Got a High Priest? (A Look at Hebrews 4:14-16) Part 1

My friends and I have been reading through the book of Hebrews. This week we’re reading Hebrews 4 together. I describe our Bible-reading covenant here and recommend that you consider doing the same with a few of your friends!

If you are at all like me, you hardly ever think of the Lord Jesus as your High Priest. We don’t live in a culture that requires a high priest (or so we think). But this concept, this blessed role that the Lord Jesus plays in our lives, needs to be examined — and embraced!

Here’s what we read in Hebrews 4 —

A proper exegesis (examination) of this text would require an extensive study of the Jewish priesthood and especially the role of the high priest. And that’s a study worth pursuing.

For our purposes I would like to simply make some observations and raise some questions in several posts on this passage. Your comments and reflections are always welcome!

1. The first observation: Jesus is our “great” high priest. When I focus on the world around me, the world that belongs to my Father and has been given for my righteous enjoyment, I can quite easily fail to focus on my Savior. I’m not making the case that we are to ignore or turn away from the beauty of God’s creation. My point is that Jesus my high priest is great — and I need that truth to receive my primary attention.

2. The second observation for today is that our great high priest “has ascended into heaven” (v. 14). I’ve heard very few messages on the ascension of the Lord Jesus, but that event is a cardinal doctrine in the Christian faith. His ascension indicates that the Father approved His atoning work and guarantees that He will return for His own. We have an ascended High Priest who is at the right hand of the Father, interceding for us!

Today’s Challenge: What in the world makes us think that we don’t need a high priest in our lives?! Thankfully our sense of what we need doesn’t limit God’s provision of what (Who) we really need! Praise Him for providing the Lord Jesus as our great High Priest!