The Sacrificial High Priest
Read the Text: Hebrews 7
Memorize the Text:
Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen
(Hebrews 11:1, CSB)
Consider the Text: Hebrews 7:11-28
The author of Hebrews introduced the readers to the High Priest Melchizedek at the opening of chapter 11. The author intended to form a comparison between Melchizedek as the High Priest and Jesus as the Great, Sacrificial High Priest. Thus, the author noted that if Melchizedek received the honor because of his life, how much more must we adore Jesus. The sacrifice of Jesus brought forth critical implications.
JESUS NEEDED NO SACRIFICE
In Jewish law, the High Priest needed to present a sacrifice for himself before entering to make a sacrifice on behalf of the people. This sacrifice occurred to atone for the sins of the priest. Thus, the priest needed to be in a forgiven and right standing before the Lord before presenting the community sacrifice. Jesus was different than the High Priest of the Jews. Jesus, as the Great High Priest, did not need to make sacrificial atonement for himself. He lived unblemished and perfect as the Son of God. Thus, he did not need to purify himself before making atonement for others because he was perfect and pure.
JESUS OFFERED HIMSELF AS THE SACRIFICE
The Jewish High Priest would enter the Holy of Holies and make atonement through sacrifice for the people of Israel. The sacrifice would be unblemished and pure. The people's sins would be atoned for through the blood spilled by the animal sacrifice. Unlike the Jewish High Priest, Jesus did not need to secure an unblemished sacrifice. Instead, as the perfect, sinless Son of God, Jesus climbed upon the altar and offered to atone for humanity's sins. Thus, Jesus took on the punishment of sin to provide the hope of life.
JESUS WAS THE NEEDED SACRIFICE
The Jewish High Priest needed to enter the Holy of Holies annually to sacrifice for the atonement of the sins of Israel. Unlike the sacrifice of the Jewish High Priest, Jesus made a sacrifice that fulfilled an eternal need and thus did not need to be repeated. The once and for all sacrifice created the needed atonement that opened the avenue to eternal life through receiving the gift of redemption paid for by Christ. Thus, as the Great High Priest, Jesus climbed upon the altar, he became sin to deal with the issue once and for all.
The love of God drove him to create a way for each of us to become reconciled with him. He willfully took on the penalty of our sin in the sacrificial activity of Christ on the cross. Unlike the temporary sacrifice of animals, Jesus made an eternal, perfect sacrifice that claimed victory over death in the resurrection. This atonement and victory have been extended to each of us today. The receiving of this reconciliation comes when we receive Jesus as Lord and Savior. Do you hold that Jesus was the perfect Son of God who needed no sacrifice? Do you believe that Jesus offered himself as the sacrifice required so we could have a life?
This blog is part of the Coffee and Quiet Time with Jesus Devotional Series found at equippingfaith.com. Join the journey of reading through the New Testament this year. More information can be found at equippingfaith.com.
