The High Priest
“Therefore, since we have a great high priest
who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to
the faith we profess” (Hebrews 4:14).
Prior to the fall of man, there was no need for a priest whose role was
to carry out certain ordinances such as making atonement for the sins of the
people as well as himself. Sin was something that had not been introduced and
therefore, there had never been any shedding of blood. Once wickedness entered
man’s heart, blood had to be shed in order to make atonement for his sins. The Bible says, “In
fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and
without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness” (Hebrews 9:22).
The priests had to offer up annual sacrifices of animals for the people to
receive forgiveness of their sins, but this was only a temporary solution due
to the animals’ blood not having the ability to permanently take away their
sins. That was something that only Jesus could do with everlasting results.
The
Bible says, “It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take
away sins. Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said: “Sacrifice and
offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me; with burnt
offerings and sin offerings you were not pleased. Then I said, “Here I am – It
is written about me in the scroll – I have come to do your will, my God”
(Hebrews 10:4-7). Jesus became the sacrifice that was able to
permanently end the slaughtering of animals for all times. He bore our sins, so
that we could receive permanent forgiveness from the Father and in so doing,
also became our High Priest.
The Bible lets us know
that the first person who had been chosen as a priest by God was Moses’
brother, Aaron. The Bible says, “Have Aaron your brother to you from among
the Israelites, along with his sons Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, so
they may serve me as priest. Make sacred garments for your brother Aaron, to
give him dignity and honor” (Exodus 28:1-2). Aaron had been designated
by God to be the earthly high priest by serving in the man-made sanctuary,
which was a copy of what is in Heaven, but even Aaron’s role was mediocre to
what was actually needed.
The priests were to
ensure that the laws of God were carried out, but when Jesus came and died,
there was a changed of the priesthood and the laws, which were originally
written on tablets of stone, were instead written on our hearts and minds. The Bible says, “This
is the covenant I will establish with the people of Israel after that time
declares the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their
hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people” (Hebrews 8:10).
It was impossible for man to keep the laws perfect and this was why there had
to be priests, who could intercede on the people’s behalf, but even they were
not perfect and had to also offer sacrifices for their own sins.
Jesus, the High Priest, never
had to offer a sacrifice for His sins because He had never committed any. He
came to be the ultimate sacrifice for our sins and His blood was shed so that
we could have eternal redemption, through which there could have been no other
way made possible for that to happen. “For this reason Christ is the mediator of
a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal
inheritance – now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins
committed under the first covenant” (Hebrews 9:15). We are now able to
go through Jesus, who is our High Priest, Lord and Savior, to get forgiveness
for our sins rather than going through a human priest who has his own flaws and
needs forgiveness as well.
The first covenant (the
Ten Commandments, 603 additional laws, and circumcision) required the blood of
animals to receive forgiveness when broken, but the second covenant (the Ten
Commandments wrapped up in two, love God and each other) only requires
repentance to Jesus directly; for the shedding of blood was already done at the
cross. The
Bible says, “Day after day every priest stands and performs his
religious duties, again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can
never take away sins. But when this priest had offered for all time one
sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, and since that time
he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool. For one sacrifice
he has made perfect forever those who are mine made holy” (Hebrews 10:11-14).
The King of Kings and Lord of lords
“Which God will bring about in his own time –
God, the blessed and only Ruler the King of kings and Lord of lords” (1 Timothy
6:15).
When Jesus came to earth
the first time, He came as an innocent defenseless baby. The Bible says, “But
you, Bethlehem Epharathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out
of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are
from of old, from ancient times” (Micah 5:2). His birth caused a
kingdom alert in which he was placed on the most wanted list of the day in an
effort to eliminate the competition and seek His destruction. The Bible says, “This
is what the Lord says: “A voice is heard in Ramah, mourning and great weeping,
Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted because they are
no more” (Jeremiah 31:15). His mission was to be the sacrificial Lamb
that was to be slain. He came to carry the sins of the world upon His shoulders,
so that we may have life and have it more abundantly. “The thief comes only to steal
and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the
full” (John10:10). His mission was to also point us to the Father for
it is through Jesus and Him alone that we get access to the Father. The Bible says, “Jesus
answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. NO one comes to the Father
except through me” (John 14:6). He showed us what it was to love one
another, and that through Him, we could learn the love that the Father has for
all of His children. The Bible says, “As the Father has loved me, so have I
loved you. Now remain in my love” (John 15:9).
Jesus healed the sick: raised the dead, turned water into wine, restored
lost souls, corrected the arrogant, humbled the proud, taught about freedom
found in God and love for your fellow man. The Bible says, “Jesus did many other things as
well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that ever the whole
world would not have room for the books that would be written” (John 21:25).
Jesus fulfilled all the prophecies of old, for they led us straight to His
salvation. When He went to the cross, He not only died, but rose again on the
third day where He obtained the power over death and hell. The Bible says, “I am the Living One; I was
dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death
and Hades” (Revelation 1:18). Because of Jesus, death has no victory
over us. We may sleep for just a little while, but those who remained faithful
unto Him will be raised in the first resurrection and will join Him in the air.
The Bible
says, “Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. The
second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of
Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years” (Revelation 20:6).
Many are looking for a meek and humble lamb to return the second time
around, but to their amazement, this will not be the case. Jesus is coming back
as the Lion of Judah. The Bible says, “Then one of the elders said to
me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has
triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals” (Revelation 5:5).
Jesus is not coming back this time to save the lost, but to get the saved. The Bible says, “And
if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with
me that you also may be where I am” (John 14:3). He is not coming back
to heal the sick, but to give the saints bodies of immortality. The Bible says, “For
the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with
immortality” (1 Corinthians 15:53).
Jesus is not coming back to be slain, but to slay those who are enemies
of Him. The Bible says, “But all sinners will be destroyed; there
will be no future for the wicked” (Psalm 37:38). Jesus is not coming
back to be judged in front of earthly courts, but to judge all great and small
who lived on the earth. The Bible says, “And I saw the dead, great and
small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was
opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they
had done as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it,
and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was
judged according to what they had done” (Revelation 20:12-13).
Jesus fulfilled every
prophecy and mission that the Father had bestowed on Him and now He sits at the
right hand of the Father where He is waiting for the time to come when He can
take His bride home. The Bible says, “Let us rejoice and be glad and give him
glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself
ready” (Revelation 19:7). Everyone who refused to acknowledge Him will
one day bow before Him. All nations are going to kneel before Jesus and declare
that He is the Lord. The Bible says, “Therefore God exalted him to
the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the
name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the
earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of
God the Father” (Philippians2:9-10). Jesus is coming back as the King
of kings and Lord of lords. No king on earth can measure up to Him for all
power is His and the earth belongs to Him. What a glorious day that will be
when we will finally see the King forever more. The Bible says, “On his robe and on his thigh,
he has this name written: King of kings and Lord of lords” (Revelation 19:16).
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