And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house,
let us go right into the presence of God
with sincere hearts fully trusting Him.
Hebrews 10:21-22a (NLT)
Series: His Name is Jesus
I have made some poor choices and knowingly engaged in sinful behaviors that I have since regretted immensely. Shame has torn through my soul, broken me down on every level, and has caused me to isolate many times. I have felt misunderstood, alone, and left with no one to confide in, so I thought.
I have found a measure of comfort in the truth that all of us have sinned. All of us are guilty. Not that I’m happy you have battled with sin. I’m not. The struggle is real and hard, and I don’t want that for anyone. But, I am happy that I’m not the only one…
The ultimate comfort, however, is this: even when we were in sin, God, in His great love for us, provided One to rescue us—Jesus. He is our High Priest, offering Himself as the sacrifice for our sins. He intercedes and advocates for us. And, He understands the tremendous battles we endure within our souls as we face temptation.
Hebrews 2:17-18 (NIV) tells us:
He had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that He might become a merciful and faithful High Priest in service to God, and that He might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because He Himself suffered when He was tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted.
Hebrews 4:14-15 (NIV) says this:
Therefore, since we have a great High Priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have One who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet He did not sin.
A high priest in the Old Testament represented the people before God by teaching, praying, offering gifts, and making sin sacrifices for them. Once a year, the high priest entered the Most Holy Place—the Holy of Holies—behind the curtain in the Tabernacle or Temple. He made blood sacrifices and sprinkled sacrificial blood on the mercy seat of the Ark of the Covenant to atone for his own sins and the sins of the nation.
That high priest was a man who also sinned. But Jesus, He was tempted exactly as we have been and did not sin. He is perfect in every way.
Jesus is our High Priest who teaches us. He prays for us as He sits at the right side of the Father in Heaven. He offered Himself as our Blood Sacrifice. When Jesus was crucified and died, the inner curtain of the temple—the veil—tore from top to bottom. This marked the end of the Old Covenant, the fulfillment of the Law, and the commencement of the New Covenant. Jesus provided us who believe in Him access to enter the Holy of Holies and meet with Almighty God.
Thank You, Jesus! I’m so grateful He, as our High Priest, has made the way for us to be forgiven and reconciled to our Father, now and forever!
Hebrews 8:23-28 NIV secures this truth for us:
Now 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.
Friends, don’t let the shame of your struggle with sin stop you from entering the Holy Place with our Father in Heaven. You have an Advocate, a Friend, a Counselor, an Intercessor, a Great High Priest who meets every single need you have. He is holy and blameless. He is righteous. And He became sin for you so that you could be made righteous through His blood sacrifice.
The writer of Hebrews encourages us in 4:16 (NIV):
Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Receive Jesus as your High Priest. Boldly enter the secret place with your Father because of the sacrifice Jesus has made for you. With confidence in His finished work, receive mercy. Find grace. Get the help God has for you in every single moment of weakness. You are not alone in your struggle.
Hold firm to faith in Him. Hold fast to hope in Him. Jesus is the only way to complete salvation and restoration.
Holding Fast to Hope,
Maryann
Scripture References: Romans 3:23, 5:8; Hebrews 3:1, 4:14-15, 5:1-6, 8:23-26, 10:21-22; Psalm 110:4; 2 Corinthians 5:21
