Jesus Our High Priest

Intro

Hook - Weirdness of priests? Isn’t that a catholic thing?

Recap Hebrews So far.

Main theme: Jesus is our High Priest, draw near to God through Him!

Jesus - Sympathetic High Priest (4:14-16)

Hebrews 4:14 ESV

Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.

This was introduced way back in Heb 2:17

A High preist needs to be one of the people, they are a representative and mediator before God.

In the previous covenant, the life of God’s people revolved around the temple/tabernacle where priests would enable God’s people to get right with God and to worship him

Why do we need to get right with God and worship him?

We still do things the same way - the OC always foreshadows and signals the NC - it’s just that we have a better HP - one who has not died in need of a replacement, but one who came back to life!

Our HP is the Son that Hebrews has already discussed.

Our HP has ascended into heaven after making atonement for his people, he has not just gone into the Most Holy place on earth, but he has passed through the veil of heaven to enter into the very throne room of God!

Hold fast your confession, stick with the Gospel of Jesus, do not get lead astray.

Goes on to explain how Jesus is the High Priest - he is the greatest High Priest.

Hebrews 4:15 ESV

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.

For Romanists, otherwise know as Roman Catholics, it is often observed that their vow of celibacy cuts them off from the life and experience of much of their flock. The majority of people will not be celibate, and so there is a kind of disconnect there, where they are a “different” kind of thing in some respects to their people, and it could in some cases impede a sympathetic pastoring. Add to that they way that they do not live in the world, make a living or even live in their community for long periods of time - and they are priests who appear to exist in a parallel life.

Now obviously, there is no way that a priest or pastor can go through every experience exactly like everyone else in the church. It’s just absurd. Remember even that God wants qualified men to lead his church, they need to pastor women, but they will never have ther experience of a woman - so this example only goes sos far.

But what I am trying to get at, is that there is a special way in which a true priest has entered into the plight of the people he represents. Aaron would not have been an effective priest if he had not lived in the camp of Israel, and walked with the people through the desert.

Jesus has entered into our existence as mankind. He has become one of us, and walked the earth like us. He faced the vicissitudes of life on earth faced temptation, and faced the frailty of a human body.

He can sympathize with us, because he is one of us - he was made man, and was tempted in every way like we are.

But there remains one important difference - Jesus was without sin. He faced temptation, but he resisted. Unlike the First people Adam & Eve, he face the temptation and struck down the dragon.

Now he is our HP! He knows what it’s like, he knows our frame experimentally, and he invites us to come under his priesthod, so that you may be made right with God and worship Him!

Hebrews 4:16 ESV

Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Draw near - by faith, by worship, by prayer, by rest, by living.

Through this HP we have received grace upon grace, come and receive it! Be forgiven, be received, be cleansed, be blessed in God.

Jesus is our High Priest, draw near to God through Him!

Jesus - Appointed by God (5:1-6)

The author now goes on to explain how like earthly priests, Jesus was appointed to this role.

Hebrews 5:1–2 ESV

For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness.

Hebrews 5:3 ESV

Because of this he is obligated to offer sacrifice for his own sins just as he does for those of the people.

Here is an example of the HP

Leviticus 16:6–7 ESV

“Aaron shall offer the bull as a sin offering for himself and shall make atonement for himself and for his house. Then he shall take the two goats and set them before the Lord at the entrance of the tent of meeting.

Hebrews 5:4–5 ESV

And no one takes this honor for himself, but only when called by God, just as Aaron was. So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you”;

Hebrews 5:6 ESV

as he says also in another place, “You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.”

Jesus is our High Priest, draw near to God through Him!

Jesus - Source of Salvation (5:7-10)

Hebrews 5:7 ESV

In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence.

Hebrews 5:8–10 ESV

Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.

Jesus is our High Priest, draw near to God through Him!

So What?

The Enthroned Jesus, Son of God is our sympathetic High Priest

Jesus is sympathetic, he experienced life like us, understands our temptations

Draw near to Him, the throne of Grace

Jesus fulfills all the typology of a priest

acts on behalf od men

offers sacrifice of sins

appointed by God

Jesus became the source of our Salvation

Heard and rescued by God

Learned obedience as a suffering man

Of the order of Melchizedek

Source to all who obey - repent and believe!

Circle back to hook

Jesus is our High Priest, draw near to God through Him!