Jesus, Our Great High Priest

IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

Jesus, Our Great High Priest

Date: May. 6, 2022

Passage

Hebrews 4:14-5:10 (ESV)

14 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. 15 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. 16 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.

1 For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2 He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness. 3 Because of this he is obligated to offer sacrifice for his own sins just as he does for those of the people. 4 And no one takes this honor for himself, but only when called by God, just as Aaron was.

5 So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him,

“You are my Son,
today I have begotten you”;

6 as he says also in another place,

“You are a priest forever,
after the order of Melchizedek.”

7 In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. 8 Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. 9 And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, 10 being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.

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Daily Bread

Key Verse: 4:4:14

For he has somewhere spoken of the seventh day in this way: “And God rested on the seventh day from all his works.”

Jesus is the Son of God. He is also our great high priest. Our high priest knows how weak we are. He knows how we suffer because of our struggle with sin because he, too, was tempted in every way just as we are. The difference is that he defeated the power of sin. He gives us the confidence to approach God's throne. Because of his death for us, we have confidence in God’s mercy and grace given to us. This is the faith we profess: Jesus is our great high priest who meets all our needs.

Beginning with Aaron, the Israelites had a history of priests. They were mediators between sinful man and the holy God. Those priests had to offer sacrifices for themselves as well as for the people. On the other hand, Jesus is the sinless Son of God. He was appointed by God to be a priest, not in the line of Aaron, but as a spiritual descendant of Melchizedek (Ge 14:18). He appeared as a man, suffered, and submitted to death on a cross. Such obedience was his priestly service to God. So, God designated him to be our great high priest. He became our source of eternal salvation.

Prayer: Prayer: Lord, thank you for giving your Son to be our great high priest. Bless me to hold firmly to him as my source of salvation.

One Word: One Word: We have a great high priest

The New Passover

Mark 14:12-26

Key Verse: 14:24

And he said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.

Today's Question

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