JESUS IS OUR GREAT HIGH PRIEST AND INTERCESSOR

If it had not been for Jesus on our sides, where would we be? It was the grace, mercy, love, and compassion of Jesus that prevented us from receiving what we actually deserved—death and eternal damnation.

Let’s face it–we aint always been so good and if truth be known, it’s a daily struggle to stay in a place of holiness to an Almighty God.   For many, it’s not those obvious sins and trespasses such as adultery, fornication, profanity (potty mouths), drunkenness, murder, or stealing that we might struggle with.

No, I venture to assert, that many struggle with those not so obvious sins such as jealousy, hatred, bitterness, gossip, pride, anger, rage, idolatry, rebelliousness, contention, unforgiveness, and prayerlessness.

But Jesus, our great High Priest and Intercessor, rich in compassion, is ever ready to make intercession for our souls. (Hebrews 7:25).

What is an intercessor? One definition is that it is a person who intervenes or mediates on behalf of another person especially through fervent prayer, travail, and crying out.

We know that God is rich in grace and mercy because even though Aaron allowed the Israelites to make a golden calf (idolatry), God ordained him as high priest to atone for the sins of the people. Not only did Aaron have to intercede and offer sacrifices on a regular basis to atone for the sins of the Israelites, he had to first atone for his own sins. (Lev. 16; Heb. 9:7). Please understand this…Levitical priests, through sacrifices and intercession, could only cover the sins, but they could not cleanse the sins of the people.

Only Jesus, could cover and cleanse our sins which makes Him better in every way. King Jesus, our High Priest, who knew no sin, once and for all paid our sin debt (2 Cor. 5:21; Heb. 4:15).  His death and sacrifice was a finished work. Jesus didn’t have to keep going to the altar to atone for sins. Jesus Christ paid it all in one clean sweep when He shed His atoning blood on Calvary’s cross to pay the ultimate sacrifice for you and for me.

Yes, Jesus is better in every way…. better that Aaron and any other Levitical priests. And although God appointed and ordained Aaron as a high priest, Jesus was appointed and ordained by God as a Faithful High Priest. Jesus didn’t put Himself on a pedestal—no, it was the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob Who appointed Him and ordained Him— as the Faithful High Priest and Intercessor for our souls.

King Jesus, as our High Priest and Intercessor came to care for us as His own Sheep. And please understand that sheep have to be led, they cannot lead. Sheep are dumb, and will go astray in a New York minute. But Jesus, when he stepped out of heaven to take on manhood came to  “deal gently with the ignorant and misguided and to lead us back to Him.”   (Hebrews 5:2)  In other words, He knows and understands our weaknesses even though He does not condone those weaknesses.

Jesus once said that His sheep hear His voice and not the voice of a stranger and He will protect us from the devil who comes to steal, kill, and to destroy. And thank God, that Jesus came that we may have life and that more abundantly. (John 10).  That’s good news!

Yes, Jesus is better in every way as our Faithful High Priest and Intercessor.

Prayer: Abba Father, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, we thank You for sending us a Great High Priest to atone and intercede for our souls in the courtroom of Heaven. We thank you for allowing Your darling Son Jesus to die on the cross and shed his blood to pay the ultimate sacrifice for the whole world. Papa, help us not to take the great sacrifice of Jesus for granted. Help us to understand and appreciate that Jesus paid it all so that we can come boldly to Your throne through the redemptive blood of Jesus to ask for mercy and help in the time of need, and to spend eternity with You in Heaven in the matchless name of Jesus, we pray, Amen!

Hebrews 5:1-5

1 For every high priest taken from among men is appointed for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins.   2 He can have compassion on those who are ignorant and going astray, since he himself is also subject to weakness.   3 Because of this he is required as for the people, so also for himself, to offer sacrifices for sins.   4 And no man takes this honor to himself, but he who is called by God, just as Aaron was.   5 So also Christ did not glorify Himself to become High Priest, but it was He who said to Him: “You are My Son, Today I have begotten You.”  

If you do not know Jesus as your Savior, and you want to accept Him now, you can click on the link under prayer, and pray the prayer of Salvation.