Part Three: Jesus Our Priest – Cont.
Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through
the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.
Hebrews 4:14
There is so much that we can learn about this Christ: our great
High Priest. I cannot imagine what the people in the early days
of the church who were before practiced in the religion of Jewry:
the system of sacrifices that they were required to perform year
after year must have felt when they realized that Christ was the
fulfillment of all that they were doing. All the tasks that they
felt were mundane, tedious, and a nuisance began to become ever
so clear whenever Jesus was truly revealed to them (the patterns
of them). The authors of the New Testament must have been especially
encouraged because of the revelation and insight that the Lord was
giving them about this Christ! It becomes very obvious that when
a person truly has a revelation of Christ, he or she will be about
his or her Father’s business. There is a joy and inspiration
that comes over the individual that the only thing that truly matters
to him or her is doing the will of God. When a person truly has
a revelation of what Christ has done, it will change that person’s
life.
However, I fear that many people really do not have a true revelation
of Christ. The thing about the Lord is that you can never know too
much. He is everlasting. We will be spending eternity coming to
know more and more about this Jesus. This is why I cannot understand
how people can get bored with serving the Lord. When you really
realize the reality of being dead in your trespasses and sins and
then the Lord making you alive, it will set a fire in your heart
that cannot be quenched. Your entire outlook on life will change.
I cannot get over how the Lord has changed my life, changed my outlook
on life, and even how I view His creation. I just pray through the
grace that God gives me that you too will be encouraged and set
on fire by this revelation of Christ as we progress through this
series.
In the last message, we started talking about Jesus, the High Priest.
We examined in brief detail the garments that the high priests of
old wore and how woven together, they painted a clear picture of
Christ. The high priest did not have the ability to truly fulfill
the complete will of God because of the sin that was in them. Furthermore,
the blood of bulls and goats could never purge a conscience. However,
when Christ came, there is a blessedness that we will consider in
more detail today. The priests of old did a service that was a temporary
fix, but Christ’s service and work on the cross was a rendering
of satisfaction! Thank you Jesus! Jesus, thank you for the cross!
For the next few verses, I want to alternate between the New Living
Translation and the New Revised Standard Versions because I believe
they really state with plain language the point well. In Hebrews
chapter, seven we read this:
11 And finally, if the priesthood of Levi could have achieved God's
purposes – and it was that priesthood on which the law was
based – why did God need to send a different priest from the
line of Melchizedek, instead of from the line of Levi and Aaron?
12 And when the priesthood is changed, the law must also be changed
to permit it. 13 For the one we are talking about belongs to a different
tribe, whose members do not serve at the altar. 14 What I mean is,
our Lord came from the tribe of Judah, and Moses never mentioned
Judah in connection with the priesthood. Hebrews 7:11 – 14
(NLT)To provide a little context on this passage, the writer here
is speaking about a priest that would come who would be similar
to the priesthood of Melchizedek. He is proving here that the Levitical
priesthood was not sufficient to accomplish what God truly intended.
The reason I like this translation for this passage is that it says
that if the Levitical priesthood could accomplish “God’s
purposes” then what need would there be for another priest.
God had a purpose in mind when He set up the system of sacrifices.
He wanted to reconcile man to Himself. However, the current priesthood
and system of sacrifices could not accomplish the purpose of God.
It was only a temporary fix. Please remember that point about God’s
purpose; it will become clearer later in this message when I tie
it all together.
The writer says that if there is a new priest, then a changing of
the Law was required. In the law, only the tribe of Levi was allowed
to bear the priesthood. The law based it upon physical descent.
Therefore, if the priesthood is changed, then the law must be changed
in order to allow it. Jesus was not a descendant of the tribe of
Levi; instead, He was from the tribe of Judah. In the law, no one
ever from the tribe of Judah served the ministry of the priesthood.
Moses never gave any command that a descendant from the tribe of
Judah would perform any service in the priesthood whatsoever. Therefore,
if Jesus was going to be a High Priest forever, then what gave Him
the right to establish this new covenant? What gave Jesus the right
to change the law?
15 It is even more obvious when another priest arises, resembling
Melchizedek, 16 one who has become a priest, not through a legal
requirement concerning physical descent, but through the power of
an indestructible life. 17 For it is attested of him, "You
are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek.”
Hebrews 7:15 – 17 (NRSV)
The authority that Jesus had to change the priesthood was not because
of a physical legal commandment, but through the power of an indestructible,
endless life. He was established this priest through an oath from
God. The fact that God established Him by an oath makes his priesthood
unchangeable. None of the priests that served under the Levitical
priesthood was ever consecrated a priest by an oath from God. Therefore,
when they died, they ceased to become priests. They were no longer
able to serve as this mediator between the people and God
. They were only made priest by virtue of being born
into a certain tribe. The priesthood ended for them as soon as they
died. However, when Jesus came, He was made a priest by an oath.
The priesthood changed with the passing of each life from one individual
to another. How easy was it to change that priesthood that was only
based upon physical decent? However, Jesus Christ’s priesthood
can never be changed or passed on to another because He has a life
that never ends. Also, it is based upon this that God said (and
God cannot lie),
21 but this one became a priest with an oath, because of the one
who said to him, "The Lord has sworn and will not change his
mind, "You are a priest forever' "— 22 accordingly
Jesus has also become the guarantee of a better covenant. 23 Furthermore,
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.
Hebrews 7:21 – 24 (NRSV)
He continues forever. Someone would say, what is the big deal about
that? Well take a look at the next verse:
25 Consequently he is able for all time to save those who approach
God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for
them. Hebrews 7:25 (NRSV)
Jesus as a result of His everlasting priesthood is able to save
us who approach God through Him because He always lives to makes
intercession for us. Intercession is pleading the case on behalf
of another. He is able to pray to the Father directly on our behalf
forever! The priests had a duty to pray for the people and at times
plead their cause before God. Moses pleaded to God to not destroy
the people on several occasions. God heard Moses, and did not utterly
destroy the people. This was Moses back in the Old Testament, and
God heard him a mere man. How much more will He hear His own Son?
How much more will He hear Jesus who pleads to God on our behalf
perpetually forever? A priest who was only for a time could never
do this. However, Jesus, our Priest is able to make intercession
for us without ceasing! Who is praying for you? The Lord of all
creation is praying for you! Do you not believe it?
26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not
know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself
makes intercession for us with groaning which cannot be uttered.
Romans 8:26
There is so much good stuff in Hebrews about Christ our Priest,
and I encourage you to really prayerfully consider it. I could easily
write an entire series that stands alone on this one aspect of Christ.
However, I will not do that. I will forward ahead a couple of chapters
so I can get to the conclusion of this part of our message. The
most important thing that we must always keep in mind is that it
was the high priest’s duty to go into the holy of holies and
make atonement for the sins of the people. Without the high priest
and his service, the people remained in their sins. This was a temporary
satisfaction that was rendered to God. This act was a revelation
of God’s mercy.
However, there was only one person that was allowed to go into the
holy of holies each year. Only once a year, there was only one person
who was allowed to go into the presence of God. The veil was a constant
reminder that it was because of man’s sin that he was not
able to enjoy the benefits of the presence of God. These people
begin to see God as a hostile, impersonal, mysterious being who
only is ready to judge and kill. The people were not acquainted
with the love, peace, joy, and grace of God. They did not understand
God’s mercy. They missed the goodness of God. Man is designed
for the purpose of worshiping and fellowshipping with God. When
man is not connected with God, then he is not able to do what he
was created to do. This is why those who are not in Christ do not
have the ability to serve their purpose; they have no purpose, and
are really lives wasted. However, God has made us alive for the
purpose of letting people know that God bought them for a purpose.
These people though they had the system of sacrifices were not able
to accomplish their purpose that God had designed for them; there
was still no access to the presence of God. The blood of bulls and
goats could not provide this access for them. Look at this:
4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could
take away sins. 5 Therefore, when He came into the world, He said:
"Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, But a body You
have prepared for Me. 6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin
You had no pleasure. Hebrews 10:4 – 6
God did not desire sacrifice and offering. Instead, God wanted something
far greater. Bulls and goats were a temporary fix to the problem
of sin, but they could never take the problem away. God did not
want to fix the problem. Instead, He desired to take the sins away.
His pleasure was to remove the sins from us completely! He never
intended for us to even be acquainted with sin whatsoever. Sin is
what damaged the fellowship that God valued so much. God valued
having fellowship with those who were created in His likeness and
image that He paid for it with His own blood! Do you value the fellowship
that has been provided for you with the Father the same way?
7 Then I said, 'Behold, I have come-- In the volume of the book
it is written of Me-- To do Your will, O God.' Hebrews 10:7
This scripture is speaking directly of Christ. What was written
about this Christ? In the volume of the book, it was written of
Him to do God’s will. So what was God’s will?
He takes away the first that He may establish the second. Hebrews
10:9
His will was to take away the first covenant that was weak because
of the flesh to establish the second covenant which was established
on better promises. In the second covenant, there is a promise of
a removal of the enmity! Praise God for that! This is the covenant
that Christ established:
16 "This is the covenant that I will make with them after those
days, says the Lord: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in
their minds I will write them," 17 then He adds, "Their
sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more." 18 Now
where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering
for sin. Hebrews 10:16 – 18
Oh, thank you Jesus! God made a covenant in which the law would
be put in our hearts. He added something so glorious to it: He would
remember our lawless deeds and sins no more! Where there is a release
of these, there is no more an offering for it. What is the significance?
When God forgives us for sins, He does not remember them anymore.
They are paid for. We remember the sins that we committed, and sometimes
bring ourselves into condemnation because of it. We say, “Man,
I remember when I did this or did that.” God says, “I
do not remember it”. God is not there reminding us what we
were; instead, He sees us, as we are the saints of God. He sees
what He is creating us to be! He calls us saints while we call ourselves
sinners. He calls us the redeemed (purchased) when all we can see
ourselves as is damaged goods. He calls us free when we feel like
we are in bondage. God sees us as the end product even though we
are not the end product. He knows what He has created us to be.
This is God’s purpose for us. This is the purpose of Him establishing
the second. We are almost finished. Take a look at this:
19 Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by
the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way which He consecrated
for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, 21 and having a High
Priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart
in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an
evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us
hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who
promised is faithful. Hebrews 10:19 – 23
We now through the blood of Jesus have access, rather even boldness
to enter into the holy of holies by the blood of Jesus. Before,
only the high priest was allowed to enter into this place; now we
are able to enter in with boldness. The high priest used to enter
in with fear, now we can enter in with confidence that God will
not destroy us. The reason is the blood that our High Priest entered
in with. It was holy and pure blood. He entered in with His own
blood! The ideas and mystery that surrounded God is no more. The
veil has been broken and we can come in and speak to the Lord. The
writer says through a new and living way. See, we could not talk
to the living God before because we were dead. Therefore, He had
to make us alive so that we could fellowship with Him who is alive
forevermore! We have a High Priest over the house of God in which
we can draw near with a true heart and full assurance of faith.
Our hearts have been sprinkled from an evil conscience! This is
what our High Priest did for us! Can you get over this? Jesus our
High Priest has restored that which was lost. Now we can accomplish
that which we were designed to do: SERVE, WORSHIP, and FELLOWSHIP
WITH GOD! We have been made alive by being reconciled to God. Reconciliation
is the restoration of a right relationship between two parties.
This is done through a mediator. A priest is nothing more than a
mediator. We have a Mediator of a better covenant: Jesus, our Lord!
God promised it; and He is faithful! Rejoice people of God, again,
I say rejoice! Jesus Christ is our Priest!
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