WEBVTT 00:00:00.380 --> 00:00:03.600 Good afternoon everyone. I repeat the welcome that Johnny gave at the beginning. 00:00:03.720 --> 00:00:07.700 Particularly delighted to have you with us if you're a visitor to the church here. 00:00:08.500 --> 00:00:11.700 We're about halfway through our studies in the book of Hebrews 00:00:11.700 --> 00:00:16.420 and I was quite amused when the first commentator picked up to try and help me 00:00:16.420 --> 00:00:19.080 with the passage we're looking at today said this, 00:00:19.120 --> 00:00:24.580 we have now reached the part of the letter which modern readers sometimes find a little difficult. 00:00:25.199 --> 00:00:29.000 So it's all been very, very straightforward and easy to understand up till now 00:00:29.000 --> 00:00:31.160 and it's becoming maybe a little more tricky. 00:00:31.160 --> 00:00:35.159 Obviously the book of Hebrews, all of it has challenges for us. 00:00:35.719 --> 00:00:40.500 But perhaps the section we're coming into now for a 21st century Western audience 00:00:40.500 --> 00:00:46.159 is particularly difficult because it relates back to things that we maybe don't understand very easily 00:00:46.159 --> 00:00:53.519 and some of the arguments that the writer uses are ones which we wouldn't necessarily think of ourselves. 00:00:54.519 --> 00:00:57.460 So we've got quite a long and quite complex passage today. 00:00:57.460 --> 00:01:01.700 So it would be a good beginning if we just gave ourselves a little bit of context for it. 00:01:02.299 --> 00:01:05.819 And I was thinking how could we very briefly sum up the book of Hebrews? 00:01:05.900 --> 00:01:07.700 And I got it down to four words. 00:01:08.500 --> 00:01:09.760 These are my four words. 00:01:10.659 --> 00:01:12.740 Jesus is worth it. 00:01:13.700 --> 00:01:15.319 Now you may or may not think that's a good description. 00:01:15.400 --> 00:01:17.719 It really all depends on what do I mean by it. 00:01:18.500 --> 00:01:19.460 What is Jesus worth? 00:01:19.459 --> 00:01:26.579 Jesus is worth the highest place in our thoughts and in our hearts. 00:01:27.179 --> 00:01:31.639 The writer of the Hebrews has emphasised to us that Jesus is greater than the prophets, 00:01:32.219 --> 00:01:35.939 he's greater than the angels, he's greater than Moses, he's greater than Joshua, 00:01:36.119 --> 00:01:38.759 he's greater than Aaron and the priests, and so on. 00:01:39.199 --> 00:01:46.139 Jesus is the one who deserves the highest place in our thoughts and in our hearts. 00:01:46.140 --> 00:01:50.120 And that is very much what the writer to Hebrews is trying to get across to us, 00:01:50.359 --> 00:01:53.019 and will be again in today's passage. 00:01:54.060 --> 00:01:57.620 But there's another sense in which he's saying Jesus is worth it. 00:01:58.260 --> 00:02:03.099 And in that case, it is the problems that we experience in our lives. 00:02:03.900 --> 00:02:08.560 In particular, the writer's book of Hebrews was writing to people who are going through 00:02:08.560 --> 00:02:12.960 times of difficulty, of persecution, because they were Christians. 00:02:12.960 --> 00:02:17.000 And some of them were saying, well, is it worth it? 00:02:18.020 --> 00:02:23.400 And periodically throughout the book, the writer emphasises, yes, it is worth it. 00:02:23.500 --> 00:02:25.120 Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus. 00:02:25.520 --> 00:02:26.260 He is worth it. 00:02:26.300 --> 00:02:31.780 Whatever you face in this world is nothing compared to knowing Jesus. 00:02:32.680 --> 00:02:34.960 Jesus is worth it. 00:02:35.600 --> 00:02:39.879 And again, in the passage we're looking at today, that is largely what he's trying to address. 00:02:39.879 --> 00:02:43.560 So people were saying we're going through these times of great difficulty. 00:02:44.079 --> 00:02:46.759 Can we really trust God's promises to us? 00:02:46.819 --> 00:02:49.219 And the writer says, yes, you can trust God's promises. 00:02:49.379 --> 00:02:52.759 They're foreboding Jesus, and Jesus is worth it. 00:02:53.579 --> 00:02:57.000 People were also saying, you've talked about Jesus as a high priest. 00:02:57.699 --> 00:03:02.479 But we know our Jewish history and religion, and the priests all come from the tribe of Levi. 00:03:02.719 --> 00:03:04.300 And Jesus didn't come from the tribe of Levi. 00:03:04.379 --> 00:03:06.379 So how can he be a high priest? 00:03:06.379 --> 00:03:12.919 And again, the writer addresses that, and he says, actually, Jesus is greater than the high priest. 00:03:13.340 --> 00:03:15.719 Jesus is worth it. 00:03:16.759 --> 00:03:19.699 Now we come today from all sorts of backgrounds, I suspect. 00:03:20.199 --> 00:03:23.439 For some of us, we may come saying Jesus is worth it. 00:03:23.719 --> 00:03:27.639 He's worth the highest place in my heart and in my mind. 00:03:27.639 --> 00:03:31.179 And I really love him, and I want to give my life to him. 00:03:31.219 --> 00:03:37.299 Great, you have some of the testimonies earlier on of people really committed to doing God's will in their lives. 00:03:38.059 --> 00:03:41.939 Other people might be saying, well, I'm not sure if Jesus is worth it. 00:03:42.479 --> 00:03:45.000 I find it difficult to be a Christian. 00:03:45.739 --> 00:03:51.379 In our country, we don't tend to get persecuted in the way some of our brothers and sisters in other countries do. 00:03:51.379 --> 00:03:54.780 But it can still be quite difficult to live as a Christian. 00:03:55.719 --> 00:04:02.859 I was quite shocked this week at some of the responses to the announcement that Dan Walker was going to be hosting breakfast television. 00:04:03.379 --> 00:04:06.519 Dan Walker is a fairly well-known sports presenter at the moment. 00:04:06.859 --> 00:04:08.359 He's also a very fine Christian. 00:04:09.280 --> 00:04:14.800 And there were several articles written during the week that said, in effect, Dan Walker is a creationist. 00:04:15.079 --> 00:04:17.279 Therefore, we can't trust him to read the news. 00:04:17.500 --> 00:04:19.399 It wasn't much more than that they were saying. 00:04:19.399 --> 00:04:24.319 Now, most of us probably don't get that, but in our own particular place of work, 00:04:24.620 --> 00:04:27.259 or the people we associate with, or at university, or whatever, 00:04:27.599 --> 00:04:29.699 if we stick our head above the parapet, 00:04:30.060 --> 00:04:34.079 sometimes people will mock us, or will try to put us down for our faith. 00:04:34.120 --> 00:04:35.179 And it can be difficult. 00:04:35.679 --> 00:04:39.319 We need to be convinced Jesus is worth it. 00:04:39.979 --> 00:04:42.739 And sometimes in other things in life, if we go through times of illness, 00:04:43.060 --> 00:04:45.419 or of bereavement, or of family heartaches, 00:04:45.599 --> 00:04:49.019 again, people might say, well, is it really worth it? 00:04:49.019 --> 00:04:52.759 And the writer of Hebrews today is saying to us, yes, it's worth it. 00:04:53.060 --> 00:04:57.419 Jesus is worth anything that you can give for him. 00:04:58.500 --> 00:04:59.279 So what's the passage about? 00:04:59.359 --> 00:05:02.339 Just a very high-level overview, and then we'll get into it. 00:05:03.060 --> 00:05:04.839 So three sections we're going to look at, 00:05:05.000 --> 00:05:08.519 and each case we'll read the passage and then talk a little bit about it. 00:05:08.519 --> 00:05:13.599 In the first section, the writer's talking about an enduring promise. 00:05:14.120 --> 00:05:19.339 Promises made thousands of years ago to Abraham, and he says it's still relevant today. 00:05:19.740 --> 00:05:23.279 And we can trust the promise because it comes from God. 00:05:24.680 --> 00:05:28.439 In the second section, he's talking about an exceptional priesthood. 00:05:28.799 --> 00:05:32.799 We have this guy, Melchizedek, who really only appears twice in the Old Testament, 00:05:32.800 --> 00:05:35.160 but the writer of Hebrews makes quite a lot of them. 00:05:35.620 --> 00:05:41.240 And his priesthood is exceptional, exceptional in the sense that it's different from other priesthoods, 00:05:41.560 --> 00:05:46.120 also exceptional in the sense that it's better, that it's the best, exceptionally good. 00:05:47.319 --> 00:05:51.900 And then finally at the end, the writer talks about an effective provision. 00:05:52.540 --> 00:05:58.080 And he talks about what Jesus has done and how that is sufficient to meet all our needs. 00:05:58.079 --> 00:06:03.359 It's an enduring promise, an exceptional priesthood, and an effective provision. 00:06:04.219 --> 00:06:09.039 So let's read now the first part of that from Hebrews chapter 6 from verse 13. 00:06:09.500 --> 00:06:12.719 And it'll come up on the screen if you don't want to follow in your Bible. 00:06:12.839 --> 00:06:13.500 Look at our Bible 100. 00:06:13.560 --> 00:06:16.000 Hebrews 6 verse 13, and it says, 00:06:16.120 --> 00:06:18.120 When God made his promise to Abraham, 00:06:18.919 --> 00:06:21.399 since there was no one greater for him to swear by, 00:06:21.819 --> 00:06:23.299 he swore by himself, 00:06:23.959 --> 00:06:27.680 saying, I will surely bless you and give you many descendants. 00:06:28.079 --> 00:06:32.399 And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised. 00:06:33.620 --> 00:06:35.939 Men swear by someone greater than themselves. 00:06:36.779 --> 00:06:41.039 And the oath confirms what is said and puts an end to all argument. 00:06:42.539 --> 00:06:48.779 But God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the ears of what was promised. 00:06:49.279 --> 00:06:51.000 He confirmed it with an oath. 00:06:52.180 --> 00:06:57.799 God did this so that by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, 00:06:58.079 --> 00:07:03.839 we who have pled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged. 00:07:04.800 --> 00:07:09.680 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. 00:07:10.479 --> 00:07:13.019 It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, 00:07:13.740 --> 00:07:17.659 where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf. 00:07:18.599 --> 00:07:24.139 He has become a high priest forever in the order of Melchizedek. 00:07:24.139 --> 00:07:28.439 So in this passage, we're introduced again to Abraham. 00:07:29.399 --> 00:07:32.979 And in particular, to the promise that God made to Abraham. 00:07:33.699 --> 00:07:37.479 Now, the particular verse he refers back to is in Genesis chapter 22. 00:07:38.060 --> 00:07:42.379 It's in the passage where Abraham is asked to offer up Isaac, his son, as a sacrifice. 00:07:42.899 --> 00:07:47.300 And at the last minute, God provides a ram instead for the sacrifice. 00:07:47.300 --> 00:07:57.379 But the writer extends it more generally to Abraham's life and to the fact that God promised that he would have a descendant who were greater than the stars in the sky, 00:07:57.460 --> 00:07:58.939 greater than the sands in the seashore. 00:07:59.480 --> 00:08:02.460 And yet, Abraham at that point was childless. 00:08:03.220 --> 00:08:07.360 And for many years, Abraham had to live on the promise of God. 00:08:07.360 --> 00:08:12.319 When he got way past the age where he was likely to have children, his wife Sarah was likely to have children, 00:08:12.759 --> 00:08:18.420 he had to rely on the promise of God and the fact that God would keep his promise. 00:08:18.939 --> 00:08:25.379 And Abraham in that is seen as an example to us, as someone whom we can follow. 00:08:26.020 --> 00:08:29.360 And the writer of the Hebrews says, as we look at that, 00:08:29.620 --> 00:08:33.960 then there are a number of things that we can learn about God's promise. 00:08:33.960 --> 00:08:37.200 And there's three pictures in particular I want to just look at very briefly. 00:08:38.100 --> 00:08:41.460 The first picture for us is one you would find in a courtroom. 00:08:42.320 --> 00:08:49.759 So if you're called to give evidence in a courtroom, you're asked either to affirm or if you're happy to swear on the Bible 00:08:49.759 --> 00:08:58.639 and to say, I swear by a mighty God that the evidence I give will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. 00:08:58.940 --> 00:09:05.740 And in a court of law, and it's been the same down through the centuries, obviously the same in the first century as well, 00:09:05.740 --> 00:09:12.159 if you swore by the name of God and said, I swear by God that what I'm saying is true, 00:09:12.539 --> 00:09:15.320 then that gave it some extra credibility. 00:09:16.259 --> 00:09:19.639 You were swearing by someone, not just by saying, I'm saying this is right, 00:09:19.879 --> 00:09:26.580 you're saying, I swear by God that this is right, and I'm going to tell the truth because of that. 00:09:26.580 --> 00:09:33.080 Now God doesn't need to swear by himself in that kind of sense because he is absolutely trustworthy. 00:09:33.360 --> 00:09:39.840 But Abraham says when God wanted to be really, really emphasizing the certainty of his promise, 00:09:40.320 --> 00:09:46.680 he chose to swear by his own name because there's no one who has a greater name than God. 00:09:46.679 --> 00:09:53.120 And he wanted us to be absolutely certain that he will keep his promise. 00:09:53.239 --> 00:09:57.000 When he swore to Abraham in Genesis 22, and he swore by himself, 00:09:57.079 --> 00:10:03.199 he wanted Abraham to be absolutely certain that God would keep his promises. 00:10:04.439 --> 00:10:06.519 And that's a great thing for us to learn today. 00:10:06.939 --> 00:10:12.179 We can be absolutely certain that God will keep his promises. 00:10:12.179 --> 00:10:16.579 When we might fail, when we might promise something and it might or might not happen, 00:10:16.659 --> 00:10:18.859 depending on how we feel or if we remember or whatever, 00:10:19.399 --> 00:10:23.000 God will keep his promises, not necessarily we'll see the answer immediately. 00:10:23.519 --> 00:10:29.919 Abraham had to wait for it, but we can be confident in God that he is utterly reliable. 00:10:31.459 --> 00:10:32.879 Now bring us to the second picture. 00:10:33.599 --> 00:10:36.519 The second picture is a picture of an anchor. 00:10:36.519 --> 00:10:40.479 Now we have a kind of funny mixed metaphor towards the end of this passage. 00:10:40.480 --> 00:10:42.620 We've got an anchor that seems to be thrown behind a curtain. 00:10:42.940 --> 00:10:45.180 I think we don't want to take too much of that. 00:10:45.379 --> 00:10:48.240 We'll take the two separately and look at them. 00:10:49.740 --> 00:10:52.580 So what the writer of the Hebrews says is we, 00:10:52.800 --> 00:10:55.420 if we're going through difficult times in our lives, 00:10:55.600 --> 00:11:01.039 we need to have this anchor, which is the hope that we have in the Lord Jesus. 00:11:01.220 --> 00:11:06.039 Now in the Bible, hope is not just something we think might happen and might not happen. 00:11:06.039 --> 00:11:11.179 The hope is something that God has promised us that we know is going to happen. 00:11:11.279 --> 00:11:15.860 It's not got the uncertainty that there normally would be when we talk about hope. 00:11:16.699 --> 00:11:19.839 And the writer of the Hebrews says this hope that we have in Jesus 00:11:19.839 --> 00:11:23.279 and this reliance that we have in God's promise, 00:11:23.679 --> 00:11:26.860 it should be like an anchor in our lives. 00:11:27.459 --> 00:11:29.980 It's quite interesting that in modern business speak, 00:11:30.219 --> 00:11:32.120 people talk about life anchors. 00:11:32.219 --> 00:11:35.500 You occasionally go on courses, people talk about what are your life anchors. 00:11:35.500 --> 00:11:39.879 Well, for the Christian, our life anchor is our hope in Jesus, 00:11:40.299 --> 00:11:44.659 our knowledge that we know him, that he has saved us from our sins, 00:11:44.879 --> 00:11:48.159 and that one day we will go to be with him. 00:11:48.500 --> 00:11:51.100 That is what keeps us going through times of trouble. 00:11:51.519 --> 00:11:56.379 That is what helps us to understand that Jesus is worth it. 00:11:57.740 --> 00:12:00.820 And then the third picture is of the curtain. 00:12:01.440 --> 00:12:03.000 It enters the inner sanctuaries, 00:12:03.000 --> 00:12:05.200 it's the hope that's been talked about behind the curtain, 00:12:05.500 --> 00:12:09.139 where our forerunner Jesus has entered on our behalf. 00:12:09.500 --> 00:12:12.539 So we're back into the pictures of the Jewish religion. 00:12:13.460 --> 00:12:16.080 In the temple and previous to that, 00:12:16.419 --> 00:12:18.820 in the tabernacle, there was a curtain, 00:12:18.940 --> 00:12:21.740 there was a veil that only the high priest could go through, 00:12:22.059 --> 00:12:23.740 and only once a year. 00:12:23.879 --> 00:12:27.600 It was where he went to make the sacrifice for atonement for the people. 00:12:27.740 --> 00:12:31.559 It was where he went to be in the very presence of God. 00:12:31.559 --> 00:12:35.199 With the death of the Lord Jesus, that curtain was torn in two, 00:12:35.200 --> 00:12:40.040 and the writer says, we have access freely into God's presence. 00:12:40.600 --> 00:12:45.960 But what he's thinking about particularly here is that Jesus is the one who's gone before us 00:12:45.960 --> 00:12:50.259 into the very presence of God, into heaven, if you like. 00:12:50.940 --> 00:12:53.500 Jesus has gone there as our forerunner, 00:12:53.500 --> 00:12:56.879 and if we know him, if our trust is in him, 00:12:57.220 --> 00:12:59.379 we will go to be with him. 00:12:59.419 --> 00:13:00.840 He has entered on our behalf, 00:13:01.179 --> 00:13:04.539 and we will one day go to be with him. 00:13:05.080 --> 00:13:07.840 So that's why we can have confidence in God. 00:13:07.919 --> 00:13:09.360 That is why Jesus is worth it. 00:13:09.460 --> 00:13:10.879 God's word is reliable. 00:13:11.779 --> 00:13:14.480 The hope that we have is an anchor for our souls 00:13:14.480 --> 00:13:16.659 in the difficulties of life. 00:13:17.419 --> 00:13:20.639 And whatever we face, we know there is someone who has gone before us, 00:13:21.019 --> 00:13:24.559 that the Lord Jesus is there preparing our place, 00:13:24.879 --> 00:13:28.139 and one day we will go to be with him. 00:13:29.600 --> 00:13:31.240 Right, so that's the first part of the passage. 00:13:31.339 --> 00:13:32.980 Let's move on to chapter 7 now, 00:13:33.199 --> 00:13:35.139 and we're going to think about Melchizedek. 00:13:35.139 --> 00:13:37.639 So chapter 7, reading from verse 1. 00:13:38.600 --> 00:13:38.980 It says, 00:13:39.120 --> 00:13:43.339 This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. 00:13:43.340 --> 00:13:48.259 He met Abraham returning from the defeat of the kings and blessed him, 00:13:48.860 --> 00:13:50.899 and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. 00:13:52.060 --> 00:13:53.899 First his name, that's Melchizedek's name, 00:13:53.960 --> 00:13:55.040 means king of righteousness. 00:13:55.899 --> 00:13:59.040 Then also king of Salem means king of peace. 00:14:00.160 --> 00:14:02.220 Without father or mother, without genealogy, 00:14:02.340 --> 00:14:04.200 without beginning of days or end of life, 00:14:04.560 --> 00:14:08.100 like the Son of God, he remains a priest forever. 00:14:09.160 --> 00:14:10.759 Just think how great he was. 00:14:10.759 --> 00:14:15.480 Even the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder. 00:14:16.759 --> 00:14:18.799 Now the law requires the descendants of Levi, 00:14:19.019 --> 00:14:21.259 who become priests, to collect a tenth from the people, 00:14:21.379 --> 00:14:22.220 that is, their brothers, 00:14:22.879 --> 00:14:25.319 even though their brothers are descended from Abraham. 00:14:26.379 --> 00:14:29.360 This man, however, did not trace his descent from Levi. 00:14:30.179 --> 00:14:32.080 Yet he collected a tenth from Abraham 00:14:32.080 --> 00:14:34.419 and blessed him who had the promises. 00:14:35.620 --> 00:14:36.539 And without doubt, 00:14:37.159 --> 00:14:39.840 the lesser person is blessed by the greater. 00:14:39.840 --> 00:14:44.220 In the one case, the tenth is collected by men who die, 00:14:45.060 --> 00:14:46.139 but in the other case, 00:14:46.220 --> 00:14:48.540 by him who is declared to be living. 00:14:49.840 --> 00:14:52.379 One might even say that Levi, who collects the tenth, 00:14:52.920 --> 00:14:54.660 paid the tenth through Abraham. 00:14:55.500 --> 00:14:57.440 Because when Melchizedek met Abraham, 00:14:57.600 --> 00:14:59.840 Levi was still in the body of his ancestor. 00:14:59.840 --> 00:15:04.160 If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood, 00:15:04.500 --> 00:15:06.620 from the basis of the law that was given to the people, 00:15:07.320 --> 00:15:09.980 why was there still need for another priest to come, 00:15:10.399 --> 00:15:12.139 one in the order of Melchizedek, 00:15:12.440 --> 00:15:14.220 not in the order of Aaron? 00:15:15.220 --> 00:15:17.680 For when there is a change of the priesthood, 00:15:17.899 --> 00:15:20.340 there must also be a change of the law. 00:15:20.340 --> 00:15:24.720 He of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe, 00:15:25.120 --> 00:15:28.320 and no one from that tribe has ever served at the altar. 00:15:29.220 --> 00:15:31.540 For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah, 00:15:32.120 --> 00:15:33.840 and in regard to that tribe, 00:15:34.240 --> 00:15:36.120 Moses said nothing about priests. 00:15:37.120 --> 00:15:38.620 And what we have said is even more clear 00:15:38.620 --> 00:15:40.720 if another priest like Melchizedek appears, 00:15:41.440 --> 00:15:42.720 one who has become a priest, 00:15:42.720 --> 00:15:45.960 not on the basis of a regulation as to his ancestry, 00:15:46.700 --> 00:15:50.440 but on the basis of the power of an indestructible life. 00:15:51.360 --> 00:15:52.139 For it is declared, 00:15:52.840 --> 00:15:57.019 you are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek. 00:15:58.080 --> 00:15:59.680 So we have this guy, Melchizedek, 00:16:00.139 --> 00:16:02.920 who's referred to repeatedly in this passage 00:16:02.920 --> 00:16:04.279 by the writer to the Hebrews. 00:16:04.720 --> 00:16:08.340 Melchizedek is only mentioned in two places in the Old Testament. 00:16:09.139 --> 00:16:10.600 He's mentioned in the book of Genesis, 00:16:10.600 --> 00:16:14.580 and then he's referred to briefly in Psalm 110. 00:16:15.720 --> 00:16:16.800 In the book of Genesis, 00:16:17.060 --> 00:16:20.100 it comes about when Abraham has been at battle. 00:16:20.240 --> 00:16:21.420 Abraham's nephew, Lot, 00:16:21.460 --> 00:16:24.100 had made a very foolish decision to go and live in Sodom, 00:16:24.480 --> 00:16:26.100 and there had been a bit of a war, 00:16:26.180 --> 00:16:28.340 and he'd been taken away as a captive, 00:16:28.700 --> 00:16:30.440 and Abraham went and rescued him, 00:16:30.540 --> 00:16:33.100 defeated those who were the enemies, 00:16:33.100 --> 00:16:34.600 brought back the plunder, 00:16:35.000 --> 00:16:36.860 and came back in triumph. 00:16:37.500 --> 00:16:38.480 And this man, Melchizedek, 00:16:38.600 --> 00:16:39.779 came out to meet Abraham, 00:16:39.779 --> 00:16:44.379 and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything he had. 00:16:44.919 --> 00:16:48.839 And Melchizedek is described as both a king and a priest. 00:16:49.679 --> 00:16:50.779 And the writer to the Hebrews, 00:16:50.939 --> 00:16:51.939 almost as an aside, 00:16:52.319 --> 00:16:54.120 makes mention of the fact that his name, 00:16:54.199 --> 00:16:56.279 Melchizedek, means king of righteousness, 00:16:56.879 --> 00:16:58.939 and the place he came from, Salem, means peace, 00:16:58.980 --> 00:17:00.199 so he's also king of peace. 00:17:00.200 --> 00:17:04.960 And clearly that fits very well with our thoughts of the Lord Jesus. 00:17:06.240 --> 00:17:09.700 But we know really nothing of Melchizedek for certain 00:17:09.700 --> 00:17:11.680 beyond what we read in Genesis, 00:17:12.180 --> 00:17:14.880 and that very brief reference in Psalms. 00:17:15.279 --> 00:17:18.200 And that means he's become a bit of a person of mystery, 00:17:18.580 --> 00:17:21.759 and people wonder, well, who really was Melchizedek? 00:17:22.580 --> 00:17:25.160 And there are two views, I think, main of that. 00:17:25.160 --> 00:17:26.960 And I'm going to use a current analogy 00:17:26.960 --> 00:17:29.680 to kind of hopefully help us understand. 00:17:30.620 --> 00:17:31.820 This character on the screen now, 00:17:31.920 --> 00:17:33.660 many of you will recognize, is the Stig. 00:17:34.120 --> 00:17:37.420 So the Stig is best known as being the racing driver 00:17:37.420 --> 00:17:41.340 who's appeared on Top Gear and various other programs. 00:17:41.840 --> 00:17:43.500 He's a man of mystery. 00:17:44.140 --> 00:17:46.320 No one, in theory at least, knows who he is. 00:17:46.360 --> 00:17:47.960 He appears, he drives very fast, 00:17:48.240 --> 00:17:49.680 and he goes away again. 00:17:50.620 --> 00:17:53.340 But no one doubts that the Stig is a real person. 00:17:54.100 --> 00:17:56.900 Behind that mask, there's someone who's got a father and a mother 00:17:56.900 --> 00:17:58.279 who lives somewhere in the UK, 00:17:58.880 --> 00:18:00.960 and there's someone, if we met in the streets, 00:18:01.200 --> 00:18:04.360 he would be a real person we could talk to and interact with. 00:18:04.779 --> 00:18:08.400 He just is, kind of, we don't know exactly who he is. 00:18:09.120 --> 00:18:11.360 One of the views of Melchizedek is a bit like that. 00:18:11.400 --> 00:18:12.660 Well, he's a bit of a mystery figure, 00:18:13.220 --> 00:18:16.019 but he's just someone who is in the Old Testament, 00:18:16.539 --> 00:18:19.580 and the writer of the Hebrews is using him as an analogy. 00:18:20.160 --> 00:18:22.180 He was a real person, a man, 00:18:22.440 --> 00:18:24.440 and although it says he didn't have father and mother, 00:18:24.519 --> 00:18:27.100 that's just figuratively we don't know who his father and mother was. 00:18:27.180 --> 00:18:30.779 He didn't have the normal human parents and human descendants, 00:18:31.140 --> 00:18:32.259 but he's a bit of a mystery, 00:18:32.360 --> 00:18:34.580 and he's used because of that as an example 00:18:34.580 --> 00:18:36.900 by the writer to the Hebrews. 00:18:38.220 --> 00:18:39.500 Perhaps in support of that, 00:18:39.500 --> 00:18:43.400 I was interested, I've been reading Alec Mottier's latest book, 00:18:43.500 --> 00:18:44.160 which is really excellent. 00:18:44.279 --> 00:18:45.700 I really recommend it to you, 00:18:46.019 --> 00:18:48.480 The Christian's Pocket Guide to Loving the Old Testament. 00:18:48.480 --> 00:18:50.860 And what Alec Mottier suggests 00:18:50.860 --> 00:18:55.019 is that when Joshua conquered the land of Israel, 00:18:55.500 --> 00:18:57.259 that the king in Jerusalem at that time 00:18:57.259 --> 00:18:59.759 was someone called Adonai Zedek. 00:19:00.440 --> 00:19:01.360 And Alec Mottier says, 00:19:01.440 --> 00:19:03.400 well, maybe there's been a Zedek dynasty 00:19:03.400 --> 00:19:05.819 of priest kings in Jerusalem, 00:19:05.900 --> 00:19:09.140 because Adonai Zedek means much the same as Melchizedek. 00:19:09.140 --> 00:19:12.000 And maybe when the reference is made to Psalm 110, 00:19:12.259 --> 00:19:14.759 to being a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek, 00:19:15.120 --> 00:19:16.480 in the first instance, 00:19:16.960 --> 00:19:18.000 it is thinking of David, 00:19:18.100 --> 00:19:19.759 who's made his throne in Jerusalem, 00:19:19.860 --> 00:19:20.880 being the king in Jerusalem, 00:19:21.160 --> 00:19:23.520 as being the kind of successor to Melchizedek. 00:19:24.300 --> 00:19:24.680 In other words, 00:19:24.759 --> 00:19:26.100 Melchizedek was a real man 00:19:26.100 --> 00:19:27.420 who had descendants, 00:19:27.940 --> 00:19:30.520 and whose descendants were kings in Jerusalem. 00:19:30.940 --> 00:19:31.660 So that's one view. 00:19:33.220 --> 00:19:33.920 Second view, 00:19:34.400 --> 00:19:35.900 there's James Judi Dench. 00:19:35.900 --> 00:19:37.120 Actually, if you look a bit closely, 00:19:37.259 --> 00:19:39.140 it's not James Judi Dench. 00:19:39.740 --> 00:19:41.600 It's Tracy Ellman dressed up 00:19:41.600 --> 00:19:43.800 to look like James Judi Dench. 00:19:44.140 --> 00:19:45.560 She's got the appearance of being 00:19:45.560 --> 00:19:47.060 a very well-known actress, 00:19:47.380 --> 00:19:50.300 but actually it's just someone who's playing her. 00:19:51.019 --> 00:19:52.440 And the second view of Melchizedek 00:19:52.440 --> 00:19:55.180 is actually he wasn't just a normal man 00:19:55.180 --> 00:19:58.080 who happened to come across Abraham's pathway. 00:19:58.660 --> 00:20:01.280 Melchizedek was some heavenly being. 00:20:02.100 --> 00:20:03.500 Among the Dead Sea Scrolls, 00:20:03.500 --> 00:20:05.720 there's something called the Melchizedek Scroll. 00:20:06.380 --> 00:20:07.620 And that seems to suggest 00:20:07.620 --> 00:20:09.200 that Melchizedek was an angel 00:20:09.200 --> 00:20:11.420 who fought a battle against evil, 00:20:11.560 --> 00:20:13.320 who had some involvement in the atonement and so on, 00:20:13.480 --> 00:20:15.720 that he was a heavenly being. 00:20:17.080 --> 00:20:18.519 Perhaps more relevantly to many of us, 00:20:18.580 --> 00:20:19.500 there are a lot of people 00:20:19.500 --> 00:20:21.740 who feel that Melchizedek 00:20:21.740 --> 00:20:25.580 was actually a pre-incarnation appearance 00:20:25.580 --> 00:20:26.960 of the Lord Jesus. 00:20:27.140 --> 00:20:29.140 Although it says he was like Jesus, 00:20:29.620 --> 00:20:31.360 actually this was Jesus appearing 00:20:31.360 --> 00:20:33.940 before he came into this world. 00:20:33.940 --> 00:20:37.740 Actually, that is not the main point. 00:20:37.820 --> 00:20:39.420 Whatever view you take of Melchizedek, 00:20:39.600 --> 00:20:40.700 that is not the main point. 00:20:40.759 --> 00:20:41.420 It's very interesting, 00:20:41.840 --> 00:20:44.000 but it's not what the writer is trying to tell us. 00:20:44.059 --> 00:20:46.240 It doesn't really matter to our understanding 00:20:46.240 --> 00:20:49.580 of the passage who Melchizedek is. 00:20:50.360 --> 00:20:51.360 Because the writer to Hebrews 00:20:51.360 --> 00:20:54.820 makes really two main points about Melchizedek. 00:20:54.920 --> 00:20:56.140 Now he makes them in great detail, 00:20:56.240 --> 00:20:57.600 and we've not got time to go into the detail 00:20:57.600 --> 00:20:58.519 this afternoon, 00:20:58.519 --> 00:21:00.259 but two main points he makes 00:21:00.259 --> 00:21:02.119 about Melchizedek 00:21:02.119 --> 00:21:04.359 and his exceptional priesthood. 00:21:05.180 --> 00:21:06.619 The first thing he says 00:21:06.619 --> 00:21:08.920 is that Melchizedek and the Lord Jesus 00:21:08.920 --> 00:21:11.460 as the one of the order of Melchizedek 00:21:11.460 --> 00:21:13.220 has a better qualification 00:21:13.220 --> 00:21:14.920 to be a high priest 00:21:14.920 --> 00:21:18.099 even than the descendants of Aaron. 00:21:19.039 --> 00:21:19.779 And I love, I think, 00:21:19.859 --> 00:21:21.559 it's verse 16 of the passage 00:21:21.559 --> 00:21:24.059 where it says, 00:21:24.659 --> 00:21:26.099 Melchizedek became a priest 00:21:26.099 --> 00:21:27.720 not on the basis of regulation 00:21:27.720 --> 00:21:28.679 as to his ancestry, 00:21:29.220 --> 00:21:31.460 but on the basis of the power 00:21:31.460 --> 00:21:33.519 of an indestructible life. 00:21:33.599 --> 00:21:34.579 Very true of the Lord Jesus, 00:21:34.679 --> 00:21:37.940 the power of an indestructible life. 00:21:38.799 --> 00:21:40.059 So the priests in Israel 00:21:40.059 --> 00:21:42.200 were all from the tribe of Levi, 00:21:42.379 --> 00:21:42.879 the high priest. 00:21:42.960 --> 00:21:43.759 They would be descended, 00:21:43.919 --> 00:21:45.319 all of them, from Aaron. 00:21:46.559 --> 00:21:48.339 The way he became a high priest 00:21:48.339 --> 00:21:49.539 was not by deciding, 00:21:49.659 --> 00:21:51.460 I'm going to set my life aside 00:21:51.460 --> 00:21:52.700 to serve God 00:21:52.700 --> 00:21:53.640 and you could come from anywhere 00:21:53.640 --> 00:21:54.140 and do that, 00:21:54.200 --> 00:21:55.319 as would be the case now. 00:21:55.759 --> 00:21:57.000 Rather, to be a priest, 00:21:57.120 --> 00:22:00.100 you had to be from the tribe of Levi. 00:22:00.259 --> 00:22:01.160 That was the rule. 00:22:01.519 --> 00:22:02.380 The Levites didn't have 00:22:02.380 --> 00:22:03.579 any territory of their own, 00:22:03.840 --> 00:22:04.720 but the other Israelites 00:22:04.720 --> 00:22:06.680 gave 10% of everything they had 00:22:06.680 --> 00:22:08.299 and that was largely to support 00:22:08.299 --> 00:22:10.079 the Levites who were set apart 00:22:10.079 --> 00:22:12.400 as being particularly God's people, 00:22:12.559 --> 00:22:13.400 God's representatives, 00:22:13.960 --> 00:22:15.940 and among them, the priests. 00:22:16.940 --> 00:22:18.039 And so quite legitimately, 00:22:18.220 --> 00:22:19.340 someone reading Hebrews saying, 00:22:19.440 --> 00:22:21.180 Jesus is seen as the great high priest, 00:22:21.180 --> 00:22:21.580 they could say, 00:22:21.640 --> 00:22:22.799 well, how can that be? 00:22:23.100 --> 00:22:25.380 Because he's not from the tribe of Levi, 00:22:25.580 --> 00:22:27.320 born in the tribe of Judah. 00:22:28.320 --> 00:22:29.940 And so the writer here is saying, 00:22:30.420 --> 00:22:31.560 doesn't matter who's born 00:22:31.560 --> 00:22:32.640 from the tribe of Judah 00:22:32.640 --> 00:22:34.100 because his priesthood 00:22:34.100 --> 00:22:35.519 isn't the priesthood of Aaron, 00:22:36.060 --> 00:22:38.519 it's the priesthood of Melchizedek. 00:22:39.080 --> 00:22:40.320 And that's not based on 00:22:40.320 --> 00:22:42.420 who your father and your grandfather 00:22:42.420 --> 00:22:42.900 and so on, 00:22:42.940 --> 00:22:44.440 going back up to Aaron was. 00:22:44.820 --> 00:22:46.680 That is based on the character 00:22:46.680 --> 00:22:48.519 of the person. 00:22:49.380 --> 00:22:51.680 And Jesus has a better qualification 00:22:51.680 --> 00:22:53.580 to be the high priest 00:22:53.580 --> 00:22:55.120 because he is the one 00:22:55.120 --> 00:22:55.960 who is eternal 00:22:55.960 --> 00:22:58.560 and indestructible, 00:22:58.880 --> 00:23:00.140 as the writer says. 00:23:00.360 --> 00:23:02.820 He is the one who is God's son. 00:23:02.880 --> 00:23:04.980 And that is the callback 00:23:04.980 --> 00:23:05.660 to Melchizedek. 00:23:05.880 --> 00:23:07.019 Yes, you can be a priest 00:23:07.019 --> 00:23:08.680 without being from the tribe of Levi 00:23:08.680 --> 00:23:10.120 because Melchizedek was a priest 00:23:10.120 --> 00:23:11.539 without being from the tribe of Levi. 00:23:11.539 --> 00:23:14.200 And Jesus is from his lineage 00:23:14.200 --> 00:23:17.379 rather than from the lineage of Aaron. 00:23:17.740 --> 00:23:19.539 He has a better qualification 00:23:19.539 --> 00:23:21.779 than the normal priests 00:23:21.779 --> 00:23:23.359 for what he does. 00:23:25.460 --> 00:23:26.319 And then the second thing 00:23:26.319 --> 00:23:27.119 the writer says 00:23:27.119 --> 00:23:30.279 is he has a higher status. 00:23:31.139 --> 00:23:32.079 Now to really understand that, 00:23:32.139 --> 00:23:33.099 we have to realize 00:23:33.099 --> 00:23:35.319 that ancestry was really, 00:23:35.539 --> 00:23:37.599 really important to the Jews. 00:23:38.039 --> 00:23:39.279 And you look back 00:23:39.279 --> 00:23:41.079 and you saw who your ancestors were. 00:23:41.079 --> 00:23:42.199 And that was something 00:23:42.199 --> 00:23:42.939 that gave you 00:23:42.939 --> 00:23:45.139 whatever status you had. 00:23:46.220 --> 00:23:47.619 And the writer here says 00:23:47.619 --> 00:23:49.500 this man Melchizedek 00:23:49.500 --> 00:23:51.079 had a higher status 00:23:51.079 --> 00:23:52.740 than the priests 00:23:52.740 --> 00:23:54.059 of the Old Testament, 00:23:54.199 --> 00:23:56.119 the priests of the Aaronic priesthood 00:23:56.119 --> 00:23:57.799 because Abraham 00:23:57.799 --> 00:24:00.419 gave him a tenth of his possessions 00:24:00.419 --> 00:24:02.939 and he blessed Abraham. 00:24:03.679 --> 00:24:05.299 And Abraham was the ancestor 00:24:05.299 --> 00:24:07.980 of all the priests of Israel. 00:24:08.699 --> 00:24:10.799 Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, 00:24:11.079 --> 00:24:11.720 Levi, 00:24:12.139 --> 00:24:13.139 and then the priests 00:24:13.139 --> 00:24:13.759 were descended 00:24:13.759 --> 00:24:15.539 down that line. 00:24:16.539 --> 00:24:17.879 And so the writer says 00:24:17.879 --> 00:24:21.039 that because Melchizedek 00:24:21.039 --> 00:24:21.859 blessed Abraham, 00:24:22.079 --> 00:24:23.460 he was greater than Abraham. 00:24:24.059 --> 00:24:25.839 Because Abraham gave him a tithe, 00:24:25.980 --> 00:24:26.899 that was also a sign 00:24:26.899 --> 00:24:28.139 that Melchizedek was greater 00:24:28.139 --> 00:24:29.259 than Abraham. 00:24:29.819 --> 00:24:31.299 And because all the priests 00:24:31.299 --> 00:24:32.679 are descended from Abraham 00:24:32.679 --> 00:24:34.579 and therefore can't be superior 00:24:34.579 --> 00:24:35.179 to him, 00:24:35.500 --> 00:24:36.980 then Melchizedek's priesthood 00:24:36.980 --> 00:24:40.420 is superior to Aaron's priesthood. 00:24:40.839 --> 00:24:42.700 And Jesus is a priest 00:24:42.700 --> 00:24:45.779 after the order of Melchizedek. 00:24:46.380 --> 00:24:47.059 I hope that's made 00:24:47.059 --> 00:24:48.680 a little bit of sense. 00:24:48.940 --> 00:24:49.539 It is a long 00:24:49.539 --> 00:24:50.860 and quite complicated passage, 00:24:51.319 --> 00:24:51.980 but I do want to spend 00:24:51.980 --> 00:24:52.980 some time on the end 00:24:52.980 --> 00:24:54.259 of chapter 7, 00:24:54.620 --> 00:24:55.420 so we'll leave it there 00:24:55.420 --> 00:24:56.319 for Melchizedek 00:24:56.319 --> 00:24:57.240 and we'll move on. 00:24:57.279 --> 00:24:58.880 Let's read the following verses 00:24:58.880 --> 00:25:00.180 of this chapter. 00:25:00.180 --> 00:25:03.180 So after Hebrews 7, 00:25:03.240 --> 00:25:03.940 verse 18, 00:25:04.500 --> 00:25:05.460 the former regulation 00:25:05.460 --> 00:25:06.279 is set aside 00:25:06.279 --> 00:25:07.460 because it was weak 00:25:07.460 --> 00:25:08.440 and useless, 00:25:09.320 --> 00:25:09.980 for the law 00:25:09.980 --> 00:25:11.200 made nothing perfect 00:25:11.200 --> 00:25:12.759 and a better hope 00:25:12.759 --> 00:25:13.460 is introduced 00:25:13.460 --> 00:25:14.940 by which we draw 00:25:14.940 --> 00:25:15.860 near to God. 00:25:16.779 --> 00:25:17.380 And it was not 00:25:17.380 --> 00:25:18.140 without an oath. 00:25:18.240 --> 00:25:18.940 See, we're back again 00:25:18.940 --> 00:25:20.000 where we were in chapter 6. 00:25:20.400 --> 00:25:21.519 It was not without an oath. 00:25:21.920 --> 00:25:22.940 Others became priests 00:25:22.940 --> 00:25:23.980 without any oath, 00:25:24.660 --> 00:25:25.860 but he became a priest 00:25:25.860 --> 00:25:26.539 with an oath 00:25:26.539 --> 00:25:28.019 when God said to him, 00:25:28.100 --> 00:25:29.220 the Lord has sworn 00:25:29.220 --> 00:25:31.100 and will not change his mind. 00:25:31.460 --> 00:25:33.319 You are a priest forever. 00:25:34.160 --> 00:25:35.220 Because of this oath, 00:25:35.339 --> 00:25:36.079 Jesus has become 00:25:36.079 --> 00:25:36.660 the guarantee 00:25:36.660 --> 00:25:37.920 of a better covenant. 00:25:39.059 --> 00:25:39.620 Now, there have been 00:25:39.620 --> 00:25:40.799 many of those priests 00:25:40.799 --> 00:25:42.460 since death prevented them 00:25:42.460 --> 00:25:44.039 from continuing in office. 00:25:44.880 --> 00:25:45.779 But because Jesus 00:25:45.779 --> 00:25:46.559 lives forever, 00:25:47.039 --> 00:25:49.279 he has a permanent priesthood. 00:25:50.059 --> 00:25:50.839 Therefore, he's able 00:25:50.839 --> 00:25:51.799 to save completely 00:25:51.799 --> 00:25:53.240 those who come to God 00:25:53.240 --> 00:25:53.799 through him 00:25:53.799 --> 00:25:55.600 because he always lives 00:25:55.600 --> 00:25:57.299 to intercede for them. 00:25:57.299 --> 00:25:59.359 Such a high priest 00:25:59.359 --> 00:26:00.259 meets our need. 00:26:00.899 --> 00:26:01.720 One who is holy, 00:26:01.899 --> 00:26:02.940 blameless, pure, 00:26:03.379 --> 00:26:04.579 set apart from sinners, 00:26:05.079 --> 00:26:07.119 exalted above the heavens. 00:26:08.099 --> 00:26:09.339 Unlike the other high priests, 00:26:09.440 --> 00:26:10.240 he does not need 00:26:10.240 --> 00:26:11.220 to offer sacrifices 00:26:11.220 --> 00:26:12.119 day after day, 00:26:12.220 --> 00:26:13.339 first for his own sins 00:26:13.339 --> 00:26:14.539 and then for the sins 00:26:14.539 --> 00:26:15.119 of the people. 00:26:15.879 --> 00:26:17.500 He sacrificed for their sins 00:26:17.500 --> 00:26:18.240 once for all 00:26:18.240 --> 00:26:19.379 when he offered himself. 00:26:20.379 --> 00:26:21.279 For the law appoints 00:26:21.279 --> 00:26:22.000 as high priests 00:26:22.000 --> 00:26:22.899 men who are weak, 00:26:23.659 --> 00:26:24.359 but the oath 00:26:24.359 --> 00:26:25.519 which came after the law 00:26:25.519 --> 00:26:26.579 appointed the Son 00:26:26.579 --> 00:26:28.160 who has been made 00:26:28.160 --> 00:26:30.200 perfect forever. 00:26:31.660 --> 00:26:32.319 What the righteous 00:26:32.319 --> 00:26:33.319 Hebrews is doing now, 00:26:33.379 --> 00:26:34.099 he's moving on. 00:26:34.779 --> 00:26:35.879 He said Jesus 00:26:35.879 --> 00:26:37.839 is a greater high priest 00:26:37.839 --> 00:26:38.720 than the high priests 00:26:38.720 --> 00:26:40.579 under the Jewish tradition, 00:26:41.240 --> 00:26:41.819 but he's saying 00:26:41.819 --> 00:26:42.720 in particular 00:26:42.720 --> 00:26:43.460 he's greater 00:26:43.460 --> 00:26:45.619 because what he has achieved 00:26:45.619 --> 00:26:47.119 is very much greater 00:26:47.119 --> 00:26:47.839 than anything 00:26:47.839 --> 00:26:49.359 that they could ever 00:26:49.359 --> 00:26:50.460 achieve. 00:26:51.099 --> 00:26:51.619 And so we have 00:26:51.619 --> 00:26:53.160 a number of comparisons 00:26:53.160 --> 00:26:55.120 between the high priest 00:26:55.120 --> 00:26:57.019 from the tribe of Levi, 00:26:57.540 --> 00:26:58.680 the descendants of Aaron, 00:26:59.340 --> 00:27:00.960 and our great high priest, 00:27:01.380 --> 00:27:02.100 the Lord Jesus. 00:27:02.820 --> 00:27:04.019 And the writer points out 00:27:04.019 --> 00:27:04.880 a number of things. 00:27:05.759 --> 00:27:06.140 He says, 00:27:06.220 --> 00:27:06.900 first of all, 00:27:07.160 --> 00:27:08.580 under the tradition of Aaron, 00:27:08.840 --> 00:27:10.120 there were many high priests. 00:27:11.080 --> 00:27:12.580 You were appointed high priest, 00:27:13.300 --> 00:27:14.820 you did that job for a while, 00:27:15.200 --> 00:27:16.400 and then you died. 00:27:16.400 --> 00:27:18.440 And then someone else 00:27:18.440 --> 00:27:19.800 took over as high priest. 00:27:19.880 --> 00:27:20.080 Ashton, 00:27:20.120 --> 00:27:20.780 by the time of Jesus, 00:27:20.880 --> 00:27:21.620 it seems that the high priest 00:27:21.620 --> 00:27:22.560 was more of a rotation, 00:27:23.019 --> 00:27:24.060 more of a yearly thing, 00:27:24.140 --> 00:27:25.240 but in principle, 00:27:25.620 --> 00:27:26.460 the high priest served 00:27:26.460 --> 00:27:27.000 for a while, 00:27:27.540 --> 00:27:28.420 then they died, 00:27:28.759 --> 00:27:29.720 and someone took over 00:27:29.720 --> 00:27:30.700 as high priest 00:27:30.700 --> 00:27:31.840 because they were just 00:27:31.840 --> 00:27:33.019 men like us. 00:27:33.420 --> 00:27:34.580 They were ordinary, 00:27:35.000 --> 00:27:35.460 normal, 00:27:35.800 --> 00:27:37.180 human beings. 00:27:37.980 --> 00:27:38.960 But the writer says 00:27:38.960 --> 00:27:40.200 when it comes to Jesus, 00:27:40.880 --> 00:27:41.800 you only need 00:27:41.800 --> 00:27:42.840 one high priest 00:27:42.839 --> 00:27:43.959 because Jesus 00:27:43.959 --> 00:27:45.240 is alive 00:27:45.240 --> 00:27:46.720 forever. 00:27:47.939 --> 00:27:49.019 It's this idea again 00:27:49.019 --> 00:27:50.720 of this indestructible 00:27:50.720 --> 00:27:51.599 life. 00:27:52.240 --> 00:27:53.500 Jesus is the only 00:27:53.500 --> 00:27:54.720 high priest we need 00:27:54.720 --> 00:27:56.000 because he isn't 00:27:56.000 --> 00:27:56.799 a mortal man. 00:27:56.859 --> 00:27:57.399 Yes, he came, 00:27:57.500 --> 00:27:58.899 he lived as a man, 00:27:58.939 --> 00:27:59.919 he lived among us, 00:28:00.179 --> 00:28:01.279 lived a perfect life, 00:28:01.500 --> 00:28:02.579 but he is God, 00:28:02.679 --> 00:28:03.599 the Son of God, 00:28:03.899 --> 00:28:05.119 he is eternal. 00:28:05.959 --> 00:28:06.759 And where the high priest 00:28:06.759 --> 00:28:07.639 could only serve 00:28:07.639 --> 00:28:08.199 for a while, 00:28:08.720 --> 00:28:09.899 Jesus can serve 00:28:09.899 --> 00:28:10.679 forever. 00:28:12.839 --> 00:28:13.480 Second thing he says 00:28:13.480 --> 00:28:14.459 about the high priests, 00:28:14.759 --> 00:28:15.099 again, 00:28:15.199 --> 00:28:16.039 they were just people 00:28:16.039 --> 00:28:16.839 like us. 00:28:17.519 --> 00:28:18.199 They were sinners. 00:28:18.819 --> 00:28:19.579 They did things 00:28:19.579 --> 00:28:20.419 that were wrong, 00:28:20.819 --> 00:28:21.679 and when they came 00:28:21.679 --> 00:28:22.339 to God, 00:28:22.619 --> 00:28:23.399 the first thing 00:28:23.399 --> 00:28:24.339 they had to do 00:28:24.339 --> 00:28:25.659 was to make sacrifice 00:28:25.659 --> 00:28:27.099 for their own sins, 00:28:27.419 --> 00:28:27.959 for all the things 00:28:27.959 --> 00:28:29.039 that they'd done wrong 00:28:29.039 --> 00:28:30.039 before they could 00:28:30.039 --> 00:28:31.159 really make sacrifices 00:28:31.159 --> 00:28:32.019 for the sins 00:28:32.019 --> 00:28:32.500 of the people. 00:28:32.639 --> 00:28:33.959 The sacrifice they made 00:28:33.959 --> 00:28:34.439 were for both 00:28:34.439 --> 00:28:35.240 their sins 00:28:35.240 --> 00:28:37.720 and for the people's sins. 00:28:38.859 --> 00:28:39.939 But our high priest, 00:28:40.819 --> 00:28:42.179 he is perfect. 00:28:42.839 --> 00:28:44.899 Some great wording 00:28:44.899 --> 00:28:46.619 in this passage. 00:28:46.859 --> 00:28:47.500 He is holy, 00:28:47.980 --> 00:28:48.619 blameless, 00:28:49.019 --> 00:28:49.439 pure, 00:28:49.879 --> 00:28:51.000 set apart from sinners, 00:28:51.500 --> 00:28:53.779 exalted above the heavens. 00:28:54.439 --> 00:28:55.619 There was no need 00:28:55.619 --> 00:28:56.139 for Jesus 00:28:56.139 --> 00:28:57.199 to make a sacrifice 00:28:57.199 --> 00:28:58.039 for himself 00:28:58.039 --> 00:28:59.199 because he was 00:28:59.199 --> 00:29:00.699 absolutely sinless. 00:29:00.799 --> 00:29:01.740 He was the only person 00:29:01.740 --> 00:29:02.359 who's ever lived 00:29:02.359 --> 00:29:03.019 in this world 00:29:03.019 --> 00:29:04.240 who never did 00:29:04.240 --> 00:29:05.879 anything wrong. 00:29:06.599 --> 00:29:07.339 And because of that, 00:29:07.419 --> 00:29:07.959 he didn't need 00:29:07.959 --> 00:29:08.679 to make sacrifice 00:29:08.679 --> 00:29:09.899 for his own sins, 00:29:09.900 --> 00:29:10.980 but he was able 00:29:10.980 --> 00:29:11.700 to sacrifice 00:29:11.700 --> 00:29:13.519 just for the sins 00:29:13.519 --> 00:29:14.380 of others, 00:29:14.460 --> 00:29:15.380 for our sins. 00:29:17.680 --> 00:29:18.259 Third thing 00:29:18.259 --> 00:29:19.019 the writer says, 00:29:19.840 --> 00:29:20.600 the sacrifices 00:29:20.600 --> 00:29:21.480 that were made 00:29:21.480 --> 00:29:22.380 in the Old Testament 00:29:22.380 --> 00:29:23.440 under the Old Testament 00:29:23.440 --> 00:29:24.060 order 00:29:24.060 --> 00:29:25.340 had to be made 00:29:25.340 --> 00:29:26.040 regularly. 00:29:26.040 --> 00:29:27.000 He talks about daily, 00:29:27.120 --> 00:29:27.860 the Day of Atonement, 00:29:27.920 --> 00:29:28.640 the big sacrifice 00:29:28.640 --> 00:29:29.480 was once a year, 00:29:29.640 --> 00:29:30.300 but every day 00:29:30.300 --> 00:29:31.340 if you went to the temple, 00:29:31.720 --> 00:29:32.460 there would be people 00:29:32.460 --> 00:29:34.440 there making sacrifices. 00:29:35.160 --> 00:29:35.880 They had to be made 00:29:35.880 --> 00:29:36.880 again and again 00:29:36.880 --> 00:29:39.180 because they weren't 00:29:39.180 --> 00:29:40.840 long-term effective. 00:29:41.620 --> 00:29:42.820 They were a repeated thing 00:29:42.820 --> 00:29:43.760 that had to be made 00:29:43.760 --> 00:29:44.500 to keep the people 00:29:44.500 --> 00:29:45.840 right with God, 00:29:46.180 --> 00:29:47.520 but they were something 00:29:47.520 --> 00:29:48.360 that could never 00:29:48.360 --> 00:29:49.420 really free them 00:29:49.420 --> 00:29:50.640 from the bondage 00:29:50.640 --> 00:29:51.560 to sin 00:29:51.560 --> 00:29:52.760 and to the law. 00:29:53.700 --> 00:29:54.340 But Jesus 00:29:54.340 --> 00:29:57.040 made one sacrifice 00:29:57.040 --> 00:29:58.000 forever. 00:29:58.920 --> 00:30:00.000 He didn't need 00:30:00.000 --> 00:30:01.240 to go and repeat 00:30:01.240 --> 00:30:02.180 that sacrifice 00:30:02.180 --> 00:30:03.260 again and again 00:30:03.260 --> 00:30:05.020 because the one sacrifice 00:30:05.020 --> 00:30:05.600 he made, 00:30:05.680 --> 00:30:06.860 the sacrifice of himself, 00:30:06.880 --> 00:30:08.100 was sufficient 00:30:08.100 --> 00:30:10.260 to cover all our sins 00:30:10.260 --> 00:30:11.380 if we trust in him 00:30:11.380 --> 00:30:12.220 and sufficient 00:30:12.220 --> 00:30:12.940 to bring us 00:30:12.940 --> 00:30:14.220 forgiveness 00:30:14.220 --> 00:30:15.740 and a relationship 00:30:15.740 --> 00:30:17.180 with God. 00:30:18.720 --> 00:30:19.580 That brings us 00:30:19.580 --> 00:30:20.580 to the final contrast 00:30:20.580 --> 00:30:21.520 in the passage 00:30:21.520 --> 00:30:22.580 that the priests 00:30:22.580 --> 00:30:23.920 offered sacrifice 00:30:23.920 --> 00:30:25.660 of animals, 00:30:26.120 --> 00:30:27.400 the Lord Jesus 00:30:27.400 --> 00:30:29.080 offered the sacrifice 00:30:29.080 --> 00:30:30.720 of himself. 00:30:31.960 --> 00:30:32.860 He didn't need 00:30:32.860 --> 00:30:33.720 sacrifice. 00:30:33.860 --> 00:30:34.520 Sacrifice of animals 00:30:34.520 --> 00:30:35.060 could have been 00:30:35.060 --> 00:30:35.840 ineffective 00:30:35.839 --> 00:30:36.980 from that point 00:30:36.980 --> 00:30:37.399 of view. 00:30:38.039 --> 00:30:39.179 The effective sacrifice 00:30:39.179 --> 00:30:40.359 before God 00:30:40.359 --> 00:30:41.559 was the sacrifice, 00:30:41.699 --> 00:30:42.679 the willing sacrifice 00:30:42.679 --> 00:30:43.619 of his son, 00:30:44.119 --> 00:30:45.159 taking my place 00:30:45.159 --> 00:30:45.819 on the cross, 00:30:45.939 --> 00:30:47.000 dying my death 00:30:47.000 --> 00:30:48.199 so that I could 00:30:48.199 --> 00:30:48.819 be forgiven, 00:30:49.359 --> 00:30:50.199 so that I could 00:30:50.199 --> 00:30:51.099 know God 00:30:51.099 --> 00:30:52.519 and have real hope 00:30:52.519 --> 00:30:53.699 for the future. 00:30:54.559 --> 00:30:55.220 And the sacrifice 00:30:55.220 --> 00:30:55.779 of Jesus 00:30:55.779 --> 00:30:57.079 is so much greater 00:30:57.079 --> 00:30:57.959 than all the other 00:30:57.959 --> 00:30:58.439 sacrifices. 00:30:58.439 --> 00:30:59.399 It's a once-for-all 00:30:59.399 --> 00:31:00.119 sacrifice 00:31:00.119 --> 00:31:01.419 and is a sacrifice 00:31:01.419 --> 00:31:02.039 of the one 00:31:02.039 --> 00:31:02.919 who is absolutely 00:31:02.919 --> 00:31:03.619 perfect 00:31:03.619 --> 00:31:04.939 and sinless 00:31:04.939 --> 00:31:06.099 who gave himself 00:31:06.099 --> 00:31:08.279 for our sins. 00:31:09.019 --> 00:31:09.959 And that is why 00:31:09.959 --> 00:31:12.339 Jesus is worth it. 00:31:12.419 --> 00:31:13.259 Worth the greatest 00:31:13.259 --> 00:31:14.359 praise that we can 00:31:14.359 --> 00:31:14.859 give him 00:31:14.859 --> 00:31:16.099 because he gave 00:31:16.099 --> 00:31:17.299 himself for us. 00:31:17.659 --> 00:31:18.339 He died 00:31:18.339 --> 00:31:20.239 for our sins. 00:31:21.500 --> 00:31:22.179 I've done pretty well 00:31:22.179 --> 00:31:22.379 gone, 00:31:22.439 --> 00:31:23.119 but let's just draw 00:31:23.119 --> 00:31:24.579 a couple of conclusions 00:31:24.579 --> 00:31:26.119 to take away with us. 00:31:26.879 --> 00:31:27.219 So we thought 00:31:27.219 --> 00:31:27.619 at the beginning 00:31:27.619 --> 00:31:28.899 about the promises 00:31:28.899 --> 00:31:29.939 that God made 00:31:29.939 --> 00:31:31.059 and the first thing 00:31:31.059 --> 00:31:32.259 I hope we can take away 00:31:32.259 --> 00:31:34.119 is that we can trust 00:31:34.119 --> 00:31:35.539 God's promises. 00:31:36.599 --> 00:31:37.239 That what God 00:31:37.239 --> 00:31:38.119 has said to us 00:31:38.119 --> 00:31:38.619 and what God 00:31:38.619 --> 00:31:39.619 has done for us 00:31:39.619 --> 00:31:40.579 through the Lord Jesus 00:31:40.579 --> 00:31:41.799 and the hope 00:31:41.799 --> 00:31:42.439 if we're Christians 00:31:42.439 --> 00:31:43.259 that we'll go to be 00:31:43.259 --> 00:31:43.939 with the Lord 00:31:43.939 --> 00:31:45.500 when we leave this earth, 00:31:45.839 --> 00:31:47.179 that can be the anchor 00:31:47.179 --> 00:31:47.979 for the soul, 00:31:48.299 --> 00:31:49.479 that can be the thing 00:31:49.479 --> 00:31:50.799 that we can really 00:31:50.799 --> 00:31:51.919 depend on. 00:31:52.539 --> 00:31:53.079 It's when we come 00:31:53.079 --> 00:31:54.199 to times of trouble 00:31:54.199 --> 00:31:55.579 that our faith 00:31:55.579 --> 00:31:56.339 is really tested 00:31:56.339 --> 00:31:57.259 and the genuineness 00:31:57.259 --> 00:31:57.839 of our faith 00:31:57.839 --> 00:31:59.039 becomes apparent 00:31:59.039 --> 00:32:00.099 or otherwise. 00:32:01.259 --> 00:32:02.839 One of the really sad things 00:32:02.839 --> 00:32:03.460 about the death 00:32:03.460 --> 00:32:04.119 of Terry Wogan 00:32:04.119 --> 00:32:05.220 a couple of weeks ago 00:32:05.220 --> 00:32:06.640 was some of the obituaries 00:32:06.640 --> 00:32:07.740 in the paper said 00:32:07.740 --> 00:32:09.299 that Wogan 00:32:09.299 --> 00:32:10.599 lost his faith 00:32:10.599 --> 00:32:12.000 when he lost his daughter 00:32:12.000 --> 00:32:12.879 at a young age. 00:32:12.960 --> 00:32:13.379 She died 00:32:13.379 --> 00:32:14.319 as a child. 00:32:14.400 --> 00:32:15.019 At that stage, 00:32:15.099 --> 00:32:15.859 Wogan decided 00:32:15.859 --> 00:32:17.240 that the Christian faith 00:32:17.240 --> 00:32:17.980 he'd been taught 00:32:17.980 --> 00:32:19.839 as a child in Ireland 00:32:19.839 --> 00:32:21.480 that that wasn't worth anything 00:32:21.480 --> 00:32:22.819 and he left it behind. 00:32:22.940 --> 00:32:23.640 He felt he'd just 00:32:23.640 --> 00:32:25.039 been brainwashed. 00:32:25.039 --> 00:32:27.200 I contrast that 00:32:27.200 --> 00:32:28.159 with a lady 00:32:28.159 --> 00:32:29.180 in the Christian Fellowship 00:32:29.180 --> 00:32:29.960 and my work lady 00:32:29.960 --> 00:32:30.700 called Mary 00:32:30.700 --> 00:32:32.339 who had just been 00:32:32.339 --> 00:32:33.899 diagnosed with cancer 00:32:33.899 --> 00:32:35.420 for the second time 00:32:35.420 --> 00:32:37.319 and Mary sent me a text. 00:32:37.379 --> 00:32:38.299 Let me just read it to you. 00:32:39.680 --> 00:32:40.980 I know that God 00:32:40.980 --> 00:32:42.539 has me by the hand 00:32:42.539 --> 00:32:44.339 and won't let me go. 00:32:45.099 --> 00:32:46.180 I know that God 00:32:46.180 --> 00:32:46.839 is in the midst 00:32:46.839 --> 00:32:47.779 of this with me 00:32:47.779 --> 00:32:49.759 and I shall not be moved. 00:32:50.460 --> 00:32:51.779 I have been proclaiming 00:32:51.779 --> 00:32:53.740 that the big C in my life 00:32:53.740 --> 00:32:54.920 is Christ. 00:32:55.599 --> 00:32:55.980 Cancer 00:32:55.980 --> 00:32:57.480 is a small C. 00:32:58.559 --> 00:32:59.440 And that is for 00:32:59.440 --> 00:33:00.740 those who have their faith 00:33:00.740 --> 00:33:01.480 in the Lord Jesus, 00:33:01.639 --> 00:33:02.319 those who know 00:33:02.319 --> 00:33:03.960 they can utterly depend on them. 00:33:04.299 --> 00:33:05.519 That is when our faith 00:33:05.519 --> 00:33:07.019 becomes most evident. 00:33:07.759 --> 00:33:09.019 When we come to the time 00:33:09.019 --> 00:33:09.599 of trial, 00:33:10.039 --> 00:33:11.160 when things are difficult 00:33:11.160 --> 00:33:11.859 for us 00:33:11.859 --> 00:33:13.279 and yet we can say 00:33:13.279 --> 00:33:15.119 I have absolute confidence 00:33:15.119 --> 00:33:15.779 in Jesus. 00:33:16.180 --> 00:33:17.759 I know he won't let me down. 00:33:18.119 --> 00:33:19.500 I trust God's promises 00:33:19.500 --> 00:33:21.980 completely and absolutely. 00:33:22.160 --> 00:33:22.880 I know what Jesus 00:33:22.880 --> 00:33:23.980 has done for me 00:33:23.980 --> 00:33:25.380 in dying on the cross 00:33:25.380 --> 00:33:26.799 and because of that 00:33:26.799 --> 00:33:28.099 I know he will always 00:33:28.099 --> 00:33:28.880 keep his promises. 00:33:29.460 --> 00:33:30.400 He will always 00:33:30.400 --> 00:33:31.400 be with me. 00:33:31.500 --> 00:33:32.380 We can trust 00:33:32.380 --> 00:33:34.019 God's promises. 00:33:35.940 --> 00:33:36.880 And the second thing 00:33:36.880 --> 00:33:37.900 what we just looked at 00:33:37.900 --> 00:33:39.299 is we can rely 00:33:39.299 --> 00:33:41.480 on Jesus' sacrifice. 00:33:42.839 --> 00:33:44.259 One of the great lessons 00:33:44.259 --> 00:33:44.779 of Hebrews 00:33:44.779 --> 00:33:45.779 is we can't rely 00:33:45.779 --> 00:33:46.579 on ourselves. 00:33:47.500 --> 00:33:47.839 That we, 00:33:48.079 --> 00:33:48.619 like the priests 00:33:48.619 --> 00:33:49.339 we've been talking about, 00:33:49.339 --> 00:33:50.359 like all the characters 00:33:50.359 --> 00:33:51.220 we've looked at 00:33:51.220 --> 00:33:52.759 over the previous chapters. 00:33:52.899 --> 00:33:53.639 We are sinful, 00:33:53.859 --> 00:33:54.740 we are flawed, 00:33:55.059 --> 00:33:56.619 and we can't do it 00:33:56.619 --> 00:33:57.720 by ourselves. 00:33:58.579 --> 00:33:59.539 And yet we can be 00:33:59.539 --> 00:34:00.759 absolutely confident 00:34:00.759 --> 00:34:02.539 if our trust is in Jesus. 00:34:02.619 --> 00:34:03.279 If we believe 00:34:03.279 --> 00:34:04.359 that he died for us, 00:34:04.379 --> 00:34:05.480 if we turn to him 00:34:05.480 --> 00:34:06.819 as being the only one 00:34:06.819 --> 00:34:07.919 who can bring us forgiveness. 00:34:08.519 --> 00:34:09.639 We can rely on that 00:34:09.639 --> 00:34:10.579 once for all, 00:34:10.920 --> 00:34:11.519 perfect, 00:34:11.900 --> 00:34:13.000 eternal sacrifice. 00:34:13.639 --> 00:34:14.380 We can know 00:34:14.380 --> 00:34:15.380 that we have 00:34:15.380 --> 00:34:16.119 a future 00:34:16.119 --> 00:34:17.099 that is secure, 00:34:17.480 --> 00:34:17.900 that we have 00:34:17.900 --> 00:34:18.860 a real hope 00:34:18.860 --> 00:34:19.700 that can be 00:34:19.700 --> 00:34:20.180 an anchor 00:34:20.180 --> 00:34:21.300 for us. 00:34:21.740 --> 00:34:22.420 I think the challenge 00:34:22.420 --> 00:34:23.139 for us today 00:34:23.139 --> 00:34:24.760 is do we have 00:34:24.760 --> 00:34:25.619 that hope? 00:34:26.000 --> 00:34:27.119 Are we relying 00:34:27.119 --> 00:34:27.960 on Jesus? 00:34:28.519 --> 00:34:28.960 Absolutely. 00:34:29.240 --> 00:34:30.079 Is there any element 00:34:30.079 --> 00:34:30.680 of me that says 00:34:30.680 --> 00:34:31.559 I'm relying on myself, 00:34:31.680 --> 00:34:32.680 trying to live a good life, 00:34:32.840 --> 00:34:33.619 and do my best, 00:34:33.680 --> 00:34:34.740 and God will be okay 00:34:34.740 --> 00:34:35.720 with that? 00:34:36.420 --> 00:34:37.360 The clear message 00:34:37.360 --> 00:34:38.059 of this passage 00:34:38.059 --> 00:34:39.579 is God will not be okay 00:34:39.579 --> 00:34:40.139 with us trying 00:34:40.139 --> 00:34:40.700 to do our best 00:34:40.700 --> 00:34:41.300 because our best 00:34:41.300 --> 00:34:43.280 is just totally inadequate. 00:34:43.280 --> 00:34:44.880 we need to rely 00:34:44.880 --> 00:34:45.320 on the one 00:34:45.320 --> 00:34:46.060 who is perfect. 00:34:46.640 --> 00:34:47.460 We need to rely 00:34:47.460 --> 00:34:48.160 on Jesus' 00:34:48.760 --> 00:34:50.340 sacrifice for us. 00:34:51.320 --> 00:34:51.960 So let's leave 00:34:51.960 --> 00:34:52.620 with our thoughts 00:34:52.620 --> 00:34:53.780 focused on the cross 00:34:53.780 --> 00:34:54.620 of the Lord Jesus 00:34:54.620 --> 00:34:55.420 where he went 00:34:55.420 --> 00:34:56.380 and where he took 00:34:56.380 --> 00:34:57.080 our sins, 00:34:57.560 --> 00:34:58.420 and let each of us 00:34:58.420 --> 00:34:59.240 examine ourselves 00:34:59.240 --> 00:34:59.980 to see whether we 00:34:59.980 --> 00:35:00.920 truly are trusting 00:35:00.920 --> 00:35:01.360 in him, 00:35:01.720 --> 00:35:02.880 whether we are relying 00:35:02.880 --> 00:35:03.240 on him, 00:35:03.300 --> 00:35:03.920 whether we have 00:35:03.920 --> 00:35:04.740 his salvation 00:35:04.740 --> 00:35:06.140 and his hope 00:35:06.140 --> 00:35:07.220 for the future. 00:35:07.600 --> 00:35:08.280 Let's pray together. 00:35:10.280 --> 00:35:10.720 Father, 00:35:10.780 --> 00:35:11.160 we thank you 00:35:11.160 --> 00:35:11.640 for your word. 00:35:11.720 --> 00:35:12.080 We thank you 00:35:12.079 --> 00:35:13.719 even in the difficult passages 00:35:13.719 --> 00:35:14.539 you have so much 00:35:14.539 --> 00:35:15.400 to say to us. 00:35:16.119 --> 00:35:16.799 We thank you 00:35:16.799 --> 00:35:17.279 particularly 00:35:17.279 --> 00:35:18.019 if this passage 00:35:18.019 --> 00:35:18.679 points us 00:35:18.679 --> 00:35:19.940 to your faithfulness, 00:35:20.239 --> 00:35:20.860 to the fact 00:35:20.860 --> 00:35:21.799 that we can rely 00:35:21.799 --> 00:35:23.099 absolutely on you, 00:35:23.679 --> 00:35:24.440 and to the fact 00:35:24.440 --> 00:35:25.059 that Jesus, 00:35:25.259 --> 00:35:26.460 our great high priest, 00:35:26.960 --> 00:35:27.739 has offered 00:35:27.739 --> 00:35:28.940 his own blood 00:35:28.940 --> 00:35:29.860 for us. 00:35:30.259 --> 00:35:30.900 He has died 00:35:30.900 --> 00:35:32.019 in our place, 00:35:32.699 --> 00:35:33.420 and so we can 00:35:33.420 --> 00:35:34.199 have forgiveness, 00:35:34.940 --> 00:35:35.679 we can have 00:35:35.679 --> 00:35:37.779 peace with yourself. 00:35:39.159 --> 00:35:39.779 And so we take 00:35:39.779 --> 00:35:40.440 for ourselves 00:35:40.440 --> 00:35:41.480 the words 00:35:41.480 --> 00:35:42.039 that were written 00:35:42.039 --> 00:35:42.840 by Isaac Watts 00:35:42.840 --> 00:35:43.219 that says, 00:35:43.340 --> 00:35:43.579 Jesus, 00:35:43.820 --> 00:35:45.099 my great high priest, 00:35:45.780 --> 00:35:46.679 offered his blood 00:35:46.679 --> 00:35:47.340 and died. 00:35:48.079 --> 00:35:49.260 My guilty conscience 00:35:49.260 --> 00:35:50.579 seeks no sacrifice 00:35:50.579 --> 00:35:51.039 beside. 00:35:51.940 --> 00:35:53.079 His powerful blood 00:35:53.079 --> 00:35:54.059 did once atone, 00:35:54.820 --> 00:35:56.019 and now he pleads 00:35:56.019 --> 00:35:57.539 before the throne. 00:35:57.639 --> 00:35:58.320 May each of us 00:35:58.320 --> 00:35:59.139 have that assurance 00:35:59.139 --> 00:36:00.460 in our lives 00:36:00.460 --> 00:36:01.440 that Jesus 00:36:01.440 --> 00:36:02.519 has sacrificed 00:36:02.519 --> 00:36:03.320 and felt for us. 00:36:03.360 --> 00:36:03.940 We pray that you 00:36:03.940 --> 00:36:04.920 will give us that 00:36:04.920 --> 00:36:05.420 and help us 00:36:05.420 --> 00:36:06.199 to have our trust 00:36:06.199 --> 00:36:07.519 wholly in him. 00:36:07.719 --> 00:36:08.619 Thank you for being with us. 00:36:08.619 --> 00:36:09.339 We commit ourselves 00:36:09.339 --> 00:36:10.000 to you now 00:36:10.000 --> 00:36:11.079 in his name. 00:36:11.639 --> 00:36:11.920 Amen. 00:36:11.920 --> 00:36:12.039 Amen.