WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:09.140 Amen, amen. Children, we are ready for Children's Church at this time. You may make your way here to the front for Children's Church. 00:00:09.880 --> 00:00:14.900 What a joy it is to be here worshiping on this Palm Sunday. 00:00:15.040 --> 00:00:23.579 It always brings a smile to my face whenever we see the kids walking around the room waving those palm branches, 00:00:23.800 --> 00:00:27.080 and the choir this year waving palm branches as well. 00:00:27.199 --> 00:00:31.519 And so that was exciting, but it's a joy to see that. 00:00:31.679 --> 00:00:37.719 And it's also a joy to see how many kids are in this church learning the songs of the church, 00:00:37.719 --> 00:00:42.420 learning who Jesus is and what he has done for us. 00:00:42.859 --> 00:00:44.539 And so I am very thankful for that. 00:00:44.820 --> 00:00:51.379 Next week is Easter Sunday, and so we're looking forward to that. 00:00:51.500 --> 00:00:55.560 Hopefully on your way in, you're able to grab one of those invitation cards. 00:00:55.679 --> 00:00:58.480 I see some up here on the front. There's more in the back. 00:00:58.780 --> 00:01:01.399 I encourage you to get one of those invitation cards. 00:01:01.560 --> 00:01:07.239 Now, we do invite you to come back next week, but this invitation card is not for you. 00:01:07.239 --> 00:01:12.640 This invitation card is for you to take to someone maybe that you've been praying for, 00:01:12.719 --> 00:01:20.239 maybe that God has placed on your heart, and invite them to come to church with you next Sunday as we celebrate Easter. 00:01:20.780 --> 00:01:29.179 Easter is always an exciting time when people are open, more open than usual to coming to church and hearing about who Jesus is. 00:01:29.239 --> 00:01:31.500 And so we want you to take those invitation cards. 00:01:31.500 --> 00:01:38.900 Think about somebody that isn't attending church somewhere, that maybe hasn't attended in a very long time, 00:01:39.000 --> 00:01:42.040 and invite them to come with you next Sunday. 00:01:42.879 --> 00:01:47.700 Now, as I told the early service, if nobody comes to mind, if you're thinking, 00:01:47.900 --> 00:01:52.019 well, Brett, I don't know anybody who doesn't go to church somewhere. 00:01:52.379 --> 00:01:54.180 I just don't know anybody like that. 00:01:54.180 --> 00:01:55.920 Then let me encourage you. 00:01:56.260 --> 00:01:58.700 This week, make some new friends. 00:01:59.180 --> 00:01:59.400 Okay? 00:01:59.500 --> 00:02:00.540 Make some new friends. 00:02:00.720 --> 00:02:08.580 Be intentional about people that God could put into your life that you can share the good news of Jesus with. 00:02:08.620 --> 00:02:14.400 And a great way to start that is bringing them to Easter services next week with you. 00:02:14.460 --> 00:02:15.680 We look forward to that. 00:02:15.760 --> 00:02:18.960 It is always a time of celebration. 00:02:18.960 --> 00:02:32.140 But today, as we begin to think about Palm Sunday, oftentimes what we focus on for Palm Sunday is the fact that Jesus was celebrated as a king when he came to Jerusalem. 00:02:32.659 --> 00:02:38.659 And rightfully so, because Jesus is the king who reigns forever. 00:02:38.659 --> 00:02:41.659 And so we do celebrate him as king. 00:02:41.659 --> 00:02:53.159 But oftentimes, we remember the fact that the people who were celebrating him as king didn't really understand who Jesus truly was. 00:02:53.479 --> 00:03:01.740 They had something in their mind of who they wanted Jesus to be, something that they thought was better than what he came to do. 00:03:02.060 --> 00:03:07.439 And all of a sudden, they began to turn on him as the week went on. 00:03:07.780 --> 00:03:10.319 But he was not the king they wanted. 00:03:10.319 --> 00:03:22.579 And it is of utmost importance that we let Scripture, that we let God's Word remind us and tell us who Jesus is. 00:03:23.079 --> 00:03:32.419 When we start to put our own interpretation on things, often what we get with Jesus is a slightly better version of ourselves. 00:03:32.419 --> 00:03:42.579 You see, at the triumphal entry, the people were recognizing and wanting a king that was going to come in and remove them from Roman oppression. 00:03:43.060 --> 00:03:53.019 But today, oftentimes, we want a Savior who is fine with our preferences, who is good with the prejudices we have in our life, 00:03:53.099 --> 00:04:00.279 who is okay with a little bit of sin here and there, who will give us health, wealth, and prosperity. 00:04:00.280 --> 00:04:10.879 And we need today, as much as ever, a clear understanding of who Jesus is. 00:04:11.580 --> 00:04:17.600 And all of this is important because who we say Jesus is, is of most importance. 00:04:18.540 --> 00:04:20.779 It is something that we can't waver on. 00:04:20.779 --> 00:04:23.859 You see, A.W. Tozer famously said, he said, 00:04:24.279 --> 00:04:31.099 What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us. 00:04:31.479 --> 00:04:37.639 What comes into our mind when we think about God is the most important thing about us. 00:04:38.139 --> 00:04:42.599 But we also must consider is how God looks at us. 00:04:42.739 --> 00:04:49.959 Yes, we must consider what we think about God, but we also must consider what He thinks about us. 00:04:49.959 --> 00:04:53.519 In fact, C.S. Lewis said, he said, 00:04:53.579 --> 00:05:00.199 I read in a periodical the other day, that the fundamental thing is how we think of God. 00:05:01.019 --> 00:05:01.599 He said, 00:05:02.180 --> 00:05:04.379 By God Himself, it is not. 00:05:04.979 --> 00:05:10.579 How God thinks of us is not only more important, but infinitely more important. 00:05:10.579 --> 00:05:20.379 Indeed, how we think of Him is of no importance except insofar as it is related to how He thinks of us. 00:05:20.800 --> 00:05:25.399 Now, understanding the context of where these great men of the faith were coming from, 00:05:25.459 --> 00:05:27.299 I don't think they're contradicting each other. 00:05:27.360 --> 00:05:34.959 In fact, I think they're complementing one another when it comes to how God sees us and how we see Him. 00:05:34.959 --> 00:05:41.519 Because how we see Him is in direct correlation to how He sees us. 00:05:42.199 --> 00:05:47.000 And so, when we begin to think about how God sees us and how we see God, 00:05:47.319 --> 00:05:51.719 both of these things are addressed in our passage today. 00:05:51.720 --> 00:05:57.900 And so, if you have a copy of God's Word, I would like to invite you to follow along 00:05:57.900 --> 00:06:02.420 as we read Hebrews chapter 4, starting in verse 14, 00:06:02.820 --> 00:06:06.520 and we will make our way through Hebrews chapter 5, verse 10. 00:06:06.960 --> 00:06:10.540 So, Hebrews 4, starting in verse 14, it says this, 00:06:10.540 --> 00:06:17.860 Since then, we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens. 00:06:18.620 --> 00:06:23.480 Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. 00:06:24.300 --> 00:06:29.820 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, 00:06:30.580 --> 00:06:38.240 but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 00:06:38.240 --> 00:06:43.379 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, 00:06:43.759 --> 00:06:48.460 that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. 00:06:48.980 --> 00:06:56.500 For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, 00:06:56.639 --> 00:06:59.860 to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. 00:07:00.319 --> 00:07:06.860 He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness. 00:07:06.860 --> 00:07:13.460 Because of this, he is obligated to offer sacrifice for his own sins, 00:07:13.780 --> 00:07:16.460 just as he does for those of the people. 00:07:17.240 --> 00:07:24.800 And no one takes this honor for himself, but only when called by God, just as Aaron was. 00:07:25.500 --> 00:07:30.220 So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, 00:07:30.220 --> 00:07:34.580 but was appointed by him who said to him, 00:07:35.180 --> 00:07:36.260 You are my son. 00:07:36.900 --> 00:07:38.580 Today I have begotten you. 00:07:39.080 --> 00:07:40.740 And he says in another place, 00:07:41.240 --> 00:07:45.460 You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. 00:07:46.100 --> 00:07:50.280 In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications 00:07:50.280 --> 00:07:55.840 with loud cries and tears to him who was able to save from death. 00:07:55.839 --> 00:07:59.299 And he was heard because of his reverence. 00:07:59.719 --> 00:08:03.319 Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. 00:08:03.759 --> 00:08:10.479 And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him. 00:08:11.159 --> 00:08:18.059 Being designated by God as a high priest after the order of Melchizedek. 00:08:18.060 --> 00:08:25.540 You see, in this passage, I want us to clearly see how God sees us in light of Jesus. 00:08:26.280 --> 00:08:32.419 And at the same time, how we see God in light of what he has done for us. 00:08:33.120 --> 00:08:38.399 And as we do this, there are a handful of beautiful and life-giving truths 00:08:38.399 --> 00:08:41.460 that I wanted to bring our attention to this morning. 00:08:41.460 --> 00:08:49.000 And the first is the overarching theme of this passage that we'll be using to kind of set the stage 00:08:49.000 --> 00:08:51.040 for us to understand who Jesus is. 00:08:51.160 --> 00:08:55.019 And then we'll be able to see some of the wonderful realizations, 00:08:55.180 --> 00:08:58.879 the comforting realizations that we have in light of that. 00:08:59.379 --> 00:09:04.120 And so the first thing that I want us to see clearly today is this. 00:09:04.580 --> 00:09:08.800 That Jesus, as our perfect high priest, 00:09:08.799 --> 00:09:15.179 I want us to clearly see Jesus, our perfect high priest. 00:09:15.799 --> 00:09:17.659 Verse 14 in chapter 4 says, 00:09:17.659 --> 00:09:23.659 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens. 00:09:23.839 --> 00:09:28.399 Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. 00:09:29.620 --> 00:09:36.019 Here we begin to see Jesus as this great and glorious and perfect high priest. 00:09:36.019 --> 00:09:40.279 But this is also something that he continues throughout the book of Hebrews 00:09:40.279 --> 00:09:46.220 and something that he will highlight specifically in the first part of Hebrews chapter 5. 00:09:46.840 --> 00:09:49.899 And so I want us to almost see this as bookends, 00:09:50.039 --> 00:09:54.059 but to the comforting truths that we'll find in the midst of this. 00:09:54.419 --> 00:10:01.740 And so here in verse 14, he declares that Jesus is our great high priest. 00:10:01.740 --> 00:10:10.259 And then in chapter 5, he begins to give us some examples of what this high priest does for us. 00:10:10.600 --> 00:10:14.440 And so we see Jesus as our great high priest. 00:10:14.539 --> 00:10:18.580 And then in chapter 5, we get to see a few of those things, 00:10:18.659 --> 00:10:21.299 a few of those examples of how this plays out. 00:10:21.720 --> 00:10:26.860 To begin with, in chapter 5, verses 1 through 3, we see these words. 00:10:26.860 --> 00:10:56.840 It says, 00:10:56.840 --> 00:11:02.060 What we see is this example of how this plays out is our great and perfect high priest 00:11:02.060 --> 00:11:06.360 understands us and is able to save us. 00:11:06.840 --> 00:11:10.460 He understands us and he's able to save us. 00:11:10.879 --> 00:11:17.259 The priests were chosen from among men so that they understood what everyone was going through. 00:11:17.700 --> 00:11:20.980 They were going through many of the same things that they were going through. 00:11:20.980 --> 00:11:29.200 And so they were chosen from among men so that they could sympathize and understand the things that the people were struggling with. 00:11:29.700 --> 00:11:35.399 But it also tells us here that the priests in the Old Testament were sinners themselves. 00:11:36.200 --> 00:11:42.759 In fact, they had to offer sacrifices for their own sins just as they did for those of the people. 00:11:42.759 --> 00:11:49.720 But Jesus, it tells us, and we're going to highlight this truth more in just a moment, 00:11:49.799 --> 00:11:58.399 but it tells us that he was able to sympathize, but he was able to sympathize without sin. 00:11:58.840 --> 00:12:07.860 So Jesus can relate to us, but unlike the high priest, he can also fully save us. 00:12:07.860 --> 00:12:12.840 For this reason, he far surpasses the Old Testament priest. 00:12:13.440 --> 00:12:15.019 Verses 4 through 6, it says, 00:12:15.180 --> 00:12:22.639 No one takes this honor for himself, but only when called by God, just as Aaron was. 00:12:23.220 --> 00:12:28.080 So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, 00:12:28.320 --> 00:12:32.100 but was appointed by him who said to him, 00:12:32.100 --> 00:12:33.440 You are my son. 00:12:34.000 --> 00:12:35.680 Today I have begotten you. 00:12:35.679 --> 00:12:38.679 And as he says also in another place, 00:12:38.779 --> 00:12:42.799 You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. 00:12:43.139 --> 00:12:48.859 You see, like the Old Testament priest, Jesus was called by God. 00:12:49.159 --> 00:12:53.419 He was given this mission by God to accomplish this. 00:12:53.819 --> 00:12:55.919 And it's really interesting here that he says, 00:12:56.279 --> 00:12:58.479 After the order of Melchizedek. 00:12:58.559 --> 00:13:03.839 Now, we're going to address this and look at this more fully in a few weeks from now 00:13:03.840 --> 00:13:05.240 when we get to chapter 7. 00:13:05.740 --> 00:13:10.840 But for our purposes today, it's really important for us to understand something about Melchizedek. 00:13:11.759 --> 00:13:15.480 You see, Melchizedek was seen as a priestly king. 00:13:15.660 --> 00:13:19.460 He was both seen as a priest and as a king. 00:13:19.840 --> 00:13:25.360 And so when we see that Jesus is after the order of Melchizedek, a priest forever, 00:13:25.460 --> 00:13:29.700 after this order, we understand that we serve a priestly king. 00:13:29.700 --> 00:13:34.500 He is our high priest who is also the king of everything. 00:13:35.320 --> 00:13:37.040 And so we begin to see this. 00:13:37.620 --> 00:13:39.960 And then in verses 7 through 10, it tells us, 00:13:40.060 --> 00:13:45.040 In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications 00:13:45.040 --> 00:13:51.040 with loud cries and tears to him who is able to save from death. 00:13:51.960 --> 00:13:54.360 And he was heard because of his reverence. 00:13:54.440 --> 00:13:58.560 Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. 00:13:58.559 --> 00:14:05.659 And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, 00:14:06.139 --> 00:14:10.559 designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek. 00:14:11.459 --> 00:14:17.279 You see, our great and perfect high priest has shown us what perfect obedience looks like. 00:14:17.899 --> 00:14:26.079 In this passage, we are told that Jesus suffered greatly when he laid down his life for us. 00:14:26.080 --> 00:14:31.180 He suffered greatly during that time, and he was obedient through that. 00:14:31.720 --> 00:14:37.180 If you'll remember, in the garden, Jesus cries out to God, knowing what's coming. 00:14:37.540 --> 00:14:43.440 He says, Lord, if there is another way, if there's another way that doesn't involve me dying, 00:14:43.560 --> 00:14:49.780 going to the cross and dying, if there's another way that doesn't involve this separation between us 00:14:49.779 --> 00:14:54.500 that's about to happen, Lord, if there's another way, let's do that. 00:14:55.399 --> 00:14:57.600 But there wasn't another way. 00:14:58.199 --> 00:15:02.779 So he willingly submitted himself to God's plan. 00:15:03.839 --> 00:15:10.860 You see, submission is a difficult thing for us and really not a very popular topic for us to consider 00:15:10.860 --> 00:15:17.259 and to talk about, but we are called to submit to whatever authorities are in our life 00:15:17.259 --> 00:15:19.399 and, most importantly, to God. 00:15:20.220 --> 00:15:24.100 And when God says no, it can be difficult to submit. 00:15:25.100 --> 00:15:32.539 When God says no, it can be difficult to take that in and process that and still follow him. 00:15:32.539 --> 00:15:43.439 But Christ models for us submission to what might be the greatest and hardest no that God has ever given. 00:15:44.039 --> 00:15:49.459 When this passage says that Jesus learned obedience through what he suffered, 00:15:50.419 --> 00:15:54.539 it's not referring to anything about Jesus ever being disobedient. 00:15:54.839 --> 00:15:55.779 It's not that at all. 00:15:55.779 --> 00:16:03.120 We know that Jesus was perfect, but rather it emphasizes Jesus' human experience 00:16:03.120 --> 00:16:09.379 and being human who learned to obey God even in the midst of great suffering. 00:16:10.339 --> 00:16:14.019 And so if you are suffering and find it difficult to be obedient to God, 00:16:14.559 --> 00:16:20.600 then take comfort in knowing that Jesus understands that better than anyone. 00:16:20.600 --> 00:16:26.540 And so putting all of this together as Jesus is our great and glorious high priest 00:16:26.540 --> 00:16:30.300 means that Jesus is the only one that can save. 00:16:30.779 --> 00:16:35.620 This means that trusting in him is the only way that we can go from death to life. 00:16:35.960 --> 00:16:42.120 And so we must stop trying to do this on our own and learn to trust him in the midst of it all. 00:16:43.159 --> 00:16:44.480 But this is hard for us. 00:16:45.100 --> 00:16:50.580 Because in our culture today, we have historically put a high value on independence. 00:16:51.460 --> 00:16:54.659 Self-reliance and this do-it-yourself mentality. 00:16:55.519 --> 00:16:59.259 We learn from an early age and apply it to all sorts of things. 00:16:59.820 --> 00:17:05.559 And I could give you example after example after example of how my kids show me all the time 00:17:05.559 --> 00:17:11.240 that they are independent, but only have one child that doesn't require me to pay them 00:17:11.240 --> 00:17:13.299 when I use them in a sermon illustration. 00:17:13.880 --> 00:17:16.519 So let's talk about Charlotte for just a moment. 00:17:17.120 --> 00:17:19.500 You see, Charlotte is fiercely independent. 00:17:19.500 --> 00:17:20.660 She is opinionated. 00:17:21.059 --> 00:17:22.000 She's just like her mother. 00:17:22.079 --> 00:17:24.579 I mean, she's, you know, she's strong-willed. 00:17:25.619 --> 00:17:28.299 She's independent, does all of these things. 00:17:28.480 --> 00:17:31.900 And recently she learned to ride a bike. 00:17:32.299 --> 00:17:33.740 Now she's learning to ride the bike. 00:17:33.740 --> 00:17:38.740 And now that she's learned to ride the bike, she doesn't want anybody to help her with that. 00:17:39.200 --> 00:17:40.420 Don't help her get started. 00:17:40.620 --> 00:17:42.380 Don't give her a little push up the hill. 00:17:42.620 --> 00:17:48.839 If you do those things, she puts on the brakes, stops immediately, gives you a look, and then does it herself. 00:17:49.319 --> 00:17:51.299 She wants to be independent. 00:17:51.420 --> 00:17:52.819 She wants to do it all herself. 00:17:52.819 --> 00:17:58.039 And this attitude has actually helped her to learn to ride the bike really well. 00:17:58.579 --> 00:18:05.439 You see, many of these things, these independence things are things that are celebrated in our culture, and they should be. 00:18:06.019 --> 00:18:11.240 The problem comes when we try to apply that independence to our faith. 00:18:11.799 --> 00:18:17.819 When we try to apply this independence to religion and our understanding of who Jesus is. 00:18:17.819 --> 00:18:22.519 And what happens, we end up trying to fix our problem on our own. 00:18:23.139 --> 00:18:33.179 We may recognize we're a sinner, but our fix to the problem is to sin less, try harder, come to church more, give more in the offering plate. 00:18:33.939 --> 00:18:36.899 But the problem is this doesn't fix our problem. 00:18:37.559 --> 00:18:43.759 You see, the message of Hebrews 4, 14 through 5, 10 is that we need an intercessor. 00:18:43.879 --> 00:18:46.599 We need someone to act on our behalf. 00:18:46.599 --> 00:18:50.419 We need someone to do what we can't do. 00:18:51.059 --> 00:18:56.159 No matter how independent we are, how hard we try, we can't do this. 00:18:56.859 --> 00:19:02.339 You see, the Christian life is not about being independent. 00:19:03.039 --> 00:19:04.639 It's not about being independent. 00:19:04.759 --> 00:19:10.779 The Christian life is about being in dependence on Christ. 00:19:11.659 --> 00:19:14.579 It's not about being independent and doing everything on our own. 00:19:14.579 --> 00:19:21.179 It's all about being dependent on Christ to accomplish what we couldn't accomplish. 00:19:21.939 --> 00:19:26.539 And so we see this all in Jesus as our perfect high priest. 00:19:27.159 --> 00:19:34.740 But some things that we see that are comforting from this is we find great comfort in our confession. 00:19:34.740 --> 00:19:38.519 We find great comfort in our confession. 00:19:39.140 --> 00:19:45.000 Again, verse 14, since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens. 00:19:45.220 --> 00:19:51.180 Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. 00:19:52.019 --> 00:19:53.299 What is our confession? 00:19:53.299 --> 00:19:59.819 Well, our confession is that Jesus is who he says he is, not who everybody else says he is. 00:20:00.279 --> 00:20:07.819 Our confession is that Jesus, the one that the author declares with the titles as the great high priest and Son of God, 00:20:08.159 --> 00:20:10.980 is none other than Jesus of Nazareth. 00:20:10.980 --> 00:20:23.240 He reminds us that our faith is grounded in the historical Jesus, in the incarnation that actually took place in space, time, and history. 00:20:23.900 --> 00:20:30.720 But in addition to our confession of this historical Jesus, we are confessing the good news. 00:20:31.220 --> 00:20:34.200 We're confessing the gospel with this. 00:20:34.200 --> 00:20:43.700 In Romans 10, 9, Paul says, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, 00:20:43.799 --> 00:20:45.019 then you will be what? 00:20:45.680 --> 00:20:47.720 Then you will be saved. 00:20:48.880 --> 00:20:52.380 This is the hope that we build our lives on. 00:20:52.880 --> 00:20:57.559 The author says, let us hold fast to our confession. 00:20:58.180 --> 00:21:02.840 In other words, let us not abandon this confession when times get hard. 00:21:02.839 --> 00:21:05.179 Rather, let us lean into it. 00:21:05.519 --> 00:21:10.439 Let us lean into this confession when life's not going the way that we think it should. 00:21:10.839 --> 00:21:17.000 When time is hard, let us not run away from this confession, but let us lean into it. 00:21:17.220 --> 00:21:19.559 Because this is what sustains us. 00:21:19.839 --> 00:21:21.359 This is what gives us hope. 00:21:21.500 --> 00:21:23.539 This is what gives us a future. 00:21:23.720 --> 00:21:26.179 We will lean into this confession. 00:21:26.180 --> 00:21:35.360 You see, our confession reminds us that if you are a follower of Jesus, he will never, ever stop loving you. 00:21:35.700 --> 00:21:43.500 If you are a follower of Jesus, he will never, ever stop pleading your case and representing you before God. 00:21:44.259 --> 00:21:51.180 This means that when God looks at us, he sees the righteousness of his son surrounding us. 00:21:51.180 --> 00:22:03.500 We can have eternal security in heaven, not because of our actions, but because of what someone who is able to intercede did for us, namely Jesus Christ. 00:22:04.380 --> 00:22:07.039 And he will continue to do that forever. 00:22:07.039 --> 00:22:15.359 You see, just as David's victory over Goliath in the Old Testament became his people's victory over Goliath, 00:22:15.779 --> 00:22:24.659 now Jesus' victory over sin, death, hell, and the grave becomes our victory over those things. 00:22:25.019 --> 00:22:30.519 And so we must hold fast to this confession because this is the confession that gives us life. 00:22:30.599 --> 00:22:33.879 This is what our lives are built on. 00:22:33.880 --> 00:22:37.960 And I'm not sure where you are in your relationship with God today, 00:22:38.820 --> 00:22:45.800 but my guess is in a room that this size, there are people who have a wrongly placed confession. 00:22:46.820 --> 00:22:52.060 A helpful way to understand this is by thinking about how you would answer the question, 00:22:52.600 --> 00:22:53.820 are you going to heaven? 00:22:54.380 --> 00:22:56.620 How do you know that you are saved? 00:22:56.619 --> 00:23:04.739 And if you answer that question with, I hope so, I hope that I have done enough, 00:23:04.839 --> 00:23:09.479 or even if you answer the question, I hope so, I'm a member of First Baptist Church. 00:23:09.779 --> 00:23:10.759 I hope so. 00:23:10.819 --> 00:23:13.479 I was baptized at a young age. 00:23:14.419 --> 00:23:16.839 I was talking with someone just the other day, 00:23:17.619 --> 00:23:22.059 and they were sharing a story about an older deacon in the church they had grown up in 00:23:22.059 --> 00:23:26.379 that gave their life to Christ late in life. 00:23:27.700 --> 00:23:30.619 You see, I'm not asking, have you been baptized? 00:23:31.480 --> 00:23:33.099 Are you a member of this church? 00:23:33.519 --> 00:23:35.639 I'm not even asking if you're a deacon. 00:23:36.559 --> 00:23:40.319 I'm asking, are you a follower of Christ? 00:23:41.399 --> 00:23:48.019 Because a follower of Christ confesses that their only hope is Jesus. 00:23:48.019 --> 00:23:51.200 And so this brings us comfort. 00:23:51.319 --> 00:23:57.119 The next thing that we see that brings us comfort as Jesus is our great and perfect high priest 00:23:57.119 --> 00:24:01.700 is we find comfort in the fact that Jesus understands us. 00:24:02.200 --> 00:24:03.740 He understands us. 00:24:04.240 --> 00:24:08.980 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, 00:24:09.200 --> 00:24:16.359 but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 00:24:16.359 --> 00:24:22.859 This is one of the most comforting truths that I have found as we study the book of Hebrews 00:24:22.859 --> 00:24:25.579 is over and over again. 00:24:25.879 --> 00:24:30.219 It tells us that Jesus understands us. 00:24:30.819 --> 00:24:36.740 It reminds us that Jesus has experienced the same things that we experience. 00:24:37.500 --> 00:24:41.240 You see, the incarnation is not just that Jesus became a man, 00:24:41.299 --> 00:24:44.000 but that he lived life as a man. 00:24:44.000 --> 00:24:47.380 He experienced the ups and downs that we all experience. 00:24:47.519 --> 00:24:54.779 And in this passage, it tells us that Jesus experienced the temptation just like we do, 00:24:55.200 --> 00:24:58.259 that he understands the temptation that we're going through. 00:24:59.099 --> 00:25:00.420 But I don't know about you. 00:25:00.500 --> 00:25:04.259 This is sometimes hard for me to wrap my mind around. 00:25:04.880 --> 00:25:07.599 It's hard for me to wrap my mind around this fact, 00:25:07.599 --> 00:25:12.779 because in my mind, I think, well, Jesus, if you've never sinned, 00:25:13.719 --> 00:25:17.500 and you haven't experienced the sin like we have, 00:25:17.599 --> 00:25:20.619 how can you experience the temptation? 00:25:21.159 --> 00:25:24.599 How can you experience temptation if you've never sinned? 00:25:25.199 --> 00:25:29.599 How can you know the temptation that I'm experiencing if you have not sinned? 00:25:29.599 --> 00:25:37.859 How can you know the difficulty of addiction to alcohol, to drugs, to pornography, to lying, to gossip, 00:25:38.019 --> 00:25:43.019 or whatever, if you have not participated in those things? 00:25:44.359 --> 00:25:49.699 And this is a place where this week, C.S. Lewis, in Miracurchia, if you have read that, 00:25:50.179 --> 00:25:52.719 you'll know that it is most helpful in this. 00:25:52.720 --> 00:25:59.700 He says nobody knows how bad he is till he has tried very hard to be good. 00:26:00.559 --> 00:26:05.799 A silly idea is current that good people do not know what temptation means. 00:26:06.480 --> 00:26:07.940 This is an obvious lie. 00:26:08.079 --> 00:26:14.019 Only those who try to resist temptation know how strong it is. 00:26:14.740 --> 00:26:17.819 A man who gives into temptation after five minutes 00:26:17.819 --> 00:26:22.360 simply does not know what it would be like an hour later. 00:26:23.720 --> 00:26:30.259 We never find out the strength of the evil impulse inside us until we try to fight it. 00:26:30.700 --> 00:26:31.880 And he goes on to say, he says, 00:26:32.000 --> 00:26:39.279 And Christ, because he was the only man who knows to the full what temptation means, 00:26:39.839 --> 00:26:42.299 is the only complete realist. 00:26:42.640 --> 00:26:47.819 You see, what Lewis is stating is that those who have given in to temptation 00:26:47.819 --> 00:26:50.740 can't understand the full weight of it. 00:26:50.740 --> 00:26:55.140 They can't understand the full weight of it because as soon as you give in to the temptation, 00:26:55.380 --> 00:26:56.319 that is gone. 00:26:56.380 --> 00:26:58.900 The temptation is gone because you've given in to it. 00:26:59.400 --> 00:27:04.480 And he's saying, Jesus experienced this but never gave in to it. 00:27:04.980 --> 00:27:11.900 So let us take great comfort in knowing that Jesus not only understands the difficulties we face, 00:27:11.900 --> 00:27:16.800 but understands them to an extent that we will never know. 00:27:18.360 --> 00:27:23.000 Finally, as we see Jesus as our great and perfect high priest, 00:27:23.800 --> 00:27:27.660 we find comfort in the confidence that Jesus provides. 00:27:28.340 --> 00:27:31.500 We find comfort in the confidence that he provides. 00:27:31.500 --> 00:27:33.480 Verse 16 says, 00:27:34.079 --> 00:27:38.559 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, 00:27:38.559 --> 00:27:44.779 that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. 00:27:45.420 --> 00:27:49.099 Because of our great high priest has provided salvation, 00:27:49.539 --> 00:27:51.720 because he intercedes on our behalf, 00:27:51.819 --> 00:27:55.000 because he understands us and sympathizes with us, 00:27:55.319 --> 00:27:59.720 the author tells us that we can now confidently draw near to him. 00:27:59.720 --> 00:28:04.380 And there's no doubt in my mind that this is something that was very difficult 00:28:04.380 --> 00:28:06.819 for this original audience to understand. 00:28:07.480 --> 00:28:11.980 For the author to say that you can now confidently draw near to God 00:28:11.980 --> 00:28:15.059 was no doubt mind-blowing to them. 00:28:15.480 --> 00:28:18.839 Because they had lived a life where they understood very well 00:28:18.839 --> 00:28:23.100 in their Jewish tradition that sin separated them from God. 00:28:23.640 --> 00:28:25.940 It separated them from the presence of God. 00:28:25.940 --> 00:28:31.120 In fact, in the temple, they had the Holy of Holies that was blocked by this giant curtain 00:28:31.120 --> 00:28:36.360 that nobody could go into except only certain people in certain times of the year. 00:28:37.180 --> 00:28:40.759 And oftentimes, when they would go in, they would have a rope tied around their waist 00:28:40.759 --> 00:28:43.240 in case when they entered the presence of God, 00:28:43.340 --> 00:28:47.059 they would be struck dead because of their unconfessed sin. 00:28:47.840 --> 00:28:50.940 And so they understood that there was this separation. 00:28:50.940 --> 00:28:53.640 But now for the author to say, 00:28:54.039 --> 00:28:58.259 because of Jesus, you can confidently draw near to God 00:28:58.259 --> 00:29:03.259 is an unbelievable and life-giving truth. 00:29:03.940 --> 00:29:06.360 For those of us who are in Christ, 00:29:06.940 --> 00:29:10.700 God's throne is a throne of immeasurable grace. 00:29:11.420 --> 00:29:16.920 This throne of grace is a place Christians can confidently draw near 00:29:16.920 --> 00:29:21.539 in order to find the grace we need in every situation in this life 00:29:21.539 --> 00:29:26.019 and the mercy we need to continually cover the sins we commit. 00:29:27.019 --> 00:29:32.220 You see, church, this is incredibly life-giving news for us today. 00:29:32.900 --> 00:29:35.140 The Bible over and over again, 00:29:35.539 --> 00:29:38.200 and probably most clearly in Ephesians chapter 2, 00:29:38.340 --> 00:29:41.460 reminds us that because of our sin, 00:29:41.460 --> 00:29:43.819 we are dead in our trespasses. 00:29:44.460 --> 00:29:45.960 Because of our sin, 00:29:46.140 --> 00:29:49.640 we are dead and we are following the way this world wants us to go. 00:29:50.000 --> 00:29:52.720 We're just going the way the world wants us to go, 00:29:52.779 --> 00:29:54.059 the way that Satan wants us to go. 00:29:54.500 --> 00:29:56.140 And because of that, 00:29:56.240 --> 00:29:58.960 we are objects of God's wrath. 00:30:00.500 --> 00:30:03.799 But God doesn't leave us there. 00:30:04.500 --> 00:30:06.299 But because of Jesus, 00:30:06.700 --> 00:30:08.259 when God looks at us, 00:30:08.279 --> 00:30:09.519 he doesn't see that sin, 00:30:09.519 --> 00:30:10.460 that shame, 00:30:10.559 --> 00:30:11.000 that regret, 00:30:11.099 --> 00:30:13.779 all of those things that we've committed when nobody else was looking, 00:30:14.019 --> 00:30:15.980 or maybe when everybody else was looking, 00:30:16.259 --> 00:30:17.400 he doesn't see those things, 00:30:17.480 --> 00:30:23.319 but rather he sees his son's righteous life that was given in our place. 00:30:23.900 --> 00:30:27.359 And this allows us to boldly come before God, 00:30:27.799 --> 00:30:29.519 boldly come before his throne. 00:30:30.099 --> 00:30:31.779 And so coming back to this question, 00:30:31.859 --> 00:30:33.339 if someone were to ask you, 00:30:33.660 --> 00:30:35.000 are you going to heaven? 00:30:35.559 --> 00:30:37.740 Can you come into the presence of God? 00:30:37.740 --> 00:30:40.299 How would you answer that today? 00:30:41.319 --> 00:30:42.839 Would you answer it with, 00:30:43.099 --> 00:30:44.480 I hope, 00:30:45.380 --> 00:30:46.740 maybe, 00:30:47.539 --> 00:30:51.079 I guess we'll just have to see when we get there. 00:30:52.559 --> 00:30:54.819 Or will you answer that question? 00:30:55.500 --> 00:30:59.120 Can you come into the presence of God boldly by saying, 00:30:59.579 --> 00:31:00.059 yes, 00:31:00.380 --> 00:31:01.819 because of Jesus, 00:31:02.160 --> 00:31:02.620 yes, 00:31:02.920 --> 00:31:04.720 this is the good news of the gospel. 00:31:04.720 --> 00:31:07.200 This is what we get to celebrate this week, 00:31:07.519 --> 00:31:10.279 that Jesus lived the life that we couldn't live, 00:31:10.600 --> 00:31:11.539 went to the cross, 00:31:11.860 --> 00:31:12.660 took our sin, 00:31:12.799 --> 00:31:14.519 took our shame on himself, 00:31:14.720 --> 00:31:18.400 and gave us his righteous life. 00:31:19.079 --> 00:31:19.980 So yes, 00:31:20.120 --> 00:31:22.160 we can boldly come to God and say, 00:31:22.440 --> 00:31:23.460 I deserve to be here, 00:31:23.559 --> 00:31:24.900 not because of my sin, 00:31:25.079 --> 00:31:28.620 but because of what Jesus did for me. 00:31:28.619 --> 00:31:31.719 This is wonderful news for us. 00:31:32.399 --> 00:31:36.179 And so as we think about how God sees us and how we see him, 00:31:36.539 --> 00:31:41.000 may we see that God sees us as his son's holy and perfect life 00:31:41.000 --> 00:31:42.919 because of what Jesus accomplished, 00:31:43.019 --> 00:31:44.379 because he declares us that, 00:31:44.619 --> 00:31:46.219 not because of our actions. 00:31:46.679 --> 00:31:50.279 And may we see him clearly for who he is, 00:31:51.019 --> 00:31:54.339 a loving father who is there with us, 00:31:54.419 --> 00:31:56.439 no matter what we're going through. 00:31:56.440 --> 00:32:00.080 Our great and perfect high priest 00:32:00.080 --> 00:32:03.720 is not constantly making sacrifices 00:32:03.720 --> 00:32:08.200 because he has already made the final and perfect sacrifice 00:32:08.200 --> 00:32:11.240 by giving his life for ours. 00:32:12.100 --> 00:32:14.080 And so help us to not be like the crowds 00:32:14.080 --> 00:32:15.799 on the first triumphal entry 00:32:15.799 --> 00:32:18.980 who were seeing what they thought they wanted, 00:32:19.720 --> 00:32:21.539 the Jesus that they thought they needed. 00:32:22.019 --> 00:32:23.920 Help us not to see the Jesus 00:32:23.920 --> 00:32:26.640 that is a slightly better version of ourselves, 00:32:26.640 --> 00:32:29.800 who is just there to give us health, wealth, and prosperity, 00:32:30.120 --> 00:32:34.620 but help us to see who Jesus truly is. 00:32:35.580 --> 00:32:37.560 Because who Jesus is, 00:32:38.240 --> 00:32:41.200 is so much better. 00:32:42.200 --> 00:32:44.700 Father, thank you so very much for your word. 00:32:45.580 --> 00:32:48.300 Lord, thank you for what it teaches us about you, 00:32:48.360 --> 00:32:50.140 for what it reminds us of, 00:32:50.140 --> 00:32:53.960 that you are our perfect and great high priest, 00:32:54.520 --> 00:32:56.740 that you live the life that we couldn't live 00:32:56.740 --> 00:32:58.660 to give us hope. 00:32:59.320 --> 00:33:00.640 Lord, I thank you for that. 00:33:00.700 --> 00:33:03.900 I thank you for how it changes our life, 00:33:03.960 --> 00:33:05.880 the comfort that it brings to our life, 00:33:06.100 --> 00:33:09.080 how we find comfort in who you are, 00:33:09.480 --> 00:33:12.160 how we find comfort in what you've done for us, 00:33:12.580 --> 00:33:15.820 how we find comfort in our confession of who you are. 00:33:15.819 --> 00:33:18.019 Lord, help us to lean into that. 00:33:18.579 --> 00:33:20.500 Help us to find comfort in the fact 00:33:20.500 --> 00:33:22.960 that you understand us, 00:33:23.399 --> 00:33:24.740 that you get us. 00:33:25.279 --> 00:33:29.000 But Lord, I pray that you help us to find comfort 00:33:29.000 --> 00:33:32.939 in the confidence that only you can provide. 00:33:33.779 --> 00:33:37.099 Lord, a confidence that is not built on our own actions, 00:33:37.359 --> 00:33:40.779 but a confidence that is built on you. 00:33:41.399 --> 00:33:43.220 And so Lord, help us to live in light of that 00:33:43.220 --> 00:33:44.099 each and every day. 00:33:44.099 --> 00:33:46.819 And I pray that if there's someone here today 00:33:46.819 --> 00:33:48.879 that doesn't know you, 00:33:49.240 --> 00:33:51.899 that can't confidently come into your presence, 00:33:52.439 --> 00:33:55.959 that maybe is trusting in their own actions, 00:33:56.079 --> 00:33:58.159 Lord, they would see you as better 00:33:58.159 --> 00:34:01.139 and realize that they can give their life to you 00:34:01.139 --> 00:34:03.299 and go from death to life. 00:34:03.719 --> 00:34:06.199 Father, we ask all these things in Jesus' name. 00:34:06.699 --> 00:34:07.079 Amen. 00:34:07.079 --> 00:34:07.319 Amen.