRIEST-AARON, NADAB, AND ABIHU, ELEAZAR (EL-AY-ZAR) AND ITHAMAR, AARON’S SONS.” (END OF SLIDE)

WHEN AARON DIED EL-AY-ZAR BECAME PRIEST. AGAIN GOD APPOINTED. ELEAZAR WAS AARON’S THIRD BORN SON. NORMALLY THE FIRST BORN SON WOULD BE NEXT IN LINE. BUT GOD CHOSE THE ONE MOST QUALIFIED.

WE READ IN (SLIDE) NUMBERS 20:23-25 “Then the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron at Mount Hor by the border of the land of Edom, saying, 24“Aaron shall be gathered to his people; for he shall not enter the land which I have given to the sons of Israel, because you rebelled against My command at the waters of Meribah. 25“Take Aaron and his son Eleazar, and bring them up to Mount Hor;

This provides undeniable proof that God alone chooses who will serve as High Priest. In the same way, God ordained Jesus as the ultimate High Priest.

EVEN TODAY, THE PROCESS FOR SELECTING A HIGH PRIEST IN ISRAEL FOLLOWS STRICT GUIDELINES. THE CANDIDATE MUST FIRST BE IDENTIFIED AND VERIFIED AS A DIRECT DESCENDANT OF AARON.

ADDITIONALLY, THEY MUST BE KOSHER—MEANING THEY ARE DEEMED FIT OR PROPER FOR THE ROLE. THIS REQUIRES STRICT ADHERENCE TO JEWISH LAW, WITHOUT DEVIATION, AS THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ADMINISTERING AND ADJUDICATING THE LAW.

IN VERSE 2 IT IS POINTED OUT THE HIGH PRIEST DEALS GENTLY WITH THE PEOPLE BECAUSE HE HIMSELF IS BESET WITH WEAKNESS. HE IS NOT PERFECT OR SINLESS. (TAKE NOTE OF THIS)

IN VERSE 3 HE IS TO OFFER SACRIFICES FOR SINS FOR THE PEOPLE AND FOR HIMSELF. AGAIN HE IS NOT SINLESS. V4 POINTS OUT THAT “NO ONE TAKES HONOR TO HIMSELF. BUT RECEIVES IT WHEN HE IS CALLED OF GOD, EVEN AS AARON WAS.

DO YOU SEE WHY THIS WOULD BE IMPACTFUL TO THESE JEWISH CHRISTIANS. THE AUTHOR IS CLARIFYING WHAT THE OFFICE OF HIGH PRIEST WAS AND IS-- ALONG WITH THEIR LIMITATIONS.

BUT VERSE 5 IS WHERE THE AUTHOR DIFFERENTIATES BETWEEN THE HIGH PRIEST OF THE JEWISH PEOPLE AND “THE PERFECT HIGH PRIEST.”

THE AUTHOR QUOTES PSALM 2:7 “THOU ART MY SON TODAY I HAVE BEGOTTEN THEE.” THIS IS THE LINEAGE OF THE HIGH PRIEST OF GOD. BEGOTTEN BY GOD HIMSELF. ESTABLISHING THE HIGH PRIESTHOOD.

POINT 2 JESUS THE PERFECT HIGH PRIEST

IN VERSE 6 THERE IS A PRIEST CALLED MELCHIZEDEK. NOW MELCHIZEDEK IS A MYSTERIOUS CHARACTER. MELCHIZEDEK IS FIRST MENTIONED IN (SLIDE) GENESIS 14:18 “AND MELCHIZEDEK KING OF SALEM BROUGHT OUT BREAD AND WINE; NOW HE WAS A PRIEST OF GOD MOST HIGH.”(END OF SLIDE)

DO YOU HEAR THIS HE IS THE PRIEST OF GOD MOST HIGH. NOW THE NAME MEL-CHUZ-EDUK WAS CONSIDERED BY THE JEWS TO MEAN “KING OF RIGHTEOUSNESS”.

NOTE NONE OF THE OTHER PRIESTS WERE CALLED, “KING OF RIGHTEOUSNESS.”

THE QUOTE IN HEBREWS 7:2, WHICH WE WILL GET TO IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS. IN THE GREEK DEFINES MELCHIZEDEK, “MY KING AS RIGHTEOUSNESS”. THE KING OF SALEM.

FURTHERMORE THERE ARE INTERPRETATIONS OF THE NAME MELCHIZEDEK AS PRIEST OF THE MOST HIGH GOD. IT IS GOOD TO REMEMBER HEBREW’S CHAPTERS 5,6 AND 7 FLOW TOGETHER WITH THIS THREAD. CHAPTER 5 IS THE FIRST INTRODUCTION AND INSTALLMENT.

HEBREWS 5:7 “IN THE DAYS OF HIS FLESH, HE OFFERED UP BOTH PRAYERS AND SUPPLICATIONS WITH LOUD CRYING AND TEARS TO THE ONE (GOD) ABLE TO SAVE HIM FROM DEATH, AND HE HAS HEARD HIS PIETY.”

WHO IS THIS SCRIPTURE TALKING ABOUT? JESUS !! THIS THREAD STARTED IN VERSE 5 AND GOES THROUGH VERSE 10. FURTHER PROOF IS THE STATEMENT IS MADE, “IN THE DAYS OF HIS FLESH.” HIS IS CAPITAL H DENOTING DEITY, JESUS HIMSELF.

V8 “ALTHOUGH HE WAS THE SON (REFERRING TO JESUS), HE LEARNED OBEDIENCE THROUGH THE THINGS HE SUFFERED. THIS IMPLIES THAT SUFFERING WAS NOT A SIGN OF WEAKNESS BUT A VITAL PART OF HIS MISSION. IN THE SAME WAY, WE TOO SHOULD LEARN OBEDIENCE THROUGH OUR OWN SUFFERINGS, UNDERSTANDING THAT TRIALS ARE NOT MEANINGLESS BUT SERVE TO REFINE AND STRENGTHEN OUR FAITH.

WE READ IN PHILIPPIANS 2:6-8 “WHO ALTHOUGH HE EXISTED IN THE FORM OF GOD, HE DID NOT REGARD EQUALITY WITH GOD A THING TO BE GRASPED.

BUT EMPTIED HIMSELF TAKING THE FORM OF A BOND SERVANT, AND BEING MADE IN THE LIKENESS OF MEN.

AND BEING FOUND IN APPEARANCE AS MAN, HE HUMBLED HIMSELF BY BECOMING OBEDIENT TO THE POINT OF DEATH, EVEN DEATH ON A CROSS.” (SIDE NOTE: PHILIPPIANS CHAPTER 2 IS THE CHAPTER DENOTED TO, “BE LIKE CHRIST.” IF YOU WANT TO BE LIKE JESUS PLEASE READ AND KNOW THIS CHAPTER.)

POINT 3: WHAT DOES THIS MEAN TO THE BELIEVER TODAY? 11-14

Concerning him we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull with hearing. 12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. 14 BUT solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.

IN VERSE 11 THERE WAS THE COMPLAINT THESE READERS ARE SLOW IN THEIR SPIRITUAL PROGRESS. THEY HAVE BECOME THIS WAY DUE TO INDIFFERENCE AND NEGLECT.

THIS SUBJECT IS TAKEN UP AGAIN IN NEXT WEEK'S SERMON. HEBREWS 6:12 THE AUTHOR MAKES CLEAR THEY ARE SLUGGISH BUT MUST BE IMITATORS OF THOSE WHO THROUGH FAITH AND PATIENCE INHERIT THE PROMISES.

WE DO NOT GROW IN CHRIST BY GOING THROUGH THE MOTIONS. MATTHEW WEST WROTE A SONG IN FACT GOING THROUGH THE MOTIONS.

THE FIRST LYRICS SAY, “THIS MIGHT HURT, IT’S NOT SAFE BUT I KNOW I GOTTA MAKE A CHANGE. I DON’T CARE IF I BREAK AT LEAST I’LL BE FEELING SOMETHING. ‘CAUSE OK IS NOT ENOUGH. HELP ME FIGHT THROUGH THE NOTHINGNESS OF LIFE.

I DON’T WANNA GO THROUGH THE MOTIONS I DON’T WANNA GO ONE MORE DAY WITHOUT YOUR ALL CONSUMING PASSION INSIDE OF ME.

I DON’T WANT TO SPEND MY WHOLE LIFE ASKING WHAT IF I HAD GIVEN EVERYTHING. INSTEAD OF GOING THROUGH THE MOTIONS.

ARE WE GOING THROUGH LIFE, JUST GOING THROUGH THE MOTIONS. LIVING A MUNDANE LIFE, WITH NO MEANING OR PURPOSE? ARE WE NUMB TO LIFE AND OR SURROUNDINGS?

NOW BACK TO SUFFERINGS. IN VERSE 8 JESUS LEARNED OBEDIENCE FROM HIS SUFFERINGS. NOW WE KNOW JESUS WOULD BE OBEDIENT, BUT IT SAYS HE LEARNED FROM SUFFERINGS-HIS FLESH PART.

WHEN THE WHEELS ARE FALLING OFF THE WAGON SO TO SPEAK, DO WE CALL OUT TO GOD AND ASK HIM TO SHOW US WHAT IS GOING ON AND WHY? IN OUR LIFE DOES SUFFERING RESULT IN OUR OBEDIENCE TO GOD?

CALLING OUT TO HIM TO REVEAL TO US WHY WE ARE SUFFERING. THERE A COUPLE OF REASONS FOR SUFFERING I HAVE PERSONALLY FOUND.

ONE IS WE ARE GOING THE WRONG WAY. IT IS FROM DENYING GOD OR LIVING IN WILLFUL SIN. DOING OUR OWN THING INDEPENDENT OF GOD AND HIS WILL.

ANOTHER TYPE OF SUFFERING IS FOR OUR SPIRITUAL GROWTH IN ENDURING AND IN TRUST OF GOD NO MATTER WHAT.

NOW MY EXPERIENCE IS THAT IF I AM GOING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION, OR MESSED UP; GOD LET’S ME KNOW WITH THAT STILL SMALL VOICE.

IF IT IS A TRIAL I CAN HAVE FAITH GOD HAS THIS AND IT WILL BE OK. THERE WILL BE AN END AND I WILL GROW SPIRITUALLY.

VERSE 9 “AND HAVING BEEN MADE PERFECT, HE BECAME TO ALL THOSE WHO OBEY HIM, THE SOURCE OF ETERNAL SALVATION.

JESUS HAVING BEEN MADE PERFECT BECOMES THE SOURCE OF ETERNAL SALVATION. BUT WAIT JUST A MINUTE. IT QUALIFIES WHO DOES JESUS BECOME THE ETERNAL SOURCE OF SALVATION FOR?

ANYONE WHO SAYS THE PRAYER? ANYONE WHO COMES TO CHURCH? ANYONE WHO READS THEIR BIBLE?

NO IT IS FOR THOSE EXCLUSIVELY WHO OBEY HIM. IT IS A QUALIFIER. WE MUST OBEY HIM. IF WE ARE NOT OBEDIENT WE NEED TO LEARN OBEDIENCE. HOW DO WE LEARN OBEDIENCE? BY REGULARLY GIVING UP OUR WILL FOR HIS WILL.

WHILE JESUS WAS AT THE GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE WHILE HE WAS FACING CRUCIFIXION HE SAID THE FOLLOWING:

LUKE 22:42 “FATHER, IF THOU ART WILLING, REMOVE THIS CUP FROM ME; YET NOT MY WILL BUT THINE BE DONE.” WE ARE TALKING ABOUT MAXIMUM SUFFERING. YET JESUS SUBMITTED HIS WILL TO GOD THE FATHER’S WILL.

CAN WE DO ANY LESS? V9 RATIFIES WHAT HAS BEEN SAID IN POINT 2. “AND HAVING BEEN MADE PERFECT, HE BECAME TO All THOSE WHO OBEY HIM THE SOURCE OF ETERNAL SALVATION.”

AGAIN THE QUALIFIER THIS IS FOR ALL WHO OBEY HIM. WE AS JESUS ARE TO BE SUBMITTED TO HIM. YOU MAY THINK YOU ARE NOT JESUS. YOU ARE RIGHT. PAUL SAYS IN

(SLIDE) 2 CORINTHIANS 12:9 “AND HE (JESUS) SAID TO ME, “MY GRACE IS SUFFICIENT FOR YOU, FOR POWER IS PERFECTED IN WEAKNESS. MOST GLADLY THEREFORE, I WILL RATHER BOAST ABOUT MY WEAKNESSES THAT THE POWER OF CHRIST MAY DWELL IN ME.” (END OF SLIDE) WE ARE ASKED BY GOD TO TRUST AND OBEY.

IF THIS RESONATES WITH YOU, TAKE ACTION—ENGAGE WITH OTHERS IN MEANINGFUL WAYS. A LIFE OF FAITH ISN’T PASSIVE; IT’S ABOUT ACTIVELY COMMUNICATING WITH GOD THROUGH PRAYER, SEEKING HIS GUIDANCE, AND LIVING OUT THE LIFE HE HAS EMPOWERED YOU TO LIVE.

YOUR FAITH SHOULD BE EVIDENT IN THE WAY YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF OTHERS, SHOWING HIS LOVE THROUGH YOUR WORDS AND ACTIONS.

IN HEBREWS 5:9, WE READ THAT JESUS IS THE SOURCE OF ETERNAL SALVATION FOR ALL WHO OBEY HIM.

THIS VERSE MAKES IT CLEAR—SALVATION IS NOT JUST ABOUT ATTENDING CHURCH, OCCASIONALLY OPENING YOUR BIBLE, OR SAYING A QUICK PRAYER NOW AND THEN.

IT IS FOR THOSE WHO ARE TRULY OBEDIENT. BUT OBEDIENT TO WHOM? OBEDIENT TO JESUS CHRIST AND HIS WILL. TRUE FAITH IS MARKED BY A LIFE SURRENDERED TO HIM, WHERE OBEDIENCE IS NOT A BURDEN BUT A RESPONSE TO HIS GRACE AND LOVE.

THESE JEWISH CONVERTS NEEDED TO RECOGNIZE JESUS IS THE MESSIAH. IF THEY JUST WENT THROUGH THE MOTIONS. RESULTING IN A STUNTED BIBLICAL, SPIRITUAL IMMATURITY, UNACCUSTOMED TO RIGHTEOUSNESS.

THE AUTHOR CONTRASTS THIS WITH THOSE WHO TAKE ON SOLID FOOD ARE MATURE SPIRITUALLY. THE AUTHOR SAYS, “BECAUSE OF PRACTICE HAVE THEIR SENSES TRAINED TO DISCERN GOOD AND EVIL.

IN THE GREEK SOLID FOOD MEANS STRONG FOOD. THE HEBREW CHURCH WERE NOT ONLY SPIRITUALLY IMMATURE BUT HAD NO NUTRITION. THEY DID NOT PARTAKEN OF THE BREAD OF LIFE-JESUS. NOR THE WORD OF GOD. THEY LIVED IN SPIRITUAL STARVATION.

THE GREEK FOR THE MATURE, MEANS THEY HAVE REACHED COMPLETION. THEY WERE DOERS OF THE WORD AND NOT JUST HEARERS ONLY.

BECAUSE OF PRACTICE, IN THE GREEK IT MEANT THEY HAD A HABIT OF FAITHFUL LIVING IN CHRIST. WHICH SHAPED THERE PERCEPTION OF THINGS.

I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE A STORY OF A WOMAN NAMED AMANDA. AMANDA LIVED IN A LARGE CITY BUSTLING WITH ACTIVITY AND A FAST PACED LIFESTYLE.

HER DAYS WERE FILLED WITH PURSUIT OF SUCCESS, THE RELENTLESS CLIMB OF CLIMBING THE PROVERBIAL LADDER. BUT HER SOUL WAS FEELING BARREN, FEELING LIKE THERE SHOULD BE MORE.

IT WAS A TYPE OF SPIRITUAL STARVATION SHE WAS SENSING. AMANDA HAD DRIFTED AWAY FROM HER SPIRITUAL PRACTICE. WHERE SHE USED TO PRAY AND READ GOD’S WORD WHICH BROUGHT HER SOLACE, ATTENDED CHURCH, AND PROVIDED DEEPER MORE MEANINGFUL WAY TO LIVE.

THE CONSTANT DEMANDS OF HER WORK A DAY WORLD, AND CHORES HAD PUSHED AWAY ANYTIME TO BE WITH THE LORD. SHE FELT SHE LACKED PURPOSE. SHE LONGED FOR THE PEACE SHE ONCE HAD.

AMANDA CONTACTED HER OLD FRIEND FRAN. FRAN WAS A SOLID CHRISTIAN WOMAN SHE KNEW. SHE REMINDED AMANDA THAT JUST LIKE THE BODY NEEDS NOURISHMENT SO DOES THE SOUL.

SHE ONCE AGAIN STARTED HER DAY WITH PRAYER. SHE BEGAN READING HER BIBLE AGAIN.

SHE JOINED A SMALL GROUP. SHE STARTED NOTICING SMALL THINGS AROUND HER THAT BROUGHT HER JOY. SHE STARTED NOTICING A TRANSITION FROM THE MIND NUMBING WORLD, TO HAVING PEACE AND PURPOSE. AND THOSE AROUND HER BECAME AWARE OF THE TRANSFORMATION HAPPENING, TOO.

THIS CHRIST-CENTERED HEBREW CHURCH, MUCH LIKE AMANDA, HAD LOST THEIR WAY. THEY HAD DRIFTED FROM THE FAITH, STRUGGLING WITH DOUBT AND THE PRESSURES OF THE WORLD AROUND THEM.

IN MANY WAYS, THEIR EXPERIENCE MIRRORS OUR OWN HERE IN AMERICA, WHERE IT IS SO EASY TO BECOME DISTRACTED, COMPLACENT, OR DISTANT FROM GOD.

JUST LIKE ANY MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIP, OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS REQUIRES INTENTIONAL EFFORT AND NURTURING. WE ARE CALLED TO GROW—NOT JUST IN KNOWLEDGE, BUT IN CLOSENESS TO GOD AND TO ONE ANOTHER.

THIS GROWTH HAPPENS THROUGH PRAYER, CONSISTENT STUDY OF GOD’S WORD, AND DEEP, MEANINGFUL CONNECTIONS WITH FELLOW BELIEVERS. FAITH IS NOT MEANT TO BE LIVED IN ISOLATION; IT FLOURISHES WHEN WE ENGAGE IN GENUINE COMMUNITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY.

THE INCREDIBLE TRUTH IS THAT WE HAVE 24/7 ACCESS TO JESUS CHRIST, OUR PERFECT HIGH PRIEST. HE IS ALWAYS AVAILABLE TO US, ALWAYS INTERCEDING ON OUR BEHALF. WE ARE CALLED TO SEEK

HIM—NOT JUST WHEN IT’S CONVENIENT, BUT DAILY, PERSISTENTLY. AND WHEN WE SEEK HIM, WE MUST ALSO LISTEN. GETTING ALONE WITH GOD IN PRAYER ALLOWS HIM TO MEET US IN OUR PAIN, OUR STRUGGLES, AND OUR SUFFERING.

HE IS NOT A DISTANT GOD; HE IS PRESENT, COMPASSIONATE, AND INTIMATELY AWARE OF EVERYTHING WE GO THROUGH.

I CLOSE WITH HEBREWS 5:8: "ALTHOUGH HE WAS A SON, HE LEARNED OBEDIENCE FROM THE THINGS WHICH HE SUFFERED."

JESUS, OUR HIGH PRIEST, SUFFERED JUST AS WE DO. HE ENDURED PAIN, REJECTION, AND HARDSHIP, FULLY EXPERIENCING THE STRUGGLES OF HUMAN LIFE. BECAUSE OF THIS, WE CAN TURN TO HIM IN OUR OWN SUFFERING, KNOWING THAT HE UNDERSTANDS.

HE DOES NOT SIMPLY SYMPATHIZE—HE EMPATHIZES WITH US BECAUSE HE HAS WALKED THE SAME ROAD.

WHO KNOWS US BETTER THAN WE KNOW OURSELVES? GOD DOES. WHO LOVES US ENOUGH TO LEAVE THE GLORY OF HEAVEN, TAKE ON HUMAN FLESH, AND WILLINGLY DIE FOR US AND OUR SIN? JESUS CHRIST.

LET US WALK WITH HIM. LET US BE OBEDIENT TO HIS CALL TO COME AND FOLLOW HIM—NOT JUST IN WORDS, BUT IN ACTION, SURRENDER, AND UNWAVERING FAITH. LET US PRAY!