May 3, 2019 -- Hebrews 7:22-25 -- Jesus, Your High Priest

This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant.

The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office,  but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever.  Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.

Hebrews 7:22-25 ESV

Why is he called “Christ,” meaning “anointed”?

Because he has been ordained by God the Father

and has been anointed with the Holy Spirit to be…

our only high priest

who has set us free by the one sacrifice of his body,

and who continually pleads our cause with the Father;

Heidelberg Catechism LORD’S DAY 12 part of Question and Answer 31

All around us we see it. People who get into arguments. The closer we are the more we can hurt one another by our words, tone and actions. One commentator famously noted that when Jesus called His twelve disciples He said “Follow Me” (John 1:43). They’d spend three years together following Jesus closely. Jesus was betrayed by Judas Iscariot. Jesus died as the one sacrifice for our sins. Jesus rose from the dead and at His first appearance to His disciples He spoke to them. Now these men had experienced so much together and lived in close quarters, argued about who was the greatest (and perhaps who they thought would be the least) and to these real, jostling and jockeying for position men He said: “Peace. If you forgive the sins of any they are forgiven if you withhold forgiveness it is withheld” (John 20:21 & 22).

Jesus is our High Priest Who prays on our behalf to the Father. Our sins are ever before the Father. If we offend and wound the people we love, or those we work with and we know the offenses committed against us and the wounds inflicted on us by others, how much more does God the Holy One hate our sins. We need a High Priest; we need Jesus’ prayers so that we can be restored to true community.

Jesus is our High Priest Who stood in our place and bore the wrath of God against our sin. Whenever we have people hold up our past sins before us, we can say: “Christ has covered this.” Whenever the devil whispers “How can you be so sure you are forgiven? You’re petty and wicked!” We can respond “Yes, Christ has paid it all and the more than you even know or could realize!” Indeed Christ our High Priest has taken away all our sin and shame and taken the full measure of punishment against every sin.

Jesus is our High Priest Who speaks peace over us, His people. Our bruised egos and hurt hearts need Him so much. We are always tempted to place ourselves on the throne, to act like the whatever is committed against us is really big and really worth getting angry over. And conversely we believe people should just “get over” whatever [to our thoughts and egos] minor offenses we have committed. Jesus our High Priest walked the way of humble servanthood and showed us the path of life. In Him our egos are shown the door and our life’s true aim and purpose is restored: Christ must increase and we decrease. For the sake of His Name and His glory we will be reconciled. It is His prayer that we do so. It is our work as Christians to do so. This is why Christ was incarnate—so that we would be reconciled first and foremost with God and then as evidence of this reconciliation with God we should be reconciled with one another.

Jesus is our High Priest—He never wearies of praying for us. Why? He is God. He is good. His prayers bring honour to and please the Father. It was the Father’s pleasure to seek and save ruined sinners. Jesus did so. Jesus went out and found us while we were indolent in our sins, full throttle in rebellion and ignorant of the greatness of God’s salvation plan. When ruined sinners become blood-bought saints, it brings pleasure to the Father that His plans and purposes are accomplished in Christ.

Here, true story. I was off-kilter and wild in college. I say this to my shame. Those who knew me then knew of my actions or at least knew me by my terrible reputation. Jesus never gave up praying for me. He never wearied in sending His Spirit to reclaim me. When the grace of God tackled me and changed me forever I became obedient to Christ and served God my Father eventually becoming an ordained minister. When I’d meet people who knew me in my college days they’d ask: “So, what are you up to those days?” When I said, “I’m a minister” often the reaction was shock. (Some had to pick their jaws up off the floor !) The credit does not go to me. The credit is all Christ’s. He is the High Priest Who never wearied. He is the intercessor Who kept bringing my name to the Father. He is the One Who worked salvation into my life so that the change I experienced and others can see has happened within me is only by the mercy, love and kindness of God as mediated through Jesus in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus, our High Priest, thank You for Your unfailing love and persistent prayers. Thank You for Your great sacrifice. Thank You that You rose to new life so that all who believe in You walk in newness of life. Father in heaven, Who is like You?! You are patient. You are good. You are the source of every good. Spirit of the Living God, thank You for guarding believers in the way of salvation. Thank You for making the Word of God rich and powerfully relevant each day. As the Psalmist declared: “Enlarge our hearts so that we may run in Your commandments”. Amen.