WEBVTT

00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:07.719
 And with that marvelous prayer in our hearts and on our lips,

00:00:07.860 --> 00:00:11.060
 just pause for a moment in quietness as we come to God's Word.

00:00:11.220 --> 00:00:11.820
 Let's pray.

00:00:20.160 --> 00:00:23.940
 Lord, we thank you for your Word, which is living, active, and powerful,

00:00:23.940 --> 00:00:29.719
 and which comes with promise that as it goes out, it will not return to you empty.

00:00:30.800 --> 00:00:33.859
 Lord, so the words that we've sung is the prayer of our hearts.

00:00:34.960 --> 00:00:39.280
 We pray that you would touch us and from this moment change us.

00:00:41.939 --> 00:00:46.299
 And so may the words of my mouth and the meditations of all our hearts

00:00:46.299 --> 00:00:50.840
 be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, our Rock and our Redeemer.

00:00:51.840 --> 00:00:52.219
 Amen.

00:00:52.219 --> 00:00:52.359
 Amen.

00:00:54.920 --> 00:00:57.679
 Well, we come this morning, as John's already mentioned,

00:00:57.679 --> 00:01:00.519
 to the fifth of our series in the book of Hebrews.

00:01:01.079 --> 00:01:04.939
 I'm aware that people can preach on the book of Hebrews for a very long time,

00:01:05.180 --> 00:01:06.439
 period of years.

00:01:07.120 --> 00:01:09.299
 And we're cracking through it fairly quickly.

00:01:10.180 --> 00:01:16.640
 Part 5 brings us up to the end of chapter 4 and the beginning of chapter 5.

00:01:16.640 --> 00:01:21.159
 Just a quick review as we dig in to orient ourselves.

00:01:22.099 --> 00:01:25.780
 This letter of Hebrews is an anonymous letter written, it seems,

00:01:25.939 --> 00:01:31.900
 to a group of Jewish Christians who are now in danger of losing their faith.

00:01:32.780 --> 00:01:36.460
 In fact, they think they have lost something in becoming Christians.

00:01:36.459 --> 00:01:42.979
 And the burden of the letter to the Hebrew Christians is to urge them to understand

00:01:42.979 --> 00:01:44.299
 they haven't lost something.

00:01:44.819 --> 00:01:49.579
 They're in danger of losing something for the thing that they have gained.

00:01:49.899 --> 00:01:50.979
 And what have they gained?

00:01:51.379 --> 00:01:53.699
 In a word, it's Jesus.

00:01:55.139 --> 00:01:58.379
 And so the first two chapters are all about Jesus.

00:01:58.859 --> 00:02:01.939
 The first chapter, that Jesus is the Son of God,

00:02:01.939 --> 00:02:08.359
 the exact representation of the divine being, fully God, in fact.

00:02:09.000 --> 00:02:11.319
 And as the writer moves into chapter 2,

00:02:11.819 --> 00:02:16.259
 he demonstrates that this one who is the exact representation of God

00:02:16.259 --> 00:02:18.919
 is also fully human.

00:02:19.759 --> 00:02:23.120
 In fact, one who is our brother,

00:02:23.719 --> 00:02:27.960
 and he is not ashamed to call us brothers and sisters.

00:02:28.379 --> 00:02:31.020
 So fully God and fully man.

00:02:31.020 --> 00:02:34.040
 Having set out who the Son of God is,

00:02:34.280 --> 00:02:38.500
 the writer then talks a bit about who the people of God are

00:02:38.500 --> 00:02:39.900
 in chapters 3 and 4,

00:02:40.400 --> 00:02:44.040
 and takes them back in time to the experience of the Israelites

00:02:44.040 --> 00:02:48.100
 in the Exodus, the ones who left Egypt with Moses

00:02:48.100 --> 00:02:51.400
 to enter the promised land in chapter 3,

00:02:52.400 --> 00:02:56.879
 but the ones who, even who entered it in chapter 4 under Joshua,

00:02:56.879 --> 00:03:02.699
 didn't find rest, which still remains.

00:03:03.759 --> 00:03:07.159
 And the passage last week, as John brought it to us,

00:03:07.259 --> 00:03:09.199
 finished on a bit of an ominous note,

00:03:09.240 --> 00:03:11.299
 as we'll see in just a moment.

00:03:11.419 --> 00:03:15.639
 But it's that well-known set of verses.

00:03:15.900 --> 00:03:17.900
 The Word of God is alive and active.

00:03:18.039 --> 00:03:19.900
 It pierces the soul.

00:03:19.900 --> 00:03:21.640
 It reveals all.

00:03:22.159 --> 00:03:23.640
 Nothing is hidden from it.

00:03:24.120 --> 00:03:29.580
 And that just strikes a note that something heavy is coming.

00:03:30.420 --> 00:03:32.460
 In fact, something heavy is coming.

00:03:32.659 --> 00:03:34.980
 But the passage that we're at this morning

00:03:34.980 --> 00:03:37.719
 just presses the pause button briefly

00:03:37.719 --> 00:03:42.800
 as the writer sets out the argument in a very compressed way,

00:03:42.800 --> 00:03:46.080
 which is going to sustain the next chapters of the letter

00:03:46.080 --> 00:03:50.200
 right through to the end of Hebrews chapter 10.

00:03:51.460 --> 00:03:55.320
 So when we get a few weeks down the line to Hebrews 10,

00:03:55.439 --> 00:03:58.380
 maybe we'll hear an echo of things we've heard already.

00:03:58.520 --> 00:04:00.340
 In fact, as we come to this passage today,

00:04:00.500 --> 00:04:04.260
 we're already hearing echoes of things we've heard before,

00:04:04.860 --> 00:04:08.860
 a very carefully unfolded argument by this writer.

00:04:08.860 --> 00:04:12.700
 Well, last week, John noted that there was a key word

00:04:12.700 --> 00:04:14.660
 that ran through the passage in chapter 4

00:04:14.660 --> 00:04:17.040
 about, what, eight or so times.

00:04:17.180 --> 00:04:20.800
 The word rest just kept coming up again and again.

00:04:21.600 --> 00:04:23.600
 And as we read our passage this morning,

00:04:24.360 --> 00:04:25.800
 something similar happens,

00:04:26.000 --> 00:04:28.600
 something that crops up five times.

00:04:28.819 --> 00:04:31.080
 In fact, I'd say five and a half times.

00:04:31.540 --> 00:04:34.980
 You can work out which the half is as we read it.

00:04:35.080 --> 00:04:36.080
 So let's read together.

00:04:36.079 --> 00:04:40.259
 Hebrews chapter 4, beginning at verse 14

00:04:40.259 --> 00:04:43.659
 through to chapter 5, verse 10.

00:04:44.759 --> 00:04:47.699
 So we pick it up at the end of chapter 4

00:04:47.699 --> 00:04:51.860
 with this sense that the people who left Egypt

00:04:51.860 --> 00:04:53.639
 didn't enter the promised land,

00:04:53.699 --> 00:04:55.620
 and the people who entered the promised land

00:04:55.620 --> 00:04:58.060
 didn't really find rest.

00:04:59.699 --> 00:05:02.560
 Nothing in creation is hidden from God's sight.

00:05:02.719 --> 00:05:04.699
 Everything is uncovered and laid bare

00:05:04.699 --> 00:05:08.120
 before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

00:05:09.879 --> 00:05:11.000
 Boom, boom, boom.

00:05:12.039 --> 00:05:15.379
 But just before the hammer falls,

00:05:15.879 --> 00:05:17.019
 we have this.

00:05:17.980 --> 00:05:20.819
 Therefore, since we have a great high priest

00:05:20.819 --> 00:05:22.099
 who has gone through the heavens,

00:05:22.659 --> 00:05:24.300
 Jesus, the Son of God,

00:05:24.719 --> 00:05:27.560
 let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.

00:05:27.560 --> 00:05:30.240
 For we do not have a high priest

00:05:30.240 --> 00:05:32.800
 who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses,

00:05:33.620 --> 00:05:36.160
 but we have one who has been tempted in every way

00:05:36.160 --> 00:05:37.319
 just as we are,

00:05:38.040 --> 00:05:39.699
 yet was without sin.

00:05:41.060 --> 00:05:43.560
 Let us then approach the throne of grace

00:05:43.560 --> 00:05:44.379
 with confidence

00:05:44.379 --> 00:05:46.519
 so that we may receive mercy

00:05:46.519 --> 00:05:47.879
 and find grace

00:05:47.879 --> 00:05:50.459
 to help us in our time of need.

00:05:52.060 --> 00:05:53.459
 Every high priest

00:05:53.459 --> 00:05:55.420
 is selected from among men

00:05:55.420 --> 00:05:57.300
 and is appointed to represent them

00:05:57.300 --> 00:05:59.500
 in matters related to God

00:05:59.500 --> 00:06:01.060
 to offer gifts

00:06:01.060 --> 00:06:03.319
 and sacrifices for sins.

00:06:04.140 --> 00:06:05.939
 He is able to deal gently

00:06:05.939 --> 00:06:07.480
 with those who are ignorant

00:06:07.480 --> 00:06:08.980
 and are going astray

00:06:08.980 --> 00:06:10.640
 since he himself

00:06:10.640 --> 00:06:12.439
 is subject to weakness.

00:06:13.439 --> 00:06:14.100
 This is why

00:06:14.100 --> 00:06:16.180
 he has to offer sacrifices

00:06:16.180 --> 00:06:17.540
 for his own sins

00:06:17.540 --> 00:06:19.960
 as well as for the sins of the people.

00:06:21.139 --> 00:06:23.840
 No one takes this honor upon himself.

00:06:23.839 --> 00:06:25.779
 He must be called by God

00:06:25.779 --> 00:06:28.099
 just as Aaron was.

00:06:30.039 --> 00:06:31.639
 So Christ also

00:06:31.639 --> 00:06:33.599
 did not take upon himself

00:06:33.599 --> 00:06:36.019
 the glory of becoming a high priest.

00:06:36.819 --> 00:06:37.899
 But God said to him,

00:06:38.439 --> 00:06:39.560
 You are my son.

00:06:39.939 --> 00:06:41.799
 Today I have become your father.

00:06:42.620 --> 00:06:44.319
 And he says in another place,

00:06:45.120 --> 00:06:46.719
 You are a priest forever

00:06:46.719 --> 00:06:49.299
 in the order of Melchizedek.

00:06:50.419 --> 00:06:53.059
 During the days of Jesus' life on earth,

00:06:53.060 --> 00:06:55.240
 he offered up prayers and petitions

00:06:55.240 --> 00:06:57.500
 with loud cries and tears

00:06:57.500 --> 00:06:59.980
 to the one who could save him from death.

00:07:00.620 --> 00:07:01.519
 And he was heard

00:07:01.519 --> 00:07:03.920
 because of his reverent submission.

00:07:05.160 --> 00:07:06.680
 Although he was a son,

00:07:07.360 --> 00:07:08.000
 he learned obedience

00:07:08.000 --> 00:07:10.100
 from what he suffered.

00:07:11.860 --> 00:07:13.959
 And once made perfect,

00:07:14.360 --> 00:07:17.019
 he became the source of eternal salvation

00:07:17.019 --> 00:07:19.100
 for all who obey him

00:07:19.100 --> 00:07:21.700
 and was designated by God

00:07:21.700 --> 00:07:23.820
 to be a high priest

00:07:23.820 --> 00:07:26.439
 in the order of Melchizedek.

00:07:28.120 --> 00:07:29.820
 There's our passage.

00:07:30.300 --> 00:07:31.860
 And it has, I'm guessing,

00:07:32.020 --> 00:07:33.540
 some unfamiliar things in it

00:07:33.540 --> 00:07:35.620
 as well as some quite familiar things.

00:07:36.100 --> 00:07:37.240
 I wonder if you picked out

00:07:37.240 --> 00:07:39.080
 today's key term.

00:07:41.660 --> 00:07:42.980
 High priest.

00:07:43.320 --> 00:07:44.580
 Did you pick out the half?

00:07:44.579 --> 00:07:46.479
 A priest.

00:07:46.699 --> 00:07:48.839
 Well, I'll hold a sharp crew this morning.

00:07:49.139 --> 00:07:51.079
 This is really building my confidence.

00:07:52.459 --> 00:07:54.579
 Yes, this is all about the high priest.

00:07:54.699 --> 00:07:56.740
 Now, why a high priest?

00:07:56.819 --> 00:07:57.639
 Why a priest?

00:07:58.039 --> 00:07:58.839
 And we need to spend

00:07:58.839 --> 00:08:00.039
 some of our time this morning

00:08:00.039 --> 00:08:01.599
 just thinking about what it is

00:08:01.599 --> 00:08:03.279
 that makes this the thing

00:08:03.279 --> 00:08:04.839
 that the writer goes to

00:08:04.839 --> 00:08:06.860
 in order to encourage these Christians

00:08:06.860 --> 00:08:09.919
 as they face this temptation

00:08:09.919 --> 00:08:11.779
 to turn away.

00:08:11.779 --> 00:08:13.859
 Well, the passage clearly divides

00:08:13.859 --> 00:08:15.379
 into three chunks,

00:08:15.559 --> 00:08:16.259
 three paragraphs,

00:08:16.559 --> 00:08:17.879
 and we'll take them in turn,

00:08:18.579 --> 00:08:20.099
 starting first with

00:08:20.099 --> 00:08:23.159
 the end of chapter 4,

00:08:23.259 --> 00:08:25.259
 the verses that Neil read to us

00:08:25.259 --> 00:08:27.239
 before our prayer together,

00:08:27.799 --> 00:08:28.619
 in which we think about

00:08:28.619 --> 00:08:30.679
 the high priest and prayer.

00:08:31.500 --> 00:08:34.919
 Second, in verses 1 through 5

00:08:34.919 --> 00:08:35.899
 of chapter 5,

00:08:36.019 --> 00:08:37.740
 we think of 1 through 4, rather,

00:08:37.980 --> 00:08:39.419
 the high priest and the people.

00:08:39.419 --> 00:08:42.219
 And thirdly, the rest of chapter 5,

00:08:42.319 --> 00:08:43.740
 the high priest and perfection.

00:08:44.319 --> 00:08:45.759
 So the high priest in relation

00:08:45.759 --> 00:08:48.559
 to each of these three focuses,

00:08:49.319 --> 00:08:51.819
 prayer, people, and perfection.

00:08:52.500 --> 00:08:54.620
 So we begin with the high priest

00:08:54.620 --> 00:08:55.939
 and prayer.

00:08:57.099 --> 00:08:58.500
 Well, as we've noted already,

00:08:58.620 --> 00:08:59.679
 the previous section

00:08:59.679 --> 00:09:01.360
 ended on this ominous note,

00:09:01.519 --> 00:09:02.559
 something you're going to have

00:09:02.559 --> 00:09:03.620
 to give account.

00:09:03.740 --> 00:09:05.379
 And there's a clear note

00:09:05.379 --> 00:09:06.820
 of warning there.

00:09:07.639 --> 00:09:09.539
 This aspect of God's word

00:09:09.539 --> 00:09:10.759
 as being something living,

00:09:11.340 --> 00:09:12.899
 powerful, active.

00:09:13.939 --> 00:09:15.700
 There is more that's going

00:09:15.700 --> 00:09:17.120
 to strike fear to come.

00:09:17.679 --> 00:09:19.659
 But first, there's this note

00:09:19.659 --> 00:09:20.559
 of encouragement.

00:09:21.299 --> 00:09:23.039
 Quite appropriate that it was read

00:09:23.039 --> 00:09:24.120
 before our prayers,

00:09:24.439 --> 00:09:26.419
 because it is an invitation

00:09:26.419 --> 00:09:27.700
 to prayer,

00:09:27.860 --> 00:09:28.700
 an encouragement.

00:09:29.679 --> 00:09:30.440
 And in fact,

00:09:30.440 --> 00:09:32.100
 in one sense,

00:09:32.180 --> 00:09:33.220
 if we're used to a sort of

00:09:33.220 --> 00:09:34.580
 standard sermon pattern

00:09:34.580 --> 00:09:36.640
 where we get our stuff,

00:09:36.860 --> 00:09:37.840
 and then at the end

00:09:37.840 --> 00:09:38.900
 you get the application,

00:09:39.580 --> 00:09:40.860
 well, this passage

00:09:40.860 --> 00:09:43.060
 has the application front-loaded.

00:09:43.380 --> 00:09:45.280
 It's here in these first few verses

00:09:45.280 --> 00:09:46.660
 that we get some instructions,

00:09:46.860 --> 00:09:47.700
 some encouragement

00:09:47.700 --> 00:09:50.440
 about what we are to do.

00:09:51.460 --> 00:09:52.620
 The book of Hebrews

00:09:52.620 --> 00:09:54.740
 does have some clear commands.

00:09:55.360 --> 00:09:57.320
 The first one comes in chapter 3,

00:09:57.320 --> 00:09:58.360
 as we've seen already.

00:09:58.360 --> 00:10:00.480
 Consider Jesus.

00:10:01.580 --> 00:10:02.879
 And there's several more commands

00:10:02.879 --> 00:10:03.800
 in chapter 3.

00:10:04.100 --> 00:10:05.539
 And then they sort of disappear.

00:10:06.480 --> 00:10:07.960
 Sort of, they do disappear.

00:10:08.080 --> 00:10:09.519
 The next time we see commands

00:10:09.519 --> 00:10:12.100
 is in chapter 7, in fact,

00:10:12.320 --> 00:10:14.340
 and then through the rest

00:10:14.340 --> 00:10:15.060
 of the letter.

00:10:15.500 --> 00:10:17.519
 So here, the instructions we have

00:10:17.519 --> 00:10:19.300
 don't come by way of command.

00:10:20.000 --> 00:10:22.000
 They come by way of encouragement.

00:10:22.519 --> 00:10:23.700
 Now, I hope you've picked up

00:10:23.700 --> 00:10:24.360
 that language

00:10:24.360 --> 00:10:25.879
 of how the writer to the Hebrews

00:10:25.879 --> 00:10:28.220
 is together with these people

00:10:28.220 --> 00:10:28.920
 in this.

00:10:29.920 --> 00:10:31.040
 And so there's two

00:10:31.040 --> 00:10:32.620
 specific instructions

00:10:32.620 --> 00:10:33.420
 he gives.

00:10:34.060 --> 00:10:35.800
 Let us hold firmly

00:10:35.800 --> 00:10:37.139
 and let us

00:10:37.139 --> 00:10:40.399
 approach the throne of grace.

00:10:41.440 --> 00:10:42.720
 Let us do this.

00:10:43.399 --> 00:10:44.860
 We have a great high priest.

00:10:44.960 --> 00:10:46.100
 Let us hold firmly.

00:10:46.379 --> 00:10:48.259
 We have a priest

00:10:48.259 --> 00:10:50.200
 who is able to empathize

00:10:50.200 --> 00:10:51.200
 with our weakness,

00:10:51.340 --> 00:10:51.860
 and so on.

00:10:52.500 --> 00:10:53.899
 We're in this together.

00:10:53.899 --> 00:10:56.679
 But it's not just about believers

00:10:56.679 --> 00:10:57.879
 being in this together.

00:10:59.259 --> 00:11:00.279
 Christians are those

00:11:00.279 --> 00:11:01.419
 who have this,

00:11:02.419 --> 00:11:04.679
 as the writer introduces him here,

00:11:04.919 --> 00:11:06.720
 great high priest.

00:11:07.720 --> 00:11:08.840
 I mean, a high priest

00:11:08.840 --> 00:11:09.919
 is pretty great.

00:11:10.579 --> 00:11:11.799
 But you don't normally say

00:11:11.799 --> 00:11:12.879
 the great high priest.

00:11:13.120 --> 00:11:15.019
 It's built into the high priest bit.

00:11:15.279 --> 00:11:16.220
 The word's a little bit

00:11:16.220 --> 00:11:17.600
 like our word archbishop,

00:11:17.720 --> 00:11:18.199
 in fact.

00:11:18.919 --> 00:11:20.519
 Bishop, yeah, that's okay.

00:11:21.039 --> 00:11:21.639
 Archbishop.

00:11:21.639 --> 00:11:23.100
 That's pretty special.

00:11:23.220 --> 00:11:24.080
 And it's one word.

00:11:24.539 --> 00:11:25.539
 Same in Greek.

00:11:25.899 --> 00:11:26.980
 Priest is one word.

00:11:27.039 --> 00:11:27.620
 But here we have

00:11:27.620 --> 00:11:28.720
 an archpriest.

00:11:29.500 --> 00:11:30.019
 Archierus.

00:11:30.919 --> 00:11:32.519
 And that's what we have in mind.

00:11:32.559 --> 00:11:35.179
 But this is a great high priest.

00:11:36.960 --> 00:11:37.159
 And

00:11:37.159 --> 00:11:42.240
 these verses are just amazing.

00:11:42.240 --> 00:11:46.299
 As you pause and ponder them,

00:11:46.740 --> 00:11:47.659
 we have in them

00:11:47.659 --> 00:11:49.039
 the whole of the argument

00:11:49.039 --> 00:11:50.240
 of the opening part

00:11:50.240 --> 00:11:50.799
 of the book,

00:11:51.019 --> 00:11:51.639
 in fact.

00:11:52.440 --> 00:11:53.820
 Here we have Jesus,

00:11:54.019 --> 00:11:55.139
 who is the Son of God,

00:11:55.240 --> 00:11:56.860
 the exact representation

00:11:56.860 --> 00:11:57.980
 of the divine image,

00:11:58.039 --> 00:11:59.480
 who's passed through the heavens.

00:11:59.659 --> 00:12:00.980
 He's ascended to the heavens.

00:12:01.860 --> 00:12:02.680
 It's pretty special

00:12:02.680 --> 00:12:03.680
 for a high priest.

00:12:04.480 --> 00:12:05.700
 But he's not only the one

00:12:05.700 --> 00:12:07.659
 who, like chapter 1 of Hebrews,

00:12:07.840 --> 00:12:09.159
 is the Son of God

00:12:09.159 --> 00:12:09.899
 and divine,

00:12:09.899 --> 00:12:11.439
 but he is the one

00:12:11.439 --> 00:12:13.639
 who sympathizes

00:12:13.639 --> 00:12:15.179
 with us in our weaknesses,

00:12:15.179 --> 00:12:16.319
 who's been tempted

00:12:16.319 --> 00:12:17.100
 in every way

00:12:17.100 --> 00:12:18.299
 as we are.

00:12:19.000 --> 00:12:20.019
 He's one of us too.

00:12:20.159 --> 00:12:21.759
 There's Hebrews chapter 2.

00:12:22.340 --> 00:12:23.539
 And there's an encouragement

00:12:23.539 --> 00:12:24.299
 then to

00:12:24.299 --> 00:12:25.620
 heed this,

00:12:25.740 --> 00:12:26.720
 to hold it,

00:12:26.959 --> 00:12:28.299
 and to approach,

00:12:28.699 --> 00:12:29.459
 which is essentially

00:12:29.459 --> 00:12:30.179
 what we have

00:12:30.179 --> 00:12:33.039
 in chapters 3 and 4.

00:12:33.039 --> 00:12:34.539
 And in fact,

00:12:34.799 --> 00:12:36.059
 we've heard something

00:12:36.059 --> 00:12:37.219
 of these words before.

00:12:37.319 --> 00:12:38.059
 There was a trailer

00:12:38.059 --> 00:12:39.139
 for this already

00:12:39.139 --> 00:12:40.839
 in the end

00:12:40.839 --> 00:12:42.599
 of Hebrews chapter 2.

00:12:43.539 --> 00:12:44.379
 For this reason,

00:12:44.620 --> 00:12:45.319
 the writer says,

00:12:45.459 --> 00:12:46.559
 he, that's Jesus,

00:12:46.919 --> 00:12:48.379
 had to be made like them,

00:12:48.919 --> 00:12:49.620
 fully human

00:12:49.620 --> 00:12:50.699
 in every way,

00:12:51.199 --> 00:12:52.240
 in order that he might

00:12:52.240 --> 00:12:53.779
 become a merciful

00:12:53.779 --> 00:12:54.559
 and faithful

00:12:54.559 --> 00:12:55.599
 high priest.

00:12:56.059 --> 00:12:56.919
 That's the first time

00:12:56.919 --> 00:12:57.899
 we see it in the letter.

00:12:58.579 --> 00:12:59.959
 In service to God,

00:13:00.599 --> 00:13:01.959
 that he might make atonement

00:13:01.960 --> 00:13:03.220
 for the sins of the people.

00:13:03.800 --> 00:13:05.000
 Because he himself

00:13:05.000 --> 00:13:06.920
 suffered when he was tempted,

00:13:06.920 --> 00:13:08.940
 he is able to help those

00:13:08.940 --> 00:13:10.420
 who are being tempted.

00:13:11.160 --> 00:13:12.759
 So no ordinary

00:13:12.759 --> 00:13:14.019
 high priest.

00:13:15.139 --> 00:13:15.740
 And the two

00:13:15.740 --> 00:13:17.379
 specific pieces

00:13:17.379 --> 00:13:18.320
 of encouragement

00:13:18.320 --> 00:13:19.960
 or exhortation,

00:13:20.440 --> 00:13:21.980
 a little bit like coach,

00:13:22.320 --> 00:13:23.280
 come on,

00:13:23.639 --> 00:13:24.700
 let's do it,

00:13:25.220 --> 00:13:26.840
 come in these two

00:13:26.840 --> 00:13:29.280
 injunctions,

00:13:29.480 --> 00:13:30.440
 specific pieces

00:13:30.440 --> 00:13:31.139
 of encouragement

00:13:31.139 --> 00:13:32.600
 that the writer

00:13:32.600 --> 00:13:33.199
 has given.

00:13:33.539 --> 00:13:34.159
 And we'll just take

00:13:34.159 --> 00:13:35.100
 a moment to reflect

00:13:35.100 --> 00:13:36.620
 on each of those.

00:13:37.100 --> 00:13:37.460
 First,

00:13:37.879 --> 00:13:38.799
 let us,

00:13:38.939 --> 00:13:39.759
 because we have

00:13:39.759 --> 00:13:41.019
 someone who's ascended

00:13:41.019 --> 00:13:41.899
 into the heavens

00:13:41.899 --> 00:13:43.960
 as our high priest,

00:13:45.000 --> 00:13:46.840
 let's hold firmly

00:13:46.840 --> 00:13:48.019
 to the faith

00:13:48.019 --> 00:13:49.199
 we profess.

00:13:49.919 --> 00:13:50.819
 Well, hold firmly

00:13:50.819 --> 00:13:51.799
 here is a pretty

00:13:51.799 --> 00:13:52.860
 strong word.

00:13:53.120 --> 00:13:54.039
 It's the sort of word

00:13:54.039 --> 00:13:54.980
 you'd use if you want

00:13:54.980 --> 00:13:55.919
 to lay hold

00:13:55.919 --> 00:13:56.879
 of something,

00:13:57.100 --> 00:13:57.539
 seize it.

00:13:57.539 --> 00:13:58.240
 It's a word

00:13:58.240 --> 00:13:58.939
 that could be used

00:13:58.939 --> 00:13:59.959
 in context

00:13:59.959 --> 00:14:01.099
 of arrest,

00:14:01.099 --> 00:14:02.259
 to take someone

00:14:02.259 --> 00:14:03.099
 under custody.

00:14:03.959 --> 00:14:04.679
 And as one of the

00:14:04.679 --> 00:14:05.879
 older commentators

00:14:05.879 --> 00:14:06.399
 puts it,

00:14:06.439 --> 00:14:07.159
 we have in this

00:14:07.159 --> 00:14:10.279
 encouragement

00:14:10.279 --> 00:14:11.679
 to hold on

00:14:11.679 --> 00:14:13.819
 something that gives

00:14:13.819 --> 00:14:15.839
 an indication

00:14:15.839 --> 00:14:17.360
 of danger

00:14:17.360 --> 00:14:18.980
 as well

00:14:18.980 --> 00:14:20.879
 as an incitement

00:14:20.879 --> 00:14:21.980
 to effort.

00:14:21.980 --> 00:14:22.039
 word.

00:14:23.180 --> 00:14:25.440
 That note we heard

00:14:25.440 --> 00:14:26.800
 as we went

00:14:26.800 --> 00:14:27.440
 from the living

00:14:27.440 --> 00:14:28.800
 and active word,

00:14:28.940 --> 00:14:29.560
 and we'll all

00:14:29.560 --> 00:14:30.440
 have to give account,

00:14:30.779 --> 00:14:31.639
 there's still some

00:14:31.639 --> 00:14:33.039
 urgency in the air.

00:14:33.139 --> 00:14:34.100
 As this writer says,

00:14:34.500 --> 00:14:35.440
 hold on.

00:14:36.700 --> 00:14:37.399
 It's not

00:14:37.399 --> 00:14:38.659
 just a sort of calm.

00:14:38.720 --> 00:14:39.200
 All right then,

00:14:39.279 --> 00:14:39.620
 everybody,

00:14:39.620 --> 00:14:40.039
 you know,

00:14:40.340 --> 00:14:41.740
 like taking your

00:14:41.740 --> 00:14:43.740
 primary two class

00:14:43.740 --> 00:14:44.460
 on an outing.

00:14:44.639 --> 00:14:45.720
 Hold on to the room.

00:14:46.279 --> 00:14:46.639
 It's not,

00:14:46.920 --> 00:14:47.460
 well, you do want

00:14:47.460 --> 00:14:48.019
 them to hold on

00:14:48.019 --> 00:14:48.920
 tightly, don't you?

00:14:49.080 --> 00:14:49.560
 You don't want

00:14:49.560 --> 00:14:50.620
 everyone going astray.

00:14:50.620 --> 00:14:52.820
 But this is cling on.

00:14:53.919 --> 00:14:54.919
 You're at risk.

00:14:55.639 --> 00:14:56.200
 Hang on.

00:14:57.320 --> 00:14:57.980
 And what are they

00:14:57.980 --> 00:14:58.919
 to hold on to?

00:15:00.259 --> 00:15:00.620
 Well,

00:15:01.259 --> 00:15:01.980
 the NIV

00:15:01.980 --> 00:15:03.379
 slightly unpacks

00:15:03.379 --> 00:15:04.340
 it for us already.

00:15:04.480 --> 00:15:05.519
 Let us hold firmly

00:15:05.519 --> 00:15:06.279
 to the faith

00:15:06.279 --> 00:15:07.039
 we profess.

00:15:07.419 --> 00:15:08.580
 What it simply says

00:15:08.580 --> 00:15:10.139
 is let's hold fast,

00:15:10.240 --> 00:15:10.700
 as some of the

00:15:10.700 --> 00:15:11.620
 older translations

00:15:11.620 --> 00:15:12.120
 put it,

00:15:12.480 --> 00:15:13.460
 our confession.

00:15:14.419 --> 00:15:15.440
 Let's hold fast

00:15:15.440 --> 00:15:16.560
 our profession.

00:15:16.799 --> 00:15:17.759
 That is something

00:15:17.759 --> 00:15:18.799
 that we say.

00:15:19.680 --> 00:15:20.180
 There's something

00:15:20.179 --> 00:15:21.199
 about our speech

00:15:21.199 --> 00:15:21.559
 here.

00:15:22.239 --> 00:15:23.299
 And what is this?

00:15:24.099 --> 00:15:25.000
 Is it confession

00:15:25.000 --> 00:15:25.579
 in the sense

00:15:25.579 --> 00:15:26.259
 of what we did

00:15:26.259 --> 00:15:26.959
 together at the

00:15:26.959 --> 00:15:27.579
 beginning of our

00:15:27.579 --> 00:15:27.899
 service?

00:15:27.979 --> 00:15:29.819
 We confess our sins.

00:15:30.779 --> 00:15:31.479
 No, it's not

00:15:31.479 --> 00:15:32.379
 quite that

00:15:32.379 --> 00:15:33.279
 in the book of Hebrews.

00:15:33.979 --> 00:15:35.379
 Or is confession

00:15:35.379 --> 00:15:36.079
 the other thing

00:15:36.079 --> 00:15:36.899
 that we sometimes

00:15:36.899 --> 00:15:38.399
 say as a set

00:15:38.399 --> 00:15:39.099
 of doctrines

00:15:39.099 --> 00:15:39.859
 or beliefs,

00:15:40.239 --> 00:15:40.399
 you know,

00:15:40.399 --> 00:15:41.319
 like the Westminster

00:15:41.319 --> 00:15:42.120
 Confession

00:15:42.120 --> 00:15:42.539
 or the

00:15:42.539 --> 00:15:44.419
 Belgic Confession

00:15:44.419 --> 00:15:45.120
 or whatever

00:15:45.120 --> 00:15:46.240
 confession that

00:15:46.240 --> 00:15:46.859
 might be

00:15:46.859 --> 00:15:47.859
 that summarizes

00:15:47.860 --> 00:15:48.600
 our beliefs.

00:15:48.740 --> 00:15:49.960
 And it's not

00:15:49.960 --> 00:15:50.980
 quite the way

00:15:50.980 --> 00:15:51.800
 Hebrews uses

00:15:51.800 --> 00:15:52.700
 the term either.

00:15:53.700 --> 00:15:54.759
 What our writer

00:15:54.759 --> 00:15:55.580
 has in mind,

00:15:55.860 --> 00:15:56.580
 and we know this

00:15:56.580 --> 00:15:57.480
 because he uses

00:15:57.480 --> 00:15:58.519
 the term repeatedly

00:15:58.519 --> 00:15:59.379
 throughout the

00:15:59.379 --> 00:15:59.659
 letter,

00:16:00.600 --> 00:16:03.159
 is Jesus

00:16:03.159 --> 00:16:04.940
 himself.

00:16:05.879 --> 00:16:07.240
 He is the one

00:16:07.240 --> 00:16:08.899
 that we confess

00:16:08.899 --> 00:16:10.440
 and profess.

00:16:11.440 --> 00:16:12.279
 And the clearest

00:16:12.279 --> 00:16:13.800
 place we see this

00:16:13.800 --> 00:16:14.580
 comes actually

00:16:14.580 --> 00:16:15.539
 towards the end

00:16:15.539 --> 00:16:16.120
 of the letter

00:16:16.120 --> 00:16:18.779
 in Hebrews 13.

00:16:20.240 --> 00:16:21.019
 Through Jesus,

00:16:21.279 --> 00:16:21.599
 therefore,

00:16:21.740 --> 00:16:22.799
 let us continually

00:16:22.799 --> 00:16:23.860
 offer to God

00:16:23.860 --> 00:16:24.779
 a sacrifice

00:16:24.779 --> 00:16:25.759
 of praise,

00:16:26.480 --> 00:16:27.039
 the fruit

00:16:27.039 --> 00:16:28.199
 of lips

00:16:28.199 --> 00:16:29.439
 that openly

00:16:29.439 --> 00:16:30.559
 profess,

00:16:30.860 --> 00:16:31.439
 it's the same

00:16:31.439 --> 00:16:32.199
 word as we have

00:16:32.199 --> 00:16:32.500
 here,

00:16:33.459 --> 00:16:34.259
 his name,

00:16:34.480 --> 00:16:34.879
 that is,

00:16:34.939 --> 00:16:35.819
 the name of Jesus.

00:16:36.799 --> 00:16:37.459
 And it's quite

00:16:37.459 --> 00:16:38.339
 striking that the

00:16:38.339 --> 00:16:38.860
 thing then that

00:16:38.860 --> 00:16:39.779
 they have to cling

00:16:39.779 --> 00:16:41.599
 to desperately

00:16:41.599 --> 00:16:44.579
 is a profession,

00:16:44.580 --> 00:16:46.220
 a statement.

00:16:46.660 --> 00:16:47.540
 It's the speaking

00:16:47.540 --> 00:16:48.100
 of the name

00:16:48.100 --> 00:16:48.639
 of Jesus

00:16:48.639 --> 00:16:49.660
 that, in fact,

00:16:49.879 --> 00:16:50.840
 is part of their

00:16:50.840 --> 00:16:51.720
 worship and then

00:16:51.720 --> 00:16:53.600
 infuses and orients

00:16:53.600 --> 00:16:54.639
 the whole of their

00:16:54.639 --> 00:16:55.220
 lives.

00:16:56.060 --> 00:16:57.180
 So that's the first

00:16:57.180 --> 00:16:58.360
 encouragement to hold

00:16:58.360 --> 00:16:59.580
 firmly the faith

00:16:59.580 --> 00:17:00.480
 we profess

00:17:00.480 --> 00:17:01.639
 that our confession,

00:17:02.160 --> 00:17:02.820
 that confession

00:17:02.820 --> 00:17:03.960
 being Jesus

00:17:03.960 --> 00:17:04.640
 himself.

00:17:05.759 --> 00:17:06.620
 But the second

00:17:06.620 --> 00:17:08.259
 thing is what

00:17:08.259 --> 00:17:09.000
 we've done already

00:17:09.000 --> 00:17:09.700
 this morning

00:17:09.700 --> 00:17:10.960
 in verse 16.

00:17:11.480 --> 00:17:12.360
 Let us approach

00:17:12.360 --> 00:17:13.799
 God's throne of grace

00:17:13.799 --> 00:17:14.619
 with confidence

00:17:14.619 --> 00:17:15.960
 so that we may

00:17:15.960 --> 00:17:16.819
 receive mercy

00:17:16.819 --> 00:17:17.799
 and find grace

00:17:17.799 --> 00:17:18.680
 to help in time

00:17:18.680 --> 00:17:19.220
 of need.

00:17:20.000 --> 00:17:20.379
 Well, if the

00:17:20.379 --> 00:17:21.099
 encouragement to

00:17:21.099 --> 00:17:21.960
 hold fast

00:17:21.960 --> 00:17:23.019
 comes off the

00:17:23.019 --> 00:17:23.799
 back of noting

00:17:23.799 --> 00:17:24.700
 that Jesus is the

00:17:24.700 --> 00:17:25.519
 one who's passed

00:17:25.519 --> 00:17:26.399
 through the heavens,

00:17:27.519 --> 00:17:28.599
 this encouragement

00:17:28.599 --> 00:17:30.059
 here to approach

00:17:30.059 --> 00:17:31.159
 with confidence

00:17:31.159 --> 00:17:32.299
 comes off the

00:17:32.299 --> 00:17:32.960
 back of noting

00:17:32.960 --> 00:17:33.799
 that he's just

00:17:33.799 --> 00:17:34.619
 like us,

00:17:34.960 --> 00:17:35.579
 again like

00:17:35.579 --> 00:17:36.700
 Hebrews chapters

00:17:36.700 --> 00:17:38.339
 one and two.

00:17:38.339 --> 00:17:41.759
 he's been tempted

00:17:41.759 --> 00:17:42.859
 it says in every

00:17:42.859 --> 00:17:44.359
 way as we are.

00:17:44.439 --> 00:17:45.279
 Well, what's in

00:17:45.279 --> 00:17:47.179
 mind with this

00:17:47.179 --> 00:17:47.959
 temptation?

00:17:48.879 --> 00:17:49.539
 And I don't think

00:17:49.539 --> 00:17:50.559
 it's so much to do

00:17:50.559 --> 00:17:51.319
 with the temptation

00:17:51.319 --> 00:17:52.019
 to sin,

00:17:52.439 --> 00:17:53.319
 to do wrong,

00:17:53.459 --> 00:17:54.159
 although in a sense

00:17:54.159 --> 00:17:55.299
 that it is about

00:17:55.299 --> 00:17:55.659
 that.

00:17:56.500 --> 00:17:57.139
 There's something

00:17:57.139 --> 00:17:58.599
 else that's worrying

00:17:58.599 --> 00:17:59.599
 these Jewish

00:17:59.599 --> 00:18:00.319
 believers.

00:18:02.559 --> 00:18:03.699
 Their fear

00:18:03.699 --> 00:18:04.480
 seems to be

00:18:04.480 --> 00:18:05.699
 that their sin

00:18:05.699 --> 00:18:06.439
 is separating

00:18:06.440 --> 00:18:07.380
 them from God

00:18:07.380 --> 00:18:09.360
 and they have

00:18:09.360 --> 00:18:10.120
 no priest.

00:18:10.920 --> 00:18:11.799
 They've got no

00:18:11.799 --> 00:18:12.140
 priest,

00:18:12.240 --> 00:18:12.820
 they've got no

00:18:12.820 --> 00:18:13.580
 sacrifice.

00:18:14.360 --> 00:18:14.980
 They've got no

00:18:14.980 --> 00:18:15.700
 sacrifice,

00:18:16.600 --> 00:18:17.039
 they've got

00:18:17.039 --> 00:18:18.200
 no forgiveness.

00:18:19.200 --> 00:18:19.980
 And if they've

00:18:19.980 --> 00:18:20.880
 got no forgiveness,

00:18:21.940 --> 00:18:22.880
 they're separated

00:18:22.880 --> 00:18:24.000
 from God.

00:18:25.059 --> 00:18:25.960
 If that's

00:18:25.960 --> 00:18:27.080
 the temptation

00:18:27.080 --> 00:18:27.799
 and the temptation

00:18:27.799 --> 00:18:28.539
 is to

00:18:28.539 --> 00:18:30.220
 avoid somehow

00:18:30.220 --> 00:18:31.759
 the salvation

00:18:31.759 --> 00:18:32.380
 that's offered

00:18:32.380 --> 00:18:32.920
 in Jesus

00:18:32.920 --> 00:18:33.880
 and to return

00:18:33.880 --> 00:18:34.620
 to some other

00:18:34.620 --> 00:18:35.980
 kind of salvation,

00:18:35.980 --> 00:18:37.120
 the words

00:18:37.120 --> 00:18:37.559
 of the writer

00:18:37.559 --> 00:18:38.360
 here are a bit

00:18:38.360 --> 00:18:39.140
 interesting because

00:18:39.140 --> 00:18:39.920
 we don't leave

00:18:39.920 --> 00:18:40.860
 speech behind.

00:18:41.500 --> 00:18:41.940
 If we were

00:18:41.940 --> 00:18:42.460
 writing this,

00:18:42.519 --> 00:18:43.259
 we might go on

00:18:43.259 --> 00:18:44.140
 to sacrifice

00:18:44.140 --> 00:18:45.059
 now that Jesus

00:18:45.059 --> 00:18:45.839
 laid down his

00:18:45.839 --> 00:18:46.579
 life for us.

00:18:47.180 --> 00:18:47.539
 It's not,

00:18:47.779 --> 00:18:48.240
 in fact,

00:18:48.339 --> 00:18:48.960
 where the writer

00:18:48.960 --> 00:18:49.559
 goes.

00:18:50.660 --> 00:18:51.180
 The writer

00:18:51.180 --> 00:18:52.279
 invites us,

00:18:52.519 --> 00:18:53.480
 encourages us,

00:18:53.620 --> 00:18:54.720
 exhorts us,

00:18:55.000 --> 00:18:55.920
 urges us

00:18:55.920 --> 00:18:57.500
 to approach

00:18:57.500 --> 00:18:59.200
 with confidence.

00:19:00.839 --> 00:19:01.420
 And if our

00:19:01.420 --> 00:19:02.019
 previous

00:19:02.019 --> 00:19:03.759
 exhortation

00:19:03.759 --> 00:19:04.460
 had this

00:19:04.460 --> 00:19:05.059
 hint of

00:19:05.059 --> 00:19:05.920
 danger in

00:19:05.920 --> 00:19:06.119
 it,

00:19:06.500 --> 00:19:07.259
 this word

00:19:07.259 --> 00:19:08.059
 has a

00:19:08.059 --> 00:19:08.980
 strong sense

00:19:08.980 --> 00:19:10.200
 of courage

00:19:10.200 --> 00:19:11.059
 to come

00:19:11.059 --> 00:19:11.940
 boldly

00:19:11.940 --> 00:19:13.579
 into God's

00:19:13.579 --> 00:19:14.180
 presence,

00:19:14.960 --> 00:19:16.700
 to find

00:19:16.700 --> 00:19:17.420
 grace to

00:19:17.420 --> 00:19:18.019
 help us

00:19:18.019 --> 00:19:18.779
 in our time

00:19:18.779 --> 00:19:19.379
 of need.

00:19:19.759 --> 00:19:19.940
 I mean,

00:19:19.960 --> 00:19:20.539
 it's interesting

00:19:20.539 --> 00:19:21.019
 that the

00:19:21.019 --> 00:19:22.180
 ancient Jewish

00:19:22.180 --> 00:19:23.400
 writers applied

00:19:23.400 --> 00:19:24.339
 this kind of

00:19:24.339 --> 00:19:25.140
 boldness to

00:19:25.140 --> 00:19:25.640
 Abraham.

00:19:26.640 --> 00:19:26.779
 Now,

00:19:26.819 --> 00:19:27.559
 you remember

00:19:27.559 --> 00:19:28.779
 the father

00:19:28.779 --> 00:19:29.400
 Abraham,

00:19:29.640 --> 00:19:29.960
 the old

00:19:29.960 --> 00:19:30.460
 patriarch.

00:19:30.460 --> 00:19:30.720
 Mark,

00:19:32.220 --> 00:19:32.720
 for instance,

00:19:32.860 --> 00:19:33.299
 in Genesis

00:19:33.299 --> 00:19:34.059
 15,

00:19:35.100 --> 00:19:35.559
 one of the

00:19:35.559 --> 00:19:36.140
 times when

00:19:36.140 --> 00:19:36.819
 the Lord

00:19:36.819 --> 00:19:37.500
 comes and

00:19:37.500 --> 00:19:38.059
 speaks to

00:19:38.059 --> 00:19:38.660
 Abraham and

00:19:38.660 --> 00:19:38.779
 says,

00:19:38.880 --> 00:19:39.180
 I'm your

00:19:39.180 --> 00:19:39.880
 very great

00:19:39.880 --> 00:19:40.360
 reward.

00:19:42.000 --> 00:19:42.740
 And Abraham

00:19:42.740 --> 00:19:43.299
 says,

00:19:43.660 --> 00:19:44.759
 that's fine,

00:19:45.420 --> 00:19:46.000
 but I don't

00:19:46.000 --> 00:19:46.740
 have any

00:19:46.740 --> 00:19:47.200
 offspring.

00:19:47.840 --> 00:19:48.259
 And he's

00:19:48.259 --> 00:19:48.940
 received that

00:19:48.940 --> 00:19:49.460
 promise.

00:19:49.720 --> 00:19:50.240
 He would have

00:19:50.240 --> 00:19:50.660
 offspring.

00:19:50.880 --> 00:19:51.819
 So what's it

00:19:51.819 --> 00:19:52.120
 about?

00:19:52.720 --> 00:19:54.279
 Or at the

00:19:54.279 --> 00:19:55.220
 time before,

00:19:55.380 --> 00:19:56.140
 the destruction

00:19:56.140 --> 00:19:56.920
 of Sodom and

00:19:56.920 --> 00:19:57.279
 Gomorrah,

00:19:57.380 --> 00:19:57.960
 where Abraham

00:19:57.960 --> 00:19:59.100
 intercedes for

00:19:59.100 --> 00:19:59.539
 the righteous

00:19:59.539 --> 00:20:00.240
 of the city.

00:20:00.980 --> 00:20:02.860
 And ancient

00:20:02.860 --> 00:20:04.200
 Jewish commentators

00:20:04.200 --> 00:20:04.720
 had a sense

00:20:04.720 --> 00:20:05.340
 that this is

00:20:05.340 --> 00:20:05.920
 what it is to

00:20:05.920 --> 00:20:06.640
 come boldly

00:20:06.640 --> 00:20:07.279
 into God's

00:20:07.279 --> 00:20:07.759
 presence,

00:20:08.240 --> 00:20:08.840
 reverently,

00:20:09.840 --> 00:20:10.559
 deferently,

00:20:11.460 --> 00:20:12.319
 knowing the

00:20:12.319 --> 00:20:13.039
 promise of

00:20:13.039 --> 00:20:13.400
 God.

00:20:13.940 --> 00:20:14.700
 And even if

00:20:14.700 --> 00:20:15.140
 we come in

00:20:15.140 --> 00:20:15.920
 our perplexity

00:20:15.920 --> 00:20:16.519
 about how

00:20:16.519 --> 00:20:17.279
 that promise

00:20:17.279 --> 00:20:18.100
 is going to

00:20:18.100 --> 00:20:18.740
 be realized

00:20:18.740 --> 00:20:19.840
 in our lives

00:20:19.840 --> 00:20:21.079
 and situations.

00:20:21.700 --> 00:20:22.240
 And so this

00:20:22.240 --> 00:20:22.920
 writer says,

00:20:23.059 --> 00:20:23.720
 because we

00:20:23.720 --> 00:20:24.519
 have this

00:20:24.519 --> 00:20:25.220
 kind of high

00:20:25.220 --> 00:20:25.920
 priest who

00:20:25.920 --> 00:20:26.460
 knows what

00:20:26.460 --> 00:20:26.860
 it is to

00:20:26.860 --> 00:20:27.440
 be tempted,

00:20:28.620 --> 00:20:29.319
 we come

00:20:29.319 --> 00:20:30.619
 boldly,

00:20:30.619 --> 00:20:32.000
 with courage

00:20:32.000 --> 00:20:33.240
 into God's

00:20:33.240 --> 00:20:33.839
 presence,

00:20:34.339 --> 00:20:36.279
 to his

00:20:36.279 --> 00:20:37.220
 throne of

00:20:37.220 --> 00:20:37.720
 grace,

00:20:38.220 --> 00:20:38.599
 so that we

00:20:38.599 --> 00:20:39.159
 may find

00:20:39.159 --> 00:20:40.099
 help in

00:20:40.099 --> 00:20:40.579
 our time

00:20:40.579 --> 00:20:41.099
 of need.

00:20:42.480 --> 00:20:43.619
 So there's

00:20:43.619 --> 00:20:44.599
 a reverent

00:20:44.599 --> 00:20:45.259
 prayer in

00:20:45.259 --> 00:20:46.339
 response to

00:20:46.339 --> 00:20:46.839
 Jesus'

00:20:47.059 --> 00:20:47.939
 high priesthood

00:20:47.939 --> 00:20:48.839
 and what he

00:20:48.839 --> 00:20:49.379
 has done,

00:20:49.779 --> 00:20:50.919
 and the

00:20:50.919 --> 00:20:51.819
 fear that

00:20:51.819 --> 00:20:52.139
 will be

00:20:52.139 --> 00:20:52.960
 separated from

00:20:52.960 --> 00:20:53.480
 God, in

00:20:53.480 --> 00:20:53.759
 fact,

00:20:54.700 --> 00:20:55.579
 melts away

00:20:55.579 --> 00:20:57.099
 in responding

00:20:57.099 --> 00:20:57.599
 to what

00:20:57.599 --> 00:20:58.179
 Jesus has

00:20:58.179 --> 00:20:58.559
 done and

00:20:58.559 --> 00:20:59.339
 approaching

00:20:59.339 --> 00:21:00.319
 boldly.

00:21:02.579 --> 00:21:04.199
 Well, that's

00:21:04.199 --> 00:21:05.639
 the high

00:21:05.639 --> 00:21:06.779
 priest and

00:21:06.779 --> 00:21:07.500
 prayer.

00:21:08.179 --> 00:21:08.679
 But as we

00:21:08.679 --> 00:21:09.279
 move into

00:21:09.279 --> 00:21:09.779
 the letter,

00:21:11.219 --> 00:21:12.139
 we come to

00:21:12.139 --> 00:21:12.659
 the high

00:21:12.659 --> 00:21:13.519
 priest and

00:21:13.519 --> 00:21:14.199
 the people.

00:21:17.839 --> 00:21:18.699
 Having set

00:21:18.699 --> 00:21:19.159
 out that this

00:21:19.159 --> 00:21:19.759
 is who Jesus

00:21:19.759 --> 00:21:20.980
 is, trailed

00:21:20.980 --> 00:21:21.619
 it in chapter

00:21:21.619 --> 00:21:22.779
 two, now

00:21:22.779 --> 00:21:23.379
 starting to

00:21:23.379 --> 00:21:24.139
 unpack it at

00:21:24.139 --> 00:21:24.619
 the end of

00:21:24.619 --> 00:21:25.419
 chapter four,

00:21:25.420 --> 00:21:27.480
 chapter five,

00:21:29.000 --> 00:21:29.480
 our writer

00:21:29.480 --> 00:21:30.140
 stops and

00:21:30.140 --> 00:21:30.259
 says,

00:21:30.360 --> 00:21:30.960
 right, okay,

00:21:31.240 --> 00:21:31.920
 we know what

00:21:31.920 --> 00:21:32.600
 a high priest

00:21:32.600 --> 00:21:33.180
 is like.

00:21:33.840 --> 00:21:34.700
 This is what

00:21:34.700 --> 00:21:35.300
 a high priest

00:21:35.300 --> 00:21:35.700
 is.

00:21:36.000 --> 00:21:36.460
 And we have

00:21:36.460 --> 00:21:36.920
 to, at this

00:21:36.920 --> 00:21:37.980
 point, try to

00:21:37.980 --> 00:21:39.539
 imagine ourselves

00:21:39.539 --> 00:21:40.960
 into the,

00:21:41.580 --> 00:21:42.519
 if we can,

00:21:43.539 --> 00:21:45.019
 lives, minds,

00:21:45.580 --> 00:21:46.279
 orientation,

00:21:46.560 --> 00:21:47.940
 world of

00:21:47.940 --> 00:21:49.200
 first century

00:21:49.200 --> 00:21:50.340
 Jewish Christians

00:21:50.340 --> 00:21:52.800
 whose lives

00:21:52.800 --> 00:21:53.420
 and yearning

00:21:53.420 --> 00:21:54.019
 for God

00:21:54.019 --> 00:21:54.539
 have brought

00:21:54.539 --> 00:21:54.920
 them to

00:21:54.920 --> 00:21:55.300
 Christ,

00:21:55.420 --> 00:21:55.800
 the one

00:21:55.800 --> 00:21:56.220
 who has

00:21:56.220 --> 00:21:57.080
 fulfilled

00:21:57.080 --> 00:21:58.340
 the promises

00:21:58.340 --> 00:21:58.960
 and worship

00:21:58.960 --> 00:21:59.500
 of the Old

00:21:59.500 --> 00:21:59.960
 Testament,

00:22:00.940 --> 00:22:01.800
 but now

00:22:01.800 --> 00:22:03.480
 they're missing

00:22:03.480 --> 00:22:04.039
 something.

00:22:05.320 --> 00:22:06.259
 So, some

00:22:06.259 --> 00:22:06.560
 of these

00:22:06.560 --> 00:22:07.320
 longings come

00:22:07.320 --> 00:22:07.840
 out in these

00:22:07.840 --> 00:22:09.279
 verses in

00:22:09.279 --> 00:22:10.420
 chapter five,

00:22:10.500 --> 00:22:11.080
 verses one

00:22:11.080 --> 00:22:11.640
 to four.

00:22:14.060 --> 00:22:14.779
 And we

00:22:14.779 --> 00:22:15.220
 might ask

00:22:15.220 --> 00:22:15.600
 ourselves,

00:22:15.800 --> 00:22:16.519
 why a priest?

00:22:17.340 --> 00:22:18.700
 Why a high

00:22:18.700 --> 00:22:19.120
 priest?

00:22:19.640 --> 00:22:20.539
 What's good

00:22:20.539 --> 00:22:21.480
 about a high

00:22:21.480 --> 00:22:22.019
 priest that

00:22:22.019 --> 00:22:22.800
 might be

00:22:22.800 --> 00:22:24.480
 something of

00:22:24.480 --> 00:22:25.120
 my yearning

00:22:25.120 --> 00:22:25.799
 or even

00:22:25.799 --> 00:22:26.500
 a temptation

00:22:26.500 --> 00:22:27.099
 for me?

00:22:27.880 --> 00:22:28.480
 And here

00:22:28.480 --> 00:22:28.839
 we get

00:22:28.839 --> 00:22:29.579
 something of

00:22:29.579 --> 00:22:30.259
 the context

00:22:30.259 --> 00:22:30.599
 in that.

00:22:30.700 --> 00:22:30.980
 Of course,

00:22:31.039 --> 00:22:31.620
 it's very

00:22:31.620 --> 00:22:32.259
 brief, but

00:22:32.259 --> 00:22:32.599
 it just

00:22:32.599 --> 00:22:33.460
 hits the

00:22:33.460 --> 00:22:33.740
 sort of

00:22:33.740 --> 00:22:34.339
 top

00:22:34.339 --> 00:22:34.940
 checklist

00:22:34.940 --> 00:22:35.599
 of things

00:22:35.599 --> 00:22:36.299
 that this

00:22:36.299 --> 00:22:36.599
 is what

00:22:36.599 --> 00:22:37.000
 we want

00:22:37.000 --> 00:22:37.599
 in a high

00:22:37.599 --> 00:22:38.039
 priest.

00:22:38.039 --> 00:22:38.099
 priest.

00:22:39.519 --> 00:22:40.299
 A little

00:22:40.299 --> 00:22:40.680
 bit of

00:22:40.680 --> 00:22:41.079
 background.

00:22:42.000 --> 00:22:42.960
 The Old

00:22:42.960 --> 00:22:43.779
 Testament has

00:22:43.779 --> 00:22:44.440
 essentially

00:22:44.440 --> 00:22:46.139
 three intermediary

00:22:46.139 --> 00:22:46.599
 figures,

00:22:46.819 --> 00:22:48.899
 three individuals

00:22:48.899 --> 00:22:49.680
 who, by

00:22:49.680 --> 00:22:50.299
 nature of

00:22:50.299 --> 00:22:51.119
 their role

00:22:51.119 --> 00:22:51.559
 or their

00:22:51.559 --> 00:22:51.980
 office,

00:22:52.220 --> 00:22:52.720
 stood in

00:22:52.720 --> 00:22:53.240
 some way

00:22:53.240 --> 00:22:54.500
 between God

00:22:54.500 --> 00:22:55.379
 and the

00:22:55.379 --> 00:22:55.720
 people,

00:22:56.579 --> 00:22:57.000
 and the

00:22:57.000 --> 00:22:57.599
 well-known

00:22:57.599 --> 00:22:58.200
 tree of

00:22:58.200 --> 00:22:58.639
 prophet,

00:22:59.000 --> 00:22:59.259
 priest,

00:22:59.359 --> 00:22:59.779
 and king.

00:23:00.460 --> 00:23:00.680
 Of course,

00:23:00.740 --> 00:23:01.279
 the prophet,

00:23:01.720 --> 00:23:02.000
 if you can

00:23:02.000 --> 00:23:02.519
 imagine it

00:23:02.519 --> 00:23:02.960
 this way,

00:23:03.259 --> 00:23:03.619
 is one

00:23:03.619 --> 00:23:04.000
 who, with

00:23:04.000 --> 00:23:04.480
 God at

00:23:04.480 --> 00:23:05.059
 his back,

00:23:05.420 --> 00:23:06.399
 speaks God's

00:23:06.399 --> 00:23:07.099
 words to

00:23:07.099 --> 00:23:07.679
 the people.

00:23:09.619 --> 00:23:10.279
 The priest

00:23:10.279 --> 00:23:11.699
 turns around,

00:23:12.480 --> 00:23:13.219
 stands and

00:23:13.219 --> 00:23:14.079
 serves before

00:23:14.079 --> 00:23:14.980
 God, bringing

00:23:14.980 --> 00:23:15.559
 the people

00:23:15.559 --> 00:23:17.339
 safely into

00:23:17.339 --> 00:23:17.819
 God's

00:23:17.819 --> 00:23:18.399
 presence.

00:23:19.419 --> 00:23:19.799
 And the

00:23:19.799 --> 00:23:20.279
 king, in

00:23:20.279 --> 00:23:20.819
 some way,

00:23:20.939 --> 00:23:21.859
 stands between

00:23:21.859 --> 00:23:22.419
 at the very

00:23:22.419 --> 00:23:23.419
 connecting point

00:23:23.419 --> 00:23:24.299
 of God and

00:23:24.299 --> 00:23:25.459
 people, making

00:23:25.459 --> 00:23:26.599
 possible, in

00:23:26.599 --> 00:23:27.339
 some ways, that

00:23:27.339 --> 00:23:28.879
 connection between

00:23:28.879 --> 00:23:30.279
 God and

00:23:30.279 --> 00:23:30.639
 people.

00:23:32.079 --> 00:23:32.619
 And the

00:23:32.619 --> 00:23:33.339
 letter to the

00:23:33.339 --> 00:23:33.919
 Hebrews has

00:23:33.919 --> 00:23:34.459
 something to

00:23:34.459 --> 00:23:34.859
 say about

00:23:34.859 --> 00:23:35.559
 each of those

00:23:35.559 --> 00:23:36.399
 three kinds

00:23:36.399 --> 00:23:37.079
 of intermediaries.

00:23:37.099 --> 00:23:38.119
 One who

00:23:38.119 --> 00:23:38.980
 comes between

00:23:38.980 --> 00:23:40.219
 and manages

00:23:40.219 --> 00:23:40.899
 the connection

00:23:40.899 --> 00:23:41.359
 between.

00:23:42.199 --> 00:23:43.179
 But by far

00:23:43.179 --> 00:23:43.779
 the way,

00:23:44.159 --> 00:23:44.939
 looming largest

00:23:44.939 --> 00:23:45.539
 of all by

00:23:45.539 --> 00:23:46.279
 far, is the

00:23:46.279 --> 00:23:47.319
 priest, which

00:23:47.319 --> 00:23:48.240
 mightn't be the

00:23:48.240 --> 00:23:49.459
 one most of

00:23:49.459 --> 00:23:50.019
 us go to.

00:23:50.119 --> 00:23:50.719
 Perhaps for

00:23:50.719 --> 00:23:51.519
 some, it

00:23:51.519 --> 00:23:52.039
 would be.

00:23:52.699 --> 00:23:53.879
 For others, I

00:23:53.879 --> 00:23:54.719
 don't think so.

00:23:55.139 --> 00:23:55.959
 But essentially,

00:23:56.199 --> 00:23:56.679
 what does a

00:23:56.679 --> 00:23:57.579
 priest do?

00:23:58.959 --> 00:23:59.559
 There's a number

00:23:59.559 --> 00:24:00.119
 of things.

00:24:00.259 --> 00:24:00.579
 If you look

00:24:00.579 --> 00:24:00.919
 through the

00:24:00.919 --> 00:24:01.599
 different passages

00:24:01.599 --> 00:24:02.099
 in the Old

00:24:02.099 --> 00:24:02.939
 Testament that

00:24:02.939 --> 00:24:03.699
 teach about the

00:24:03.699 --> 00:24:04.339
 priesthood, but

00:24:04.339 --> 00:24:05.539
 I'd say, at

00:24:05.539 --> 00:24:07.859
 bottom, fundamentally,

00:24:07.859 --> 00:24:09.659
 what a priest

00:24:09.659 --> 00:24:10.519
 does is this.

00:24:12.059 --> 00:24:13.399
 A priest brings

00:24:13.399 --> 00:24:14.179
 the people

00:24:14.179 --> 00:24:16.839
 safely into the

00:24:16.839 --> 00:24:17.720
 presence of God

00:24:17.720 --> 00:24:19.299
 because, frankly,

00:24:20.259 --> 00:24:21.059
 the presence of

00:24:21.059 --> 00:24:22.439
 God, the Holy

00:24:22.439 --> 00:24:24.059
 God, is a scary

00:24:24.059 --> 00:24:25.019
 place to be.

00:24:25.019 --> 00:24:26.400
 And if you

00:24:26.400 --> 00:24:27.240
 show up there

00:24:27.240 --> 00:24:29.400
 improperly,

00:24:30.259 --> 00:24:31.220
 arriving,

00:24:31.940 --> 00:24:32.599
 impure,

00:24:33.480 --> 00:24:34.779
 not fit to be

00:24:34.779 --> 00:24:35.579
 in that presence,

00:24:36.339 --> 00:24:38.660
 it's not good.

00:24:40.119 --> 00:24:41.480
 And that's what

00:24:41.480 --> 00:24:42.319
 the priest does.

00:24:42.460 --> 00:24:43.099
 The priest is

00:24:43.099 --> 00:24:43.839
 that one who

00:24:43.839 --> 00:24:44.819
 is able to

00:24:44.819 --> 00:24:45.579
 bring the people

00:24:45.579 --> 00:24:46.660
 safely and

00:24:46.660 --> 00:24:47.720
 rightly fit

00:24:47.720 --> 00:24:49.259
 into God's

00:24:49.259 --> 00:24:49.619
 presence.

00:24:49.879 --> 00:24:50.339
 And we see

00:24:50.339 --> 00:24:50.980
 some of this

00:24:50.980 --> 00:24:52.420
 as Aaron

00:24:52.420 --> 00:24:53.460
 becomes the

00:24:53.460 --> 00:24:54.500
 first great

00:24:54.500 --> 00:24:55.440
 high priest

00:24:55.440 --> 00:24:56.079
 of Israel.

00:24:56.619 --> 00:24:56.940
 So in

00:24:56.940 --> 00:24:57.759
 Leviticus 9

00:24:57.759 --> 00:24:58.440
 and 10, we

00:24:58.440 --> 00:24:59.640
 see some

00:24:59.640 --> 00:25:00.039
 of this

00:25:00.039 --> 00:25:00.680
 story.

00:25:01.660 --> 00:25:02.279
 Moses says

00:25:02.279 --> 00:25:02.839
 to Aaron,

00:25:03.460 --> 00:25:04.059
 come to the

00:25:04.059 --> 00:25:04.759
 altar and

00:25:04.759 --> 00:25:05.759
 sacrifice your

00:25:05.759 --> 00:25:06.480
 sin offering

00:25:06.480 --> 00:25:06.859
 and your

00:25:06.859 --> 00:25:07.579
 burnt offering

00:25:07.579 --> 00:25:08.420
 and make

00:25:08.420 --> 00:25:09.200
 atonement for

00:25:09.200 --> 00:25:10.000
 yourself and

00:25:10.000 --> 00:25:10.559
 the people.

00:25:11.319 --> 00:25:12.559
 For yourself

00:25:12.559 --> 00:25:13.559
 and the

00:25:13.559 --> 00:25:13.940
 people.

00:25:15.259 --> 00:25:15.960
 Yourself

00:25:15.960 --> 00:25:17.720
 and the

00:25:17.720 --> 00:25:18.059
 people.

00:25:18.980 --> 00:25:19.920
 Sacrifice the

00:25:19.920 --> 00:25:20.539
 offering that

00:25:20.539 --> 00:25:21.920
 is for the

00:25:21.920 --> 00:25:22.319
 people.

00:25:22.900 --> 00:25:23.619
 Make atonement

00:25:23.619 --> 00:25:25.339
 for them as

00:25:25.339 --> 00:25:25.919
 the Lord

00:25:25.919 --> 00:25:27.119
 has commanded.

00:25:28.119 --> 00:25:28.919
 That's what

00:25:28.919 --> 00:25:29.819
 the priest is

00:25:29.819 --> 00:25:30.539
 there to do,

00:25:30.739 --> 00:25:32.159
 to bring the

00:25:32.159 --> 00:25:33.279
 people safely

00:25:33.279 --> 00:25:34.179
 into the

00:25:34.179 --> 00:25:34.779
 presence of

00:25:34.779 --> 00:25:35.119
 God.

00:25:35.299 --> 00:25:36.319
 Because what

00:25:36.319 --> 00:25:37.739
 happens if

00:25:37.739 --> 00:25:38.899
 you or I

00:25:38.899 --> 00:25:39.479
 or somebody

00:25:39.479 --> 00:25:41.039
 else tries to

00:25:41.039 --> 00:25:41.799
 pull this

00:25:41.799 --> 00:25:42.159
 off?

00:25:43.319 --> 00:25:44.019
 Well, a few

00:25:44.019 --> 00:25:44.799
 chapters later

00:25:44.799 --> 00:25:45.459
 in Leviticus,

00:25:45.599 --> 00:25:46.099
 this is what

00:25:46.099 --> 00:25:46.459
 happens.

00:25:46.559 --> 00:25:46.959
 This is the

00:25:46.959 --> 00:25:47.319
 warning.

00:25:48.000 --> 00:25:48.879
 Any Israelite

00:25:48.879 --> 00:25:49.439
 or foreigner

00:25:49.439 --> 00:25:50.359
 residing among

00:25:50.359 --> 00:25:51.159
 them who offers

00:25:51.159 --> 00:25:51.959
 a burnt offering

00:25:51.960 --> 00:25:52.880
 or a sacrifice

00:25:52.880 --> 00:25:53.740
 and does not

00:25:53.740 --> 00:25:54.840
 bring it to

00:25:54.840 --> 00:25:55.460
 the entrance

00:25:55.460 --> 00:25:56.279
 of the tent

00:25:56.279 --> 00:25:56.940
 of the meeting

00:25:56.940 --> 00:25:57.720
 where the

00:25:57.720 --> 00:25:58.420
 priest waits,

00:25:58.759 --> 00:25:59.740
 to sacrifice

00:25:59.740 --> 00:26:00.420
 it to the

00:26:00.420 --> 00:26:00.740
 Lord,

00:26:01.600 --> 00:26:02.480
 must be

00:26:02.480 --> 00:26:03.500
 cut off

00:26:03.500 --> 00:26:04.539
 from the

00:26:04.539 --> 00:26:05.019
 people of

00:26:05.019 --> 00:26:05.340
 Israel.

00:26:06.759 --> 00:26:07.600
 It's a bit

00:26:07.600 --> 00:26:08.100
 of an irony,

00:26:08.299 --> 00:26:08.539
 isn't it?

00:26:08.579 --> 00:26:08.920
 That's your

00:26:08.920 --> 00:26:09.279
 yearning.

00:26:09.360 --> 00:26:09.799
 You want to

00:26:09.799 --> 00:26:10.360
 be in God's

00:26:10.360 --> 00:26:10.680
 presence.

00:26:10.799 --> 00:26:11.079
 You bring

00:26:11.079 --> 00:26:11.579
 your offering.

00:26:12.340 --> 00:26:12.920
 Can't be

00:26:12.920 --> 00:26:13.400
 bothered waiting

00:26:13.400 --> 00:26:14.019
 for the priest.

00:26:14.220 --> 00:26:15.400
 But no,

00:26:15.519 --> 00:26:16.380
 don't do that.

00:26:16.380 --> 00:26:18.660
 Because if you

00:26:18.660 --> 00:26:19.420
 approach God

00:26:19.420 --> 00:26:20.380
 improperly,

00:26:21.940 --> 00:26:22.640
 you're cut

00:26:22.640 --> 00:26:23.000
 off.

00:26:23.420 --> 00:26:23.800
 And the very

00:26:23.800 --> 00:26:24.380
 thing you might

00:26:24.380 --> 00:26:24.820
 have wanted

00:26:24.820 --> 00:26:25.920
 is the thing

00:26:25.920 --> 00:26:26.960
 you've lost.

00:26:28.280 --> 00:26:29.120
 Well, if we

00:26:29.120 --> 00:26:30.240
 trace the story

00:26:30.240 --> 00:26:30.940
 of the priesthood

00:26:30.940 --> 00:26:31.440
 through the Old

00:26:31.440 --> 00:26:32.160
 Testament, it's

00:26:32.160 --> 00:26:32.740
 not a pretty

00:26:32.740 --> 00:26:33.200
 tale.

00:26:34.060 --> 00:26:35.100
 Very quickly

00:26:35.100 --> 00:26:36.400
 in Leviticus 10,

00:26:36.540 --> 00:26:37.400
 already after the

00:26:37.400 --> 00:26:37.960
 appointment, it

00:26:37.960 --> 00:26:39.260
 all goes very

00:26:39.260 --> 00:26:39.740
 wrong.

00:26:40.360 --> 00:26:41.160
 Aaron's sons

00:26:41.160 --> 00:26:43.080
 died, killed

00:26:43.080 --> 00:26:44.260
 because they

00:26:44.260 --> 00:26:45.200
 brought unholy

00:26:45.200 --> 00:26:46.000
 fire into the

00:26:46.000 --> 00:26:47.099
 Lord's presence.

00:26:49.880 --> 00:26:50.819
 And again

00:26:50.819 --> 00:26:51.299
 and again,

00:26:51.440 --> 00:26:51.839
 whether it's

00:26:51.839 --> 00:26:52.839
 the sons of

00:26:52.839 --> 00:26:53.619
 Eli, whether

00:26:53.619 --> 00:26:54.440
 it's the sons

00:26:54.440 --> 00:26:55.140
 of Samuel,

00:26:55.339 --> 00:26:55.759
 whether it's

00:26:55.759 --> 00:26:56.480
 priests during

00:26:56.480 --> 00:26:57.180
 the times of

00:26:57.180 --> 00:26:57.900
 the kings of

00:26:57.900 --> 00:26:58.759
 Israel, who

00:26:58.759 --> 00:26:59.400
 led the kings

00:26:59.400 --> 00:27:00.019
 astray and

00:27:00.019 --> 00:27:00.759
 were complicit

00:27:00.759 --> 00:27:01.079
 in their

00:27:01.079 --> 00:27:01.720
 idolatrous

00:27:01.720 --> 00:27:02.900
 worship, right

00:27:02.900 --> 00:27:03.480
 through to the

00:27:03.480 --> 00:27:04.180
 last book of

00:27:04.180 --> 00:27:04.420
 the Old

00:27:04.420 --> 00:27:05.160
 Testament, as

00:27:05.160 --> 00:27:05.779
 we know it,

00:27:06.200 --> 00:27:07.339
 Malachi, where

00:27:07.339 --> 00:27:08.019
 the priests who

00:27:08.019 --> 00:27:08.660
 had a covenant

00:27:08.660 --> 00:27:09.539
 with Levi have

00:27:09.539 --> 00:27:11.500
 trashed it and

00:27:11.500 --> 00:27:12.539
 not maintained

00:27:12.539 --> 00:27:13.759
 the people as

00:27:13.759 --> 00:27:14.119
 holy.

00:27:14.119 --> 00:27:16.239
 well, sort

00:27:16.239 --> 00:27:16.979
 of picking on

00:27:16.979 --> 00:27:17.799
 priests to say

00:27:17.799 --> 00:27:18.179
 that because

00:27:18.179 --> 00:27:19.139
 frankly, prophets

00:27:19.139 --> 00:27:20.379
 and kings don't

00:27:20.379 --> 00:27:21.139
 come off much

00:27:21.139 --> 00:27:24.199
 better, nor do

00:27:24.199 --> 00:27:25.059
 any of us,

00:27:25.419 --> 00:27:25.759
 frankly.

00:27:26.479 --> 00:27:27.179
 But it's, I

00:27:27.179 --> 00:27:28.439
 think, interesting

00:27:28.439 --> 00:27:29.239
 and certainly to

00:27:29.239 --> 00:27:29.859
 our writers'

00:27:30.039 --> 00:27:31.379
 credit that none

00:27:31.379 --> 00:27:31.959
 of that is

00:27:31.959 --> 00:27:33.339
 mentioned here in

00:27:33.339 --> 00:27:35.159
 these first few

00:27:35.159 --> 00:27:35.539
 verses.

00:27:35.899 --> 00:27:36.619
 What we have

00:27:36.619 --> 00:27:37.679
 here is a

00:27:37.679 --> 00:27:38.500
 thumbnail sketch

00:27:38.500 --> 00:27:39.819
 of the best high

00:27:39.819 --> 00:27:40.879
 priest you could

00:27:40.879 --> 00:27:41.339
 imagine.

00:27:41.339 --> 00:27:43.259
 every high priest

00:27:43.259 --> 00:27:43.959
 selected from

00:27:43.959 --> 00:27:44.419
 among the

00:27:44.419 --> 00:27:45.779
 people, appointed

00:27:45.779 --> 00:27:47.099
 as Aaron was

00:27:47.099 --> 00:27:48.039
 to represent the

00:27:48.039 --> 00:27:48.839
 people in matters

00:27:48.839 --> 00:27:50.119
 related to God.

00:27:51.000 --> 00:27:52.000
 It's important to

00:27:52.000 --> 00:27:52.759
 remember that the

00:27:52.759 --> 00:27:53.879
 priest serves the

00:27:53.879 --> 00:27:54.879
 God on behalf of

00:27:54.879 --> 00:27:56.740
 the people, to

00:27:56.740 --> 00:27:57.720
 offer gifts and

00:27:57.720 --> 00:27:59.039
 sacrifices for sins

00:27:59.039 --> 00:27:59.819
 just as we've

00:27:59.819 --> 00:28:00.119
 seen.

00:28:00.799 --> 00:28:01.899
 He's able to deal

00:28:01.899 --> 00:28:02.939
 gently with those

00:28:02.939 --> 00:28:03.599
 who are ignorant

00:28:03.599 --> 00:28:04.759
 and going astray

00:28:04.759 --> 00:28:06.359
 since he himself

00:28:06.359 --> 00:28:07.279
 is subject to

00:28:07.279 --> 00:28:08.859
 weakness, so he

00:28:08.859 --> 00:28:10.339
 offers sacrifices for

00:28:10.339 --> 00:28:12.480
 sins, his own

00:28:12.480 --> 00:28:13.799
 as well as the

00:28:13.799 --> 00:28:14.339
 sins of the

00:28:14.339 --> 00:28:14.699
 people.

00:28:15.740 --> 00:28:16.339
 And no one

00:28:16.339 --> 00:28:17.099
 takes this honor

00:28:17.099 --> 00:28:18.539
 in himself, but

00:28:18.539 --> 00:28:19.519
 receives it when

00:28:19.519 --> 00:28:21.240
 called by God, just

00:28:21.240 --> 00:28:23.599
 as Aaron was.

00:28:24.699 --> 00:28:25.679
 And this is such a

00:28:25.679 --> 00:28:27.299
 carefully crafted

00:28:27.299 --> 00:28:28.319
 appeal to these

00:28:28.319 --> 00:28:29.240
 Christians.

00:28:29.879 --> 00:28:31.419
 Chapter 3, Moses.

00:28:32.159 --> 00:28:33.439
 Jesus better than

00:28:33.439 --> 00:28:33.779
 Moses.

00:28:34.299 --> 00:28:35.980
 Chapter 4, Joshua.

00:28:36.619 --> 00:28:37.039
 You know what?

00:28:37.379 --> 00:28:38.779
 Jesus' rest better

00:28:38.779 --> 00:28:39.939
 than Joshua's rest.

00:28:39.940 --> 00:28:42.140
 Chapter 5, Aaron.

00:28:43.160 --> 00:28:44.000
 The three great

00:28:44.000 --> 00:28:44.759
 figures of the

00:28:44.759 --> 00:28:45.799
 Exodus and

00:28:45.799 --> 00:28:46.880
 conquest periods.

00:28:47.480 --> 00:28:47.820
 But you know

00:28:47.820 --> 00:28:48.100
 what?

00:28:48.700 --> 00:28:49.600
 Three for three,

00:28:50.100 --> 00:28:51.539
 Jesus is better

00:28:51.539 --> 00:28:52.360
 again.

00:28:52.900 --> 00:28:53.759
 And here we, in a

00:28:53.759 --> 00:28:54.420
 sense, have your

00:28:54.420 --> 00:28:55.420
 dream come true

00:28:55.420 --> 00:28:56.440
 priest, the best

00:28:56.440 --> 00:28:57.420
 priest you could

00:28:57.420 --> 00:28:57.880
 imagine.

00:28:58.000 --> 00:28:58.680
 But here's the

00:28:58.680 --> 00:28:59.059
 irony.

00:29:00.140 --> 00:29:01.700
 For these Jewish

00:29:01.700 --> 00:29:02.640
 believers, looking

00:29:02.640 --> 00:29:04.960
 to this priest would

00:29:04.960 --> 00:29:06.240
 prevent them from

00:29:06.240 --> 00:29:07.480
 looking to Jesus.

00:29:07.480 --> 00:29:07.579
 priests.

00:29:08.759 --> 00:29:10.120
 The religion, in a

00:29:10.120 --> 00:29:11.099
 sense, was getting

00:29:11.099 --> 00:29:11.740
 in the way.

00:29:12.579 --> 00:29:14.140
 So anxious to have

00:29:14.140 --> 00:29:16.519
 a priest, they're in

00:29:16.519 --> 00:29:18.160
 danger of losing a

00:29:18.160 --> 00:29:18.460
 savior.

00:29:20.140 --> 00:29:20.960
 I think there's

00:29:20.960 --> 00:29:21.680
 something here to

00:29:21.680 --> 00:29:22.680
 give us pause just

00:29:22.680 --> 00:29:23.579
 before we move to the

00:29:23.579 --> 00:29:25.180
 last paragraph, the

00:29:25.180 --> 00:29:26.019
 last chunk of our

00:29:26.019 --> 00:29:26.559
 passage.

00:29:27.500 --> 00:29:28.420
 Is there something

00:29:28.420 --> 00:29:29.519
 about our religion

00:29:29.519 --> 00:29:30.299
 that gets in the

00:29:30.299 --> 00:29:30.579
 way?

00:29:31.500 --> 00:29:32.500
 It's certainly the

00:29:32.500 --> 00:29:33.380
 case that priests are

00:29:33.380 --> 00:29:34.160
 good things.

00:29:34.279 --> 00:29:34.940
 They're commanded

00:29:34.940 --> 00:29:36.000
 things you couldn't do

00:29:36.000 --> 00:29:37.519
 without them, but

00:29:37.519 --> 00:29:38.000
 they're not the

00:29:38.000 --> 00:29:38.819
 ultimate thing.

00:29:39.720 --> 00:29:40.319
 They weren't the

00:29:40.319 --> 00:29:41.359
 thing that mattered.

00:29:41.460 --> 00:29:42.140
 They were the thing

00:29:42.140 --> 00:29:43.440
 that pointed towards

00:29:43.440 --> 00:29:44.380
 the one who mattered,

00:29:44.940 --> 00:29:46.220
 pointed towards

00:29:46.220 --> 00:29:46.779
 Christ.

00:29:47.720 --> 00:29:48.359
 And I wonder if

00:29:48.359 --> 00:29:49.099
 sometimes in our

00:29:49.099 --> 00:29:52.740
 own religious lives,

00:29:53.019 --> 00:29:54.259
 we have that sense

00:29:54.259 --> 00:29:55.359
 that we too look to

00:29:55.359 --> 00:29:56.619
 good things, but that

00:29:56.619 --> 00:29:57.880
 are not ultimate

00:29:57.880 --> 00:29:58.640
 things.

00:29:59.500 --> 00:30:01.319
 Whether it's, you

00:30:01.319 --> 00:30:02.559
 know, good music and

00:30:02.559 --> 00:30:03.440
 fine singing, it

00:30:03.440 --> 00:30:05.420
 lifts my spirit, I'm

00:30:05.420 --> 00:30:06.140
 fine.

00:30:06.740 --> 00:30:08.480
 It's proper rituals

00:30:08.480 --> 00:30:09.220
 and liturgy.

00:30:09.360 --> 00:30:10.880
 If we just get that

00:30:10.880 --> 00:30:12.220
 right, we'll be fine.

00:30:12.460 --> 00:30:13.480
 If we're under good

00:30:13.480 --> 00:30:14.800
 teaching, you know,

00:30:14.900 --> 00:30:15.720
 we'll be fine.

00:30:16.860 --> 00:30:18.460
 If I can participate

00:30:18.460 --> 00:30:19.560
 in outreach and

00:30:19.560 --> 00:30:20.600
 social action or

00:30:20.600 --> 00:30:22.700
 engage atheists on

00:30:22.700 --> 00:30:23.980
 Facebook in the name

00:30:23.980 --> 00:30:24.820
 of Jesus, you know,

00:30:24.900 --> 00:30:26.380
 I'll be fine.

00:30:27.840 --> 00:30:29.580
 But all of those good

00:30:29.580 --> 00:30:31.279
 things are not

00:30:31.279 --> 00:30:32.460
 ultimate things.

00:30:32.640 --> 00:30:33.120
 They're not the

00:30:33.120 --> 00:30:33.300
 thing.

00:30:33.299 --> 00:30:34.740
 They're the things

00:30:34.740 --> 00:30:35.519
 that sometimes

00:30:35.519 --> 00:30:37.099
 attract our attention,

00:30:37.319 --> 00:30:37.500
 though.

00:30:38.919 --> 00:30:40.039
 C.S. Lewis, in his

00:30:40.039 --> 00:30:41.180
 fascinating little book,

00:30:41.279 --> 00:30:42.319
 The Great Divorce,

00:30:42.779 --> 00:30:44.079
 through the mouth of

00:30:44.079 --> 00:30:45.019
 George MacDonald,

00:30:46.019 --> 00:30:47.000
 the Scottish

00:30:47.000 --> 00:30:48.220
 fantasist of the

00:30:48.220 --> 00:30:49.180
 19th century,

00:30:49.579 --> 00:30:49.759
 says,

00:30:49.819 --> 00:30:50.740
 There have been men

00:30:50.740 --> 00:30:51.919
 before now who got

00:30:51.919 --> 00:30:52.839
 so interested in

00:30:52.839 --> 00:30:53.859
 proving the existence

00:30:53.859 --> 00:30:55.559
 of God that they

00:30:55.559 --> 00:30:56.720
 came to care nothing

00:30:56.720 --> 00:30:57.799
 for God himself,

00:30:58.139 --> 00:30:59.299
 as if the good Lord

00:30:59.299 --> 00:31:00.419
 had nothing to do

00:31:00.420 --> 00:31:01.840
 but to exist.

00:31:03.000 --> 00:31:04.220
 There have been some

00:31:04.220 --> 00:31:05.660
 so occupied in

00:31:05.660 --> 00:31:06.759
 spreading Christianity

00:31:06.759 --> 00:31:08.840
 that they never gave

00:31:08.840 --> 00:31:10.340
 a thought to Christ.

00:31:11.600 --> 00:31:12.700
 So there's a warning

00:31:12.700 --> 00:31:14.000
 here as we look at

00:31:14.000 --> 00:31:14.900
 these Christians

00:31:14.900 --> 00:31:15.960
 yearning for a high

00:31:15.960 --> 00:31:17.100
 priest, yearning for

00:31:17.100 --> 00:31:18.800
 something external

00:31:18.800 --> 00:31:21.080
 to make them okay

00:31:21.080 --> 00:31:22.880
 when they needed to

00:31:22.880 --> 00:31:24.160
 guard their hearts

00:31:24.160 --> 00:31:25.519
 and their minds,

00:31:26.519 --> 00:31:28.200
 see what was inside.

00:31:28.200 --> 00:31:31.160
 Like the priesthood,

00:31:31.220 --> 00:31:32.140
 all these good things

00:31:32.140 --> 00:31:33.640
 can displace the

00:31:33.640 --> 00:31:35.220
 response to Jesus

00:31:35.220 --> 00:31:36.759
 and what he calls us

00:31:36.759 --> 00:31:38.000
 to, what the gospel

00:31:38.000 --> 00:31:38.819
 calls us to.

00:31:39.440 --> 00:31:40.960
 We'll see more about

00:31:40.960 --> 00:31:42.700
 that in just a moment.

00:31:43.380 --> 00:31:44.100
 But if we've seen

00:31:44.100 --> 00:31:44.980
 something of the high

00:31:44.980 --> 00:31:46.120
 priest and prayer,

00:31:46.660 --> 00:31:47.620
 the high priest and

00:31:47.620 --> 00:31:48.240
 the people,

00:31:48.799 --> 00:31:50.120
 finally we come to

00:31:50.120 --> 00:31:52.240
 the high priest and

00:31:52.240 --> 00:31:53.080
 perfection.

00:31:54.400 --> 00:31:55.519
 The writer to the

00:31:55.519 --> 00:31:57.059
 Hebrews demonstrates

00:31:57.059 --> 00:31:58.379
 that the people's

00:31:58.379 --> 00:31:59.279
 high priest,

00:31:59.419 --> 00:32:00.059
 the one selected

00:32:00.059 --> 00:32:02.059
 from them to offer

00:32:02.059 --> 00:32:03.519
 sacrifices for them,

00:32:03.899 --> 00:32:04.619
 greater than the

00:32:04.619 --> 00:32:06.159
 angels, greater than

00:32:06.159 --> 00:32:07.700
 Moses, is also

00:32:07.700 --> 00:32:09.079
 greater than Aaron.

00:32:09.480 --> 00:32:10.500
 And in these last

00:32:10.500 --> 00:32:11.419
 few verses of the

00:32:11.419 --> 00:32:12.599
 chapter, of our

00:32:12.599 --> 00:32:14.500
 passage, verses 5

00:32:14.500 --> 00:32:17.119
 through 10, we see

00:32:17.119 --> 00:32:18.419
 a little bit about

00:32:18.419 --> 00:32:20.019
 how Jesus' high

00:32:20.019 --> 00:32:21.220
 priesthood, it's

00:32:21.220 --> 00:32:22.279
 like Aaron's, it's

00:32:22.279 --> 00:32:23.079
 recognizable.

00:32:24.240 --> 00:32:25.879
 They're cousins, if you

00:32:25.880 --> 00:32:28.680
 like, not the same.

00:32:29.660 --> 00:32:30.200
 There's something

00:32:30.200 --> 00:32:32.000
 different about Jesus'

00:32:32.520 --> 00:32:33.380
 high priesthood.

00:32:33.940 --> 00:32:35.080
 And what is that?

00:32:35.840 --> 00:32:37.340
 Well, we see it, first

00:32:37.340 --> 00:32:38.180
 of all, in these two

00:32:38.180 --> 00:32:39.220
 quotations that were

00:32:39.220 --> 00:32:39.520
 given.

00:32:39.720 --> 00:32:41.080
 We see how the writer

00:32:41.080 --> 00:32:41.960
 of the Hebrews is

00:32:41.960 --> 00:32:43.800
 constantly appealing to

00:32:43.800 --> 00:32:44.740
 Old Testament

00:32:44.740 --> 00:32:46.100
 scriptures to make his

00:32:46.100 --> 00:32:46.480
 point.

00:32:48.160 --> 00:32:49.300
 Christ didn't take on

00:32:49.300 --> 00:32:50.500
 himself the glory of

00:32:50.500 --> 00:32:51.500
 becoming a high priest,

00:32:51.560 --> 00:32:52.860
 as Aaron didn't

00:32:52.860 --> 00:32:54.720
 arrogate the role to

00:32:54.720 --> 00:32:55.279
 himself.

00:32:56.279 --> 00:32:57.600
 But God said to him,

00:32:57.960 --> 00:32:59.339
 quoting Psalm 2,

00:33:00.100 --> 00:33:02.460
 you are my son, today

00:33:02.460 --> 00:33:03.200
 I've become your

00:33:03.200 --> 00:33:03.680
 father.

00:33:04.240 --> 00:33:05.019
 Which is interesting.

00:33:05.180 --> 00:33:06.259
 It's not really about

00:33:06.259 --> 00:33:07.460
 the priesthood.

00:33:08.720 --> 00:33:09.819
 And we've heard this

00:33:09.819 --> 00:33:10.279
 before.

00:33:10.420 --> 00:33:11.339
 We heard this already

00:33:11.339 --> 00:33:12.319
 right at the beginning

00:33:12.319 --> 00:33:14.279
 of chapter 1, quoting

00:33:14.279 --> 00:33:15.360
 Psalm 2.

00:33:15.900 --> 00:33:17.039
 What it shows us is

00:33:17.039 --> 00:33:18.920
 that there is a priest

00:33:18.920 --> 00:33:20.180
 who isn't of the line

00:33:20.180 --> 00:33:20.640
 of Aaron.

00:33:20.720 --> 00:33:21.440
 This isn't one of

00:33:21.440 --> 00:33:22.819
 Aaron's later sons.

00:33:22.819 --> 00:33:25.439
 This is the son of God.

00:33:27.099 --> 00:33:28.319
 And the next passage

00:33:28.319 --> 00:33:29.599
 we have quoted, he says

00:33:29.599 --> 00:33:31.099
 in another place, this is

00:33:31.099 --> 00:33:33.879
 Psalm 110, you are a

00:33:33.879 --> 00:33:35.379
 priest, there's our half,

00:33:36.059 --> 00:33:38.240
 a priest forever in the

00:33:38.240 --> 00:33:40.179
 order of Melchizedek.

00:33:41.179 --> 00:33:42.619
 Melchizedek, strange name,

00:33:42.819 --> 00:33:43.919
 which we'll come to hear

00:33:43.919 --> 00:33:46.779
 more of in weeks to come,

00:33:47.000 --> 00:33:48.639
 picked up again in verse

00:33:48.640 --> 00:33:49.080
 10.

00:33:51.600 --> 00:33:54.220
 And again in chapter 7,

00:33:54.380 --> 00:33:55.520
 so if our first quote

00:33:55.520 --> 00:33:56.900
 points us back in the

00:33:56.900 --> 00:33:58.020
 book, our next quote

00:33:58.020 --> 00:34:00.200
 points us forward in the

00:34:00.200 --> 00:34:00.460
 book.

00:34:01.680 --> 00:34:02.840
 And in both of us, they

00:34:02.840 --> 00:34:04.020
 show we don't have a

00:34:04.020 --> 00:34:05.360
 priest who's like Aaron.

00:34:05.560 --> 00:34:06.600
 We have a priest who's

00:34:06.600 --> 00:34:07.880
 quite different, in a

00:34:07.880 --> 00:34:08.940
 different order.

00:34:10.300 --> 00:34:11.900
 And then as the writer

00:34:11.900 --> 00:34:13.700
 goes on to unpack what

00:34:13.700 --> 00:34:15.300
 Jesus' high priesthood is

00:34:15.300 --> 00:34:16.480
 like, he doesn't mention

00:34:16.480 --> 00:34:17.900
 sacrifices at all.

00:34:17.900 --> 00:34:19.599
 There is a little bit of

00:34:19.599 --> 00:34:20.780
 strain in this passage

00:34:20.780 --> 00:34:21.980
 between the place of

00:34:21.980 --> 00:34:23.619
 prayer and the place of

00:34:23.619 --> 00:34:24.400
 sacrifice.

00:34:24.960 --> 00:34:25.900
 As I mentioned already,

00:34:26.059 --> 00:34:27.780
 we'll hear lots more

00:34:27.780 --> 00:34:29.119
 about sacrifice in the

00:34:29.119 --> 00:34:30.000
 chapters to come.

00:34:30.619 --> 00:34:32.099
 But that's not where he

00:34:32.099 --> 00:34:33.519
 goes at this point.

00:34:34.220 --> 00:34:36.820
 This ideal priest, in

00:34:36.820 --> 00:34:38.300
 Jesus' life on earth,

00:34:38.599 --> 00:34:40.220
 offered up prayers and

00:34:40.220 --> 00:34:42.380
 petitions with fervent cries

00:34:42.380 --> 00:34:44.240
 and tears to the one who

00:34:44.240 --> 00:34:45.579
 could save him from death,

00:34:45.579 --> 00:34:47.099
 and was heard.

00:34:49.340 --> 00:34:51.779
 This high priest, his

00:34:51.779 --> 00:34:54.920
 prayers were heard because

00:34:54.920 --> 00:34:56.960
 of his referent submission.

00:34:57.819 --> 00:34:59.400
 Well, we don't have set out

00:34:59.400 --> 00:35:01.840
 here what seems to be going

00:35:01.840 --> 00:35:02.960
 on in the mind of our

00:35:02.960 --> 00:35:03.319
 writer.

00:35:03.819 --> 00:35:05.259
 There's an echo here of

00:35:05.259 --> 00:35:06.039
 Psalm 22.

00:35:06.739 --> 00:35:08.340
 Now, we know Psalm 22,

00:35:08.519 --> 00:35:09.579
 probably one of the most

00:35:09.579 --> 00:35:12.559
 famous texts in the Bible of

00:35:12.559 --> 00:35:12.900
 all.

00:35:12.900 --> 00:35:14.440
 But we know the beginning.

00:35:14.960 --> 00:35:17.579
 My God, my God, why have you

00:35:17.579 --> 00:35:18.400
 forsaken me?

00:35:18.900 --> 00:35:20.279
 The words that were on Jesus'

00:35:20.519 --> 00:35:22.320
 lips as he died on the cross.

00:35:22.900 --> 00:35:25.099
 We don't have those words

00:35:25.099 --> 00:35:25.980
 echoed here.

00:35:26.360 --> 00:35:28.480
 We have the end of that

00:35:28.480 --> 00:35:29.900
 psalm echoed.

00:35:30.579 --> 00:35:33.900
 For he, because as in Psalm 22,

00:35:34.299 --> 00:35:37.139
 the psalmist is heard and has

00:35:37.139 --> 00:35:39.320
 delivered, then his word of

00:35:39.320 --> 00:35:40.199
 praise goes up.

00:35:40.199 --> 00:35:42.599
 He has not despised or scorned

00:35:42.599 --> 00:35:44.000
 the suffering of the afflicted

00:35:44.000 --> 00:35:44.219
 one.

00:35:44.480 --> 00:35:46.480
 He has not hidden his face from

00:35:46.480 --> 00:35:47.839
 him, but has listened.

00:35:48.299 --> 00:35:50.739
 He has heard his cry for help.

00:35:51.639 --> 00:35:53.159
 So for these Jewish Christians,

00:35:53.259 --> 00:35:55.279
 another echo of the psalms in

00:35:55.279 --> 00:35:57.839
 saying what this high priest is

00:35:57.839 --> 00:35:58.219
 like.

00:35:59.819 --> 00:36:01.699
 And it's on this basis that then

00:36:01.699 --> 00:36:03.960
 Jesus is the one who is made

00:36:03.960 --> 00:36:05.000
 perfect.

00:36:05.480 --> 00:36:07.399
 Not just an ideal high priest,

00:36:07.480 --> 00:36:08.739
 the sort of best high priest you

00:36:08.739 --> 00:36:10.539
 could think of, like the best car

00:36:10.539 --> 00:36:11.699
 you could think of, or the best

00:36:11.699 --> 00:36:13.679
 kitchen, or the best whatever it

00:36:13.679 --> 00:36:14.279
 might be.

00:36:15.439 --> 00:36:19.299
 It's the perfect high priest.

00:36:19.759 --> 00:36:21.559
 He has been perfected.

00:36:22.059 --> 00:36:23.739
 And we might find that language of

00:36:23.739 --> 00:36:25.219
 being perfected a bit awkward.

00:36:25.339 --> 00:36:26.879
 I thought Jesus was perfect.

00:36:27.439 --> 00:36:29.659
 Well, it's true Jesus was perfect,

00:36:29.779 --> 00:36:31.299
 but this is very much in the mode of

00:36:31.299 --> 00:36:33.619
 the way Paul put it in Philippians.

00:36:33.619 --> 00:36:39.480
 that he became obedient to death,

00:36:39.920 --> 00:36:42.299
 and therefore God has exalted him.

00:36:42.779 --> 00:36:44.900
 The same thing at work here in the

00:36:44.900 --> 00:36:47.880
 reflection from the writer to the

00:36:47.880 --> 00:36:48.239
 Hebrews.

00:36:48.480 --> 00:36:50.519
 Son though he was, he learned

00:36:50.519 --> 00:36:52.019
 obedience from what he suffered,

00:36:52.359 --> 00:36:54.819
 and made perfect, became the source

00:36:54.819 --> 00:36:57.619
 of eternal salvation for all who

00:36:58.159 --> 00:36:58.940
 obey him.

00:36:58.940 --> 00:37:02.800
 And although we started with

00:37:02.800 --> 00:37:05.119
 application, and what we have set

00:37:05.119 --> 00:37:06.679
 out now is this reflection on

00:37:06.679 --> 00:37:08.980
 Jesus the great high priest,

00:37:09.659 --> 00:37:12.039
 there is implicit here

00:37:12.039 --> 00:37:14.380
 something still by way of

00:37:14.380 --> 00:37:15.059
 application.

00:37:16.179 --> 00:37:17.840
 We're not only those who are to

00:37:17.840 --> 00:37:22.519
 hold fast, cling our confession,

00:37:23.220 --> 00:37:25.300
 not only ones who are to approach

00:37:25.300 --> 00:37:27.179
 with confidence and courage the

00:37:27.179 --> 00:37:28.079
 throne of grace.

00:37:29.239 --> 00:37:31.779
 But if we have Jesus as our high

00:37:31.779 --> 00:37:34.679
 priest, we find in him the source of

00:37:34.679 --> 00:37:39.460
 eternal salvation for all who obey

00:37:39.460 --> 00:37:40.099
 him.

00:37:41.679 --> 00:37:43.359
 There is a following.

00:37:43.819 --> 00:37:46.000
 I've loved the hymns and songs that

00:37:46.000 --> 00:37:47.139
 we've been singing this morning.

00:37:47.679 --> 00:37:49.279
 My chains fell off.

00:37:50.699 --> 00:37:52.440
 My was free.

00:37:52.440 --> 00:37:55.440
 I rose, went forth, and followed

00:37:55.440 --> 00:37:57.079
 thee.

00:37:57.659 --> 00:37:59.740
 It's just what the writer to the

00:37:59.740 --> 00:38:01.119
 Hebrews has in mind here.

00:38:02.159 --> 00:38:03.920
 We don't come to Jesus the high

00:38:03.920 --> 00:38:06.059
 priest and say, right, done,

00:38:07.240 --> 00:38:09.599
 tick, I've got the perfect high

00:38:09.599 --> 00:38:10.000
 priest.

00:38:11.119 --> 00:38:13.420
 If Jesus is my high priest,

00:38:14.159 --> 00:38:18.360
 there's something magnetic and

00:38:18.360 --> 00:38:21.139
 compelling that reorients and

00:38:21.139 --> 00:38:24.219
 reshapes my life to be a follower

00:38:24.219 --> 00:38:25.259
 of his.

00:38:25.679 --> 00:38:26.819
 And it was something these

00:38:26.819 --> 00:38:28.299
 Christians knew something about.

00:38:28.400 --> 00:38:29.559
 They knew what it was to suffer

00:38:29.559 --> 00:38:30.599
 for the name of Jesus.

00:38:31.460 --> 00:38:33.279
 But it's something that they were

00:38:33.279 --> 00:38:35.440
 in danger of forgetting.

00:38:37.199 --> 00:38:40.019
 Much, perhaps, as we are.

00:38:41.960 --> 00:38:45.119
 Well, as we come to an end, a little

00:38:45.119 --> 00:38:46.159
 story.

00:38:46.159 --> 00:38:48.799
 Many years I've carried in my

00:38:48.799 --> 00:38:53.239
 memory banks the vivid image of a

00:38:53.239 --> 00:38:54.799
 billboard I used to see around

00:38:54.799 --> 00:38:55.259
 Toronto.

00:38:55.379 --> 00:38:56.940
 I could have described it to you.

00:38:57.460 --> 00:39:00.139
 In the early 1980s, which is just a

00:39:00.139 --> 00:39:01.139
 little while ago now.

00:39:02.059 --> 00:39:03.980
 As I was reflecting on this passage

00:39:03.980 --> 00:39:07.139
 today, that billboard, that is pretty

00:39:07.139 --> 00:39:09.500
 effective advertising, isn't it, kept

00:39:09.500 --> 00:39:10.839
 coming back to mind.

00:39:11.420 --> 00:39:14.379
 Well, this is the internet age,

00:39:14.380 --> 00:39:14.980
 isn't it?

00:39:15.340 --> 00:39:18.800
 So I got help from Mr. Google to see

00:39:18.800 --> 00:39:19.960
 if I could find it.

00:39:20.800 --> 00:39:21.619
 And I did.

00:39:23.119 --> 00:39:24.119
 Here it is.

00:39:25.640 --> 00:39:28.920
 Dare to be a priest like me.

00:39:30.360 --> 00:39:33.240
 Those billboards, this picture is a

00:39:33.240 --> 00:39:34.300
 bit sepia tone.

00:39:34.420 --> 00:39:36.880
 They were in color, were dotted around

00:39:36.880 --> 00:39:37.480
 Toronto.

00:39:39.480 --> 00:39:41.599
 And what I like to think of as a

00:39:41.599 --> 00:39:43.940
 teenage, I won't go there, years.

00:39:45.140 --> 00:39:47.400
 They were erected by somebody named

00:39:47.400 --> 00:39:50.180
 Father Sean O'Sullivan, who at the

00:39:50.180 --> 00:39:52.220
 time was director of vocations for the

00:39:52.220 --> 00:39:54.260
 Catholic Church in that diocese, the

00:39:54.260 --> 00:39:55.539
 Archdiocese of Toronto.

00:39:56.260 --> 00:39:58.940
 The billboard was a huge success.

00:40:00.640 --> 00:40:03.019
 Just dial 977-1100.

00:40:03.619 --> 00:40:04.900
 You could be a priest today.

00:40:06.160 --> 00:40:07.720
 The phone rang off the hook.

00:40:08.400 --> 00:40:09.300
 They were inundated.

00:40:09.300 --> 00:40:12.600
 And this is the image that kept coming

00:40:12.600 --> 00:40:14.200
 to mind as I was thinking about the

00:40:14.200 --> 00:40:16.460
 high priest in our passage.

00:40:16.580 --> 00:40:22.460
 And I thought, Father Sean, close, but not

00:40:22.460 --> 00:40:22.860
 quite.

00:40:24.940 --> 00:40:26.700
 There is a sense, of course, in which we're

00:40:26.700 --> 00:40:28.080
 called to be like Christ.

00:40:28.500 --> 00:40:30.660
 But if there's anything that our passage is

00:40:30.660 --> 00:40:32.780
 telling us about, it's that there is one

00:40:32.780 --> 00:40:37.920
 unique, great high priest who is Jesus, who we

00:40:37.920 --> 00:40:40.500
 absolutely must have in our lives.

00:40:41.019 --> 00:40:43.000
 So the slogan needs a tweak.

00:40:45.159 --> 00:40:49.159
 Dare to have a priest like me.

00:40:49.680 --> 00:40:53.200
 That's the simple one-point sermon from

00:40:53.200 --> 00:40:54.039
 today's passage.

00:40:54.220 --> 00:40:56.019
 What that means in terms of prayer and

00:40:56.019 --> 00:40:58.780
 sacrifice, we'll be spending weeks working

00:40:58.780 --> 00:40:59.079
 out.

00:40:59.860 --> 00:41:03.599
 But dare to have a priest like me.

00:41:03.599 --> 00:41:05.719
 Let's pray.

00:41:08.779 --> 00:41:10.639
 Just in the quiet of this moment, we've

00:41:10.639 --> 00:41:15.339
 seen a high priest who is perfect, who's

00:41:15.339 --> 00:41:17.599
 gone into the heavens and yet has suffered

00:41:17.599 --> 00:41:19.880
 temptations in every way as we have.

00:41:21.179 --> 00:41:24.480
 So let's take a moment to do what we've been

00:41:24.480 --> 00:41:26.819
 encouraged to do, to approach the throne of

00:41:26.819 --> 00:41:27.819
 grace with confidence.

00:41:27.820 --> 00:41:32.580
 Perhaps there are some here this morning who

00:41:32.580 --> 00:41:35.320
 really have gone astray.

00:41:37.240 --> 00:41:40.400
 As the law of the priests in the Old Testament

00:41:40.400 --> 00:41:42.480
 put it, you've sinned with a high hand.

00:41:44.220 --> 00:41:45.039
 Come to Jesus.

00:41:45.200 --> 00:41:46.900
 Have a priest like him.

00:41:48.680 --> 00:41:51.460
 Come to the throne of grace for help in a time

00:41:51.460 --> 00:41:51.940
 of need.

00:41:53.220 --> 00:41:55.420
 Perhaps you've been living a life of comfort,

00:41:55.420 --> 00:41:58.260
 simply ignoring the things on the inside in

00:41:58.260 --> 00:41:59.940
 favor of the things on the outside.

00:42:01.059 --> 00:42:02.340
 There's a law for that too.

00:42:02.579 --> 00:42:03.840
 It's called sins of ignorance.

00:42:04.059 --> 00:42:05.300
 They needed a sacrifice.

00:42:06.159 --> 00:42:07.099
 They needed a priest.

00:42:09.920 --> 00:42:14.360
 Lord, if we're comfortable, disturb us and

00:42:14.360 --> 00:42:16.760
 bring us on our knees boldly to your throne

00:42:16.760 --> 00:42:17.519
 of grace.

00:42:19.159 --> 00:42:21.519
 Perhaps there are some here who've had a

00:42:21.519 --> 00:42:26.099
 longing for God, for the one who made them,

00:42:26.280 --> 00:42:31.099
 but not found a way to have fellowship and

00:42:31.099 --> 00:42:32.420
 communion with that God.

00:42:32.539 --> 00:42:35.420
 Well, there is only one great high priest to

00:42:35.420 --> 00:42:36.320
 make that possible.

00:42:37.960 --> 00:42:39.980
 Perhaps this morning you need to come to him,

00:42:41.039 --> 00:42:44.440
 find in the Lord Jesus Christ, the great high

00:42:44.440 --> 00:42:49.179
 priest, who is not ashamed to call us

00:42:49.179 --> 00:42:51.019
 brothers and sisters.

00:42:53.339 --> 00:42:56.119
 So we thank you, our Heavenly Father, for a

00:42:56.119 --> 00:42:57.500
 priest like Jesus.

00:42:57.779 --> 00:43:00.000
 Thank you that he is our great high priest.

00:43:00.559 --> 00:43:03.719
 Help us now to be those who find in him the

00:43:03.719 --> 00:43:07.079
 source of salvation and those who follow him

00:43:07.079 --> 00:43:07.759
 in obedience.

00:43:08.379 --> 00:43:10.859
 For your great namesake we pray.

00:43:11.379 --> 00:43:11.759
 Amen.