Jesus as Our Priest

Order of Service

• Call to Worship — Psalm 95:6 and Psalm 100
• Hymn — Glory of the Lord (played through)
• Prayer of Invocation
• Confession of Faith — Westminster Shorter Catechism, Questions 63–64
• Scripture Reading — 1 Samuel 31
• Pastoral Prayer
• Sermon
• Benediction — Numbers 6:24-26
• Hymn Sing (parking lot)

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Sermon Title: Jesus as Our Priest

Scripture: Hebrews 4:14–5:10

I. The Heart of Jesus as Our Priest

A. Context: The book of Hebrews was written to an audience in danger of drifting from Christ back to Judaism under persecution; the author repeatedly calls them to behold Jesus

B. Jesus's superiority over the Old Testament priesthood (Hebrews 4:14–5:10)

1. The high priest's role: appointed to act on behalf of men before God, offering gifts and sacrifices for sins (Hebrews 5:1)
2. Jesus fulfills and surpasses this office

C. First qualification: the high priest must be divinely appointed

1. Aaron was divinely appointed; so also Christ (Hebrews 5:4-6)
2. Confirmed by two royal psalms: You are my Son, today I have begotten you (Psalm 2) and You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek (Psalm 110)
3. Even Jesus did not appoint himself — he was appointed by God

D. Second qualification: the high priest must be able to sympathize with those he represents

1. The anchor of the passage: We do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses (Hebrews 4:15) — the double negative emphasizes how highly capable Jesus is in sympathy
2. This is not merely psychological or emotional awareness, but participation in our weakness
3. Tears and smiles like us he knew — Jesus knows our frailty, fragility, wounds, and inner conflict
4. The devil's great lie: no one understands your weakness; the text refutes this

E. Jesus's temptation was greater than ours

1. He was tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin (Hebrews 4:15)
2. He experienced temptation to the fullest because he never yielded — our temptations cease when we fail; his did not
3. Window into this: his prayers with loud cries and tears, most likely a reference to Gethsemane (Hebrews 5:7)
4. He has been down there and further down (Sinclair Ferguson) — no struggle we have is outside his intimate awareness

F. Jesus is a strong swimmer, not a drowning person

1. He is tempted as we are, yet without sin — he is able to hold up our weak hearts
2. He is a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek (Hebrews 5:6) — he will never be done, never exhausted, never quit
3. The old testament priesthood was a revolving door; Jesus's priesthood endures forever

II. The Call of Jesus as Our Priest

A. Hold fast (Hebrews 4:14)

1. Grip Christ afresh and be gripped by him, come what may
2. He has passed through the heavens and brought us into the presence of God

B. Draw near with confidence (Hebrews 4:16)

1. Draw near to God and he will draw near to you (James 4:8)
2. How does the accuser attempt to drive us away — through despair over failures, shame, a sense that God is disappointed?
3. Be brave to believe the love God has for you in Christ

C. The throne of grace (Hebrews 4:16)

1. It is a throne — it cannot be stopped, will not lose, will endure
2. It is not a throne of punishment or judgment or disappointment — it is a throne of grace
3. Grace is enthroned over every part of your life; draw near and keep drawing near
4. The call is to approach with the confidence of a child who knows the father's heart — without hesitation, without pausing to see if he is too busy