A Long Awaited Priest

Isaiah 53 ESV

1 Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? 2 For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. 3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4 Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. 8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people? 9 And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth. 10 Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. 11 Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities. 12 Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.

Hebrews 7:23–27 ESV

23 The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, 24 but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. 25 Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. 26 For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. 27 He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself.

What is a Priest?

In my previous sermon, I taught that Jesus was and is the long-awaited Prophet that the Old Testament believers were looking forward to. In today’s sermon, we will see how Jesus is the long-awaited Priest who would perfectly save God’s people.

So lets consider what a priest is before we continue.

A prophet represents God to people while a priest represents people to God. A prophet speaks on behalf of God and a priest speaks on behalf of men.

A Levitical priest under the old covenant was a mediator between God and people in two ways: through sacrifices and through intercessions.

Sacrifices were offered either as atonement for sin or as acts of thanksgiving.

Intercessions were offered to ask God to forgive the sins of the people and to heal them from the effects of sin.

This is best seen in the high priest on the Day of Atonement described in Leviticus 16. The high priest would offer a sacrifice for his owns sins, offer sacrifices for the sins of the people, and then bring the blood into the most holy place and sprinkle it on the mercy seat on the Ark of the Covenant seven times, all the while praying for God to forgive the sins of the people.

Why God’s People Needed a Better Priest

But even though several of the priests and high priests were good and faithful, all of them failed to be the high priest God’s people actually needed. This is because the sacrifices their offered were insufficient and the intercessions they made were ineffectual.

Insufficient Sacrifices

Hebrews 10:1–4 ESV

1 For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near. 2 Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have any consciousness of sins? 3 But in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. 4 For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

The priests offered sacrifices constantly for the sins of the people. Millions of animals were killed for this purpose. Yet a whole ocean full of their blood could never wash away a single sin. Of course, the animal blood wasn’t wasted. It was preparatory and prophetic, pointing ahead to the sacrifice of Christ. None the less, they were insufficient to cause in the people what they needed: actual forgiveness to the one that the sacrifice was made on behalf of.

Ineffectual Intercession

Because the sacrifices that the priests offered were insufficient to cause forgiveness, their intercessions and pleadings for forgiveness were ineffective and ineffectual. The priests interceded for all of Israel, yet many in Israel would not be saved from God’s wrath. Many souls were lost and condemned for their sin, even though the priests pleaded with God for their forgiveness. On top of that, the priests had their own sin to deal with, making them even less effective as an intercessor. Many of the priests failed to have actual compassion for the people, as evidenced by the self-righteous priests and religious leaders during Jesus’ time on earth.

It is no wonder the prophets spoke of a coming priest who would actually put an end to sin.

The Prophecy of a Better Priest

Isaiah 53:12 ESV

12 Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.

The prophet spoke of one who would come: a priest who would offer himself as a perfect, once-for-all sacrifice, bearing the sin of many, and making intercession for those very same sinners.

The people for whom this future sacrifice would be made would actually be satisfactory to the demands of God’s justice. The future intercessions that would be made would actually cause forgiveness in those who were being interceded for.

This long awaited priest, of course was our Lord Jesus, the redeemer and great high priest.

Jesus, the Long-Awaited Priest

We said earlier that the reason God’s people needed a better priest was due to insufficient sacrifices and ineffectual intercession.

Sufficient Sacrifice (Hebrews 7:27; Hebrews 10:11-14)

Hebrews 7:27 “27 He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself.”

and,

Hebrews 10:11–14 “11 And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, 13 waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. 14 For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.”

These two texts from Hebrews show us that Christ’s sacrifice was so potent and satisfying, that it needed to be made only once, for all time.

Effectual Intercession (Hebrews 7:23-25)

Hebrews 7:23–25 “23 The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, 24 but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. 25 Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.”

When we say that Christ’s intercession is effectual, we mean that the Father actually grants his prayers. In other words, his intercession actually works.

The who Jesus died for, he intercedes for, and those he intercedes for are saved “completely” or “to the uttermost”. This means that if Jesus is interceding for you, you are completely saved from God’s wrath. If Jesus is interceding for you, you cannot be condemned. If Jesus is interceding for you, you cannot be lost.

It would be failure of Christ’s priestly work if he continually interceded for someone who would ultimately be condemned and lost.

He intercedes verbally (by actual spoken words from his vocal chords) and symbolically (through his very presence, through his blood, through his wounds)

Relationship Between Atonement and Intercession

Christ’s intercession is the connecting point between the cross and individual Christians. Christ’s intercession is the channel through which the sweet waters of his mercy and grace on the cross are poured into the cups of our hearts for us to drink deeply.

A Case for Particular Redemption

Under the Old Covenant, the priests and the high priest would offer sacrifices and make intercessions for the chosen people of God: the twelve tribes of Israel. They did not offer sacrifices for the Philistines, the Edomites, or the Egyptians.

In the same way, Christ made atonement and makes intercessions only for his chosen people: the church; the ones the Father gave him; the ones who draw near to God through faith; the ones who are baptized in his name and born again by his Spirit.

We must be very careful to over-generalize the atonement and intercession of Christ, lest we weaken the potency his priestly ministry.

Here is a thought experiment: If I go up to a random unbeliever and say “Christ died for your sins” can I also say “and he is interceding for you”? Certainly not, because whoever Christ dies for he intercedes for. And since he is a perfect high priest, whoever he dies for and intercedes for is saved completely. That is what Hebrews 7:25 means when it says, “Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.”

This means that if they do not believe in Christ, then we cannot say Christ died for them or intercedes for them. What we can say to unbelievers is this: Christ died to save those who believe and if you believe in him, then you will be saved through his death and through his intercession.

The Sweet Consolation of Christ’s Intercession

For the guilty and ashamed, he pleads your case to the Father and silences the accuser (Zechariah 3:1-5; Colossians 2:13-15)

Zechariah 3:1–5 ESV

1 Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him. 2 And the Lord said to Satan, “The Lord rebuke you, O Satan! The Lord who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is not this a brand plucked from the fire?” 3 Now Joshua was standing before the angel, clothed with filthy garments. 4 And the angel said to those who were standing before him, “Remove the filthy garments from him.” And to him he said, “Behold, I have taken your iniquity away from you, and I will clothe you with pure vestments.” 5 And I said, “Let them put a clean turban on his head.” So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him with garments. And the angel of the Lord was standing by.

For the weak and doubting, he prays to the Father that your faith would not fail (Luke 22:31-32)

Luke 22:31–32 ESV

31 “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, 32 but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.”

For the sick and hurting, he intercedes with sympathy and compassion (Hebrews 4:14-16)

Hebrews 4:14–16 ESV

14 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. 15 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. 16 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.

Conclusion

Jesus actually loves you

Romans 8:31–39 ESV

31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? … 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.