Our Great High Priest – July 9, 2021

Posted on Jul 9, 2021 in General |

Believers ought to be the most joyful people in the world. We have a God who invites us to come into His presence and cast all our care on Him. This thought is captured by the writer of Hebrews in Hebrews 4:14-16: 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.

 

 

Jesus came as our great High Priest. The role of the high priest is to mediate between God and man. Throughout the year, he was to lead in the worship and sacrifices as God’s people worshiped. Once a year he was to enter the Holiest place and offer the sacrifice of atonement for the people. As our great High Priest, Jesus did this once. He offered the perfect sacrifice so that no other sacrifice would ever be required. With this great sacrifice, He opened the way into the throne room of God for all of God’s people. As our great mediator, He invites us in. If we recognize this, we can stand firm in our faith even through life’s most difficult storms. We can hold to our confession of faith.

Even more amazing, Jesus, our great High Priest, endured the pain and suffering that we endure. He is able to sympathize with us in our struggles. He was tempted in every way that we are yet did not sin. Further, this perfect righteousness of Christ was placed on us through faith. This means that when we come to our great High Priest, He experientially understands what we face. He does not mock or ridicule us for our struggles. He does not question why we are not stronger. Instead, He interacts with us sympathetically. He engages our struggle with power. And He comforts us with His love.
 

If we believe this, then we will come boldly into God’s throne room with our anxiety and our care. We will not come timidly. We will not come as a last resort. Instead, as God’s children, we will come with absolute confidence that God will help because of our great High Priest. And we recognize the promise that we will gain mercy and grace to help in our time of need. The circumstances may not change, but our perspective and strength will change. We will find mercy. God will intervene on our behalf and keep the trial from destroying us. We will find grace. God will grant us the power to thrive in the trial and glorify Him in our response. So today in the midst of life’s struggles, remember you have a great High Priest.