Tag: great High Priest
A confidence in Christ brings grace!
Scripture reading for March 8th: Hebrews 4, Psalm 48, Proverbs 17
Hebrews 4:13-16 “And no creature is hidden from His sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of Him to Whom we must give account. Since we have a great High Priest Who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 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. 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.”
The writer of Hebrews again encourages Jewish believers to look to Jesus. Jesus Christ is the perfect “High Priest” in that He has passed through the heavens and come to earth as a human being. He was tempted in every way like us. He was successful through the power of the Holy Spirit to live a sinless life and die on the cross to deliver us from sin and its deadly consequences. He again passed through the heavens to God’s right hand. All believers can have great confidence in Jesus. He is now interceding for us. Through a faith relationship, we can find help and grace in any time of need we face!! Praise our Lord for His love and intercession for us! I will praise Him to the ends of the earth and in heaven!
Psalm 48:9-10 “We have thought on Your steadfast love, O God, in the midst of Your temple. As Your Name, O God, so Your praise reaches to the ends of the earth. Your right hand is filled with righteousness.”
Prayer: Father God, as I think on Your steadfast love shown to us in Jesus Christ, I am humbled and encouraged. You have abundantly supplied my greatest needs–forgiveness of sin, cleansing from guilt, and adoption into Your family! Search me today, and reveal any sin or wickedness. I want clean hands and a pure heart through grace and faith in Jesus Christ. I will sing Your praises forever and ever!
Proverbs 28:3 “The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, and the Lord tests hearts.”
Jesus: Great High Priest!
Scripture reading for October 19th: Hebrews 4
The Old Testament Jews failed to enter the rest of faith because of unbelief. They hardened their hearts and disobeyed God and did not enter the promised land by resting in faith in God’s promises. They tried to achieve favor with God through works of their own and keeping the Law. They did not simply trust in the promise of God.
“There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God: for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from His. Let us , therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience.” (Hebrews 4:9-11) Jesus Christ is our Sabbath-rest. He finished the work necessary for salvation and offered His blood, once for all. All who believe in Him will be saved and enter His rest.
“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. For we do not have a High Priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who had been tempted in every way, just as we are–yet without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” (Hebrews 4:14-16) We can rest in confidence that Jesus Christ, our great High Priest, will give us the mercy and grace we need to find rest in His promises! We can ask boldly and receive!
Our faithful High Priest!
Scripture reading for October 31st: Hebrews 2:1-18
“We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.” (Hebrews 2:1) The writer of Hebrews is addressing those Jews who have suffered great persecution and are being tempted to return to their old ways of Judaism. God spoke in the past to the nation of Israel through the prophets, but now He is speaking to this generation and during these last days to us all through His Son. If we don’t listen carefully and hear the truth of what He is saying, we will surely drift away into darkness!
“How shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard Him. God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to His will.” (Hebrews 2:3-4) We can learn about this salvation by listening to the Lord and those who actually heard Him in person. God is also speaking now confirming their word with signs, miracles and spiritual gifts. God will hold us accountable for what we have heard and seen.
“But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because He suffered death, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.” (Hebrews 2:9) Jesus created the world and all that the universe contained. God sent Him to become a man and share in man’s suffering and death. Because of Jesus’ perfect obedience, He tasted death for all men and was raised in glory. He delivered us from our fear of death by taking our punishment for sin. He is our brother and calls us who trust in Him ‘brothers’.
“For this reason He had to be made like His brothers in every way 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.” (Hebrews 2:17) Jesus’ death destroyed the devil’s power to hold men in fear! Now Jesus has offered His blood as our faithful High Priest to atone for our sins. He is a man who has suffered and can intercede for us. We must not drift away from these truths!