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2000-04-23 - Jesus as our Great High Priest
Passages about Jesus, Part 9
After being crucified for our sins, Christ was raised from the dead. Now He
represents us in Heaven as our Great High Priest. All passages today are
from the New International Version (NIV) of the LOGOS Library System.
The High Priesthood
Under the Old Covenant, God provided a total of 83 high priests, who were
the Jewish people's supreme representatives before God. But those high priests
were fallible. Only Christ could perfectly fulfill God's requirements of
holiness.
Heb. 8:1 The point of what we are saying is this: We do
have such a high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of
the Majesty in heaven, 2 and who serves in the sanctuary, the
true tabernacle set up by the Lord, not by man. 3 Every high priest
is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices, and so it was necessary
for this one also to have something to offer. 4 If he were on
earth, he would not be a priest, for there are already men who offer the
gifts prescribed by the law. 5 They serve at a sanctuary that
is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven. This is why Moses was warned when
he was about to build the tabernacle: "See to it that you make everything
according to the pattern shown you on the mountain (See Exodus 25:40)."
6 But the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs
as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, and it
is founded on better promises. 7 For if there had been nothing
wrong with that first covenant, no place would have been sought for another.
8 But God found fault with the people and said (Some manuscripts
may be translated fault and said to the people.) "The time is coming, declares
the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with
the house of Judah.
Jesus Knows Our Stuggles
Even though He is divine, Jesus has experienced our temptations and struggles
so He can identify with us, and He understands completely what we are going
through.
Heb. 4:14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest
who has gone through the heavens (Or gone into heaven), Jesus the Son of
God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 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.
We Don't Face Any Problem Alone
Our Great High Priest stands eager to help us with every need.
Heb. 4:16 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.
His High Priesthood is Eternal
Heb. 5:4 No one takes this honor upon himself; he must
be called by God, just as Aaron was. 5 So Christ also did not
take upon himself the glory of becoming a high priest. But God said to him,
"You are my Son; today I have become your Father (Or have begotten you)."
6 And he says in another place, "You are a priest forever, in
the order of Melchizedek." (See Psalm 110:4)
Jan
cfdevcfpray@yahoo.com
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