Today’s Reading, Hebrews 1-6
Focal Scripture: Hebrews 4:16 “Therefore, let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in time of need.”
What is a High Priest? A High Priest is a person who speaks to God on and for our behalf. In Jewish culture he was also the only person who was allowed into the most holy place to apply the blood on the mercy seat. This was a position that demonstrated that blood must be spilt and applied for sins to be forgiven. It was not just symbolic but also literal in its meaning.
In today’s reading we see the writer of Hebrews making it clear that because Jesus is our great High Priest we can approach the throne of grace with boldness. This is a change in Jewish culture because before the priest was the only one who could approach. Now because of Jesus we have been given access to the throne room or the most holy of holies ourselves. What do we find when we get there? Mercy and grace to help us in our time of need. Not only is the writer saying we get access to God because of Jesus but we also get benefits because of his position.
The application today is to understand that our High Priest Jesus is unlike everyone else. He alone is the perfect person to fulfill this role. He lived a sinless life. Became our sacrifice. Rose himself from the dead. Then applied his blood for the forgiveness of our sins. This should drive us to worship and drive us to thank God he provides a way out when nobody else can.
I challenge you today to get rid of false thinking about Jesus and salvation. Put in your mind Christ crucified and now risen. He goes to God and applies his sacrifice to our life and our sin. This pleases God and changes us from death to life if we believe he is who he says he is today. Our exchange is we get mercy from God’s wrath and help from the Holy Spirit. God is faithful and God is amazing in how he plans out the details.
Let us worship our High Priest who is unlike anyone else. God’s divine plan and his sovereignty should amaze us everyday. Let us never get over the life and work of Christ.
Tomorrow I plan on reading Hebrews 7-10
