{"id":795,"date":"2013-07-12T18:58:01","date_gmt":"2013-07-12T23:58:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.desiringgodchurch.org\/web\/?p=795"},"modified":"2013-07-12T18:58:01","modified_gmt":"2013-07-12T23:58:01","slug":"jesus-our-high-priest","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.desiringgodchurch.org\/web\/2013\/07\/12\/jesus-our-high-priest\/","title":{"rendered":"Jesus Our High Priest"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ed Conrad, Kevin Wang and I have had the privilege this week of studying the book of Hebrews under Dr D.A. Carson<\/a>. Among other great themes, Hebrews pictures Jesus as our great High Priest. Meditate on these ideas, summarized in the first section, fleshed out in selections from Hebrews in the second, and versified by Michael Bruce in the third.<\/p>\n

Summary:<\/i><\/strong><\/p>\n

In becoming man Jesus took on our frailty, and faced weakness and temptation like us. A person suffering from cancer knows that a cancer survivor can identify with his or her pain; just so, we can know that Jesus identifies with our temptations, our weaknesses, our frailty. And He, as our High Priest, by one sacrifice of His own body, makes perfect forever those who come to Him by faith. Furthermore, He always lives to make intercession for us when we fail. So may we hold fast to the confession of our certain hope \u2013 and boldly approach God the Father, knowing that because of our High Priest, He will receive us with mercy and grace, enabling us to endure to the end and thus to be saved.<\/p>\n

Scripture:<\/i><\/strong><\/p>\n

Hebrews 7:23 – 8:2 <\/b>\u00a0\u00a023<\/sup>\u00a0The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office,\u00a0 24<\/sup> but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever.\u00a0 25<\/sup> 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.\u00a0 26<\/sup>\u00a0For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.\u00a0 27<\/sup> He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself.\u00a0 28<\/sup> For the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever.\u00a0 8:1<\/b>\u00a0Now the point in what we are saying is this: we have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven,\u00a0 2<\/sup> a minister in the holy places, in the true tent that the Lord set up, not man.<\/p>\n

Hebrews 10:11-18 <\/b>\u00a0And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.\u00a0 12<\/sup> But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God,\u00a0 13<\/sup> waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet.\u00a0 14<\/sup> For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.\u00a0 15<\/sup> And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for after saying,\u00a0 16<\/sup> “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws on their hearts, and write them on their minds,”\u00a0 17<\/sup> then he adds, “I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.”\u00a0 18<\/sup> Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin. <\/b><\/p>\n

Hebrews 4:14-16 <\/b>\u00a0\u00a014<\/sup>\u00a0Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.\u00a0 15<\/sup> For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.\u00a0 16<\/sup> Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.<\/p>\n

Verse:<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

By Michael Bruce (1764) \u2013 written at the age of 18<\/p>\n

Where high the heavenly temple stands,
\nthe house of God not made with hands,
\na great High Priest our nature wears,
\nthe Guardian of mankind appears.<\/p>\n

He, who for men their surety stood,
\nand poured on earth his precious blood,
\npursues in heaven his mighty plan,
\nthe Savior and the Friend of man.<\/p>\n

Though now ascended up on high,
\nhe bends on earth a brother’s eye;
\npartaker of the human name,
\nhe knows the frailty of our frame.<\/p>\n

Our fellow-sufferer yet retains
\na fellow feeling of our pains;
\nand still remembers in the skies
\nhis tears, his agonies and cries.<\/p>\n

In every pang that rends the heart
\nthe Man of Sorrows had a part;
\nhe sympathizes with our grief,
\nand to the sufferer sends relief.<\/p>\n

With boldness therefore at the throne
\nlet us make all our sorrows known;
\nand ask the aid of heavenly power
\nto help us in the evil hour.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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