Our Great High Priest

After being gone last week, I returned to my routine Chiropractor appointment for today. He thought that my right leg is beginning to show some improvement on muscle tone. I was able to get to the neighborhood pool for a good workout this afternoon as well.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… Since we have a great high priest, Jesus the Son of God, who has gone into heaven, let us hold on to the faith we have. For our high priest is able to understand our weaknesses. He was tempted in every way that we are, but he did not sin.  Let us, then, feel very sure that we can come before God’s throne where there is grace. There we can receive mercy and grace to help us when we need it.” Hebrews 4:14-16

One thing about reading through Leviticus is that if you follow with the reading of Hebrews, it helps with your understanding and appreciation for what Christ has done for us. In Christ we have the “lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” and we have a “great high priest” who is able to offer that sacrifice before a Holy God that we might have forgiveness for our sin, access to God’s throne and fellowship with the Lord.

In the law, the high priest was chosen by God from among the people. As such he could relate to the frailties of human existence. The high priest was that connection between the people and God. He offered a sacrifice for his own sin and then offered the sacrifice for the sin of the people.

About Christ Hebrews says, Christ did not choose himself to have the honor of being a high priest, but God chose him.” (Heb. 5:5) Scripture goes on to say of Christ, “Even though Jesus was the Son of God, he learned obedience by what he suffered.  Jesus suffered when He was tempted, yet He did not sin. He suffered as He was crucified, but “as a lamb for slaughter He did not open His mouth. “And because his obedience was perfect, he was able to give eternal salvation to all who obey him.” (Heb. 5:8,9)

Jesus our great high priest, did not go to the Temple on earth, but into heaven to present the blood of the sacrifice of His own life before the Father’s throne for the forgiveness of sin. The imagery and significance of all that Christ accomplished by coming to earth in human form, can difficult to comprehend and fully appreciate. What we can understand is the results of all the Christ did for us.

“….Let us, then, feel very sure that we can come before God’s throne where there is grace. There we can receive mercy and grace to help us when we need it.”

We don’t have to fear God’s wrath because of our sin, but we can come to God to be forgiven. We don’t have to fear being rejected, because we approach God with confidence at His throne of grace and mercy. We don’t have to fear a lack of concern or a lack of compassion for our need, because God stands ready to “help us when we need it.”

To all this we can simply respond with thankful hearts and say, “how wonderful, how marvelous is my Savior’s love for me.”