Are you struggling with guilt? Battling with condemnation? Faced with the hoplessness of your own sinfulness? then Hebrews 4: 14 – 5: 8 is definately a passage for you!
Chapter 4 : 12- 13 the author of the letter of Hebrews reminds us that, “God’s word is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” As we read these verses, we suddenly realise that if our lives and motives were laid bare for all to see, we would all be in serious trouble! The thought of standing before God one day and giving account for our lives can be a terrifying thought … and that is exactly why you and I desperately need a great high priest who steps in as a mediator on our behalf.
In Chapter 2: 17 the author has already alluded to this – “For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people”
John also picks up on this great truth of the gosple by declaring in 1 John 2 : 1-2 “But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 2 He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.” Notice, to those who are in Christ, He becomes our advocate, our defence lawyer… not our prosecutor! He is our atoning sacrifice and also faithful and merciful high priest.
So what does the Bible really mean when it says we have Jesus as our High priest? As the author takes us through the next few verses, the charactersitics of our High priest become very clear!
1] Our High priest has ascended into heaven (4:14)
“Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.”
Jesus “ascended into heaven” or as some translation state, He has “Gone through the heavens”. He is now seated at the right hand of the father interceding for us – our advocate in our defence before God (1 John 2:2). Jesus is no longer here on earth but is with the Father preparing a place for us!
John 14 : 3 “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.”
John 17: 4-5 – “I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.” Jesus our great high priest is glorified in the presence of God. Amazingly though, He does not leave us as orphans but sends His Spirit to dwell in us as a “deposit guaranteeing our inheritance” (Eph 1:14). In fact, He promises His disciples that when the Spirit is poured out on them, “I will come to you” (John 14:18) The amazing truth of Scripture, Christ exalted at the right hand of the Father but also Christ in us right now!
2] Our High priest is able to empathise with us (4:15)
“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.”
Jesus faced all the struggles that we as human beings have to come to terms with every day. The excuse is often used that, “Jesus was God, so it was easier for Him”. NOT! Imagine having the power available to change things, the power to overcome and transform anything at any time, deal with all the pain and grief, the power to at any time end the suffering of the cross and yet… He had to subject all that power to the will and purpose of God “not my will be done, but Yours”. Trust me Jesus knows the agony of temptation!
In describing a High priest (5:2) “He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he himself is subject to weakness.”
Jesus had to be fully human, subject to humanity in order to deal with us gently!
Take for example, we organise a massive gathering in one of our local townships to celebrate the struggle for freedom in South Africa. The guest speaker is a wealthy young British aristocrate, who gets up and begins to speak of the hardships and struggles of the average twonship family within our country….. it simply won’t work! The skepticism and accusation would soon arise, “what does he know about the struggle?” If Jesus never left eternity, laid down His majesty and became one of us; if he never got down into the trenches with us… the accusation could easily be levelled against Him, “what does he know about our struggle as human beings?”. The fact is, Jesus does not call us to anything that He himself has not experienced.
In (v7) we see Jesus passion for His people, “During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, He offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverent submission”
Our Great High priest cries out fervently for us. Because of His willing submission to God’s plan and purpose, He is heard.
3] Our High priest represents us in matters relating to God (5:1)
“Every high priest is selected from among the people and is appointed to represent the people in matters related to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins.”
Jesus represents us as our High priest in our relationship with God in all “matters relating to God”. He offered Himself as a sacrifice of atonement for our sins – 1 John 2: 2. There is only one man appointed to be able to bring reconciliation between you and God – Jesus Christ! Ephesians 1: 7 “In Him we have redemption, through His blood the forgiveness of sins in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he has lavished upon us!” That is why Jesus could declare in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No man comes to the Father but through me!”
Christ becomes is both our High priest and our perfect sacrifice!
(v7) “During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, He offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.” No one else can represent us in matters relating to God besides the appointed High priest!
4] Our High priest is appointed by God himself (5:4)
“No one takes this honour upon himself; he must be called by God, just as Aaron was. 5 So Christ also did not take upon himself the glory of becoming a high priest. But God said to him, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father. 6 And he says in another place, “You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.”
The high priest was called by God – Aaron was chosen by God, Jesus was Chosen by God!
He did not take on this glory for Himself! Notice, “God said to Him…” God has appointed and sent Jesus to be the sole representative of the gospel!
No other human being can appoint themselves in the position of High priest! Verse 10 reminds us that He was designated by God to be the only High priest.
5] Our high priest is the only source of salvation (5:8-10)
“Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered 9 and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him 10 and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek.”
Philippians 2 : 6- 11 “Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Jesus becomes the source of eternal salvation – John 17 : 1 “ Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. 2 For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. 3 Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. 4 I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do.”
There is nothing outside of Jesus to salvation. We are saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone! What a relief! It is not about how good I am, or how strong I can be! My faith is not dependant on my choices and righteousness, but is totally dependant on the perfect sacrifice made by our High priest, that is now offered to us a a gift of slavation and life.
So what then is our repsonse to our Great high priest ?
1] Hold firmly to our faith
(4:15) “Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.”
Hold firmly to faith: Become intentional about being in Christ! Run to Him and cling onto His grace alone. Continuing in Christ is a visible sign of faith …. the moment we consider giving up we have to ask ourselves are we truly saved? Do we really get it!
Our only hope is the gospel (Romans 1:16-17) as it is the power of God unto salvation. Let us hold onto and “fix our eyes on Jesus”, as the author encourages us in chapter 2: 1 “do not drift away” but let us hold fast to our faith!
2] We have freedom to approach God’s throne with boldness and confidence!
The Lord’s prayer begins with a very personal approach, “Our father in heaven….” In Christ we have a father in heaven. We can therefore “approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” (4:16). There should be no fear and uncertainty and trembling and anxiousness because we have one who stands in our defence! We can access His grace, mercy and forgiveness as we approach His throne. Notice we do not approach with arrogance and self assuredness but with confirdence… not in our own goodness and ability but confidence in Jesus alone, our great High priest!
If you are struggling with guilt and sin? Receive His grace and mercy today.
