The last couple of weeks have been such a blessing to me and I hope they have been for you. We come to hear God’s Word proclaimed through the inspiration of His Scriptures. We can find the messenger sometime inadequate, but the message is powerful and meaningful. That is one reason I enjoy preparing for Sunday’s lesson. God speaks to us through reading and studying about Him in His Word. We explored last week how His Word is living, active and sharper than a two-edge sword, able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart (Heb. 4:12).
So, with this in mind, we come to the next three verses which give us hope and encouragement to continue to press on in our Christian walk. Because Jesus is our High Priest, we can approach the throne of grace in our time of need. Why would this be such welcoming, inspiring news to the readers of Hebrews? In the previous chapter there has been much said about the dangers of drifting away from their already-obtained salvation. There have been warnings given about the possibility of falling short of their entrance into the final rest, God’s heavenly rest. So, they needed to be encouraged to see what spiritual benefits had been granted to them in their present lives.
The readers of Hebrews were well-scripted in the Old Testament. They understood the complicated priestly system, especially the complex function of the High Priest, from the importance of their lineage (from the tribe of Levi), to the numerous duties, both religious and administrative. A high priest was a direct mediator between God and man. He was chosen by God to represent God’s will and authority to the people, as well as representing the people’s needs and concerns to God.
Once a year, he would enter the Holy of Holies on the Day of Atonement to atone for the sins of himself and the entire nation of Israel (Lev. 16). The Holy of Holies was the most sacred part of the temple, and the High Priest’s entry was a serious and carefully authorized event.
So, when Jesus arrived, He changed everything for all times. He was everything required for the Old Testament High Priest, except He was from the order of Melchizedek, a higher, eternal priesthood (Heb. 7:11-17), not Levi. Not only was He the mediator while here on Earth, he continues to be our intercessor while in heaven. He is now seated at the right hand of His Father, still helping us today. We can approach His throne, the Holy of Holies, not once a year, but anytime we have a need. He extends grace, mercy and forgiveness to each of us, because He understands what we are going through. It isn’t through the elaborate priestly system we see some of our worldly neighbors practicing. It is so much easier and not nearly as complicated as they portray.
This week as we assemble together, we will strive to see the need for Jesus in our lives, how He is our High Priest, and how it relates to our salvation. Jesus is our High Priest, and for that we must be thankful.
In Christ,
Steve
NOBLE CHURCH OF CHRIST