Now, we're going to read from Hebrews chapter 4, verse 14, and into chapter 5.
We're going to be thinking about Jesus, our great high priest.
And just to stick with Psalm 13 for a moment, what we have there is David the king lamenting,
feeling that sense of isolation from his God, feeling surrounded by his enemies,
yet praising God and trusting in God's constant covenant love.
And then we come to Jesus in his life, and there we find too a king who knew what it was to feel a sense of forsakenness,
surrounded by enemies, but still trusting and faithful and obedient.
And one of the things about Jesus being our great high priest is his ability to identify with us in trouble and suffering.
And the fact that Jesus can sing this psalm, and would have sung this psalm,
speaks powerfully of the sense to which Jesus took on full humanity and identified with us,
so that we too can sing psalms like Psalm 13 with trust and with hope and with praise,
even when we find ourselves lamenting.
But let's turn now in God's word to the book of Hebrews chapter 4.
We're going to read from verse 14 to chapter 5 and verse 9.
So let's hear the word of God together.
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.
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to feel sympathy for our weaknesses,
but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are, yet he did not sin.
Let us then approach God's throne of grace with confidence,
so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
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.
He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray,
since he himself is subject to weakness.
This is why he has to offer sacrifices for his own sins,
as well as for the sins of the people.
And no one takes this honor on himself,
but he receives it when called by God, just as Aaron was.
In the same way, Christ did not take on himself the glory of becoming a high priest,
but God said to him,
You are my son. Today I have become your father.
And he says in another place,
You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.
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.
Son though he was,
he learned obedience from what he suffered,
and once made perfect,
he 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.
Amen.
So we're thinking about Jesus, our great high priest.
It'd be really helpful
if you have your Bible
to hand.
So we're going to be thinking about
the mystery at the heart of our faith,
the incarnation,
and what that has to say.
Today we've been thinking about
Jesus, our great king,
for the last few weeks in church.
Today, Jesus, our great high priest.
Because I think it's important
that while we recognize
and often our experience of Christmas
is a time of great joy and happiness,
when life is difficult,
even at Christmas,
sometimes especially at Christmas,
one of the things that can happen
for people who are suffering
and they're surrounded by joy
is it's easy to feel
far more alone than ever.
it's easy to feel
far more cut off
from people than ever.
So Hebrews 4,
verses 14 to 16,
where we're going to spend our time,
provides wonderful comfort
because it says
for Christians,
the very opposite is true.
It reminds us
of Christ
in heaven
and the reality
that he is just as open
and tender
towards sinners
as he was
when he walked
on the earth.
The great mystery
of our faith.
G.I. Packer
puts it this way,
the baby born at Bethlehem
was God made man.
He who made man
was learning
what it felt like
to be a man.
And I want us
to think about
this coming of Jesus
and the journey
that he made
from the glory of heaven
and to think about
its significance.
When we come to
a text like this,
to think about
Jesus,
our great high priest.
To think about
what makes Jesus
a great high priest
and what difference
does it make
to our faith?
What makes him great,
what difference
does it make?
Very briefly,
what difference,
what makes Jesus
a great high priest?
If you have your Bibles
and if you look
at the beginning
of chapter 5,
our author identifies
key aspects
for those
in the Old Testament
who are called
to be priests.
So verse 1,
we discover
that they were selected
from among the people.
Their task
was to represent
the people
in matters
related to God.
Principally,
they were to
offer sacrifices
for sin.
And we discover
in verse 2
a certain quality
that the high priest
was able
to deal gently
because of weakness.
And then in verse 5,
in verse 4 and verse 5,
we discover too
that people
were appointed
not on their
own determination
but because
they were appointed
by God.
So we have these
qualities of the
Old Testament priest
but we also discover
some limitations.
In chapter 5,
verse 3,
we discover
that every
Old Testament
high priest
was a sinner
offering sacrifices
for the people
but also for themselves.
And then if we were
to skip forward
to chapter 7
and verse 23,
another fundamental
limit
of the high priest
says there,
723,
there have been
many of those priests
since death
prevented them
from continuing
in office.
So they were all
sinners
and they all died.
and that's
where Jesus
is better.
One of the great
themes of the
book of Hebrews,
Jesus is better.
Jesus is better
because he is
eternal
and the sinless
son of God
who was appointed
by his father
as our high priest.
Now,
to get to our text,
three reasons
from our text
why Jesus
is our great
high priest.
The first,
let's call it
solidarity.
Jesus standing
for and standing
with his people.
In verses 14 to 16
we have an anchor verse
which is verse 15
and then we see
two implications
from the anchor verse
in verses 14 and 16.
And verse 15
centers on solidarity.
Jesus standing
with and for
his people.
And we see this
in three ways.
we see Jesus
sympathy
in weakness.
For we do not
have a high priest
who is unable
to feel sympathy
for our weakness.
And this takes us
straight to the
incarnation.
God becoming
man.
God taking on
human flesh.
What does that mean
for Jesus?
It means he
volunteers
to know this
humiliation,
to be born
in a low place,
a low birth
and a low condition
for that to be
the pattern
of his life.
One of
humility
and humiliation.
The incarnation
is showing us
the depth
of Jesus'
humility
and love.
And the incarnation
is necessary
for Jesus
to truly represent us.
So remember
the high priest
has to be
from among
the people.
So Jesus
had to become
one of us,
truly one of us.
And that's why
those details
in the Gospels
are so important.
When we read
of Jesus
knowing thirst
and hunger
and loneliness
of his suffering
and rejection,
his shame
and death,
Jesus fully
identifies
with us
because
he was
truly
human.
and because
of that
in our pain
as believers
Jesus understands
and Jesus
is pain.
In our suffering
Jesus sympathizes
and he sympathizes
from experience.
when people
suffer
whether that's
an illness
or grief
often they will
find
someone else
who's gone
through the same
sort of experience
and to draw
on encouragement
and help
and support
companions
in suffering.
Well here
is Jesus
the ultimate
companion
in suffering
for his people.
He sympathizes
in our
weakness.
Jesus has also
been tested
by temptation.
Continuing
in verse 15
we have one
who has been
tempted
in every way
just as
we are.
So again
here is Jesus
truly
human
therefore he
experiences
true
testing
true
tempting
and
experiences
those
to a
greater
degree
than we
ever will.
It's so often
in our own
experience
and I'm
sure we
know this
we face
a temptation
and perhaps
we resist
for a while
but often
we don't
but there
comes a
point
often
when we
fold
we give
into that
sinful
desire
and so
the temptation
then is
removed
because we've
fallen
but Jesus
never
falls
he never
folded
so the
intensity
of the
temptation
only grows
and builds
but Jesus
remained
faithful
and again
the gospel
writers
don't hide
this reality
from us
so we
discover
in the
wilderness
the devil
tempting
Jesus
to seek
comfort
rather than
obedience
to God
to pursue
wealth
rather than
live for the
kingdom of
heaven
and true
spiritual
treasure
we see
him
being
tempted
to
power
and then
in Gethsemane
the night
before the
cross
he experiences
that temptation
to avoid
suffering
to seek
glory
some other
way
so Jesus
knows
temptation
again by
personal
experience
and he
is able
to give
grace
and help
for us
when we
are tempted
and he
sends
the spirit
to his
people
so that we
might say
no to sin
and yes
to choosing
righteousness
and the
third thing
to notice
from verse
15
which is
hugely
significant
that we
have
in Jesus
a righteous
representative
so Jesus
stands with
us and
has experienced
what we
have
experienced
and will
experience
yet
there's a
difference
and it makes
all the
difference
in the world
he
did
not
sin
and that's
why
in chapter
7
verse
27
we have
this
important
truth
unlike
the other
high
priests
Jesus
does not
need to
offer
sacrifices
day after
day
first for
his own
sins
and then
for the
sins
of the
people
he sacrificed
for their
sins
once for
all
when he
offered
himself
so Jesus
again to be
to be one
of us
to truly
represent us
he needs to
come under
God's
moral law
just as we
are called
to obey
God
to love
God
with our
heart
soul
mind
and strength
and to
love our
neighbor
as ourselves
so too
Jesus
must live
under
that law
and Jesus
obeyed it
and Jesus
fulfilled it
where we
as people
break it
Jesus
never
did
and as
the
God
man
then
as the
great
high
priest
as he
gives
himself
not an
animal
as a
sacrifice
as our
great
high
priest
that
offering
has
infinite
moral
value
because
here is
the
God
man
offering
himself
covering
our
infinitely
awful
sin
as
the
God
man
Jesus
humbled
himself
as a
substitute
to be
made
sin
for us
to be
made
a curse
for us
that we
might be
forgiven
and know
God's
blessing
by grace
and through
faith
Jesus
is the
only
person
who's
ever
walked
this
earth
who
does
not
need
rescue
and
Jesus
alone
of
everyone
who's
ever
walked
on
this
earth
is
the
one
who
is
able
to
provide
our
rescue
because
he came
as one
of us
in order
to save
us
makes
Jesus
a great
high
priest
because
he
represents
us
as one
of us
but
beyond
solidarity
there's
a couple
of other
things
briefly
just
to
notice
about
the
ministry
of
Jesus
the
high
priest
verse
14
let's
think
about
where
Jesus
represents
us
let's
think
about
this
reality
therefore
since
we have
a great
high
priest
who
has
ascended
into
heaven
Jesus
the
son
of
God
let's
hold
firmly
to
the
faith
we
profess
and
so
here's
the
difference
another
difference
between
Jesus
as
high
priest
and
the
old
testament
high
priest
they
performed
their
sacrifices
in
the
temple
which
was
a
representation
of
heaven
God's
presence
but where
is
Jesus
acting
he's
not
acting
in
the
earthly
temple
Jesus
actually
represents
us
in
God's
presence
in
the
presence
of
his
father
Jesus
has
unique
access
as
the
son
of
God
sitting
on
the
throne
of
heaven
and
from
there
he's
pleading
our
cause
from
the
father's
right
hand
so there
is great
hope for
us
when we
have a
high
priest
with that
unique
access
to the
father's
presence
and
one
other
thing
to
notice
in
verse
14
and
then
in
chapter
5
as
well
is
to
think
again
about
how
long
Jesus
represents
us
for
what's
the
duration
of
his
priesthood
and
we're
reminded
in
verse
14
Jesus
is
the
son
of
God
he
is
eternal
chapter
5
verse
6
you
are
a
priest
forever
in
the
order
of
Melchizedek
chapter
7
we
didn't
read
it
but we
can
go
there
because
it's
important
because
Jesus
lives
forever
he
is
a
permanent
priesthood
therefore
he
is
able
to
save
completely
those
who
come
to
God
through
him
because
he
always
lives
to
intercede
for
them
there
will
never
be
a
point
where
Jesus
stops
loving
his
people
there
will
never
be
a
point
where
Jesus
stops
representing
his
people
there
will
never
be
a
point
where
his
sacrifice
is
not
efficient
and
sufficient
because
he
lives
forever
and
serves
forever
it's
the
anchor
of
our
faith
it's
the
great
anchor
of
our
faith
that
Christ
who
came
to be
in
the
manger
for
us
is
now
Christ
in
glory
as
high
priest
for
us
and
as
our
great
high
priest
he
secures
for
us
direct
access
to
God
and
we
can
boldly
approach
the
throne
of
grace
as we'll
think
about
in
a
minute
and
that
we
have
in
Jesus
full
pardon
of
sin
because
of
the
value
of
his
sacrifice
we
have
the
right
to
eternal
life
we
have
all
the
blessings
of
salvation
that
come
to
us
in
the
gospel
because
of
Jesus
serving
us
as
our
great
high
priest
so
it's
a
reminder
to
us
love
the
book
of
Hebrews
because
it's
always
reminding
us
to
look
at
Jesus
and
to
hold
on
to
Jesus
and
here
it
is
again
to
just
hold
on
to
Jesus
Christ
who
is
our
anchor
and to
recognize
when we
read the
gospels
and we
read
of a
man
of
incredible
love
and
compassion
and
mercy
a
God
who
loved
to
draw
people
in
to
welcome
it's
the same
Jesus
and he
is the
same
heart
he's the
same
yesterday
today
and
forever
and so
when we
find
ourselves
like
the
folks
that the
author
to the
Hebrews
is
writing
to
in
a
time
of
need
we
need
to
think
of
Jesus
there
we
need
to
think
of
Jesus
our
great
high
priest
standing
for
us
sympathizing
with
us
interceding
for
us
sending
the
spirit
to
us
there's
comfort
in
Jesus
our
great
high
priest
let's
move on
to
think
briefly
about
what
difference
does
it
make
for
our
faith
so
verse
15
is
the
anchor
verse
there are
two
implications
that
are
tied
to
it
and
since
this
is
true
of
Jesus
the
author
says
Christians
should
to use
the
language
let
us
so
two
things
the
first
let
us
is
in
verse
14
since
Jesus
is
our
great
high
priest
let
us
hold
firmly
to
the
faith
we
profess
and
again
that's
just
to
remind
us
that
when
the
author
says
hold
firmly
to
our
faith
he's
not
saying
hold
on
to
the
fact
that
you
have
a
faith
in
something
faith
in
itself
is
worthless
but
it's
all about
the
object
of
our
faith
it's
the
anchor
of
our
faith
so
he's
telling
us
hold
on
priest
in
the
order
of
Melchizedek
this
enigmatic
figure
in the
book
of
Genesis
who
is
both
priest
and
king
that's
Jesus
for
us
Jesus
who
is
ruling
all
things
Jesus
who
controls
all
things
who
is
the
head
of
the
church
is
Jesus
who
represents
us
Jesus
who
has
offered
himself
as
a
sacrifice
for
us
Jesus
who
intercedes
for
us
so
we
are
called
because
of
who
Jesus
is
and
what
he's
done
to
hold
firmly
to
him
I'm
sure
we
appreciate
that
need
and
trouble
and
suffering
will
instinctively
make us
run
somewhere
we're
looking to
find
hope
somewhere
from
someone
salvation
from
somewhere
from
someone
for
Christians
here is
a
reminder
to
run
to
Jesus
always
to
run
to
Jesus
in
light
of
his
ministry
for
us
think
about
his
ministry
in
the
past
coming
into
the
world
to
die
for
us
think
about
his
ministry
in
the
present
praying
for
us
sending
the
spirit
to
us
think
about
what
he's
prepared
for
us
in
the
future
eternal
glory
in a
world
made
new
that's
why we
fix
our eyes
on him
that's
why we
look to
him
for
help
in
times
of
trouble
to
trust
him
always
and
secondly
and
finally
since
Jesus
is our
great high
priest
verse 16
let us
then
approach
God's
throne
of
grace
with
confidence
so that
we may
receive
mercy
and find
grace
to help
us
in our
time
of
need
simply
put
since
Jesus
is our
great
high
priest
let
us
pray
let us
pray
let us
pray
to receive
God's
grace
of
well
timed
help
because
when we
pray
are we
praying
to
we're
praying
to
the
king
of the
universe
it's
what the
psalms
have been
saying to
us
what Isaiah
was saying
to us
we pray
to the
king
of the
universe
the one
with
absolute
control
the one
with perfect
timing
and so
we are
encouraged
because of
that to
turn to
him for
mercy
in our
need
and to
pray
through
Jesus
our
great
high
priest
this one
who gives
us bold
access
to the
throne
of
grace
because
when we
come in
the name
of Jesus
when our
faith is
in Jesus
and when
we come
into the
presence
of our
father
we do
not need
to fear
being turned
away
we do
not need
to fear
condemnation
because we
are loved
in Jesus
we are
seen as
righteous
in
Christ
and so
we have
bold
confidence
when our
confidence
is in
Jesus
in our
need
in our
suffering
sometimes
we can
content
ourselves
with
drops
of human
sympathy
and kindness
and that
kindness
should never
be downplayed
it's a
wonderful
thing
and we
should be
profoundly
thankful
that we
have families
and a
Christian
family
that love
and support
and offer
help
and comfort
but we
always need
to remember
that when we
run to
Jesus
we're running
to the
one who
has that
eternal
well of
sympathy
and compassion
that ocean
of grace
and comfort
and compassion
for us
and so
we're
invited
to trust
to God's
past
grace
to give
us hope
for future
grace
perhaps at
Christmas time
to recognize
God's grace
in sending
us
Jesus
to trust
that if
he has
given that
great gift
if he has
sent his
son to
die for
us
he's not
going to
abandon us
he's not
going to
forget us
he's not
going to
give up
on us
rather he
will be
with us
and for
us
and for
us
always
it's a
wonderful
text
and it's
a wonderful
truth
that Jesus
is our
great high
priest
because we
need this
because there
are times
when life
is hard
when we
are suffering
even amidst
all the joy
and excitement
of Christmas
and when that
happens we
need someone
to turn to
we need a
place of
comfort
and refuge
and strength
and that
place and
that person
is Jesus
we have
that wonderful
promise
that there
will be a
day when
Jesus our
priest king
will come
back and
he'll make
everything new
and everything
sad will
come untrue
but until
that day
we're invited
to keep
looking to
him to
fix our
eyes on
Jesus
let's
hold firmly
to the
faith we
profess
and let's
approach
God's throne
of grace
with confidence
to receive
mercy and
grace to
help us
in our
time of
need
because we
have
Jesus
our
great
high
priest
let's
pray to
our
father
through
Jesus
his son
is my
God
our
father
we
thank you
for your
mercy to
us in
sending
your son
to be
the savior
we all
need
and we
thank you
Lord Jesus
for acting
and continuing
to act
and forever
acting as our
great high
priest
and we
thank you
that you
are able
to sympathize
with us
in weakness
and suffering
that you
know what
it is like
to have
experienced
temptation
but we
thank you
for your
sinless
perfection
so that you
could be
for us
a perfect
representative
a perfect
substitute
offering that
perfect
sacrifice
Lord Jesus
we thank you
that right
now you
are praying
for your
church
that you
ever live
to intercede
for your
people
thank you
father and
son that you
send the
spirit
so that
you might
dwell in
our hearts
through faith
that we
might know
your presence
and your
love
and your
comfort
and so Lord
we pray
that you
would help
us to
hold firmly
to faith
to know
that we
have bold
access to
your throne
of grace
in prayer
and that
we would
be growing
in our
faith
growing
in our
joy
of belonging
to you
through Jesus
your son
keep us
in your
love
we pray
we ask
it in
Jesus name
Amen
now we
will close
singing the
Christmas hymn
once in
royal David's
city
so let's
stand so
that we can
sing together
heal
as we
log in
you