by Peg Yarbrough

God is over all and worthy of our highest worship and praise. He has set His son in an exalted position where “every knee must bow”. Sir Anthony Buzzard got it right in The Doctrine of the Trinity when he said, “God and Christ are obviously separate individuals worthy of receiving worship, the Father in His capacity of Creator, the Son Jesus as the instrument and agent in salvation of mankind.”

Life is all about bringing glory to God through His Son Jesus Christ. The Bible opens with the “seed of the woman” in Genesis 3:15, and closes with a prayer for Jesus to come quickly. We need to let go of our tradition and latch on to the clear truth, that God the Father has magnified His Son.

One of the positions given to Christ is that of High Priest over the “Israel of God” the Church. How loving and tender this High Priest is, who can be touched with the feeling our our infirmities, and who lives forever to make intercession for the saints. This office is described in detail in the book of Hebrews.

Hebrews has two major themes: the exaltation of Jesus Christ by His Father, and the journey of the believer into God’s Kingdom. The book opens with praise for God’s Son, who is greater than the angels. From God’s perspective, all of creation was formed around the Son, namely, the plan of redemption. (Hebrews 1: 2-13) And the Lord God Himself has set Jesus in this exalted position for His own glory. Hebrews closes with God equipping us, through Jesus Christ, to do all that is pleasing to Him (God).

The second theme is the need for the child of God to be faithful unto the end. Hebrews is loaded with comfort and hope that we do not have to make the journey on our own, but we have a High Priest who “ever lives to make intercession for the saints.” He is our advocate, and one who understands our weaknesses. He is there to help us in time on need.

Hebrews 3:5,6 draws a comparison between Moses and Christ. Moses led the children of Israel which was an illustration of that which would come after, Christ leading the Church, God’s household. Chapter four focuses on our need to stay the course once we have been delivered from sin by accepting Christ as our Savior. And that Christ is our High Priest to help us do just that.

Hebrews 4:14 – 16
That is why we have a great High Priest who has gone to heaven, Jesus the Son of God.
Let us cling to him and never stop trusting him. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same temptations we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it.

Chapter five goes on to teach us that because our High Priest was human, he is able to deal gently with the people, though they be wayward and ignorant. This is one aspect of Christ’s continuing ministry.

The High Priest performed two major functions, first and foremost he ministered to Almighty God, and secondly he ministered to the people. He made sacrifice for sins and they came to him with their problems. Jesus was not, however, a priest from the line of Aaron, but was of the “order of Melchizedech,” anointed by God Himself. Jesus did not offer imperfect sacrifices by the blood of animals for our sin, but offered the perfect sacrifice of his sinless blood, once and for all. Now he is in heaven, continuing in the office of perfect High Priest.

Hebrews 7:25
Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. [a continuing ministry…]

Hebrews 7:25 Phillips
But Christ, because he lives for ever, possesses a priesthood that needs no successor. This means that he can save fully and completely those who approach God through him, for he is always living to intercede on their behalf.

Christ is the Mediator between mankind and YAHWEH! He ever lives to make intercession for you and for me. Christ is the administrator of the new covenant.

Hebrews 8:1,2 NLT
Here is the main point: Our High Priest sat down in the place of highest honor in heaven, at God’s right hand. There he ministers in the sacred tent, the true place of worship that was built by the Lord and not by human hands.

The tabernacle and the priesthood of the Old Testament were only a shadow of the better things to come, namely that Christ himself would enter into heaven, into the tabernacle not made by human hands, to sit at God’s right hand. From there he ministers to the God and to His people. And now, WITH Christ’s help, we offer praise and glory to God, through Jesus Christ. (Hebrews 13:15)

The Lord Jesus Christ:

• is greater than the angels. He is God’s son, and his throne endures forever.
• is greater than Moses, he is in charge of God’s household
• is our tender, loving and compassionate high priest
• is able to save to the uttermost
• has a continuing ministry
• ever lives to make intercession on our behalf
• is our advocate
• is at the place of highest honor until his enemies are made his footstool

With his help we offer praise and glory to God! And God produces in us, through the power of Jesus Christ, all that are well pleasing to Him. That is why He made Jesus the Great Shepherd of the sheep. To lead us into the best life we could possibly offer up to God now.

He is our High Priest, able to save to the uttermost. And we should praise God for this wonderful gift of His Son, and for His marvelous plan of salvation.