Jesus the Great High Priest

Confessions of A Perfectionist by Maggie McCauley: Once a perfectionist always a perfectionist? It's a hard habit to break away from because it has so many rewards—all that recognition, accomplishment, pride, self esteem, value, kudos, and neatness! Yes, but there are as many negatives as there are positives—all the pressure to perform, expectations, stress, lost time, procrastination, frustration, and sleepless nights!

I lived the life of a perfectionist for many years until I realized that it was actually making me very unhappy. It caused a great deal of anger and frustration with family, friends, and co-workers, not to mention myself. My expectations were far above what anyone could achieve. I couldn't meet them!

Do you ever feel this way in your spiritual life? We’re supposed to praise God everyday (Psalm 145:2), search the Scriptures daily (Acts 17:11), and pray without ceasing (1 Thess. 5:17). We’re also supposed to rejoice always (v.16), give thanks for everything (v.18) and examine everything carefully (v.21). To top this all off, Jesus tells us in Mt. 5:48 to be perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect. This is the problem of serving an awesome, mighty and holy God!

You’ve got to be kidding, right God? I mean, you know that we are just made of dust right (Psalm 103::14)? Who are we that we could live up to such high standards?

James 2:10 “For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all.” We need help!

This is what the solution to the problem of perfection looked like for the ancient Israelites:

1. Once a year the Israelites would send the High Priest in the tabernacle, through the veil and into the Holy of Holies.
2. First he would cleanse himself with pure water.
3. Then he had to make an atonement sacrifice for himself and his household first.
4. Blood was sprinkled everywhere and on everything.
5. Then two goats were brought before the Lord on behalf of all the people. One was sacrificed, with blood sprinkled everywhere again. The other goat was sent out into the wilderness with all the people’s sins upon him. That goat was the scapegoat (or goat of removal).
6. If the High Priest didn’t do it perfectly, he would die- just like Aaron’s two sons died in Lev. 10:1-2. Talk about a high pressure job!
7. Also, not anyone could be High Priest. You had to meet two qualifications according to Hebrews 5:1-2.

I. THE QUALITIES REQUIRED IN HIGH PRIESTS (1-4)

A. DIVINE APPOINTMENT (1,4)- Only God can rightfully select a high priest, even as God called Aaron - e.g., Exo 28,29; Lev 8,9; Num 16-18

B. HUMAN SYMPATHY (1-3)·

• A high priest is selected "from among men"·
• This helps to ensure a spirit of "compassion"...·
• A high priest who knew his own weakness would be more likely to be understanding of his brethren.·
• It also explains why the high priest in the OT offered sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people - cf. Lev 16:11·
• Thus a high priest would need to be well acquainted with the "human condition" (i.e., the struggle against temptation)

Why don’t we see this happening today? It is because Jesus has met the qualifications to be our great High Priest. [The parallel between high priests in the OT and Jesus as our High Priest does not hold true in every minute detail (e.g., He 7:26-27). But certainly in the most fundamental ways Jesus has the qualities to be our High Priest, as we now consider...]

II. CHRIST'S QUALIFICATIONS AS HIGH PRIEST (5-8)

A. DIVINELY APPOINTED (5,6)

1. Christ was Divinely called to serve as High Priest, just as Aaron was
2. As evidence of His calling, two Messianic prophecies are offered...

a. His position as God's Son - cf. Ps 2:7·

• As God's Son, sitting and ruling at the right hand of God·
• (cf. Ps 110:1-3), His calling as a priest is only natural

b. As prophesied in Ps 110:4, the Messiah would be "a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek."

c. Here we begin to learn the distinct nature of Christ's priesthood.

d. Thus His priesthood would be different from the Aaronic or Levitical priesthood.

B. SYMPATHETIC BECAUSE OF HIS OWN SUFFERINGS (7,8)

1. While "in the days of His flesh", Christ...

a. "offered prayers and supplications with vehement cries and tears"

b. He prayed "to Him who was able to save Him from death"

c. He was heard "because of His godly fear"

2. That Jesus would have "godly fear" and offer such prayers provides insight into the extent of His temptations and sufferings in the flesh - cf. also He 2:18; 4:15

3. Even though He was God's Son, by the things which He suffered "He learned obedience" - what does this mean?

a. He knew obedience as the Son of God

b. Perhaps it means He came to know what obedience involved as one "in the flesh" (i.e., the challenge of obedience in the midst of suffering, temptations, etc.)

4. Through His suffering, Jesus certainly understands the "human condition" which qualifies Him to serve as High Priest .

http://www.ccel.org/contrib/exec_outlines/he/he_11.htm

I had to lay this foundation so we could more fully understand what our passage in Hebrews 10 is saying. Notice the all-encompassing work of Christ. He is the perfect sacrifice, the temple veil, and the perfect High Priest.

First, in v.19 we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus. He is the once-for-all perfect sacrifice.

Second, in v.20 the veil that separated us from the holy presence of God was torn away by the tearing of Christ’s flesh. This gives new understanding to John 14:6 where Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” The only way to get to the Holy of Holies (where the Father dwells) is to go through the veil of Christ’s flesh.

Third, v.21 tells us about Jesus as our great priest.

What does all this mean for us? 3 things:

1. We can draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith (v.22). Drawing near to a holy perfect God is not something to be taken lightly. Yet, v.19 says we enter His presence with confidence. And v.22 says we have full assurance of faith. How can this be? As we come up for Jesus’ blood this morning at the Lord’s Supper, and as we swallow it down, I want us to picture that blood being sprinkled over our dirty hearts and making them clean. As we come forward this morning, I want us to remember our baptism, our confession of ultimate trust and belief in the Lord as being washed with pure water- just like the High Priest had to be cleansed before coming before Holy God. And then, draw near to God. Draw near to Him because He is always near to us.

2. And hold fast the confession of our hope (v.23). His holiness can be scary, but not if we claim our confidence in Christ. Don’t come before Holy God with our filthy good deeds and attempts at perfection. They won’t cut it. Cover ourselves with Christ’s blood. Claim His sacrifice on our behalf. The only reason we can have hope is that He who promised is faithful. We can hope for good weather. We can hope for a Packers win. We can hope for good health. But don’t put our hope in passing shadows. Hope in the Faithful Promiser. Hope in the Alpha & Omega. Hope in the perfect sacrifice and the perfect priest.

3. As we take communion this morning, we bind ourselves together as a community trusting in the same One. Not only as a community here in La Grange, but we bind ourselves as a worldwide community with all others who have put their hope and trust in the Great High Priest Jesus. As a local and a global community, we are called to stimulate one another to love and good deeds. One teacher told me that stimulate here means “irritate to action.” Sometimes being pushed and encouraged towards love and good deeds won’t always be pleasant for us. But then, it’s not about us, is it?

The veil is torn through Christ’s flesh. The blood of Christ is sprinkled over our hearts. Come now with confidence. Come to the new and living way. Come draw near with full assurance. Come confess your hope without wavering. Come to the Faithful Promiser. Come together as a community- a community of love, good deeds, a touch of irritation, and encouragement.