Jesus Christ The Great High Priest part 1

Book of Hebrews

Scripture Lesson Hebrews 4:14-16        Leviticus 8:1-36

Jesus Christ Our Great High Priest,  The Compassionate High Priest,

Introduction: Jesus Christ, God's Son, is the Supreme High Priest.  This glorious truth begins a new discussion on the greatness and supremacy of Jesus Christ.  He is the great High Priest, by far the greatest High Priest who has ever stood between God and man. The implication is unbelievable: as the great High Priest, He is able to sympathize—to actually feel every experience that we experience—no matter how painful.  Jesus Christ not only feels for us,  He feels right along with us.  He is our great and sympathetic High Priest—the One who meets our every need and carries us through all the sufferings of this life.

The identity of the great High Priest. Note the word great.  It is being used to set Jesus Christ apart from all other High Priests.  Aaron, who was the first High Priest, (Exodus 4:1-31) was considered by the Jews to be the greatest of the High Priests.  Aaron stood between Moses and Pharaoh, speaking for Moses to Pharaoh to let God’s people go.

Question: Do you see the spiritual implications in this situation with Jesus Christ and us today.?  Spiritual Typology -- involves one particular matter between a person, event, statement or thing in an area of the Holy Bible (usually the Old Testament) that corresponds to a person, event, statement or thing in the New Testament.  What typology (or type) is seen here? Can you describe it here?

But this passage is declaring that Jesus Christ was the greatest High Priest. Two reasons are given.

1. Jesus Christ has "passed into the heavens." He is before the very throne of God; He is in the very presence of God Himself. An earthly High Priest ministered or passed into the most holy place of the earthly temple. But Christ passed or ascended into heaven and ministers in heaven. He ministers in the very presence of God Himself. Therefore, He is greater by far than any earthly High Priest including Aaron.

2. Jesus Christ is "Jesus the Son of God." His earthly name Jesus speaks of His human nature and sympathy for man. Jesus was a man just like all other High Priests. He suffered all the trials and temptations that other men and High Priests suffer; therefore, He can sympathize with all those who come to Him as their High Priest.

"Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, 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).

But note: Jesus Christ was also "the Son of God." This was His heavenly name. He was divine, the very Son of God Himself who came to earth to deliver and save men from sin, death, and condemnation. He came to save us to the uttermost—to carry us before the very throne of God. He came to make it possible for us to live in the very presence of God Himself. How can He do this? Because He is the Son of God. As the Son of God He has the power to save us to the uttermost—to make us acceptable to God. No other priest can do this. Therefore, Jesus Christ is greater than all other priests. Jesus Christ alone is the great High Priest. (Romans 1:3-4). (Colossians. 2:9) (Hebrews 1:3) (Hebrews 8:1).

Discussion Point   The point is this: let us hold fast our confession. Jesus Christ alone can save us. He alone has passed into heaven. If we wish to go into heaven, we must confess Christ and hold fast to our confession. We have to be genuine; we have to hold fast if we are to enter heaven and live with God. Why do we find it hard to hold fast to our faith? (Hebrews 3:6), (Hebrews 10:23). (Revelations. 3:3). (Revelations. 3:11).

Jesus Christ, High Priest: the significance of Jesus' High Priesthood for man.

1. We have a High Priest who feels with us. The word "touched" (sumpathēsai: 4022) means to sympathize, feel, and suffer with.  It means to sympathize and feel with a person to the point that the hurt and pain are actually felt within one's own heart. The idea is that Jesus Christ actually suffers when we suffer. He knows and He cares for us. 1 Peter 5:6-8 (John 14:1- 21). (Hebrews 4:14). (Psalm 103:13). (Isaiah 63:9).

2. We have a High Priest who was tempted in all things just like we are, yet He was without sin. We must remember this glorious truth and never forget it, for it is the very basis of man's salvation. No man will ever be saved unless Jesus Christ as a man did live a sinless life. Why? Because Jesus said He came to fulfill the law not to destroy it.  Apart from Jesus Christ there is nothing more righteous that can stand before the Father and be acceptable to the Father.  Therefore if Jesus Christ had not secured the perfect righteousness for us, then there is no righteousness to cover us—no righteousness in which we can believe and place ourselves—no righteousness to make us acceptable to the Father. (John 8:46),  (2 Corinthians. 5:21). (Hebrews 4:15). (Hebrews 7:26). (Hebrews 9:14). (1 Peter 1:19). (1 Peter 2:22). (1 John 3:5).

3. We can call upon God—boldly.  God is sitting upon a throne, the seat of authority, power, honor, glory, respect, and reverence and grace. Therefore, we are to approach Him with respect and reverence.  Grace shows us that God is love, and He longs to shower His love and blessings upon us.  It is through the Love  of the Father that Jesus Christ came so we can come boldly before the throne of grace." We have that right through our confession of Faith in the finish work of Jesus Christ.  It is opened up for anyone to obtain the Love of God and the Grace of God through Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour.  (Ephesians. 1:7). (Ephesians. 3:11-12). (Hebrews 4:16). (Hebrews 10:19-22). (1 John 4:17).

4. We can now obtain the mercy of God. We need God to have mercy upon us because we have sinned against Him. We have done everything imaginable against God...
•ignored Him

•neglected Him

•rebelled against Him

•disobeyed Him •rejected Him

•denied Him

•cursed Him

Gotten angry with Him

God will forgive our sins; He will have mercy upon us. But we must come to the throne of grace and ask for mercy. We must acknowledge that mercy comes only through Christ Jesus, the great High Priest. He and He alone knows our need for mercy; He and He alone bore our sins and paid our penalty and condemnation. He and He alone can represent us. (Ephesians. 2:4-10). (Titus 3:5). (Micah 7:18).

5. We can now find grace to help in time of need. What a glorious promise! Help is now available to carry us through life. No matter what confronts us—trial, trouble, tribulation, temptation—help is available, the very help of God Himself. God will pour out His marvelous grace upon us—all of His strength and blessings. God's grace will strengthen us to walk right through the trial and trouble. His grace will help us conquer and triumph over all circumstances and situations. But remember why God is able to do this: because Jesus Christ has suffered the same experience.  He has been upon earth Himself, suffering through the very same trial. Therefore, He knows how to walk through and conquer the trial and suffering. All we have to do is come boldly before the throne of grace and ask Him. (1 Corinthians 1:4-5).  (1 Corinthians 10:13). (2 Corinthians 9:8). (2 Corinthians 12:9). (Ephesians 1:7). (Ephesians 2:7). (Philippians 4:13). (Philippians 4:19).  (2 Timothy 4:18).  (Hebrews 13:6).