The Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Eternal God, is the believer’s Great High Priest. The letter to the Hebrews states, “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. 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. 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 4:14-16).
First of all, the Bible states that “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Sin means “to miss the mark” So then all humanity has missed the mark because we have fallen short of God’s glory. Sin is lawlessness. “Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness” (1 John 3:4). Lawlessness is rampant in our society today. Man practices sin because he is a sinner. And therefore, he needs a Savior to be forgiven of his sins. The Lord Jesus Christ is that Savior who offered Himself as the sin sacrifice in order to reconcile sinful man to the holy God.
Not only is Jesus Savior, Lord, and Christ, He is now seated at God’s right hand in great power and authority, representing believers. It is noteworthy that unlike the Levitical priests in Israel’s day, Jesus is uniquely qualified to be our Great High Priest. Those priests were only mere men who could not live forever. Jesus holds the priesthood forever. The Scripture points out that “The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, but He holds His priesthood permanently, because He continues forever. 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.” (Hebrews 7:23-25).
The Scripture goes on to present the attributes of our Lord. “For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the Heavens” (Hebrews 7:23-26). Jesus is indeed our perfect high priest, which makes us complete in Him. Unlike the former high priests, Jesus had no need whatsoever to offer any sacrifice for His own sin and the sins of the people, because He was holy, sinless, undefiled, and separate from sinners. “Christ’s priesthood is superior to Aaron’s because of His personal excellence. He is holy in His standing before God. He is harmless or guileless in His dealings with men. He is undefiled in His personal character. He is separate from sinners in His life at God’s right hand. He has become higher than the heavens in His present and eternal splendor. It is fitting for us to have such a High Priest” (William MacDonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary, p. 2180).
As our great high priest, the Lord Jesus offered the one and only perfect sacrifice for our sins on the Cross of Calvary when he suffered, bled and died for us. The Bible says, “And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, He sat down at the right hand of God . . . For by a single offering He has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified” (Hebrews 10:11,12,14). In contrast to the Aaronic sacrifices of old, which could not take away sins, Jesus offered “the one sacrifice for sin forever,” which is superior to the many sacrifices of old. “There no longer remains a sacrifice for sins” (Hebrews 10:26). “For the death He died He died to sin, once for all, but the life He lives He lives to God” (Rom. 6:10).
Jesus, my great High Priest,
Offered His blood and died;
My guilty conscience seeks
No sacrifice beside;
His powerful blood did once atone,
And now it pleads before the throne.”
(Isaac Watts, 1674-1748)
As the believer’s Great High Priest, we have a great hope and eternal security that no one can condemn. Paul declares, “Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more that that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us” (Romans 8:33,34). Because believers are in Jesus Christ there can be no condemnation by anyone or anything. The reason being “For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death” (Romans 8:2).
Let us rejoice with unspeakable joy, that is full of glory for what our Great High Priest has done for us on the Cross and that He is now interceding for us at God’s right hand. Because “there is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,” our sins have been fully and completely forgiven. Christ bore the penalty for our sins, thereby making us free from indwelling sin. Our sins and lawless deeds will He remember no more (Hebrews 10:17). Hallelujah! Praise God!