“Jesus as High Priest”

BIBLE READING: Hebrews 4    

                When you are studying the Bible, before you can fully understand what it means for you, you must first understand what it meant for its original audience.  That statement could not be any truer than when you are studying the book of Hebrews.  The book of Hebrews is often referred to as the “Book of Better Things”.  The reason for that title is because the writer is revealing to a Jewish audience all the various aspects of where Jesus is better than their former understanding of things.  One of those basic aspects where Jesus is better is seen in His role as our High Priest.  The first century Jew had been brought up and educated on what the role of the High Priest was for the people.  It was his job to make the sacrifices on behalf of the people to atone for their sins.  He was the only person who had access to God through the Ark of the Covenant in the Holy of Holies.  Yet when Christ died on the cross and the earthquake caused the veil that separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place to be torn,  God was showing us that there would be no need for an earthly High Priest anymore, because Jesus had just become, not only our sacrifice but also, our High Priest.  Hebrews 4.14 tells us that “Since then we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heaven, Jesus, the Son of God, let us holdfast our confession.” Jesus passed through the ultimate Most Holy Place when He passed into Heaven only to return to reveal for us grace and mercy.  Once we understand just how much that meant to a first century Jew, our appreciation for Jesus becomes that much sweeter.