JESUS
THE GREAT HIGH PRIEST
(Hebrews
4:14-5:1-10)
Introduction: His name was
Joseph Damien, a Belgian Catholic priest, he was sent in 1873 to minister to
lepers in Hawaii. As soon as he arrived on Molokai, he began trying to build
friendships with the residents of the leper colony, but they rejected him. He
poured himself into this ministry, building a small chapel and holding worship
services. But hardly anyone came.
After
12 long years, he gave up. While standing on the pier about to board the ship that
would take him back to Belgium, he looked down at his hands. The white spots he
saw could mean only one thing. He had contracted leprosy. So instead of going
home, he returned to his work in the leper colony.
The
news of the missionary's disease spread through the community; soon, hundreds
of lepers had gathered outside his hut. They understood his pain and despair.
The following Sunday, when Damien arrived at the chapel, the small building was
filled to overflowing. That was the beginning of a long and fruitful ministry. What
made the difference?
Now
the lepers knew that he understood their condition, and he became one among
them by contracting their disease." [1] We have been on a quest to
discover greater things. Today we will learn about a great high priest who
identifies with our situation and understands our weaknesses. He experienced
the pain and frustration of earthly existence to give us eternal life.
Many
Americans might not be familiar with the role of a priest unless you grew up a
Catholic. Though I was born into a protestant family, growing up in a religious
Hindu culture, I understand the power of Hindu priests in India. But I am
delighted to talk about someone more magnificent than all the priests in the
whole world. His name is Jesus the Great High Priest.
I. PRIESTS IN THE
OLD TESTAMENT
We
don't often hear the word priest in our daily conversations except among
Catholics and Episcopalians. In the O.T. period, not so much in the N.T.
priests played a significant role in the day to do affairs of people. Priests
acted as God's ordained mediators to receive gifts/offerings of the people.
They officiated over ceremonies and annual feasts.
The
first appearances of priests were in Genesis 14:18 when Abraham offered his
tithes to Melchizedek king of Salem and Exodus 18:1 Jethro, (who was also the
father-in-law of Moses) the priest of Midian, who offers a burnt offering and
sacrifices to God.
At
first, men functioned as their own priests (Gen 4:3, Job 1:5), but later the
patriarchal head of the family performed the task. In a sense, all Israelites
were priests of the Lord. Exodus 19:6, "And you will be my kingdom of
priests, my holy nation."
The
same concept we see in the N.T. where the Apostle Peter affirms the priesthood
of all believers, I Peter 2:5-9, "for you are a chosen people. You are
royal priests, a holy nation, God's very own possession." However, at
Mount Sinai, God designated that the priesthood would be the tribe of Levi and
the family of Aaron in particular.
In
a special ceremony, God sets apart Aaron and his sons to be priests. They were
to represent the people of God whenever they entered into God's presence. They
were to offer various offerings on behalf of people to God to seek his
forgiveness of sins and His blessings.
In
the O.T., we also encounter corrupt priests who served false gods and those who
served their self-interests instead of genuinely representing the needs of
people before God. God often dealt with them severely.
For
example, Israeli's priest, Eli's two sons Hophni and Phinehas, earned a dubious
title, "worthless men," through their corruption and adultery with
the women who served at the tabernacle. God dealt with them by killing both of
them. I Sam 2-3.
The
calling and anointing of a priest are not something one should take lightly.
God holds them to a higher standard, and when they break the oath of their
priestly office and indulge in unrighteous acts, they will face severe
consequences, including being removed from that holy office. In Malachi's
second chapter, we read about God's dealings with corrupt priests.
II. THE ROLE OF A
HIGH PRIEST
The
high priest was the supreme religious leader of the Israelites. The office of
the high priest was hereditary and was traced from Aaron, the brother of Moses,
of the Levite tribe (Exodus 28:1; Numbers 18:7). The most important duty of the
high priest was to conduct the service on the Day of Atonement, the tenth day
of the seventh month of every year.
Only
he was allowed to enter the Most Holy Place behind the veil to stand before
God. After offering sacrifices for himself and the people, he then brought the
blood into the Holy of Holies and sprinkled it on the mercy seat, God's "throne"
(Leviticus 16:14-15). He did this to make atonement for himself and the people
for all their sins committed during the year just ended (Exodus 30:10). This
high priestly ministry is compared to Jesus, the Great High Priest.
III. JESUS THE
GREAT HIGH PRIEST
Vs.
14, "So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven,
Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe." Let me share
how Jesus is more significant than the Aaronic high priests from the paper I
wrote during my seminary time.
In
the O.T., the sins of people were symbolically laid on a goat and sent out to
bear their sins to a solitary land. John the Baptist pointed to Jesus, saying,
look the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. The high priest
enters, once a year, offers a sacrificial lamb for himself and the sins of the
people committed in ignorance.
Christ
as the great high priest entered the holy place once for all, having obtained
eternal redemption. In the passage, we read the author explains the specific
duties of a high priest. Hebrews 5:1-3, "Every high priest is a man chosen
to represent other people in their dealings with God. He presents their gifts
to God and offers sacrifices for their sins.
And
he is able to deal gently with ignorant and wayward people because he himself
is subject to the same weaknesses. That is why he must offer sacrifices for his
own sins as well as theirs." Let me unpack this passage. The O.T. high
priests were men chosen from among many other men. In contrast, Jesus was sent
from God. Lived on the earth for a while and after completing the high priestly
duty of atonement, he went back to heaven.
The
high priest presents people's gifts to God and offers sacrifices for the sins
of people to God. Jesus gave himself as a perfect and pleasing sacrifice to God
on behalf of the sins of the whole world. The high priest gently deals with
ignorant and wayward people. Jesus was compassionate and caring. He loved all
people, including those who hated him.
He
restored the dignity of the minorities and gently instructed sinners to repent
and sin no more. Another unique character that sets Jesus apart from the rest
is that He was sinless. 1 John 3:5, "And you know that Jesus came to take
away our sins, and there is no sin in him."
1
Peter 2:22, "He never sinned, nor ever deceived anyone." 2 Corinthians
5:22, "For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our
sin so that we could be made right with God through Christ." Our text also
speaks of His sinlessness.
Hebrews
4:15, "This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced
all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin." Jesus, though He was
God's learned obedience from the things he suffered. Jesus did not need to
suffer to conquer or correct any disobedience. Instead, he humbled himself to
learn. Why was then his suffering and obedience necessary?
Christ's
obedience was necessary so that he could fulfill all righteousness and leaving
us an example to follow. Take to heart
that next time when you are going through any kind of suffering, remember the
great high priest Jesus suffered much for you. Hebrews 12:3, "Think of all
the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won't become weary and
give up."
All
these characteristics and many more qualify Jesus as a perfect High priest, a
source of eternal salvation for all those who obey him. God also designated him
to be a High Priest in the order of Melchizedek. To know more about who
Melchizedek is read chapters 7,8.
In
closing, how does having Jesus as our Great High Priest impacts our day to day
lives? Knowing and trusting Jesus the Great High Priest gives us confidence. We
can come into His presence boldly with all our struggles, and problems are
assured that He understands our weaknesses. I want to encourage each one of you
to make this a regular practice.
Drawing
near to the throne of grace helps us find mercy and grace to help in time of
need. What an assuring and compelling invitation this is? Where do you go in your
time of need? Do you go to Google for help? Or do you distract yourselves with constant
social media? No!
Go
to a quiet room in your house and spend time with Jesus, the great High Priest.
Talk with him about everything in your heart and everything that is bothering
you and all your needs. Don't be in a rush, wait a little longer before the
mercy seat of God to receive mercy and grace.
In your suffering, when you cry out to Him for
help, he will not turn you away empty-handed. He sympathizes with you because
he identifies with you in your pain. During this COVID-19, there is so much
pain, sorrow, and grief. Over 148,650 people in the USA have died in recent
months. Can you imagine the grief and the searing loss of their loved ones who
were left behind? Jesus, our great High priest who is alive in heaven and
present here on the earth through His Holy Spirit, can heal all our diseases
and forgive all our sins. Amen!
