Tag: high priest forever
The Eternal High Priest
Scripture reading for October 22: Hebrews 7
“The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, but He holds His priesthood permanently, because He continues forever. Consequently, He is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a High Priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for the sins of the people, since He did this once for all when He offered up Himself. For the law appoints men in their weakness as high priest, but the Word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son Who has been made perfect forever.” Hebrews 7:23-28
Most of us are not Jews and have not lived under the law and priesthood. The Bible records the story of the priesthood and the position of high priest in the Bible. Aaron, the brother of Moses and a Levite was appointed by God as the first high priest. God appointed the priesthood as an aid to His people in having a relationship with Him and as a way that He could dwell with His people. There were many high priests as they were also sinners and suffered death. As they offered sacrifices for the people, they also sacrificed for their own sins as well. In their weakness, they had to make sacrifices year after year.
But Jesus was not a Levite, but was of the tribe of Judah. He was the Son of God and humbled Himself to come identify with lost sinners by becoming a man. He suffered temptations as we did, but was without sin. According to God’s loving plan, He offered His own body and blood as the final, once for all, sacrifice to God on behalf of sinners. God declared on an oath, “The Lord has sworn and will not change His mind, ‘You are a Priest forever.'” (Psalm 110:4)(Hebrews 7:17,21) Jesus is the perfect High Priest, as He lives eternally and is able to make intercession for all who come to Him throughout history. He alone is holy and unstained by sin. He is separated from sinners and exalted to God’s right hand above the heavens.
Do you feel like you need an intermediary like a priest who could stand before the Holy Father on your behalf? Can you now list some things that make Jesus the only High Priest that we need?
Prayer: Father God, thank You for Your appointment of Jesus Christ, Your Son, as our High Priest eternally. I am comforted to know that Jesus knows my every weakness and temptation and willingly intercedes for me. Use me to proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and High Priest to those needing a Savior. Amen.
Perfected by Suffering!
Scripture reading for December 14th: Hebrews 5-7
It is a wonderful comfort to know that we have a perfect Savior who has been tempted and tested in the same manner that we are. Jesus Christ was truly a human as well as God. His suffering was part of the process that God used to help us to become all we need to be through faith. Today’s readings help us to understand a little better what Jesus went through on our behalf.
“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. Although He was a son, He learned obedience from what he suffered and , once made perfect, be became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey Him and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek.” (Hebrews 5:7-10)
Jesus prayed passionately because He faced trials and temptations that buffeted His soul. The last great wave of temptation was to save Himself from the cross in the Garden of Gethsemane. (Matthew 26:36-44) According to Luke, Jesus’ sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground and an angel came and strengthened him. (Luke 22:42-44) While Jesus wrestled passionately in prayer, the disciples were sleeping and deserted him in the night watch. Jesus desired to have the cup of suffering removed from him, but reverently submitted to the Father’s will that He taste death for all sinners.
He was made perfect through suffering. His suffering brought Jesus to perfect obedience and humble submission to the Father’s will. He was then able to become the source of eternal salvation for all who would humbly look to Him in faith. Because of Jesus’ submission, God designated Jesus a high priest of the order of Melchizedek! Melchizedek had no recorded genealogy and appeared to live eternally. His priesthood was of a different order than Aaron’s and came before Aaron’s. It was based on the power of an endless life!
We can fully trust Jesus Christ as our high priest. He is a man who is now alive forever in God’s presence. God declared Him a high priest forever! He was tempted in every way like us, but was without sin. His blood is the perfect sacrifice for sin. We owe Him our reverent submission!