The Jesus Bible Reading PlanSample

COMPASSIONATE HIGH PRIEST

Old Testament priests had many rules to follow. God was not one to be approached flippantly; the priests had to go through certain steps in order to prepare themselves to encounter God (Lev 16; Heb 5:1 – 3). Only on specific occasions could the high priest enter the Most Holy Place to intercede between God and his people.

Jesus is superior to every high priest in the Old Testament priesthood (Heb 4:14 — 7:28). He came to be both the sin sacrifice and the high priest who presided over the atonement. Jesus is fully human — he is able to empathize with the people for whom he makes atonement. And Jesus is fully God — he is able to atone for the sins of people fully and completely. Jesus is also the only high priest who can usher believers directly into the presence of the Father. When he died on the cross for the sins of his people, the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom (Mk 15:38). This signified that God was no longer unapproachable and that people now have direct access to God through Jesus instead of having to go through an intermediary (Heb 4:16).

Most major religions of the world teach that God dwells at a great distance from people and that he can only be approached with great apprehension. Christianity teaches that Jesus has made a way for God to be with his people.

Jesus, thank you for making my relationship with God a personal experience. I know there are people who have been hurt by religion. Help me to help them understand that you are about so much more. Amen.