What image do you have when you hear the word High Priest? Robes, incense, chants perhaps? Jesus, as our High Priest, doesn’t fill any of these images.
He lived among fishermen, walked miles every day, taught in the synagogue, blessed, healed, ministered to, prayed for and taught many. He performed one sacrifice--His. He humbled himself and became obedient even unto death (Philippians 2:8) on a cross. He cried out and offered up prayers and God heard him because he was reverent. (Hebrews 5:7)
Our High Priest, Jesus Messiah, took his own blood into the holy of holies and with this once and for all sacrifice, made atonement for our sins. He was without sin and became sin for us (2 Corinthians 5:21).
In being made the righteousness of God, we become instruments and agents of the new covenant life with rivers of flowing water springing from our heart.
In being made the righteousness of God, we become instruments and agents of the new covenant life with rivers of flowing water springing from our heart. The living water flows through us and out to refresh a dry and parched world. This happens when we repent and are cleansed.
As high priest, he entered the Holy of Holies and he did it with his own blood, as it is written in Hebrews 9:24, For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf.
The heavy, thick curtain in the Temple that divided the most sacred, holy place from the (less holy) was torn in two; he made the two one. The mystery of the ages revealed--the gentiles grafted onto the trunk. What a beautiful example for us today to offer up a sacrifice of praise to our Heavenly Father for providing the lamb, His son, Messiah Jesus.
He is our representative, our mediator, our intercessor, our High Priest.
The debt is paid-- hallelujah!
Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:14-16, ESV)
Rejoice in this knowledge--be reconciled to God. Have a blessed day!
Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ: Be reconciled to God. (2 Corinthians 5:20, ESV)