Jesus Our Priest

This morning I am reading an interesting section from the Letter to the Hebrews. In this section the author is talking about the priesthood of Jesus. We often don't spend much time on the historical significance of this, but to the Jews this was a critical point, for it was the Priests, descended from Levi, whom were appointed as the ministers of the covenant, and ministers unto God. They offered the sacrifices for forgiveness of sins, and guilt on behalf of the people. They were basically the mediators of the old covenant. It is in this context of understanding that the author writes about Jesus, as follows:

Hebrews 7:12-19 NIV:

[12] "For when the priesthood is changed, the law must be changed also. [13] He of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe, and no one from that tribe has ever served at the altar. [14] For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah, and in regard to that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. [15] And what we have said is even more clear if another priest like Melchizedek appears, [16] one who has become a priest not on the basis of a regulation as to his ancestry but on the basis of the power of an indestructible life. [17] For it is declared:

“You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.”

[18] The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless [19] (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God."

Continuing on -

Hebrews 7:24-27 NIV:

...[24] "but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. [25] Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.

[26] Such a high priest truly meets our need---one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. [27] Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself."

We have in Jesus one who perfectly fulfilled the old covenant, established a new covenant, and as the high priest is our way to the Father, and the source of all the forgiveness of our sins. This again is why we believe that He is the only way. No other individual has fulfilled perfectly and personally the priestly duties. This is also why the law and the old testament no longer apply, for Jesus issued in a new priesthood which requires a new law, a new covenant.

Jesus understood this when He talked about the new covenant at the Last Supper, as follows:

Luke 22:19-20 NIV
[19] "And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” [20] In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you."

Jesus in establishing a new covenant with His blood, and his body as the sacrifice was taking on a new priestly ministry. As the author of the Letter to the Hebrews wrote:

Hebrews 8:1-2, 6-7, 13 NIV
[1] "Now the main point of what we are saying is this: We do have such a high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, [2] and who serves in the sanctuary, the true tabernacle set up by the Lord, not by a mere human being.

[6] But in fact the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, since the new covenant is established on better promises. [7] For if there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant, no place would have been sought for another.

[13] By calling this covenant “new,” he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and outdated will soon disappear."

So, the significance of this all is that Jesus has established a new covenant, and we are no longer subjects to the old covenant. As the establisher and mediator and high priest of this new covenant, Jesus is our only path to the Father, our only source of forgiveness and cleansing of our sins. He personally paid with His body and blood for our sins, so we don't need to pay. He made the perfect sacrifice so we don't need to offer any. He now sits on the throne in Heaven where He intercedes for us.

Finally, because we have Jesus as our true High Priest, we no longer need any other priest/man to intercede or mediate for us. We can and should go directly to Jesus and the Father. Lord, help us to look directly to You, turning to You and receiving from You forgiveness and cleansing of our sins! Amen.