The Baby in the Manger #15: High Priest

High Priest (hebrew: gāḏôl kōhēn grk: archiereus)

In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.

Hebrews 1:1-3

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 feel sympathy for our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are – yet he did not sin. 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.

Hebrews 4:14-16

A priest is a mediator between god and people. It is, of course, a term not specific to Christianity. Wherever human beings conceive any holy god, who is different to his or her people, something is needed to be put in place to bridge that distance. Offerings and prayers are made, and the priest is generally the vessel. And yet whilst these gods are merely copies and imaginings of the one true God, they get something right - there is a gap between the human and the divine, and someone is needed to stand with a foot in both camps, bringing the two together.

Whilst God has appointed humans 'priestly' roles in different ways*, the Bible describes Jesus as our Great High Priest (Hebrews 4:14). The interesting thing is this - Jesus didn't just take on the role of Priest when he came and made an offering of himself, fulfilling the entire system of priests and sacrifices in the Old Testament. Hebrews 7 makes it clear what is said about Jesus: you are a priest forever (Hebrews 7:17,21). And as we shall see as we look at the ways in which Jesus fulfils this role, this 'forever' includes 'right from the beginning', just as much as 'till the end'.

(*I refer here both to the Old Testament office of 'Priest', and to the wider 'priestly' role of God's covenant people throughout history, from the 'creation mandate' of Genesis 1:28, to the 'Royal Priesthood' of 1 Peter 2:5) 

So, why is Jesus our Great High Priest?  Here's a few things that a priest does...

A priest communicates God to us

As we saw on day 11 of this series, Jesus is God's word to us. This is a theme also taken up in Hebrews 1:1-3 (at the top of this post). God spoke the universe into existence through Jesus, and that universe was his witness declaring his glory. Having then revealed himself through human beings (through the prophets, Hebrews 1:1), in these last days, he has spoken to us through his son (ibid.). Not only has he spoken to us through the words and teaching of Jesus, but Jesus is described as the exact representation of his being (Hebrews 1:3) - if we want to know who God is, we need to look at Jesus. Our minds cannot possibly fathom an eternal God, but we can look at Jesus.

A priest opens up the way

When trying to think of the most child-friendly and succinct way to explain the word 'Priest' to an young and unfamiliar audience, I recently landed on this: a priest is someone who opens the door to the presence of God.

The problem is, when sin entered the world, the door to the presence of God was closed. Or to be more precise, having sent human beings out of the Garden of Eden, because they could no longer live forever in their broken state, God placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life (Genesis 3:24).  Seems harsh?  This is the weight of sin and rebellion.  God is good, and he cannot let human beings who damage and destroy carry on damaging and destroying forever.  When God lead the people to create a place to symbolise his presence later in the Old Testament (what became the Temple), there was a perpetual reminder of this barrier: a curtain which sealed off the 'Most Holy Place', behind which only the 'High Priest' could go once a year, to offer a sacrifice for the sins of the people (see Redeemer and Lamb of God for more on sacrifice).

However:

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. (Hebrews 10:11-12)

When Jesus died on the cross, he was both priest and sacrifice - the perfect and all sufficient payment and purification for all our iniquity.  And when he died, the curtain in the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom  - the way was open to God!  

A priest intercedes for us before God

My children ask: where is Jesus now? The simple answer is this: In Heaven - praying to God the Father for you. Hebrews 7:25 says Jesus always lives to intercede for [us]. Ever feel alone in your prayers, or don't know what to pray for? You are not alone, because Jesus is praying to the Father for you, and he knows what to pray! He is bringing our needs before the Father, and he understands completely because he was made fully human so he's 'been there'! Not only this, but he's also getting us a place ready in Heaven, for that last day which he'll come back to take us there (John 14:2-3).

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So what about us now? Jesus has revealed God to us, made sacrifice for our sins, and his now off in Heaven with God the Father. What do we do now? Here's a therefore from Hebrews 4:

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 feel sympathy for our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are – yet he did not sin. 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. (Hebrews 4:14-16)

The Great High Priest is still with us by the Holy Spirit.  As he told his disciples before he left them: I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you for ever – the Spirit of truth...I will not leave you as orphans;...On that day you will realise that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you (John 14:17,18,20).

So, firstly, we can have confidence.  As the book of Hebrews explores at great length, Jesus has done it all!  The work is complete, the way is opened, and we are clean before God if we stand in him.

Secondly, we can have comfort.  He understands our weaknesses, our temptations, and our struggles, through intercession and through the work of the Holy Spirit, who guides and prompts our hearts, he provides mercy and grace to help us in our time of need.