Seeking for the truth
© 2004 -
Jesus the High Priest Part 2
Let’s see what we can learn by looking at the earthly High Priest in more detail.
In Hebrews it says:
“Every High Priest is selected from among men
and is appointed to represent them in matters relating to God,
to offer gifts, and sacrifices for sins.” (Hebrews 5:1)
For the Jewish High Priest, ‘the sacrifice for sins’ meant the Day of Atonement.
This was when he could go into the Most Holy Place in the temple, which signified the very Presence of God, but only after blood had been shed for His sins and for all the people.
This was all pictorial of what Christ would actually do.
For Jesus entered the Most Holy Place, that is heaven, not by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood.
The High Priest also offered throughout the year ‘gifts, or free will offerings,
which were brought to him by the people.
These gifts were offered for the glory of God, and to acknowledge that all we have is from God, and of His own do we offer back to Him.
This shows that all we bring to God must be free and not forced.
All these gifts, which will include our praise and worship, need to pass through Christ the High Priest.
Our good deeds must be presented to Christ, so that they are acceptable to God. The High priest in the Temple inspected these sacrifices.
He cut them through to the back bone, to see whether they were sound or not.
So the all-
He now lays open our sacrifices.
And what cutting instrument does He use?
In Hebrews it says:
“For the Word of God is living and active sharper than any double edged sword,
it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow;
it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight.
Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him
to whom we must give an account.” (Hebrews 4:12)
This thought that all our actions, gifts and duties are inspected, would be unbearable if our High Priest was cruel.
But in Hebrews it continues:
“Therefore since we have a Great High Priest who has gone through the heavens,
Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.
For we do not have a High Priest who is unable to sympathise with our weaknesses,
but we have One who has been tempted in every way, just as we are -
Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence,
so that we may receive mercy,
and find grace, to help us in our time of need.”
None of this speaks of a cruel High Priest, but One who is very willing to help, and provided we trust in Him, He will make our sincere gifts and duties acceptable to the Father.
We can see something quite remarkable in regard to our worship when we see what the Lord said to Moses on how the Priests clothing should be:
“Make a plate of pure gold and engrave on it as on a seal: ‘Holy to the Lord.’
Fasten a blue cord to it to attach it to the turban; it is to be on the front of the turban.
It will be on Aaron’s forehead,
and he will bear the guilt involved in the sacred gifts the Israelites consecrate,
whatever their gifts may be.
It will be on Aaron’s forehead continually
so they will be acceptable to the Lord.” (Exodus 28:36)
There are multitudes of ways we can sin, when we come to God in worship.
We can have wrong attitudes and motives.
Pride or jealously can rise up within us.
Or we can become lazy, or have wandering thoughts.
Even when we do good things, evil can be present in us.
Therefore God has provided an answer to this.
Our High Priest bears the guilt involved in our sacred gifts, so that they may be acceptable to the Lord, provided we are sincere in what we bring before the Lord.
We may not know that our gifts to God are contaminated, but Christ takes the guilt away, so that they are acceptable, and pleasing to the Father.
When we know we have sinned, we must go to our High Priest in faith.
The Apostle John wrote that it is the blood of Jesus which purifies us from all sin, and that if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just, and He will forgive us our sins, and purify us from all unrighteousness.
During the last supper with His disciples, Jesus poured out the wine and said:
“This is My blood of the Covenant,
which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”
If we humbly go to Jesus to be forgiven, then any sin, and all sin will be washed from us.
We’ve just looked at Christ’s obedience to the Fathers plan of salvation, which enables the Justice of God to be satisfied, and so the verdict of ‘not guilty’ can now be proclaimed over His children.
“There’s no condemnation to those in Christ Jesus.”
Sacrifice image: thanks to ‘The Pictorial Dictionary’
published by The Educational Book Company, London.
Back to menu