One of the many great things about our relationship with God is that “we have a Great High Priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus, the Son of God” (Hebrews 4:14). Yes, indeed, our Great High Priest is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ, God’s only begotten Son who is far superior to all earthly priests. Even Aaron who, on the Day of Atonement, entered the Holy of Holies once a year and sprinkled blood to atone, first for his own sins, and those of the people.
It is most noteworthy that we are exhorted to “Consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus” (Hebrews 3:1). He is highly worthy of our consideration because He is now seated at God’s right hand as the “Apostle and High priest of our confession.” This is indeed our hope and assurance. We must consider all that Jesus has done for us during His earthly ministry, His sacrificial death, glorious resurrection, and ascension. And, right now He is representing us in God’s presence as our intercessor and advocate.
Before becoming the Christian’s High Priest, Jesus had to be made “a little lower than the angels” for a little time. We read, “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, that He, by the grace of God, should taste death for everyone” (Hebrews 2:9). All this was in God’s redemptive plan for man’s salvation. Jesus was God’s gift to the world (John 3:16), having come in “human form,” tabernacled among men and subsequently going to the cross to shed His blood and die as our substitute. But now, “He is crowned with glory and honor, that He by the grace of God should taste death for every man”
It is interesting to realize that certain conditions had to be met before Jesus became our High Priest. He assumed true humanity in all aspects except for the fact He was “without sin.” The Bible clearly states, “Wherefore, in all things it behooved him to be made like His brothers that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people” (Hebrews 2:17). It was on the cross that reconciliation was accomplished, “having made peace through the blood of His cross” (Colossians 1:20).
Today, we have a Great God and a Great High Priest in heaven that nothing can change. And because of Christ’s intercessory work on our behalf we can approach God confidently. The Bible tells us, “Therefore, since we have a Great High Priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus 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 in our time of need” (Hebrews 4:14-16). Isn’t this a great and wonderful arrangement by none other than our Sovereign God, who does all things well.
In his sermon on Hebrews 14:16, C.H. Spurgeon said, “I do not believe that Christians are intended to go crawling about the outer court and keeping far off from the Holy Place, for the Apostle Paul said, ‘Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace,’ right into the Holy of Holies, for there is no longer any separating veil to keep us away from the mercy seat. As a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, my place is not in the outer court, nor even in the court of the priests. I have advanced beyond them and come right up to the throne of grace that I “may there obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” That is the position of all true Christians, not only on one day of the year, but every day!” (Delivered at Metropolitan Tabernacle, Newington, 9.14.1873, (spurgeongems.com). Since prayer is of supreme importance to the Christian, may we never forget that our Great High Priest “ever lives to make intercessions for us” (Hebrews 7:25).