Jesus Is The Best High Priest
by Pastor Dan Chun
Hebrews 5:1-10 Every high priest is a man chosen to represent other people in their dealings with God. He presents their gifts to God and offers sacrifices for their sins. And he is able to deal gently with ignorant and wayward people because he himself is subject to the same weaknesses. That is why he must offer sacrifices for his own sins as well as theirs.
And no one can become a high priest simply because he wants such an honor. He must be called by God for this work, just as Aaron was. That is why Christ did not honor himself by assuming he could become High Priest. No, he was chosen by God, who said to him, “You are my Son. Today I have become your Father.” And in another passage God said to Him, “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.”
While Jesus was here on earth, He offered prayers and pleadings, with a loud cry and tears, to the one who could rescue Him from death. And God heard His prayers because of His deep reverence for God. Even though Jesus was God’s Son, He learned obedience from the things He suffered. In this way, God qualified Him as a perfect High Priest, and He became the source of eternal salvation for all those who obey Him. And God designated Him to be a High Priest in the order of Melchizedek.
The reason we’re on our 40-Day Fast is that by eliminating some food or drink or activity, we make more room for God in our lives. We become more focused, stronger, calmer. My prayer for our church is that we will focus on Jesus Christ who is our High Priest.
In ancient Hebrew times, the High Priest was the holy one who would represent the people to God. The Jewish community looked toward who they thought was in many ways the perfect high priest––Melchizedek––who was not only a high priest but also the King of Salem (Shalom). When he first appears in Genesis 14, we maybe are surprised to find the early concepts of gratitude, tithing, communion, and the honoring of God as Creator and Deliverer in the life of Abram. A high priest was an intermediary with God. He represented God.
As our passage says a high priest would have experience in dealing “gently with ignorant and wayward people.” Hence, he would be empathetic, compassionate, caring.
Jesus Christ is alive today and He is our high priest.
As we fast in these 40 days, may we become more aware that Christ is our Lord. This one passage is packed with so many reasons why we would want to follow Jesus. For indeed He is gentle with ignorant and wayward people like us. He is our Creator and Deliverer when we are in trouble. He is empathetic. He knows what it means to shed tears and cry out to God in prayer. He modeled obedience even while suffering. He is our salvation!
So if you are in trouble or a quandary know that we have a high priest who hears our prayers, cries with us, prays with us to the Father, and fights for us. He is our Deliverer and Savior. Take this season of fasting and lean into Him. Hallelujah!
Prayer: Jesus, I commit this 40-Day Fast to You. Please use it to bring me closer to You and to make me even more aware of what it means to have You as my High Priest who intercedes to God the Father on my behalf. Amen.
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