Jesus is many things to us.
He's our Savior.
He's our Messiah, our King.
He's the Son of God.
He's the Son of Man.
We've been learning over the last little while through John's Gospel
about how He is our Good Shepherd
and the gate,
the way,
the truth,
the life,
the resurrection,
the light of the world.
God's provision from heaven,
the Word who became flesh and dwelt among us,
the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.
He is so precious
and He is many things to us.
But this morning as we come to the Lord's table,
we want to consider how Jesus is our High Priest.
The author of Hebrews is the one who in his letter to the Hebrews
has the most to say about this.
So we're going to be looking at a few different places in his letter to the Hebrews
to focus a little more on how Jesus is our High Priest.
The author of Hebrews first brings this up in Hebrews chapter 2,
verse 14 to 17.
He says this,
Since the children have flesh and blood,
he too shared in their humanity,
so that by his death,
he might break the power of 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.
For surely it is not angels he helps,
but Abraham's descendants.
For this reason,
he had to be made like them,
fully human in every way,
in order 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.
The author of Hebrews has a way of saying a lot
about everything in very few words,
and he doesn't usually stick to just one topic at a time.
He weaves his topics all together
and expands upon all of them,
all the way through his letter.
So there'll be lots that we skip over today
in order to trace out this theme of Jesus is our High Priest.
The first thing that we learn
is that Jesus came to share in our humanity.
John said it at the beginning of his Gospel,
that the Word who was with God and was God
became flesh and dwelt among us.
This is the author of Hebrews saying the same thing in his own words.
He too shared in their humanity.
Just as the children have flesh and blood,
so he too, Jesus, came to have flesh and blood.
So Jesus, verse 17,
continues on with this thought.
For this reason, he had to be made like them,
fully human in every way.
So Jesus was not just partly,
not just outwardly human.
He was not just flesh and blood exterior or body
with divine insides.
No.
The author of Hebrews says that he had to be made
like us in every way,
like his brothers in every respect,
in all things,
fully human.
Why?
Well, there's multiple reasons given,
but the one we want to see this morning
is in verse 17.
For this reason,
he had to be made like them,
fully human in every way,
in order 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.
The high priest in the Old Testament
was the go-between,
the one who would offer sacrifices
to atone for the sins of the people.
Our sin and our guilt is an awful thing.
It makes us unworthy
even to come near to God's presence.
It makes us unworthy
even to speak to God on our own.
And so God instituted a priesthood.
Men who were to live especially pure
and holy and righteous lives,
and who would stand in the gap
between God and people,
who would speak to God
on behalf of the people,
who would offer sacrifices
of atonement for the people.
The high priest was like a representative.
He represented the people to God.
And in order to do this job,
you have to be one of the people.
You might think of it like an ambassador
for foreign affairs.
How can you be an ambassador
for your country
if you're not even a citizen
of that country?
You can't.
It's a similar kind of thing here.
The only way to carry out
this needed service of priest
is to be one of the people
whom you serve.
And as the author of Hebrews
will tell us all throughout this book,
the priests who descended from Aaron
and Levi
could only do so much for the people.
There was need for a better,
a greater high priest
than could ever come
from Aaron or his sons.
And so God sent his son,
the word,
into our world
to take on flesh and blood,
to share in our humanity
in every respect
so that we could have
the high priest
that we most desperately needed.
One of us
who would serve us mercifully
with compassion
and one who would serve God
and see that what God desired
would be done for his people
and that he might make atonement
for the sins
of the people.
These are such humbling words.
Do you realize
that you cannot come to God
on your own behalf?
You cannot make atonement
for your own sins.
We have need of someone
to do it for us.
Someone who does not share
in our guilt
and yet is one of us
having flesh and blood
as we have.
chapter 3, verse 1.
Therefore, he says,
holy brothers and sisters
who share in the heavenly calling,
fix your thoughts on Jesus,
whom we acknowledge
as our apostle
and high priest.
We're not going to talk
about apostle today,
but high priest.
He says,
fix your thoughts
on Jesus.
Think about him.
consider him.
He's the one
who we confess.
He's the one
who we acknowledge
as our high priest.
Fix your thoughts
on him right now.
And then the author
of Hebrews goes on
to tell us about how
Jesus was faithful
to God.
God appointed him
and he was faithful
to the one
who appointed him.
He tells us that
Jesus was more faithful
more worthy of honor
than even Moses was.
And then he reminds us
of how God related
to the Israelites
long ago
in the days of Moses.
He reminds us of how
the Israelites
rebelled against God.
They tested God.
They tried God.
Their hearts
were always going astray.
They were often acting
like they didn't even know
God.
And so God punished them.
He forbid a whole
generation of them
from entering
the rest of the promised land.
These words make me tremble
because in many ways
we're more like
the Israelites
than unlike them.
Aren't we?
Prone to complaining,
grumbling,
hearts always going astray,
even at times
doing the things
that we know
are wrong
or choosing
not to do
the things
that we know
are good
and right.
The author of Hebrews
turns to his readers
and even to us
and he pleads
with us.
Don't be like them.
If you hear
God's voice
speaking to you,
he says,
do not harden
your hearts
like they did
in the wilderness.
He says,
see to it,
brothers
and sisters,
that none of you
has a sinful
and unbelieving heart
that turns away
from the living God.
But encourage
one another
daily,
as long as it is
called today,
so that none of you
may be hardened
by sin's
deceitfulness.
Sin is still
a big problem
even for us
who know the Lord.
It can deceive.
It can harden
our hearts.
It's constantly
there inviting us
to turn away
from God.
And it's not just
the bad things
that we do
or the good things
that we fail to do.
It's even the inward
thoughts
and attitudes
of our heart
where sin
continues to
hold sway
in our lives.
A little later
in chapter 4,
the author of Hebrews
says this to us,
verse 12.
He says,
the word of God
is alive
and active,
sharper than
any double-edged sword.
It penetrates
even to dividing
soul and spirit,
joints and marrow.
It judges
the thoughts
and attitudes
of the heart.
Nothing
in all creation
is hidden
from God's sight.
Everything
is uncovered
and laid bare
before the eyes
of Him
to whom
we must give
account.
Sin is a great
problem for us.
He tells us
that one day
we will all
have to give
an account
for everything
the Lord
has watched
us do.
Say
and even
think
and desire
the thoughts
and attitudes
of the heart.
And this is
why we need
an even
greater
high priest.
He goes on
in chapter 4,
verse 14.
He says,
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 empathize
with our
weaknesses,
but we
have one
who has
been tempted
in every
way,
just as we
are,
yet
without 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.
We have
a great
sin problem
just like
the Israelites
of long
ago,
yes,
but we
have an
even
greater
high priest
than the
Israelites
ever did
back then,
Jesus,
the Son
of God.
Listen to
what it says
about him.
It says,
because he
is a
high priest,
truly human
as we
are,
he is
able to
empathize
with our
weaknesses.
That's
precious,
isn't it?
Jesus
understands
the
feebleness
and the
fickleness
of our
human hearts,
how emotions
come and
emotions go,
how one
minute we're
eager to do
what is good
and the
next minute
we feel
the desire
of the
temptation
to do
what is
not.
And yet
amazingly,
Jesus never
once gave
in to
temptation.
He never
once sinned.
Sometimes as
we hear this,
we might think,
well, if Jesus
never sinned or
he never had
sin in his
heart,
how could he
possibly know
what it's like
to feel tempted
the way that I
do?
temptation,
it is true
that temptation
came to
Jesus in a
different sort
of way,
never out of
a sinful
heart because
his heart
was pure.
And yet,
just as the
author of
Hebrews tells
us, the
temptations
that he
felt were
just as
real,
just as
same strength
and the
same power.
He had the
same creaturely
weaknesses that
we have,
hunger,
fatigue,
thirst,
bodily
discomfort,
pain from
wounds,
itches that
call to be
scratched.
And he had a
whole other set
of temptations
that we do
not have,
the temptation
to take hold
of what was
rightfully his,
the temptation
not to lay
down his
life and
suffer and
go to the
cross.
Because Jesus
never gave
in to
temptation,
he knows
its strength,
its full
strength and
full power
even better
than we do.
And that's
the kind of
high priest
that we
need,
isn't it?
One who
understands
our weaknesses,
one who
understands just
what we're
going through,
one who
understands why
we are coming
back yet
again to
seek God's
forgiveness.
And notice
what it says
here.
He doesn't
say, because
we have
Jesus, a
great high
priest, we
can come
back to
God for
grace and
forgiveness an
extra 100
times in our
lives before
we are cut
off.
We almost
expect him to
say that
sometimes,
don't we?
me, but
he says the
opposite.
He says,
since we
have a
great high
priest,
Jesus, the
son of God,
let us hold
firmly to
the faith we
profess.
Let us
approach God's
throne with
confidence.
Do you hear
that?
This is the
same God who
struck people
dead in past
times for their
sin.
This is the
same God who
you did not
dare to set a
toe into the
most holy
place of his
temple unless
you were the
high priest,
and that only
once a year
with the
blood of a
sacrifice.
But now,
since we have
Jesus for our
high priest,
let us
approach God's
throne,
his throne,
with confidence,
like right
into his
presence.
Even the
mention of
God's throne
after reading
through the
Old Testament
again this
year,
strikes a
chord of
fear into
my heart.
It's from
there that
God rules.
It's from
there that
God gives
out his
righteous
judgments
upon sinners
like you and
me.
And yet,
because of
Jesus,
our high
priest,
God's throne
is now for
us a throne
of grace,
a place
where God
gives generously
to us,
gives blessing,
gives favor.
so long as
your heart
is firmly
set on
Jesus,
your high
priest,
the one
who has
made
atonement
for you,
walk right
in to
the presence
of God
and find
the gifts
of grace
that you
need,
the help
that you
need,
he says,
the mercy,
the forgiveness
that you need,
so that we
may receive
mercy
and grace
to help us
in our time
of need.
And I love
how general
that is.
In our time
of need,
what time
of need?
Any time
of need.
Are you in
need of
forgiveness
for sins
that you've
committed?
Come to
the throne
of grace.
Are you
feeling weary
and worn?
come to
the throne
of grace.
Are you
feeling lonely
and despairing?
Come to
the throne
of grace.
Feeling
anxious
or worried,
come to
God's throne
of grace.
Feeling
tempted to
sin,
come to
God's throne
of grace.
What's
your need
this morning?
Whatever
it is,
come to
God's throne
of grace
and find
grace
and help
in your
time of
need.
Because of
Jesus,
you are
welcome
in God's
presence.
More than
welcome,
you are
invited.
More than
invited,
you are
urged
strongly
to come
in.
Jesus,
our
high
priest,
has
secured
that
privilege
for us
on our
behalf.
The author
of Hebrews
then goes
on to
compare
Jesus
to the
priests
of
Levi.
Just
as the
priests
of Levi,
Jesus
too was
appointed
by God.
He was
called
by God
to the
special
role of
service
on our
behalf.
He
too is
able to
deal
gently
with
those
who
are
ignorant
and
are
going
astray
because
he
himself
has
been
subject
to
human
weakness.
He
too is
familiar
with
pain
and
suffering.
But,
says the
author of
Hebrews,
Jesus
is a
greater
high
priest
than
Aaron
or his
sons
ever
could
be.
He's
of a
different
and much
superior
order
of
priests
altogether.
And,
he's
not like
the
priests
of
Levi
who
lived
and
died
and
then
a
new
one
would
be
appointed
and
then
die
and
then
a
new
one
would
be
appointed
and
then
die.
No,
he
tells
us
Jesus
has
become
a
high
priest
forever.
Not
on the
basis
or
regulation
as
to
his
ancestry
but
on
the
basis
of
the
power
of
an
indestructible
life.
Chapter
6
verse
20
He
has
become
a
high
priest
forever.
The
Lord
has
sworn
and
will
not
change
his
mind
you
are
a
priest
forever.
Chapter
7
verse
23
Now
there
have
been
many
of
those
priests
since
death
prevented
them
from
continuing
in
office.
That's
the
priests
of
Levi.
But
because
Jesus
lives
forever
he
has
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.
Such
a
high
priest
truly
meets
our
need.
One
who
is
holy,
blameless,
pure,
set
apart
from
sinners,
exalted
above
the
heavens.
Unlike
the other
high
priests,
he 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.
I love
these words
so much.
This
arrangement
that we
have with
Jesus
as our
great
and better
high
priest,
this
arrangement
is
permanent.
Jesus
will
always
be there
for us.
You
are a
priest
forever.
Not
just
standing
in the
gap
between
God
and
us,
but
permanently
bridging
the
gap
forever.
Such
that there
really is
in a
sense,
now no
gap.
We
may come
to Jesus
and there
is nothing
to prevent
us from
coming
right to
God,
right into
his
presence.
The
curtain
separating
the most
holy
place
was torn
from
top to
bottom
when
Jesus
offered
his
sacrifice
on our
behalf.
The
way is
open
to
God
forever.
And
Jesus,
he says,
will
always be
there to
intercede
for us.
And
what's
surprising,
at least
from the
perspective
of the
Old
Testament,
is the
sacrifice
that
Jesus,
our
high
priest,
offered.
He
sacrificed
for their
sins
once for
all
when he
offered
himself.
It's
not the
body and
blood of
an animal
slain that
atones for
our sins,
but the
body and
blood of
the priest
himself.
Jesus
offered
himself,
priest
and
sacrifice.
Chapter
9,
verse 11.
But when
Christ came
as high
priest of
the good
things that
are now
already here,
he went
through the
greater and
more perfect
tabernacle that
is not made
with human
hands,
that is to
say,
is not a
part of
this creation.
He did
not enter
by means
of the
blood of
goats and
calves,
but he
entered the
most holy
place once
for all by
his own
blood,
thus obtaining
eternal
redemption.
The
sacrifice
that Jesus
offered was
himself,
his own
body and
blood,
broken and
shed to
atone for
our sins.
And not
just to
atone for
them temporarily
or until
the next
time that
we sin,
but to
atone for
them once
for all,
obtaining
for us
eternal
redemption,
case closed,
it is
finished,
saved
forever.
A little
further down
in that same
chapter,
verse 25
of chapter
9.
Nor did
he enter
heaven to
offer himself
again and
again the
way the
high priest
enters the
most holy
place every
year with
blood that
is not his
own.
Otherwise,
Christ would
have had to
suffer many
times since
the creation
of the
world.
But he,
Christ,
has appeared
once for
all at the
culmination of
the ages to
do away with
sin by the
sacrifice of
himself.
Once for
all.
Do you
hear that?
If you
have come
to Jesus
and have
Christ as
your high
priest,
he has
done away
with your
sin once
for all,
for all
time,
by the
sacrifice of
himself.
Chapter 10,
verse 11.
Day after
day,
every priest
stands and
performs his
religious duties.
Again and
again,
he offers the
same sacrifices
which can
never take
away sins.
But when
this priest,
referring to
Jesus,
had offered
for all
time one
sacrifice for
sins,
he sat
down at
the right
hand of
God.
And since
that time,
he waits
for his
enemies to
be made
his footstool.
For by one
sacrifice,
he has made
perfect forever
those who
are being
made holy.
I know I've
skipped over so
much here.
we don't have
time to look
at all of
it,
but we
have a
better high
priest than
any of the
Levites ever
could have
been.
He has
offered a
better sacrifice
than they
could ever
offer.
He offered
that sacrifice
in the
greater and
more perfect
tabernacle in
heaven,
and by doing
this,
Jesus secured
for us a
better covenant,
a better
arrangement with
God for the
rest of
eternity.
again, the
author of
Hebrews now
turns to
his readers,
to us,
and pleads
with us.
Therefore,
brothers and
sisters,
since we have
confidence to
enter the most
holy place by
the blood of
Jesus, by a
new and
living way
open for us
through the
curtain, that
is his body,
and since we
have a great
priest over
the house of
God, let us
draw near to
God with a
sincere heart
and with the
full assurance
that faith
brings.
I love these
words.
Since we have
all this, a
great high
priest, and
all that he
has done for
us, what
should we do?
Let us draw
near to God
with a
sincere heart
and with
full assurance
by faith.
Let me ask
you this.
Do you want
to be close
to God?
Do you want
to have a
close friendship
relationship
with God?
You can.
we can
because of
what Jesus,
our high
priest, has
done in
service of
us.
And so
draw near.
Come to
him.
As we come
to the Lord's
table this
morning, we
come not
only to
remember a
perfect lamb
who was
slain, but
also a great
high priest who
went to work
on our behalf.
a great high
priest who
had flesh and
blood just
as we do
and who
offered that
flesh and
blood in
sacrifice for
our sins so
that we would
be redeemed
forever.
The juice that
we are about to
drink represents
Jesus' blood.
The bread,
his body.
in just a few
moments, Charles
and Rod are
going to come
forward and
they're going to
serve the bread
and the cup.
And if you've
put your trust
in Jesus as
your great
high priest,
then please
partake with
us.
Celebrate with
us.
We'll wait until
everybody who
wishes to
partake has been
served and then
we'll eat and
drink all together
in unison.
But in these
next few moments
of quiet
reflection,
before we serve
the elements,
I just want to
invite you,
whether for the
first time or
for the
thousandth time,
to draw near
to God and
put your trust
in Jesus,
our great
high priest
again.
Maybe there's
sins that you
need to confess
and ask
forgiveness for.
Maybe there's a
particular weakness
or failing in your
life that you
need to ask
God for help
with.
Maybe there's
some kind of
other need,
totally different
that you have.
Maybe you just
want to express
your love and
thanksgiving and
praise to God.
The way is
open.
Draw near with
a sincere heart.
Come to the
throne of grace
in these next
moments in quiet
prayer.
Jesus, our
high priest,
has made that
possible.
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