Our High Priest- Hebrews 4

This will be my final post this week from Hebrews chapter 4.  Take time to read the chapter if you haven't yet or, for that matter, read it again if you choose.

"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 sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are... yet was without sin.  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."  Hebrews 4:14-16

The job of the high priest was to mediate between God the Father and the people.  Once a year the high priest would enter the holy of hollies and make an atonement for the sins of the nation.  This is was the highest level job in the nation of Israel.

Jesus is our high priest.  He mediates between God the Father and His people.  Although, since He is seated at the right hand of the Father, Jesus always intercedes on our behalf not just once a year.  Jesus is always there to bring atonement for our sins.  This enables us to hold firmly to our faith.  We don't have to worry about our faith becoming worthless because Jesus is always with the Father to guarantee that our faith and atonement are true.

Jesus is our high priest and He can relate to us.  Jesus was tempted in every way we are.  Jesus had to flee from sexual immorality.  Jesus had to fight to stay pure in His actions and thoughts.  Jesus knows what it's like to be human and still He did not sin.  So, we can never say, "Jesus, you wouldn't understand", because He does understand.  Jesus shows us that there is a way to face temptation and not sin.  You and I will fail on this front a lot of the time, but Jesus should be inspiration that we can win battles against sin.  And get this, Jesus has already won the war against sin; so fight on!

Because Jesus is our high priest and He can relate to us, we should pray with confidence.  Jesus is our mediator and He understands our weaknesses, so we can come boldly to the throne with our prayer requests.  We don't have to be timid in approaching God  the Father because Jesus has already declared us to be His family.  We shouldn't be cocky in the presence of God the Father but we ought to be confident because Jesus is Jesus.  When we approach the throne of grace we are implored to request mercy and grace to help in our time of need.  We need mercy because we will fail in our fight with temptation.  We need grace to help in our time of need because Jesus has shown us that one can overcome temptation.  In fact, when we read the book of John we see that Jesus did everything through reliance upon God the Father; this includes overcoming temptation.  The same resource Jesus had in this fight we have as well.  So, ask for the wealth of grace that God can give in this fight; ask for some weapons.

Thank God for Jesus our high priest.  Thank God that He mediates for us.  Thank God that He understands our predicament.  Thank God that we can confidently approach Him in prayer.  Now, confidently approach Him in prayer today.