The High Priest

[Peterlag]

Hebrews 9:24
For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:

Righteousness could have come by the Old Testament Law if there had been a law given that would have given life. But the Bible clearly teaches that everyone was under sin, without God and without hope, until “the promise” that came by the faith of Jesus Christ was made available to us who believe. God never really had any pleasure in burnt offerings and sacrifices, but there was just no other way at the time to cover up for the nature of human sin.

But now in the new covenant, we are not just covered up, but we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ, who entered into the holy of holies, the glorious presence of God’s heart once and for all. Jesus Christ in being the ultimate sacrificial lamb had only to fulfill God’s specifications for the Passover.

The High Priest was the head of the priesthood, functioning as the head of the Temple, and the official representative between God and Israel. To carry out such a responsibility he was forbidden any impure contact that might defile him. Only he could enter once a year in the innermost part of the sanctuary of the Temple, known as the holy of holies where the sacred Ark of the Covenant was kept, to proclaim divine revelations, having the exclusive privilege of consulting God directly. Appeal to him could be made in any matter because he exercised supreme authority over the worship and the Temple, as the mediator between God and Israel.

Jesus Christ is the perfect High Priest, who took upon himself the sins of the entire world, and is the mediator of the new covenant between God and us. The Temple was a temporary place where one would go for divine blessing in building form, but now it is in Christ, who is a permanent place, where one needs to go for divine blessing because of the new covenant God has with Christ.

In the new covenant, we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ, who entered into heaven itself to appear in the holy of holies, the sacred chamber of the heart of God’s glorious presence for us. Jesus Christ is the promised seed and faithful High Priest, who fulfilled all the law, and is set between God and us—because he is connected to both sides, and thereby he is able to work with God and with us. My mind boggles over God’s heart of love, His compassion, and the tenderness to have Jesus Christ, who is the greatest food of all time, the bread of life, to establish a true and vital spiritual relationship between God and us.

[Who me]

If one examine all that Jesus gave up, all that he endured, all he suffered and one starts to understand something of the depth of his love for us.

 

It also puts muscle and teeth on Jesus's statement that those God has given him, no-one can snatch out of his hand.

[Markesmith]

Jesus is the high priest then there must be low priests 

[Willa]

My husband was the priest of our home.

[Markesmith]

yes Priest prophet and king, was? Sounds like you lost him to the Lord, if so I’m very sorry!

 

[Markesmith]

Heb 7:17 For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

Jesus was a high priest of the order of Melchizedek a ministerial priesthood, husband would be of the royal priesthood non-ministerial 

[Logostician]

One of the really important takeaways here is that the high priest of the temple was still just a sinful man.  On the day of atonement he first had to make atonement for himself and his own sins, known and unknown, before he could make atonement for the congregation.  The people had to go through an imperfect man who like them was a sinner needing atonement.  But because Jesus is God and man we can boldly approach the throne of God directly for all things.

I don't mean to offend or condescend here but I urge everyone to talk to Jesus directly and regularly.  Do not seek out anyone to intercede on your behalf, except to humbly pray for you.  Prayer is powerful, but the authority to answer prayers rests soley with Jesus.  And when you talk directly to Jesus, he will hear you and understand you better than you understand yourself.  You don't need a translator or any intermediary or intercessor.

Do not pray to angels or "saints" or anyone or anything else as an object of prayer or intercessor to God.  Pray directly to God through his son Jesus Christ.  Let nobody get between you and Jesus, ever.  That includes family and friends, and even pastors.  Go directly to the one who is all powerful, all forgiving, all loving, all listening, and all answering.

A good pastor leads his flock.  But he leads them to Jesus, not to himself.  A good pastor prays for the members of his flock.  But he does not do this because he has unique access to Jesus.  He does it because he recognizes that Jesus is always accessible to us directly, and we need to make the most of that accessibility.  That's what a relationship is.  Christianity is a loving relationship with Jesus that surpasses all other relationships, including husband and wife, and parent and child.  Jesus comes first.  Always.

Christianity is not a religion.  It is a relationship with Jesus.  Religions have flawed mortal priests.  We have the Son of God.  Praise be to God. 

[Markesmith]

Revelation 5:8

And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.
 

why did not the children of Israel appeal directly to the king? Instead Ester interceded for them, she was a type of Mary the mother of God who intercedes for us with the King who cannot deny His mother!

read Jn 2 Mary interceded with Jesus and He performed the miracle and because of it His disciples believed in Him!

[Markesmith]

But since you say we don’t need low priests how can Jesus be a high priest without them?

and can you be saved without a priest?