Welcome today to the Weekend Sermon. I am glad to be with you. I had to post the sermon today instead of on Friday because I started a new job this week, and my schedule is changing. I am very grateful to the Lord for my job, and I am thankful to all of those who prayed that I might find another job to supplement my writing income and help make ends meet.
I also want to thank the Lord for something that I think is quite miraculous. I prayed this week that I would have the resources to pay my car insurance bill at the end of the month. Today, someone who I only met once in my life gave me some money to help me out. I was thankful and in shock. May the Lord be praised for this answer to prayer.
For the past couple of weeks, we have been praying each week for a different country of the world where their are only a few Christians. This week, I would like us to pray for the spread of the Gospel in Bhutan. Bhutan is a mountain kingdom whose official religion is Buddhism. Less than 2 percent of the people are Christians. Let us pray for Bhutan.
In last week's message, we looked at the fact that Jesus provides a superior rest. The people of Israel were not able to fully enter into the rest that was promised to them. Jesus provides rest. Jesus said that we should come to Him, and He would give us rest for our souls. The nation of Israel will receive the rest of security and the fulness of dwelling in the land of promise at Christ's return. All of the created order will know rest from turmoil, strife and war when Jesus comes again.
Today, we turn our attention to Jesus as High Priest. This subject actually takes up several chapters in the book of Hebrews, so it may take us more than one or two weeks to fully cover the idea that the high priestly ministry performed by Jesus is superior to the high priestly ministry of the high priests who ministered in the earthly temple. Hebrews will also tells us that Jesus has a superior high priesthood because He is a priest after the order of Melchizedek and not part of the Aaronic priesthood.
To really understand all that Hebrews is teaching on this subject, a person should be familiar with the book of Leviticus in the Old Testament. This book describes in detail the requirements for the priests and the high priest and the way in which the sacrifices and the offerings were to be administered.
Unfortunately, many people do not read this important book. I have actually heard ministers talk about how boring it is to read Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. First of all, the Bible is not boring. Every word that God has graciously provided for us is given for a reason. When ministers say things like this, it discourages people from reading the Bible. I want to encourage you to read the Bible. Read the entire Bible. Start with the Gospels. This is the most important thing. However, read and study the whole counsel of God.
The high priest's main duty was to go into the Holy of Holies in the innermost part of the Temple once a year on the Day of Atonement. The high priest went into the presence of God with the blood to make atonement for the sins of the people. This was done on an annual basis. The offering had to be given over and over again.
Another important thing to understand about the priests was the fact that all of the priests were to come from the tribe of Levi. No one except a Levite could serve as a priest or as high priest. Jesus was not of the tribe of Levi. Jesus was of the tribe of Judah. Jesus is not part of the Aaronic priesthood. The Bible says that Jesus is a priest after the order of Melchizedek. Jesus' high priesthood is superior to the Aaronic priesthood because it is divinely established and not based on human heredity.
Hebrews 5: 5-6 make it clear that Jesus' high priestly role and calling were given to Him by the Father. Hebrews 5:6 says, "You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek."
So, now that we have seen the importance of the high priest and something of the ministry the high priest performed, let's examine what Hebrews has to say about Jesus as our high priest in some more detail.
First of all, Jesus is a compassionate high priest who is touched with the feelings of our infirmities. What does this mean? Jesus was both fully divine and fully human. He knew what it was like from living as a man to experience what we as human beings go through. Hebrews 4:15 tells us that Jesus can sympathize with our weaknesses. Jesus was tempted in all manner like we are, yet He did not commit any sins. In other words, Jesus understands what we are going through. He can help us in our times of trial and trouble.
I find this thought very comforting. Jesus understands what it is like to mourn. When His friend Lazarus died, Jesus wept. He knows what it is like to experience the death of someone close to Him. Jesus knows what it feels like to be misunderstood. His closest followers didn't understand many of the things He tried to tell them. Jesus knows what it feels like to be betrayed by a friend. Judas was one of the original twelve disciples, and he sold Jesus out for a little bit of money. Jesus experienced pain and hurt, so he knows what we feel. Anytime that we are facing a hard time and wonder if anyone understands what we are going through, rest assured that Jesus knows, He understands and He cares. He's been there as well.
Because Jesus is our high priest and knows what we go through, the Bible says that we can come to the throne of God to receive mercy and grace. As children of God, we should never fear to come into the presence of the Lord. Jesus understands and wants to help us when we need help. He wants to forgive us and make us whole again.
Now, why was a new priesthood necessary? The old priesthood ministered under the old covenant. Under the old covenant, the people were required to continuously make sacrifice for sin. When a person sinned, a sin offering was made, and that particular sin was atoned for. If another sin was committed, another sin offering must be made. Each year, the high priest had to go into the holy place with the blood for the people's atonement. There was no completion under the Old Covenant.
Jesus' priesthood is superior to the priesthood of the Old Covenant. Jesus does not have to continually make a sacrifice for the sins of the world. As the high priest of a New Covenant, Jesus was the sacrifice for sin. Jesus was the spotless Lamb of God who took away the sins of the world. When Jesus was on the cross, He bore our sins in His body. He then took His own blood and applied to the mercy seat in Heaven as a once and for all final sacrifice of atonement for sin. No more lambs and bulls needed to be sacrificed. Jesus' blood does not have to be offered up over and over again to the Father. Jesus has completed the work of redemption. We have a new and better covenant sealed by the blood of Jesus. The problem of sin has been dealt with by Jesus Christ who is the Great High Priest. He is the administrator of a better covenant.
There is quite a lot more that Hebrews describes about the high priestly ministry of Jesus, and we will get into that more next week. Just let me say this. Jesus is the way of salvation. He shed His blood for the redemption of all the created order. Those who put their faith and trust in the finished work of Jesus will be forgiven and they will have eternal life. If you have never trusted in Jesus as Savior and Lord, I invite you to do so today. If you would like to accept Jesus, and you need answers to questions, don't hesitate to contact me. I am willing to talk with anyone who desires a relationship with Jesus Christ.
Next week, I will try to post a review on Wednesday. Next weekend, I will post a sermon. May God bless you. Amen.
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