What does it mean that Jesus is our high Priest?

Beloved in Christ, when you read through the scriptures, you will come across different names and titles ascribed to the Man Jesus Christ. Jesus is called our redeemer, Alpha and Omega, Shepherd, our righteousness, Savior, bridegroom, friend of sinners, the Lamb of God and many more. These titles reveals aspects of his person and work. One of the titles that we are going to study today is Jesus as our high Priest. Many people out there have a wrong view of what it truly means, that Jesus is our high Priest. In this article, I will labor assiduously to present an accurate biblical view of what it truly means that Jesus is our high Priest.

Who is a Priest?

Among the twelve tribes in Israel, the tribe of Levi was specifically chosen by God to serve as his priests. Priests played an indispensable role in the Jewish religious system. Priests were mediators between God and the people of Israel. They acted as a go-between God and the people of Israel by offering sacrifices to atone for their sins. They represented the people before God by offering the right sacrifices to pacify the wrath of God against the offenders by reason of their sins: Every priest stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins (Hebrews 10; 11). The head of the priests was the high Priest. Every high Priest in those days was chosen by God himself: And no one takes the honor to himself, but receives it when he is called by God, even as Aaron was (Hebrews 5; 4).

Only the high Priest was given the mandate to enter within the veil into the holy of holies where God dwells. On the day of atonement, the high priest enters into the holy of holies once a year, with the blood of a lamb without blemish and he sprinkles the blood on the mercy seat seven times. He offers sacrifices for his own sins and the sins of the people, see (Hebrews 9; 7). This sacrifices and offering for sin were done on a daily and a yearly basis which signifies that it was impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to permanently expiate the sins of the people. The author of Hebrews wrote: For the Law, since it has only a shadow of the good things to come and not the very form of things, can never, by the same sacrifices which they offer continually year by year, make perfect those who draw near. Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, because the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have had consciousness of sins? But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins year by year. For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins  (Hebrews 10: 1-4). Those animal sacrifices were types and shadows of the substitutionary sacrifice of the true Lamb of God. They were prophetic symbol which pointed to the atoning sacrifice of the expected Messiah. 

Order of Melchizedek

In the fullness of time, Jesus Christ came as a priest not after the order of the Levitical priesthood, but came after the order of Melchizedek: The Lord has sworn and will not change His mind, "You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek (Psalms 110: 4). Someone might ask that who is Melchizedek? I answer by saying that, Melchizedek was an historical figure whom Abraham met after he had defeated and rescued his nephew from the hands of the wicked kings. Melchizedek being a Priest of the most high conferred blessings on Abraham, and Abraham apportioned a tenth part of all his choicest spoils to the priest, see (Genesis 14; 18-20, Hebrews 7; 1-3). It is important to know, that Jesus in his humanity did not sprang from the tribe of Levi, but was from the tribe of Judah of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood. The question is, how can Jesus be designated an high Priest if you cannot trace his pedigree from the tribe of Levi? Jesus doesn't have to descend from the tribe of Levi to be consecrated an high priest. Jesus became a priest not after the order of Aaron, but after the similitude of Melchizedek, see (Hebrews 7: 14-18).

Once and for all time sacrifice 

Under the law, as part of his sacerdotal office, the high Priest made atonement for the sins of the people by offering sacrifices in accordance to God's instructions. They offered the same sacrifices over and over which tells us that animal sacrifices cannot wipe away our sins once for all time. Jesus being a priest, he had to offer a sacrifice and yet he did not offer any animal sacrifice like the priests under the law, but the only sacrifice he offered unto God was the sacrifice of himself. His sacrifice brought an end to the entire sacrificial system, because all those substitutionary sacrifices could not take away sin permanently, they were types and shadows, and Jesus is the antitype of all those types

I love what the author of Hebrews wrote: But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation; and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption (Hebrews 9: 11-12). Jesus obtained an eternal redemption for us by his once and for all time vicarious sacrifice. By his once for all time sacrifice, he has perfected forever all those who are sanctified, a blessing we could never had received under the law, see (Hebrews 10; 12- 14). My soul magnifies the name of the Lord for his once and for all time perfect sacrifice by which the sins of my entire life are forgiven.

We can come boldly

Brethren, Jesus Christ has entered into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us. He is there as our high Priest, and since he liveth forever he has an unchangeable priesthood (Hebrews 7; 24). This should serve as a great encouragement for every believer to come boldly to the throne of grace in order to commune with our great high Priest. Even if your soul is cast down, you can still come to the throne of grace, for part of his sacerdotal office is to succor you by his grace, so you might not be overwhelmed by it. It is indeed an incomparable blessing for we to have an unlimited access into his presence, even as it is written: Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need (Hebrews 4:14-16).

Our High Priest intercedes for us

It is written: Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them (Hebrews 7: 25). None of the priests under the law including the high Priest was sworn into their office with an oath. This is an indication that their priesthood was not meant to be perpetual, but only ephemeral. But our great high Priest was consecrated into his office with an oath, see (Hebrews 7; 21). Because Jesus Christ lives forever, his priesthood is also eternal, and his intercession for his people also endures forever. His intercession on behalf of his people secures our salvation. He saved us to the uttermost and also intercedes for us.

God bless you 

A thought to ponder 🤔 

Jesus obtained an eternal redemption for us by his once and for all time vicarious sacrifice.

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