Jesus, Our High Priest - By Grant Phillips -
Aaron, the brother of Moses, was the first high priest for the children of Israel. In his position of high priest he was the earthly representative of man before a Holy God.
There have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood.
"Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. Such a high priest truly meets our need-one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself. For the law appoints as high priests men in all their weakness; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever." (Hebrews 7:23-28)
For every believer the Lord Jesus Christ is our High Priest who intercedes for us. Did you know that every believer is a priest?
"As you come to him, the living Stone-rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him-you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 2:4-5)
Jesus Christ who is the Son of God (He is God in other words) made it possible 2,000 years ago that we do not have to bring an animal sacrifice to an earthly priest. To do so now would be blasphemy. Why is that? Jesus Himself became our sacrifice and our High Priest.
We live in a wonderful age, the Church age. Every other person living in periods of time before us has had to provide a sacrifice and/or be very careful about obeying certain laws. It is also called the age of Grace, but actually every age is the age of Grace, because without God's provision on this side of the cross or the other, it has always been about God's grace.
I find it so refreshing that I do not have to go to an earthly high priest, then he go to God on my behalf. Because I am a priest, I can go to God at any time. Even when I pray, the Spirit of God intercedes for me. You can't beat that.
"In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.
And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God's people in accordance with the will of God." (Romans 8:26-27)
I feel for those who are still living in a fog of delusion thinking they must go to an earthly priest and confess their sins. How can they not realize this is wrong? How can they not know that only Jesus can forgive sins and we can go directly to Him with anything? This is just another one of Satan's lies intended to keep mankind away from the Truth, and all that any man need do is open their Bible and read it. There they will see the truth, and realize the roaring lion (Satan) is seeking who he may devour (1 Peter 5:8)
Do you want to be saved? You can go directly to God and ask Him to save you by putting your faith in His Son Jesus.
As a Christian are you having problems? You can go directly to God and tell Him all about them.
Are you confused about life in general? Our High Priest speaks to us through His Word, the Bible. Read it.
Do you have needs that are not necessarily problems? Go directly to Him as His child and talk to Him.
Would you just like to thank Him and praise Him? Go to Him and let Him know how you feel.
We can go to God at any time of the day or night. We don't have to wait for the office to open. He doesn't close on weekends either.
You will never get a busy signal. He will pick up immediately and will listen intently to everything you have to say.
Do you just need to talk to someone? He is always listening.
Our High Priest is never too busy. He is never "not interested" in what you may have to say. You are always important to Him. Sometimes we may think, "Well He'll listen to Moses or Paul. They were important." You are just as important to Him as anyone else. By the way, Moses and Paul would readily admit that they were nothing without God.
Do you need someone to talk to who would not be critical or accusatory, but would only want what is best for you? Maybe someone who would just love you and guide you in the right direction? If you are a believer, he is your High Priest and wants nothing but good for you.
If you are not yet a believer in Jesus Christ, He wants to be your High Priest also. If you will trust Him, you will never be disappointed.
Grant Phillips
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