[0:00] You may be seated. Good morning to you. What a privilege to be able to worship with God's people on this morning.
[0:13] Let's pray yet again. Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, and the mountain of His holiness, beautiful for situation, the joy of all the earth.
[0:35] It's Mount Zion on the sides of the north, the city of the great King. Oh God, our King, we come humbled before You this morning with the opportunity to speak forth Your Word.
[0:55] What a powerful word it is for us today. Already we have begun to sing about the truths that are before us.
[1:07] I pray, oh God, that You would drive these things home deep in our spirits, that we would engage in this world in ways that are consistent with what You have done for us through Jesus.
[1:25] And even what You're doing for us today. So come and help us. Help us anew. Help us afresh. You know the very aches of the human heart that are represented here before us.
[1:43] And I pray, oh God, that You would draw near to us in special ways today, even as we draw near to You. Your name be praised.
[1:57] Your name be honored. Your name be glorified. This is our prayer. Amen.
[2:07] Amen. The song, Before the Throne of God, is one of the favorites of our congregation.
[2:23] Its words help me to introduce our message from God's Word today. The song depicts, if you will, a courtroom scene.
[2:39] It's not the courtroom scenes that you would find among men and nations. This is not 26 in California.
[2:51] This is not some federal building. This is not even the highest court of the land, the Supreme Court of the United States.
[3:02] The courtroom, in fact, is the throne room. The throne room of the universe. Before the throne of God above.
[3:15] I have a strong and perfect plea. A great high priest whose name is love, whoever lives and pleads for me.
[3:34] My name is graven in His hands. My name is written on His heart. I know that while in heaven, He stands as an advocate there in heaven's courtroom.
[3:53] No tongue can bid me thence depart. No tongue can bid me thence depart.
[4:03] A great song. Inspired by texts like the one that's before us today.
[4:15] And this particular text, I would trust for you as well as for myself, would inspire fresh confidence in Christ.
[4:27] The kind of confidence in Christ that emboldens us for Christian witness and confession in this world.
[4:40] That would be my prayer for all of us on today. If you look back in chapter 3, verse 1.
[4:52] Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in the heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle. And here we go. High priest of our confession.
[5:08] Here we go. Beginning in today's text. The writer shifts his attention to Jesus as high priest.
[5:19] Simple observation in our text on this morning lets us know that high priest comes into focus. Take a look. Chapter 4, verse 14.
[5:31] Since we have a, there it is, great high priest. Look on the back end. Verse 10. Being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.
[5:48] You see it through the passage. Verse 15. 5-1, 5-5, 5-6 mentions the word priest. The passage speaks about the priesthood of Christ.
[6:03] And there's ways in which it's going to be compared with the priesthood that was existent on earth. Therefore, a word about priesthood in general is in order for us today.
[6:19] The holy God of heaven, for the holy God of heaven to dwell in the midst of sinful people on earth, there needed to be a system that took into account man's sinfulness.
[6:35] It was the sacrificial system in the nation of Israel that was for such a purpose. The Levitical order that included Levites, priests, and high priests was the order of men to serve in this particular system.
[6:56] Mediators between the holy God of heaven and sinful men on earth. Offerings and sacrifices being a part of the daily regimen.
[7:11] Various offerings were required depending on the reason for which one was approaching God. God who dwelt in the midst of his people in an abode on earth.
[7:25] Of course, the tabernacle temple. But then there was this very, very sacred space known as the holy of holies. And that, you might say, was God's throne, his dwelling place on earth.
[7:43] No one could go in behind that sacred curtain, that curtain, once a year. Imagine it. But in this whole system, various gifts and sacrifices were offered.
[7:59] But then on that very special day, the day known as Yom Kippur, or the Day of Atonement, on this day, very solemn day, the high priest would enter the holy holies with the blood of an innocent animal for the sins of all of God's people.
[8:18] Broadly speaking, those who attended sacred matters related to the sacrificial system of that day were of the tribe of Levi.
[8:30] But more specifically and narrowly, the priest descendant from Moses' brother, Aaron. So, Aaron, and as far as their preparation, I mean, you can see that we're going to be in Leviticus, excuse me, in Exodus this summer, praise the Lord, not Leviticus, you say, but Exodus this summer.
[8:51] And we'll see some of these things that accompanied the Aaronic priesthood. The role of the priest was very critical in a dual kind of sense.
[9:07] He was God's representative to the people, but he was also the people's representative to God. Very critical. So the writer of the Hebrews, he begins to show that Jesus, God's Son, is not only God's spokesperson, God who has in time past has spoken to the fathers by the prophets, as in these last days, spoken to us by his Son, not only is he God's spokesperson, if you will, he is also God's Son, is God's high priest for God's people.
[9:52] He's going to say that in this particular segment, the longest in the book, is going to take us all the way to chapter 10 and around verse 31.
[10:03] But here is the introduction to that broader section. And many of these things, the things he's going to say here are bulleted in a way.
[10:14] And there's going to be more elaboration as we get into the chapters that follow through chapter 10.
[10:25] But our text today begins with a thesis statement. Do you see it there? It's very simple. Since we have a great high priest.
[10:37] Huh? We have a great high priest. Of course, you knew that, didn't you? Huh? We do have a great high priest.
[10:47] That's the thesis statement. And affirmations that follow are really going to support the statement that we have a high priest.
[10:59] And that high priest is none other than Jesus. His greatness, of course, that speaks of his eminence. It speaks of his prominence in this particular role.
[11:11] So, the text is going to go on to make reference to the great work, verse 9, of his being the source of eternal salvation.
[11:25] And then we'll see the superiority of his priestly work will further be highlighted in the chapters that follow. But a one-word description for now is good.
[11:37] We understand it, don't we? He is a great high priest. Huh? He is in a class of one. There's absolutely none like him.
[11:50] Huh? There's no mediator like Jesus, God's son. Huh? What about our great high priest? Did you notice? He serves in a heavenly sanctuary.
[12:03] He has passed through the heavens. The place of his service is not an earthly tent or an earthly ornate kind of building.
[12:16] Huh? A building made with hands. He's passed through the heavens to the very throne room of God where God, if you will, dwells.
[12:28] Huh? Huh? Ah, did you notice his identity as the son of God? Not only is God's son God's last day spokesperson, the son of God is also the priest of God or the high priest of God.
[12:44] Huh? Huh? And then comes the exhortation and we'll get back to it. But in view of these things, he says, let's hold fast our confession.
[12:55] We've got a great high priest. Huh? Huh? Therefore, embrace him. Hold on to him. Cling to him. Cling to your confession. Cling to your Christian confession in view of who he is.
[13:09] Cling to him. Huh? Cling to him in faith. More affirmations to come about the great high priest. But according to verse 15, did you notice that there?
[13:22] That he is a sympathetic and sinless high priest. 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.
[13:42] Huh? Huh? Preparation for Jesus to serve in his saving, sanctifying, interceding role required that he would share our humanity.
[13:59] Huh? Didn't we see that in chapter 2, verse 10 and chapter 2, verse 17, which reads, Therefore, he had to be made like his brothers in every respect so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God.
[14:18] Huh? To make propitiation. He is a wrath averting, an atoning sacrifice, and a sacrifice that appeased the very wrath of God.
[14:30] Propitiation for the sins of the people. Huh? How is it that he's so sympathetic? It's because he's walked in your shoes.
[14:40] Huh? The experience of Jesus was a full range of human experience. Huh? Huh? His is a genuine sensitivity to all that aches and ails humanity.
[14:56] Huh? He doesn't simply say, when you're going through something, oh, that's too bad. Or shame on you. Get over it.
[15:07] Huh? No. He is well acquainted with the footprints of humanity. He knows. Our struggles.
[15:20] He knows our cares. Huh? And he's able. I love the King James language. To sucker. To come to the aid.
[15:31] Of those. Who need him. Huh? He can sympathize with us. In our very complicated humanity.
[15:41] Have you found out or do you recognize the complicatedness of humanity? Think about your own personal complicatedness and then multiply that many times over.
[15:52] But the complexity and complications of humanity come in various sizes, shapes, and colors.
[16:04] And I'm speaking to people this morning. You know about that. You know that very ache that scratches and grates your very soul this morning.
[16:18] And guess who else knows it? Jesus knows. Jesus knows. Not only does he know. But. He cares.
[16:29] He's walked in your shoes, friend. And he has won over the temptations. That we face.
[16:41] Jesus experienced parallels ours except for one exception. And we see that, don't we? At the end of verse 15. Without sin.
[16:54] Huh? Guilty. Vile. And helpless. We. Spotless Lamb of God.
[17:06] Was he. Full atonement. Can it be. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. What a savior. How.
[17:18] It's great. Isn't it great to know. That you and I. Have a sympathetic. And sinless savior. As our.
[17:30] Great high priest. Considering Jesus and who he is. Cling to your Christian confession. To do anything else.
[17:44] Can throw your life. In reverse. Huh? Oh. This is. This was the writer of Hebrews. Exhitation to them. Look who he is. Look.
[17:55] Look what you have in him. Therefore. Hold on to him. Huh? Get a grip. Cling to your. Confession.
[18:06] Did you notice. This marvelous call. To confidence. That we see. In verse 16. Let us then. With confidence. Draw near.
[18:18] To the throne of grace. That we may receive mercy. And find grace. To help. In the time of need. Huh? Great things.
[18:29] Have already been said. About him. But. Our writer. Quickly shifts. Into the exhortation mode. Because we have.
[18:42] A great sympathetic. Priest. A great high priest. Who is. Our sympathetic. Sinless mediator. In the heavens. How then do you approach him?
[18:55] Huh? How do you approach the throne. Of God? Huh? Huh? Ah. Did you notice how. The throne. Is described. It is described.
[19:05] As a place. Of grace. Huh? It's a gracious throne. Huh? What a way. The view. The place. From whence. The God of heaven.
[19:16] Rules. God's throne. Is a throne. Characterized by kindness. And favor. And it's a place of mercy. Based on what Jesus.
[19:27] Has done. Huh? Because. God's wrath. Has been poured out. On God's son. Jesus. At the cross. Mercy. Is reserved.
[19:38] For all of those. Who put their trust. In him. Huh? Christ. Appears. In the courts. Of heaven. For. Such ones.
[19:49] Huh? It's a throne. Of mercy. Because. God's wrath. Has been satisfied. Through. The priestly work. Of God's son.
[20:00] Huh? Oh I love. What we've sung about this morning. In so many different ways. And. And. And stay tuned. There's more. Singing about these things.
[20:11] To come. But no condemnation. Now I dread. Jesus. And all. In him I find.
[20:23] Is mine. Alive in him. My living head. And clothed. In righteousness. Divine. And therefore. Bold.
[20:34] I approach. The eternal throne. And claim the crown. Through Christ. My own. Bold. Coming to his throne.
[20:45] Jesus. Jesus fills a critical role. As our high priest. He's God's son. And he serves God's people.
[20:56] We have a great high priest. In the heavens. And I would ask you this morning. Does your. Confidence. In him. Correspond.
[21:08] To. His greatness. The greatness. Of who he is. Huh. You have. A representative. If you belong.
[21:19] To Jesus. In. The. Courtroom. Of the universe. In the throne. Room. Of God. Huh. And our eternal.
[21:31] Well-being. Is his business there. Huh. Not only. Is he a great high priest. He's the great. High peace. Who is a qualified. High priest. Did you notice that.
[21:42] In verses. One through. Chapter five. Verses one through four. Huh. Every high priest. Chosen from among. Men. Is appointed. To act. On behalf of men. In relation to God.
[21:53] To offer gifts. And sacrifices. For sins. Huh. Here's the idea. The high priest. Of old. Acted on behalf. Of men. And on.
[22:03] On behalf of God. God's man. For men. Huh. To offer gifts. And sacrifices. Guess what. Check. So did Jesus. He was qualified.
[22:14] In that regard. Huh. Taken from. Among men. To serve men. And he can deal. Gently. Did you notice that.
[22:25] In verse two. He can deal gently. In other words. With restraint. With ignorant. And wayward. Because he himself. Was beset with weakness. Huh. Uh.
[22:36] Jesus. Jesus. Can deal gently. But again. The contrast. He was without sin. They are compassed about. With weaknesses. Huh. And sinful people themselves.
[22:46] Therefore. They can. Jesus deals. Kindly. For a different reason. Because. He has the very heart of God. And he's sympathetic. Toward.
[22:58] His people. Uh. Heh. Not only that. But Jesus. Was not self-appointed. Huh. No one takes this honor. For himself. But only when called.
[23:09] By God. Just as Aaron was. Check. So did Jesus. And again. He's going to go on. On down. To demonstrate that.
[23:19] The point is. That Jesus. Fit the pattern. He was a qualified. High priest. Our great high priest. Is a qualified. High priest. If you will.
[23:30] Huh. Oh. But then he shouts. Huh. We have a great. High priest. Fourteen. Four. Fourteen.
[23:41] Through five. Four. But also. We have. A God appointed. High priest. Five. Five. Through ten. Huh. Notice. Did you notice there.
[23:51] What it says. So also. Christ did not. Exalt himself. To be. Made a high priest. But what. Was appointed. By him. Who said.
[24:02] Again. This is. A God appointment. The same one. Who made the declaration. And the. Based on. Psalm two.
[24:12] That is quoted here. You are my son. To do. I have begotten you. The same God. That made the point. That appointment. As far as. The exaltation. Of his son.
[24:23] Is the same one. Who was. Ordained his son. As. High priest. So. His priesthood. On the one hand.
[24:34] Is validated. By scripture. Old Testament scripture. Psalm two. Psalm 110. The writer. He's already referred. To both. Of those past. Both of those chapters.
[24:45] In chapter one. So he's coming back. Again. And. And stressing. Those same things. As it relates. To the priesthood. Of Jesus. Huh. In chapter one.
[24:56] The superiority. Of God's sons. To the messengers. Angelic. Or human. Psalm two. Or some reference. To support. The son's appointment. That extends. To the.
[25:08] High priestly role. That he also feels. And. Psalm 110. Supports. The external. Nature. Of. The eternal nature. Of God's son.
[25:19] His high. Son's priestly role. As well as that. Being of a different order. You are a. High priest. Forever. After the. Order.
[25:30] Of this. King. Of righteousness. Huh. A dual role. King. And. Priest. Huh. It's validated.
[25:42] The priesthood. Of Jesus. Is validated. By. Scripture. As we see here. But it's also. Validated. By his. Earthly. Experience. You see that.
[25:52] Huh. In the days. Of his. Flesh. Jesus. Offered. Up. Prayers. And supplications. With loud. Cries. And tears. To him.
[26:03] Who was. Able. To save. From death. And. He. Was. He. He. Because. Of. His. Reverence. The passage. Clearly. References.
[26:13] His. Earthly. Experience. Days. Of his. Flesh. And we get a glimpse of. Sort of the. The prayer ministry. If you will. Of God's appointed priest.
[26:26] When he was on earth. His prayers. Or his offering. If you will. And the text notes. The fervency. Of his prayers. The intensity. Of his praying.
[26:37] While on earth. The text could. Indeed. Reference. The godly. Sufferer. Of psalm 22. But what seems.
[26:48] To be in view. Is. His. Praying. In the gospels. Particularly. At. As he moves. Toward. Crucifixion. His prayers.
[27:00] Are. That are. Offered. Up to god. Are in turn. Answered. By god. Did you notice. The content. He. The. Manner. Of praying.
[27:10] But he was. Able. To. He. His prayers. Went up. To the one. Who was. Able. To save. Him. From death. And he was. He was. He was. He was. He was. He was. His reverence. Huh. You remember.
[27:22] Jesus. How he. Qualified. His prayer. Said. Father. Let this cup. Pass. From me. Then. What did he say. Nevertheless. Not what I will. But.
[27:33] What you will. Huh. Prayers. Are. Offered. To the one. Who is. Able. To save. From death. Again. His ability. Comes.
[27:44] Into play. But also. We can't. We must not hesitate. To factor in. God's. Sovereignty. As it relates.
[27:54] To his choice. And his will. Well. What a title. The one who is able. To save. From death. The one who is able.
[28:06] To save. From the most formidable. Of. Of. Of enemies. He's. He's the God. Who hears. Prayer. All you. To. Who hears.
[28:16] Prayer. Psalm 65. To you. Shall all flesh. Come. For Jesus. Mission. To be accomplished. It called. For. A difficult.
[28:28] Trial. Of physical death. When Jesus. Was. When. When faced. With this. Jesus prayer. Was to be. Saved. From death. But his prayer.
[28:39] Was. Punctuated. With. Not my will. But your will be done. Question for you. This morning. Ever been. Faced with something.
[28:49] That is extremely. Unpleasant. And distasteful. A situation. In which you would rather say. Lord. No thanks.
[29:02] A. I'll let this cup pass. Kind of dilemma. One of those. This bud. Really has a bitter taste. Huh. That was Jesus. In the garden.
[29:14] Yet in the face. Of. Trial. There was. Surrender. Perhaps. Our Lord's example. Could be. For some.
[29:24] Here today. Huh. He doesn't. Necessarily. Keep you. From the trial. Or keep you. From the fire. But guess what. He will be.
[29:34] With you. As you go in it. Or as you go through it. Huh. Jesus. Reverence. In other words. His respectful. Submission.
[29:44] To God. Was indicated. By. Your kingdom. Come. Your will. Be done. On earth. As it is in heaven. How's your reverence.
[29:55] This morning. Do you really. Fear God. And really. Want. What he wants. Are you. Ready. To co-sign. God's will. For you. Today.
[30:07] Think about Jesus. It says. For it was fitting. For he. For whom. And by whom. All things. Exist. And bringing. Many sons. To glory. To make the founder.
[30:18] Of their. Salvation. Perfect. Complete. Speaks about. Maturity. Through suffering. And he who sanctifies. And those who are sanctified.
[30:28] All have one origin. That's why he's not ashamed. To call them brothers. Perfection. Through suffering. The divine means. By which Jesus.
[30:39] Was fitted. Or outfitted. Or equipped. For his role. Entering into our humanity. And made. Being made complete. Through his challenges.
[30:52] Role of suffering. And discomfort. In shaping us. For God's ultimate purposes. For us. That was Jesus.
[31:06] What about you? You feeling. Discomfort. In life. Or. Even as a Christian. Is God shaping you.
[31:18] To be. A more. Usable. Vessel. Is he outfitting you. For. A more. Specific.
[31:28] Purpose. In. Helping. Other people. In some way. Jesus. Passed the test. Being.
[31:39] Made. Perfect. God's. Purposes. Were perfected. Were completed. In his son. And in so doing. He became. Oh. Listen to this.
[31:49] The source. Of eternal salvation. For those who listen to him. Who trust in him. Who obey him. That's the result.
[32:01] Christ being completed. Perfected. Fulfilling his God appointed role. His God appointed destiny. Shaping him. For all of eternity.
[32:13] To fill. The role. That he. Executes. Even now. Is our great. God appointed. High priest in heaven.
[32:25] For you. For me. For us. He's got appointed. Priests. Of a different order. Being designated.
[32:38] By God. A high priest. After the order. Of Melchizedek. It's a different order. It's a superior order.
[32:48] If you will. Yet in an undisputable way. The writer is showing you. This is just an introduction. He's got a lot to say about this. He's so much. It says that.
[32:59] And verse 11. About this. We have much to say. And he is going to say a lot. About it. Huh. But today's text. Introduces.
[33:11] What is going to follow. But here's our takeaway. Our takeaways for today. We have. A great.
[33:24] High priest. 414 through 5.4. We have a God. Appointed. High priest. Chapter 5. Verses 5.10.
[33:36] Therefore. We should have great. Confidence in Christ. Who serves. As our high priest. In the heavenly.
[33:47] Sanctuary. Huh. He appears in. Heaven's courts. For you and me. Huh. Confidence. In his atoning.
[33:59] Work. His. Capacity. As our sin bearer. And he has cleansed us. We have cleansing. Through him. Confidence.
[34:09] In his current. Intercessory. Work. In heaven. On our. Behalf. Confidence. In what he has. Secured. For us. As our.
[34:21] High priest. Huh. If he is your high priest. This morning. Cling to him. Hold on.
[34:31] To your Christian. Confession. May there be. Confidence. In Christ. That emboldens you. To do so. In this world. Would it. Could be very. Easy. To just sort of.
[34:42] Drift into the woodwork. Be a closet. Christian. Huh. Now. But cling to him. And all that that. Means. He boldly. Represents us. In heaven.
[34:52] Can we not. Boldly. Represent him. On earth. That's for those. Who've confessed. But perhaps you say. Well. Sir. I haven't.
[35:04] Confessed him. Huh. If you haven't. I asked you this morning. What's keeping you from. Confessing him. When you see that.
[35:14] All that. He. Can do. Huh. Why not. Why don't you come this morning. Come. Come to him for mercy. Mercy. Because. Through him.
[35:25] Mercy. Mercy. Is great. Grace. Is free. Why not. Cling. To him. And all that he has done. He is able. To. Take away.
[35:36] The guilt. And the deep stains. That scar. Your. Life. Come to him. For that. Huh. He's able. To give you life. That is life.
[35:46] Not merely. In existence. In toying. With the. And trifling. With the stuff. Of this world. This. High priest. Is able.
[35:56] To give you. Eternal. Salvation. Life. That is life. Indeed. Huh. He's able. To give you. A clean slate. Before God. Able.
[36:08] To cleanse. You. From the. Deepest. Stains. That. Soil. Your very soul. Do you have that kind of cleansing.
[36:23] If you have that kind of cleansing. You have. Kind of confidence. That the text refers to. You can have it.
[36:36] In Jesus. Today. Father thank you for. This morning. Thank you for.
[36:50] Christ. Being our. Great. God appointed. High priest.
[37:01] Our prayer. Is that we. All. Under the sound. Of my voice. Will cling to you. As such. Today. Come to you.
[37:15] For. Cleansing. Come to you. Lord. As the one. Who is able. To sympathize. With us. Having walked.
[37:26] In our shoes. Having experienced. Our humanity. That informs. Your compassion. And your sensitivity. And sympathy.
[37:36] Today. So Lord. We give you praise. This morning. We exalt you. Blessed be your name. Amen.
[37:47] Amen.