Tag: merciful high priest
Jesus our Merciful High Priest
Scripture reading for October 15: Hebrews 2
“Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death He might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. For surely it is not angels that He helps, but He helps the offspring of Abraham. Therefore He had to be made like His brothers in every respect, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For because He Himself has suffered when tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted.” Hebrews 2:14-18
The writer of Hebrews sought to help Jewish believers understand Jesus Christ as the perfect High Priest. In the Old Testament, the high priest of Israel was appointed by God to come from the tribe of Levi. He was a man who was also a sinner. He had to offer sacrifices for his own sins as well as the sins of the people. He approached the Holy of Holies once a year with a blood sacrifice for himself and the people on the Day of Atonement. Even he lived in a holy fear of God’s judgment while appealing to God for mercy. This high priest was a shadow of God’s ultimate High Priest, Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ, as God’s Son, became a human being with flesh and blood like all His brothers. Jesus Christ was from the tribe of Judah through his earthly mother. Jesus Christ suffered temptations during His life on earth just like His brothers but Jesus Christ never gave in to those temptations. He overcame through dependence on God and the Holy Spirit in humble obedience and with the goal of serving all His brothers through bearing their sins and paying their penalty in His death. Through His perfect obedience through suffering temptation, He was appointed by God as High Priest to represent the people. Through His suffering, He is able to identify with all sinners and help deliver those who turn to Him in repentance and faith from slavery to the fear of death and eternal punishment
Have you ever been tormented by a fear of dying or death? Have you considered Jesus Christ as someone Who can identify with you in your temptations, sin and tormenting fears? What does it mean that Jesus suffered temptation in every way like us and yet He made propitiation (covering) for our sins?
Prayer: Father God, thank You for sending Jesus Christ to earth as a human man to experience temptations like us. Thank You for Your mercy and His great mercy towards me through the cross and shedding of Jesus’ blood. Through Jesus I will come boldly to Your throne for grace in my needs. Amen.
No More Fear of Death!
Scripture reading for December 12th: Hebrews 1-2
“We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. For if the message spoken by angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, how shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation?” (Hebrews 2:1-3a) The letter to the Hebrews was written to Jews who had been saved and became followers of Jesus Christ. They suffered intense persecution, some had their own families disown them, and some were being put to death. The persecution caused some to begin to question their salvation and relationship with Jesus Christ. The writer encouraged these Jews to pay careful attention to the word of God and the truth that had been preached to them. Careful attention would keep them on the narrow path of life.
The writer of Hebrews reminded these believers that the the Son of God had brought the message of salvation to the Jews first. He confirmed it with signs and wonders and miracles. (Hebrews 2:3-4) Jesus was raised to a position of glory and honor after suffering death for everyone. God made the author of their salvation perfect through suffering and He is in the process of perfecting those who follow Jesus as well.
“Since the children have flesh and blood, He too shared in their humanity so that by His death He might destroy him who holds the power of death–that is, the devil– and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.” (Hebrews 2:14-15) As Christians, we now have no more fear of death. Christ has freed us from that fear by conquering death and the grave. He destroyed the devil and took the keys of death and hell away from him. (Revelation 1:18)
All men have been held by the fear of death because all have sinned and know that death is the penalty for sin. The second death is the real fear because it is appointed to men once to die and then comes the judgment. (Hebrews 9:27) Christ took our sins and paid the penalty of death for all who believe on Him. He can help us now because He is our faithful high priest, having offered His own blood for our sins! (Hebrews 2:17-18) What a blessing to be freed from this enslaving fear!