GOOD FRIDAY – April 2, 2021 – Heb. 4:14-16; 5:7-9
“OUR GREAT HIGH PRIEST”
Introduction: Grace be to you and peace, from God our Father, and from our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. Our text is the Epistle Lesson just read, from Hebrews 4 and 5. We begin with prayer.
Dear fellow disciples of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ:
- We do not ordinarily think of Jesus as being “clergy.” The clergy of the Old Testament and during Jesus’ time here on earth were the priests and Levites, the temple workers. The descendants of Aaron were designated to serve as priests, and one of them as High Priest. The High Priest originally selected his successor, from among his sons. Occasionally, other leaders might step in to designate. At the time of Jesus this position was also political, and was appointed by Quirinius, the governor of the Syrian region of the Roman empire.
- Then there were also the prophets, who actually preceded the priesthood, Moses being the first great prophet and most important in the formation of Israel as a theocratic nation. In Old Testament times, the real prophets of God had the superior spiritual power, while the priests may have exercised greater political power.
- Jesus was not of the tribe of Levi, or a descendant of Aaron. Rather, He was of the tribe of Judah, or the house of king David. Yet Jesus, the Divine Son of God, was the originator of the clergy. He commissioned Moses and the other prophets to speak His Word. To speak His Word – this is the true task of clergy, of all prophets, priests, apostles, and pastors. All are answerable to the head of all clergy, the Lord Jesus Christ.
- So in our text Jesus is identified as “OUR GREAT HIGH PRIEST.” In the verse immediately following our text we read: “Jesus, being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.” This order of priests existed in the days of Abraham, some 400 years prior to the exodus and the origination of the Aaronic priesthood. The name “Melchizedek” is a combination of two Hebrew words: Melchi – king and Zedek – righteousness. Hence, the King of righteousness, which can properly apply only to God. So, this is the original priesthood of God, established by Jesus for the purpose of preaching and teaching the Gospel.
- This ministry of Jesus, “OUR GREAT HIGH PRIEST,” the author of the Gospel – which is God’s own Word, is described in our text. First:
I. Our Great High Priest Suffered Death For Us, To Be Our Salvation
Text: “ In the days of His flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to Him was able to save Him. . . . being made perfect, He became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey Him.”
Heb. 9:14,15 “How much more will the blood of Christ, Who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God. Therefore He is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.”
Statement: “OUR GREAT HIGH PRIEST” offered Himself as sacrifice to God, to redeem all mankind from the sins and transgressions that all human beings are tainted with. This was God’s great cosmic plan for mankind in view of the fall of Adam and Eve in the Garden! This was the whole purpose of “priesthoods” and sacrifices and God’s testing of Abraham with his son Isaac. All of this pointed forward to this fulfillment, this great salvation! The purpose in all of this was to teach, to instruct, to inform all people of God’s great love for them, and that there existence, their being here on earth, was not futile.
Application: But now, all is fulfilled, and this great light of God’s love is stil shining into the world through the preaching and teaching of the Gospel, this glorious good news of Christ’s suffering, death, and resurrection! The apostles continued this preaching and teaching, commiting it into writing, the New Testament. The Lord Jesus continues to provide “pastors” to the church, clergy, principally for this one purpose – that all may know Him and God’s love! This is the most grand and glorious opportunity that we can know!
And in addition:
II. Our Great High Priest Has Now Passed Through The Heavens – In His Resurrection And Ascension
Text: “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.”
A. But He Is Still Humble, Empathetic, Knowing Our Temptations
Text: “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.”
Matt. 11:28-30 “Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.”
B. He Is Experienced In Suffering
Text: “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. Although He was a son, He learned obedience through what He suffered.”
Statement: In Jesus, we have the best of both worlds. First, He is the glorious Son of God, King of the universe, almighty, all-powerful. But then He is also true man, experienced as we are with all of the trials, pains, troubles, and difficulties of life in this fallen world! So He empathizes with us in all circumstances and is eager to help us, to give us “rest” for our souls! And we too can learn “obedience” to God, submission to His good and gracious will, as Jesus did. It comes to us as well “through what we suffer.” There is good and blessedness in all that God allows to touch us within this life!
Application: This is glorious good news to us, we who labor and sweat to earn our bread, we who are deteriorating back to the dust that we came from. Jesus insures that our lives are not lived in vain, that our being is not a momentary accident filled with suffering and sorrow and then death. No, He gives eternal life to all who believe in Him. He prepares a place for us so that where He is we may also be – with Him in paradise! So, by all means:
III. Let Us Indeed Obey Him
Text: “Being made perfect He became the source of salvation to all who obey Him.”
A. He Calls Us To Repent And Believe
Mark 1:14,15 “Jesus came into Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying,
‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.’”
B. He Calls Us To Draw Near To Him For Grace And Mercy
Text: “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.”
Statement: This is precisely what we need so many times in this darkened world of sin, wretchedness, and misery. We need to repent of our sins, and we need the assurances of the gospel – that our sins are forgiven. We need to remember that the time is short, that the kingdom of God is at hand! If we obey Jesus – repenting and believing – then we will have confidence to draw near His throne, the throne of grace. And we will assuredly receive exactly what we seek and need – mercy and grace to help us in our time of need.
Application: So let us “obey” “OUR GREAT HIGH PRIEST,” our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He promises: “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and whoever comes to Me I will never cast out.” [John 6:37] He promises: “It shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the Name of the Lord shall be saved.” [Joel 2:32, Acts 2:21] And again: “For You, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon You.” [Ps. 86:5]
Conclusion: So, this is the purpose of Jesus’ high priestly functioning for us and for our salvation. Of course He is “clergy.” He originated “clergy” for this primary purpose, that all may know Him and through Him may know the Father! He continues to send clergy today to urge people to come to Him for grace and mercy and help in time of need, to remind people of His gracious promises.
It is God Who draws us to Himself, through this great high priest, Jesus “OUR GREAT HIGH PRIEST.” And from Him all blessings flow to us, now and forever. Amen.
Votum: And the peace of God, which surpasses all human understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds in the true faith, which is in Christ Jesus, even unto life everlasting, Amen.