Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. ~Hebrews 4:14
This past Sunday Pastor Dave shared with us another name of Jesus; one which describes a specific role He came to fulfill on our behalf. That name and role was “The Great High Priest.”
By the time you reach chapter 4, the writer of the book of Hebrews has already argued and proven that Jesus is greater and has preeminence over angels and over Moses. Now, he sets out to prove Jesus is greater than Aaron and the entire line of high priests who followed him. Pastor gave us three ways Jesus is superior to Aaron and all the other high priests. Jesus is superior because of His:
- Sacrifice (Hebrews 10:1-14)
- Sinlessness (Hebrews 4:15)
- Sympathy (Hebrews 5:2)
I really appreciated the point Pastor Dave made about how Jesus being sinless made the Good News all the better! He said:
“Jesus’ sinlessness allows Him an unequaled capacity for sympathy because He has an unequaled capacity to be selfless.”
There are a number of people who call themselves Christian and do not believe Jesus was sinless. A Barna Poll summed up their findings:
“Although a core teaching of the Christian faith is the divinity and perfection of Jesus Christ, tens of millions of Christians do not accept that teaching. More than one-fifth (22%) strongly agreed that Jesus Christ sinned when He lived on earth, with an additional 17% agreeing somewhat. Holding the opposing view were 9% who disagreed somewhat and 46% who disagreed strongly. Six percent did not have an opinion on this matter.”
When I read statements like that… I just don’t know what to think other than that 39% who believe Jesus sinned cannot be Born Again. If Jesus sinned even once, His sacrifice would not have been acceptable and He would not have been God! The Bible states clearly, and more than once, Jesus never sinned.
For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. ~2 Corinthians 5:21
He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. ~1 Peter 2:22
You know that he appeared to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. ~1 John 3:5
Our High Priest Jesus is someone to whom we can come to in our time of need! He can sympathize and empathize with our every situation because He came to this world fully human and subject to the same pains, hurts, and needs all of us have. He even suffered with the same temptations, but with one all important difference… without sin.
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. ~Hebrews 4:15
Jesus Christ knows us, knows our struggles, and knows our temptations. The promise is He will lead us out of them.
No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. ~1 Corinthians 10:13
The point of this sermon series is that we, as a local body of believers, would better know our Lord and Savior. It is by knowing Him more fully and walking with Him in understanding that we find and have those things we need to live lives worthy of the Gospel.
His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. ~2 Peter 1:3,4
So, commit yourself to getting to know Jesus better these next few weeks. Spend time in the Word searching these things out Pastor Dave shares with us, then go to God with confidence.
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. ~Hebrews 4:16