Friends, there's a feast downstairs waiting for us
after the service, but we have a feast first here in God's Word.
So I hope you will join with me.
If you want to pull out your Bibles, you can turn the page.
I think it's 1001.
It's in your bulletin.
It's the book of Hebrews chapter 4,
which is where we'll be looking this morning.
I've been thinking a lot about people in need.
I got a text message email late last night,
and yes, I was still awake,
late last night from some friends
who were serving with the State Department over in Asia,
saying that their third child seems to want to come early,
but is coming slowly.
They'd been in the hospital for over 36 hours.
The delivery was not progressing.
They were struggling with language issues,
and they asked for us to pray.
I thought, what a difficult situation to be in,
in a foreign country not speaking the language
of those who are caring for you
in such an important time.
I've been reading and thinking much about the Philippines
and what people there are facing day to day.
No food, no shelter.
The grief of loss of family members.
If you haven't educated yourself
on how terrible the situation is, you should,
so that you can pray, so that you can know.
I've also been reading,
this is a book by a woman named Johnny Erickson Tata.
If you're not familiar with her,
she is an author and speaker.
Her life story talks about how when she was 17,
she suffered a spinal cord injury
and was paralyzed from the neck down,
and she has lived with that for 40 years.
The remarkable thing about this book
is that it's not talking about that.
She says, I've kind of gotten accustomed to that,
and at least I've learned how to live with that.
But in the last couple of years,
I've started to experience debilitating pain,
pain that won't go away,
pain that the medicine can only dull.
And then in the postscript of the book,
she mentions,
oh, friends, will you join with me?
I was just diagnosed with cancer.
We'll hear from her later,
but I've been thinking about people in need.
Obviously, the things that I've mentioned
are more extreme cases,
but maybe you felt in need,
like I have this week.
I know that this week,
I have been overwhelmed by the tasks
that I think I ought to get done.
and simply wanting to do my work well,
care for my family,
walk with Jesus,
and I felt completely overwhelmed
and unable to do those things.
You may be facing
all sorts of
crises or challenges,
places where you realize,
I need help.
Friends, whether they're big or small,
that's real.
It's a real issue.
And you know,
I don't know if you're like me,
but I don't like being there.
I don't like being needy.
I like to be self-sufficient.
I like the American dream
of the self-made man.
I can pull myself up by the bootstraps.
I can handle anything.
I don't like to have to need
someone else.
It makes me feel vulnerable.
And it's confusing
and bewildering.
We wonder,
who will help us?
Is there someone out there
who will?
We wonder,
does anyone care
about the things that
I'm facing
that are greater than me,
that are bigger than me?
And you know,
the funny thing about it
is that if you're a Christian,
it's almost more challenging,
isn't it,
sometimes,
when you face those
times of need.
Because you realize
that we believe in a God
who made the universe.
We believe in a God
who says He's sovereign
over everything.
Not only that,
we believe that He's a God
who loves.
And so when we find ourselves
in a time of need,
we wonder,
does God really care?
We wonder,
is He really able
to help us?
Friends,
there's good news.
Our passage today
points us
to how we answer
those questions.
Points us to one
who meets us
in that time of need
in deep and profound
and wonderful ways.
So if you want to read
with me,
we're going to look at
Hebrews chapter 4,
verses 14 through 16.
I'm going to read
the passage together
and then we'll pray.
since then we have
a great high priest
who has passed
through the heavens,
Jesus,
the Son of God.
Let us hold fast
our confession.
We do not have
a high priest
who is unable
to sympathize
with our weaknesses,
but one who
in every respect
has been tempted
as we are,
yet without sin.
Let us then
with confidence
draw near
to the throne of grace
that we may receive mercy
and find grace
to help
in time
of need.
Please pray with me.
God, we confess
this morning
that we are needy
and it's hard
to confess that
at times.
Lord, we don't like it
and yet it is true.
So, Lord,
we come to you
as needy people
this morning.
Needy for your help,
needy for your guidance,
needy for your presence,
most of all,
needy for your salvation.
God, we pray
this morning
that you would help us.
Help us see you
and know
that you are there
and that you do care.
We pray these things
in Jesus' name.
Amen.
You know,
as we look at this passage,
I want to remind you
if you have not been with us,
then this will be
a quick overview
and if you have been with us,
this will be a review
of where we've been so far.
Hebrews 1-4
because this passage
is kind of a hinge
and all that's come before
has been setting up
what the writer
of the Hebrews
really wants to say.
In some ways,
the core of his argument
is in chapters 5-10
and these chapters,
chapters 1-4
are kind of setting up
and do you remember
what we've seen?
We've seen Jesus.
Jesus,
who is the one
greater than the angels
as the one
who has come
to finally show us
what God is really like.
He is a greater revelation
than all the revelation
that the angels have had.
And in fact,
he is the one
whom God will make
all of his enemies
a footstool
as he sits enthroned
in the heaven.
This glorious picture
of a great Jesus
over all.
He's greater than Moses
if you remember.
We've seen that
he's a greater representative
of God's people.
He's a greater leader
of God's people.
And then we see
in chapter 2
how this great Jesus
has condescended
for a moment
to identify with us
in our humanity.
He has come down
and took on flesh and blood
for us
so that he might
do for us
the very thing
that we most need
to die
a death
that we deserved
so that we might live
by faith in him.
And then chapter 3
picks up these grand themes again
and says,
so we have this great Jesus.
And do you know
what else he's done?
He's created for us
a Sabbath rest.
He's given us
in our salvation
a rest
from striving for God
to accept us
as we are.
Striving to try
to prove ourselves
that we're good enough
in the world
that our lives
are worth something
by what we do.
We have rest from that
because we have
acceptance in Christ.
We have not only that
but we have real peace
to know that
our lives are held
in the hands
of a sovereign one
who has brought us
into his kingdom
that cannot be shaken
and cannot be moved.
And interlaced
in all of these
exalted pictures
of Jesus
have been these warnings.
Don't lose sight of it.
Don't drift away from it.
Don't neglect it.
Consider him.
Don't harden your hearts
against this exalted Jesus
and all that he's done.
And here in this passage
in this hinge passage
he picks up
a particular theme
the theme that
Jesus is our high priest.
And if you have your Bibles
look with me back
in chapters 2 and 3
because we've seen this
twice already.
He's laced it in there.
2.17
He says
Therefore he
that is Jesus
had to be made
like his brothers
in every respect
so that he might become
a merciful
and faithful
high priest
in the service of God
to make a propitiation
that is a sacrifice
that takes away wrath
a propitiation
for the sins
of the people.
And then in 3.1
he picks it up again
Therefore holy brothers
you who share
in the heavenly calling
consider Jesus
the apostle
and high priest
of our confession.
And he just kind of
laced that vocabulary
in there
without doing
very much with it.
And now at the end
of chapter 4
he's picking up
that theme
and he's launching us
and what we'll see
is 5 and 6
is all about
the nature
of his priesthood
and 7
or 5, 6, 7
yeah
6, 7, 8
anyway
sorry
as we keep going
between 5 and 10
we'll get both
the nature
of his priesthood
and
the work
of his priesthood
for us.
But
since we're not
going to preach
the whole next
five chapters today
let me give you
a summary
what does it mean
that Jesus
is our high priest
well this
there are a few things
there are lots of things
you can spend
five chapters on it
good heavens
but there are a few things
that he points out
here now
that are very important
the first thing
is that
he is a high priest
who has gone
into the heavens
and what does that mean
what does that picture mean
well I think
what the writer of Hebrews
is doing
is he's picking up
a picture
from the Old Testament
in the Old Testament
there was a temple
and that temple
had
sections
and the
the further you went
into the temple
from the courtyard
of the Gentiles
to the courtyard
of the Jews
to inside the temple
in the holy place
to the most holy place
you were drawing
nearer and nearer
and nearer
to the presence
of God
among his people
but there were
fewer and fewer
people who could
go there
and the high priest
in fact
according to Leviticus 16
was the one
who would go
into the very
the most holy place
the holy of holies
once a year
only once
and he would go in
with a sacrifice
for his own sin
and he would go in
for a sacrifice
for the people
of God
and what
the writer of Hebrews
is saying is
do you remember
all this imagery
some of you
may be not
familiar with it
but this picture
is this one
who could go
all the way in
to the very place
where the glory
of God
dwelt among his people
and what the writer
of Hebrews
is saying is
Jesus has done
that for us
in a heavenly way
not on the earthly
temple
with the blood
of goats
and sheep
and doves
not with the goats
of animals
did he go in
but he went
this is the argument
that will come
he went into
a heavenly temple
into the very presence
of God himself
if you don't believe me
Hebrews 1.8
says this
now the point
in
what we are saying
is this
we have such
a high priest
one who is seated
at the right hand
of the throne
of the majesty
in heaven
so that's where
he's gone to
and then 9.24
says this
Christ has entered
not into holy places
made with hands
which are copies
of true things
but into heaven
itself
now to appear
in the presence
of God
on our behalf
and so when
he holds up
this picture
of Jesus
the high priest
he's saying
this is the one
who can take us
into the very presence
of God himself
this is the one
who can get us
in there
and
if you're reading this
for the first time
and you're going
okay
he says
we have a great high priest
who passed through the heavens
okay who is that
he clarifies it
he says it's Jesus
Jesus
the name of the one
the name that means
the one who saves
Jesus
the man
who was born of Mary
and yet also
the son of God
and again
he will unpack
all of the significance
of these names
but what he's saying
is this high priest
is uniquely
situated
to do
this unique work
of restoring
access to God
for his people
so that's the first thing
we learn about
Jesus as a high priest
this morning
is that he's gone
into the heavens
and he's made a way
for us
we will see
later in Hebrews
in chapter 12
it will describe
Jesus
as the author
of our faith
in many of our translations
but this author
also means
the one who is initiated
or even
the champion
the one who has
gone before us
so that he might
bring us
in his train
in his victorious
train behind us
he has made
the way
through
and he is bringing
us with him
secondly
in verse 15
the writer of Hebrews
says
Jesus
is a high priest
who is able
to sympathize
with us
in our weakness
it says
he was tempted
in every way
just as we are
yet without sin
this is a part
of his humanity
as he took
on flesh
and blood
that he would
experience
the weakness
of humanity
our human frailty
our need
for food
and clothing
and sleep
our lack
of knowledge
about all things
everywhere
Jesus submitted
himself
to taking
on human flesh
so that he might
sympathize with us
in our weakness
it says
that he was
tempted
in every way
just as we are
I want to think
about that
for a few minutes
this morning
what does it mean
that he was
tempted
James tells us
that a temptation
is like
a juicy
worm
on a hook
that is pulled
in front of
the trout
hiding in the fish
hiding in the weeds
and that meal
that is coming
by
looks so enticing
so desirable
so juicy
that we bite
and we fall
into sin
when we take
hold of that
which we ought
not to do
and it pulls
us away
that is what
temptation
biblically
that is what
the dynamic
of temptation
is
there is
something out
there and it
looks good
but it is not
and when we
act on it
when we respond
to it
we sin
and Jesus
says
the writer of
Hebrews says
that Jesus
felt the power
of the temptation
like we did
yet he never
bit
how is that
possible
I'm wondering
if some of you
are thinking that
I know I thought
that as I've
studied this past
how is it possible
that Jesus knows
the things that
I'm tempted
by
he's never
seen an Oreo
cookie
how is it
possible that
he could be
tempted as
we are
well
it's one of
the reasons
why we read
Matthew 4
this morning
because when
we look back
at the story
of Jesus
temptation
in the wilderness
at the beginning
of his ministry
do you remember
what happened
after 40 days
of fasting
Satan showed
up
and here
the Son of God
having just been
baptized
having just had
this divine
acclamation
of this is my
son
listen to him
this is the one
whom I've sent
right after that
he goes off
in the wilderness
and Satan
comes
and what he does
is he says
if you're the
Son of God
why don't you
use that
for your own
good
rather than
submitting to
God and his
plan for you
why don't you
choose
something that
looks really
good
in fact it
might even be
something that you
think God has
promised you
but you're
going to accomplish
it outside
of God's
plan
for you
the question
when temptation
faces us
fundamentally
is usually
this
do we trust
God
or do we
do it
ourselves
wasn't this
the very
temptation
that came
that Satan
brought first
into the
Garden of Eden
at the beginning
did God
really say
this
do you
think he
really has
your good
at heart
no do it
yourself
take hold
of that
fruit
become like
God
yourself
friends
this is the
very core
of temptation
and Jesus
faced it
much greater
than we
did
because a
temptation
is a
temptation
only when
it has
actual
attractiveness
to us
Jesus
probably
isn't
tempted
by an
Oreo
cookie
even if
he saw
one
it just
wouldn't be
a temptation
for him
to find
his solace
and his
comfort
and his
hope
in an
Oreo
cookie
okay
but
Satan
came
and he
tempted him
with the
things
that Jesus
cared about
the most
the things
that were
dearest
to his
heart
and
by
analogy
a
temptation
is only
as powerful
when it
has the
force to
potentially
move you
somewhere
so if
you're a
beach ball
on the
beach
and a
wave
comes in
it doesn't
take a
very big
wave
to knock
that beach
ball
across the
beach
does it
but once
you've
been
blown
by that
wave
once
you've
been
pushed
you've
given
in
you've
succumbed
to the
force
of the
temptation
and it
no longer
now there's
no longer
temptation
you've
just been
overcome
by it
but imagine
if you
were a
soccer ball
and then
a bowling
ball
the waves
have to
get bigger
don't they
to actually
have the
power to
move you
Jesus is
the rock
of Gibraltar
imagine
the waves
it would
take
to have
the power
to potentially
move him
when it
says that
he was
tempted
in every
way
as we
are
we must
recognize
that
Jesus
was
tempted
at a
profound
level
that we
will never
experience
to not
trust
God
and to
do it
his own
way
so Jesus
does
know
our
temptations
he knows
when you're
angry
at your
kids
because
they're
not
doing
what
you've
asked
them
to
do
and you've
lost sight
of trusting
God's plan
for you
and your
patient
correction
discipline
instruction
of your
children
he actually
knows
when pornography
seems like a
pretty good way
to find comfort
and solace
in your loneliness
and in your
desire
when you
don't trust
God to
provide for
you
you don't
trust God
to meet
you
in intimacy
he understands
when
faithfulness
to Christ
seems to
hinder
your career
path
your way
up the
ladder
he understands
the power
of the
temptation
to not
trust
God
that
following
him
will
actually
result
in good
he
understands
the
temptation
to be
silent
about
your
faith
because
you
long
to be
accepted
by your
school
friends
by your
boss
at work
by the
academy
when you
don't
trust
that
God
will
protect
and
provide
for
his
own
when
they
are
faithful
to
him
he
understands
the
temptation
to be
a workaholic
to burn
the midnight
oil
and the
6am
oil
and the
noon
oil
and the
3pm
oil
and the
6pm
oil
and all
the oil
you've
got
the oil
that your
friends
have
too
because
you're
desperate
to succeed
desperate
to get
ahead
whether
it's
getting
into
that
college
or
getting
that
promotion
or
getting
that
fellowship
whatever
it is
not
trusting
that
God
will
enable
you
to
do
work
sufficient
for
his
plan
for
your
life
and
that
the
outcome
of
your
work
is
his
gracious
gift
to
you
so
Jesus
does
sympathize
he
feels
as we
do
in our
weakness
friends
he
feels
it
most
because
we
know
Greg
will
unpack
this
much
more
but
he
will
feel
it
most
when
he
comes
on
his
knees
before
the
father
in
the
garden
of
gethsemane
says
father
is there
another
way
is there
another
way
to
accomplish
your
plan
but
not
my
will
but
yours
be
done
he
sees
the
temptation
and
you
know
he
asks
for
freedom
from
the
suffering
and
the
consequences
he
says
God
if
there's
another
way
please
but
at
the
end
he
says
your
will
be
done
I
will
trust
you
and
so
he
is
able
to
give
us
strength
in
our
time
of
need
not
to
turn
away
but
to
turn
to
him
because
I
don't
know
what
your
neediness
is
this
morning
I
don't
know
what
your
challenges
are
this
morning
and
I
can't
say
I
understand
but
I
know
who
does
and
therefore
the writer
of Hebrews
goes on
and he
says
there are
two
things
that we
ought
to do
in
light
of
this
first
of
all
we
are
to
hold
fast
to
our
confession
remember
in the
context
of the
book
the
Hebrews
were
surrounded
or in
some
kind
of
context
where
people
were
tempted
to
turn
away
to
say
Jesus
isn't
the way
to
God
he
isn't
the
Savior
there's
another
way
to
do
it
because
following
Jesus
was going
to be
really costly
for them
it might
have been
martyrdom
and so
the writer
says
let us
hold fast
to our
confession
hold fast
to our
confession
this
Jesus
is
Lord
this
Jesus
is
the
Son
of
God
this
Jesus
is
the
exact
representation
of his
likeness
and the
radiance
of his
glory
this
Jesus
has
made
satisfaction
for our
sins
and has
sat
down
at the
right
hand
of the
Father
this
Jesus
is
our
captain
our
Lord
our
hope
our
champion
that
is
what
we
confess
the
Puritan
John
Owen
says
that
this
confession
of our
faith
has
two
parts
one
is
the
submission
of our
heart
it
makes us
ask the
question
is there
anything
this
morning
that you
have not
bowed
to the
rulership
of Christ
in your
life
is there
something
that you
are prizing
something
you are
cherishing
something
you are
loving
more than
Christ
himself
is it
a relationship
is it
a career
it is
is it
being
thought
well of
by others
is it
food
is it
being
cool
whatever
it is
is there
something
there that
you have
not yet
submitted
to
Christ
is there
some area
of your
life where
you are
not willing
to say
he is
the
Lord
he is
my
champion
and my
captain
and I
will
allow
him
to
lead
me
in
this
is there
a part
of your
life
where
you are
trying
to be
God
rather
than
submitting
to
him
the
second
part
John
Owen
says
is that
it is
not only
the
submission
of our
hearts
but it is
the
profession
of our
lips
this might
be a good
litmus test
do the
people
around you
know
that you
follow
Jesus
now look
we can be
obnoxious
about that
let's not
be
that is
just a
pain
it is
really
annoying
that is
not
helpful
but gosh
they ought
to know
that Jesus
is your
hope
they ought
to know
that Jesus
is your
life
they ought
to know
that following
him and
serving him
and worshipping
him is what
your whole
life is about
and in fact
it is him
that you go
to daily
for help
because you
need him
so desperately
friends
let us
loose
our lips
to speak
of him
I told
you I'd
come back
to
Johnny
I'm
going to
read to
you a
paragraph
in her
book
I want
you to
look like
I want
you to
see what
it looks
like for
her to
hold fast
to her
confession
of faith
in the
face of
the trials
she's
facing
she says
yes I
pray that
my pain
might be
removed
that it
might cease
but more
so I
pray for
the strength
to bear
it
for the
grace
to benefit
from it
and the
devotion to
offer it
up to
God
as a
sacrifice
of praise
my strength
in prayer
these days
is scant
I'll confess
that
so for all
the concentration
I can muster
in prayer
I must not
dissipate it
in seeking
physical blessings
only
rather
I must
spend a good
portion of it
seeking spiritual
growth and
praying for
Christ's kingdom
to go forth
into this dark
world
for such
prayers
are a way
for me to
know God
and to know
him deeper
higher
richer
wider
and fuller
much fuller
than if I
comfortably
cruised
through life
in my
wheelchair
she's
continued
to look
to Jesus
and she
believes
that he
is the
one who
can help
her
and so
she confesses
that
she
does
ask
for help
she
asks
that her
circumstances
might change
but that
is not
her ultimate
goal
her ultimate
goal
is to
trust in
and exalt
this one
that she
serves
the second
exhortation
is in
verse 16
of our
passage this
morning
look with me
again
let us
then with
confidence
draw near
to the
throne of
grace
that we
may receive
mercy
and find
grace to
help
in time
of need
friends
remember
in the
temple
only one
man
could go
into the
holy of
holies
only one
man could
go once
a year
and he
went
trembling
because
he knew
he had
sin on
his hands
and that
he had
to make
an offering
in fact
they tied
a rope
around him
because if
he went
in and
the offering
was not
acceptable
to God
he would
die
and no
one
could go
in to
get him
so they
pulled
him out
with a
rope
there's no
record that
that ever
happened
but
they tied
a rope
around his
ankle
so they
could pull
his body
out
if the
glory
of God
fell upon
him
in judgment
in that
and now
because we
have a
great high
priest
who has
gone
before us
who has
made a
way for
us
now we
can approach
not the
mercy seat
that needs
to be
covered
with blood
that has
been satisfied
by Christ
and stick
around for
the next
couple of
months
and you'll
see how
rich and
true that
is as we
explore that
but it's
a throne
of grace
and we
go before
the God
of the
universe
and he's
saying I
am here
to give
you grace
that is
undeserved
favor
help
mercy
that is
why I'm
here
and friends
certainly
this refers
to the
mercy and
grace
of salvation
that Christ
died for
sinners like
you and
me and
rose from
the dead
so that we
might be
forgiven
of that
sin
and receive
the grace
of new
life and
forgiveness
in Christ
but I
actually think
that here
the picture
is much
more of
receiving
daily
mercy
the mercies
that Lamentations
3 talks
about
the mercies
that are
new
every morning
to his
people
great is
your faithfulness
oh God
and the
grace that is
spoken of
here is the
grace
not the
grace
in which
we stand
in our
justification
although that's
true
but the
grace
that Paul
speaks of
in 2nd
Corinthians
12
the grace
that says
my grace
is sufficient
for you
my power
is made
perfect
in your
weakness
in your
current
situation
of need
when you
are suffering
when you
are facing
trial and
hardship
when it
feels like
the water
level is
rising
and you
can't swim
and you
don't know
how to
keep your
head above
water
my grace
is sufficient
for you
and this
is the
mercy
and the
grace
that he
gives us
this is
what he
offers
what does
that look
like
practically
well
notice how
wonderfully
the writer
of the
Hebrews
weaves
this
together
look ahead
go read
Hebrews 11
this afternoon
and see
what kind
of help
God gives
to his
people
sometimes
he gives
miraculous
instantaneous
deliverance
sometimes
he gives
strength
to endure
trial
for a
season
sometimes
he gives
them hope
and strength
to endure
until martyrdom
and death
looking ahead
to a city
whose builder
and maker
is God
looking to
a heavenly
home
that's not
here on
earth
and never
will be
and the
help
that God
gives
can be
any
of this
and the
grace
that he
gives
can be
any
of these
things
friends
we talk
about these
grand
and lofty
things
Jesus
the high
priest
who's
entered
into
a heavenly
temple
and so
we have
mercy
and grace
to help
us
and maybe
like you
maybe like
me
you struggle
sometimes
to think
what kind
of help
is that
really
some of
that probably
comes from
our cultural
expectation
that life
should be
easy
and simple
and comfortable
and when it's
not we just
think that
help means
fixing it
so that our
life becomes
simple and easy
and comfortable
friends that's
not God's
plan for you
I promise
you it's
not
God's plan
is much
greater and
much more
glorious than
that
and he will
give great
aid and
great comfort
and great
help
and there are
times when he
practically steps
in and shows
his glory
by overcoming
the fallenness
of this world
and the fallenness
of your own
life
and his mercy
and grace
can be
delivering you
from patterns
of sin
it can be
providing in
miraculous ways
to free you
from a terrible
situation
it can be
healing you
of a disease
and freeing you
but friends
it's not only
that
it's also
to know
that his
plan for
your life
is a greater
thing than
your comfort
and ease
and deliverance
in this world
because you know
what you may
live as
comfortable
and easy
as you
will
but you
will still
die
and you
will still
face judgment
before God
and you
will not
be freed
from the
effects of
sin
in your
life
and in
fact
God
brings these
things into
our lives
often
to refine
us
to deepen
our faith
I can't
tell you
the hope
that we
found
I can't
speak to
the comfort
that it's
been
and it's
a battle
it's a battle
to believe
that Jesus
is able
to help
us
but that
has been
the great
comfort
this week
is to
know that
he is
my high
priest
and that
he is
able to
help me
today
to believe
in him
and in
believing
in him
to experience
his love
to know
his hope
to have
faith
that he
will enable
me to
live today
for him
and believing
in him
and clinging
to him
he is able
to give me
joy
today
and friends
I'll tell you
I'd rather
have that
than just
comfort
and distance
from God
just comfort
and ease
but no depth
in my relationship
with him
I go to him
because I know
he understands
I go to him
because I know
he cares
I go to him
because I know
he is able
to help
Christ has come
and as a
great high
priest
he has
taken it
for us
so that we
can go
to him
in time
of need
at the cross
when Jesus
could have
saved himself
he didn't
when he could
have saved
himself
from the
worst suffering
that has ever
happened in
this world
he didn't
he submitted
himself to
God
and he
trusted him
and he
endured
the cross
for our
sake
he took
on the
weakness
of incarnation
for us
he took
on the
suffering
of the
cross
for us
he has
gone
through
death
to open
up a new
and living
way
for us
he has
shown us
that he
does care
because it
was love
that drove
him
to do
that for
us
and he
has shown
us
that he
is able
because he
is raised
from the
dead
and he
has passed
into the
heavens
he has
sat down
at the
right hand
of God
and he
has made
this way
by his
sacrifice
so that
we might
go
to that
throne of
grace
and find
help
in time
of need
he is
our
champion
and he
is our
help
let's
pray
God we
pray this
morning
that you
would help
us
Lord in
our need
Lord would
you help
us to
turn not
from you
but to
you
Lord when
things are
hard and
we are
bewildered
may we
not
shake our
fist at
you
but Lord
run into
your arms
knowing that
you do
know
and you
do care
and you
are able
to help
us
Jesus we
praise you
for your
love for
us that
endured so
much on
our behalf
for this
to be
true
we pray
these things
in Jesus
name
amen
as the
music team
comes forward
we're going
to sing
before the
throne of
God above
before the
throne of
God above
I have a
strong and
perfect plea
a great
high priest
it's like the
only praise
song in the
whole lexicon
that talks
about the
high priesthood
of Jesus
well probably
not the only
one but
the great
high priest
whose name
is love
whoever
lives and
pleads for
me so
let's stand
and sing
this together