One of the many great things about the Christian’s 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 our hope and assurance. We must consider all 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, now crowned with glory and honor because He suffered death, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone” (Hebrews 2:9 NIV). All this was in God’s redemptive plan for man’s salvation.
Jesus Christ 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 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. The Bible says: “and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things . . . by making peace through His blood shed on the cross” (Colossians 1:20 NIV).
Today, we have a Great God and a Great High Priest in heaven for all eternity. And because of Christ’s intercessory work on our behalf, we can confidently approach God. The Bible tells us, “Therefore, since we have a Great High Priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the 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).
The Scripture says that our Great High Priest “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 7:24,25).
William MacDonald makes an insightful commentary on this text: “His priesthood is never passed on to anyone else, and there is no interruption to its effectiveness. It is unchangeable and inransmissible. Because He lives forever He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God by Him. We generally understand this to refer to His work in saving sinners from the penalty of sin, but actually the writer is speaking of Christ’s work in saving saints from the power of sin. It is not so much His role as Savior as that of High Priest. There is no danger that any believers will be lost. Their eternal security rests on His perpetual intercession for them. He is ablate save them for all time because His present ministry for them at God’s right hand can never be interrupted by death“ (Believer’s Bible Commentary pg. 2180 Thomas Nelson Publishers).
Glory to God for such a High Priest who is now seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens. Amen.