JESUS OUR GREAT
HIGH
PRIEST
The churches of Christ Greet You (Romans 16:16)
We humbly thank God, the Father,
for giving us another opportunity to preach the Gospel of the Grace of God to you.
In this lesson we want to speak to you about our great Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ.
Jesus is so great that He is the very Heart of the NT.
In Matthew He is the King of the Jews (2:2).
In Mark He is the Servant of God (10:44, 45).
In Luke He is the Perfect Son of Man (9:56).
In John He is the Exalted Son of God (20:30, 31).
In Acts He is the Ascended Lord (1:9-11).
In Romans He is our Righteousness (3:21-25).
In 1 Corinthians He is the Firstfruits from the Dead (15:20).
In 2 Corinthians He is the One made Sin for us (5:21).
In Galatians He is the One who Lives in us (2:20).
In Ephesians He is the One who Blesses (1:3).
In Philippians He is the Joy Bringer (3:1, 3; 4:4).
In Colossians He is the Preeminent One (1:18).
In 1 Thessalonians He is the Returning Lord (4:13-18).
In 2 Thessalonians He is the World’s Judge (1:7-9).
In 1 Timothy He is our Mediator (2:5).
In 2 Timothy He is the Bestower of Crowns (4:8).
In Titus He is our Great God and Savior (1:3, 4).
In Philemon He is the Equalizer (vs. 16).
In Hebrews He is the Rest of Faith (4:8-11).
In James He is the Lord of Sabaoth [hosts] (5:4).
In 1 Peter He is the Theme of Old Testament Prophecy (1:9-12).
In 2 Peter He is the Longsuffering Savior (3:9).
In 1 John He is the Word of Life (1:1).
In 2 John He is the Target of the Anti-Christ (vs. 7).
In 3 John He is the Personification of Truth (vs. 1-4).
In Jude He is the Believer’s Hope (vs. 24, 25).
In Revelation He is the Victorious Lamb (5:6).
1. So we see that Jesus is GREAT and He is the very heart of the NT.
2. But Loved Ones, there is too much in these 27 passages
3. Among other things,
Brightness of God’s Glory and the express Image of God’s Person (1:3).
One who tasted death for every man, and became the Captain of our Salvation (2:9, 10).
Son over His own house, whose house are we (3:6).
One who was tempted in all points like we are, yet without sin (4:15).
Author of eternal salvation to all them that obey Him (5:9).
Hope set before us, even the anchor of the soul (6:19).
Surety of a better testament, and able to save to the uttermost those who come unto God by Him (7:22-25).
One who has obtained a more excellent ministry, and became the mediator of a better covenant (8:6). What covenant?
Mediator of the New Covenant, the New Testament (9:15).
One who in a little while shall come and will come (10:38).
Word of God that framed the worlds (11:3).
Author and Finisher of our faith (12:2)
Same yesterday and today and forever (13:8).
4. But again, Loved Ones, there is too much in these 13 passages
Jesus, the Apostle and
High Priest of our Profession
1. The text for our
topic comes
from Hebrews 3:1 (READ).
2. In this text we see
the call to
consider Jesus.
3. Well, to whom was
this call
given?
a.
It was given to
the Holy Brethren, that is, brethren who are sanctified,
b.
or set apart
for a holy purpose (READ Heb. 2:10-11).
c.
Therefore, this
call was given to Christians; those of us who are in Christ.
4. Like the early
Hebrews,
Christians today are partakers of the heavenly calling.
a.
We have been
called to share in the call from heaven.
b.
This calling is
the calling of the Gospel of the Grace of God,
c.
for this is how
God calls us (READ 2 Thess. 2:13-14).
d.
It is a call to
glory (READ 1 Thess. 2:12).
1. Our text (back in
Hebrews 3:1)
tells us to consider Jesus as the Apostle…
2. How is Jesus the
Apostle?
3. Just as Moses was
sent by God,
so was Jesus,
sent
him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his
iniquities.”
4. So, in the Bible the term “apostle” is used officially
1. We also are to consider
Jesus
as the High Priest of our profession, or confession.
2. This is one of the most important themes in the book of Hebrews.
3. But how is Jesus our “High Priest?”
4. Back in the 1960’s Simon Garfunkel wrote a song entitled,
5. A train filled with passengers was speeding along its route that crossed a number of rivers.
Looking out the window, a child saw the treacherous waters in the distance
and was afraid they could not reach the opposite bank. But as they came closer,
a bridge appeared and soon the “danger” was behind them.
Each time this occurred the youngster was very much disturbed
until they had safely crossed to the other side. Finally, however, she leaned back
and said with confidence, “Somebody has put up bridges for us all the way!”
6. A High Priest is a bridge builder.
7. Please turn your Bibles to Hebrews chapter two,
8. First of all, the High Priesthood of Jesus is introduced in Hebrews 2:17 (READ).
9. The work of a High Priest is to offer gifts and sacrifices for sin (READ Heb. 5:1).
10. You see, the sacrifices of the OT (that is, animal blood) could not take sins away.
11. But blood had to be shed for forgiveness (READ Heb. 9:22).
12. READ Hebrews 4:15.
as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Peter 1:19).
when He died He could not have offered Himself for others,
He would have died only for His own sins.
But Peter said, “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust,
that
he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh,
but quickened by the spirit” (1 Peter 3:18).
13. Second, Jesus had to offer Himself (READ Heb. 10:5).
14. Concerning His life, Jesus said: “No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself.
I
have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again.
This commandment have I received of my Father” (John 10:18).
15. Read Hebrews 8:3.
16. Third, Jesus needed to offer Himself only once (READ Heb. 7:27; 9:7, 12, 25-26, 28; 10:10-12).
17. Fourth, Jesus was not a priest on earth (READ Heb. 8:4; 7:13-15, 17).
“Jesus
said unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life:
no man cometh unto the father, but by me” (John 14:6).
“For
through him we both (Jew and Gentile) have access
by one Spirit unto the Father” (Eph. 2:18).
CONCLUSION
LOVE - - that can never be fathomed (Eph. 3:18, 19).
a. It is a love that would let the Father send His only begotten Son
b.
to die for rebellious man (
LIFE - - that can never perish (John 10:28; Ps. 23).
RIGHTEOUSNESS - - that can never be tarnished or made dull (1 Cor. 1:30).
a. God makes clean, no matter how sinful.
b. He prescribes the remedy.
LIGHT - - that can never be darkened…it will never go out (Prov. 4:18; Matt. 5:14).
STRENGTH - - that can never be enfeebled or made weak (Phil. 4:13; 2 Cor. 4:16-18).
a. This refers to spiritual strength, not physical strength.
b. Man labors with much effort for physical strength,
c. but for some reason he seems to think that spiritual strength
d. will just rub off on him.
PEACE - - that passeth all understanding (Phil. 4:7).
The world cannot understand the peace of mind of the child of God.
HOPE - - that can never be disappointed (Heb. 6:19).
a. We may have various disappointments in this earthly life,
b. but there will be none in the hereafter.
JOY - - that can never be diminished or made less (Ps. 16:11).
As we mature in Christ our joy will just grow and grow.
GLORY - - that can never be clouded (Ps. 84:11).
What a glory it is to be one of God’s elect…a child of God.
RESOURCES - - that can never be exhausted or done away (Rom. 8:32).