1. Jesus sympathizes with our weaknesses and understands what we go through!
"Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are - yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." (Hebrews 4:14-16)
"Every high priest is selected from among men and is appointed to represent them in matters related to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray since he himself is subject to weakness." (Hebrews 5:1-2)
The scripture says, 'but we have one who has been tempted in every way'. What this means is Jesus was tempted at his most sensitive points such as the love of money, sexual immorality, abuse of power and authority etc. Hence, Jesus is able to sympathize with us as he too was tempted while he lived his life on the earth as the Son of Man ie. in his human nature. Although tempted to his limits, Jesus did not even once succumb to sin. Jesus deals gently with us even when we have been ignorant or have gone astray. He understands our weakness. What is important for us is that we turn away from our past deliberate sin, earnestly repent and come back to him and try our best to sin no more!
2. Because Jesus has 'bridged that gap' when he offered himself, we are now able to communicate to God the Father directly through him.
In the Old Testament times, the high priest that was appointed once a year entered the Most Holy Place in the tabernacle to offer sacrifices first for his own sins, and then sacrifices for the sins of the people. The high priest was basically 'the link' for means of communication between the people and God the Father.
Jesus, however, unlike other high priests, did not have to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people because he sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself. As can be seen, under the new covenant, we are given the privilege of communicating to God the Father directly through the Son Jesus Christ. What a privilege it is that we can come to the Father anytime we want! (as compared to once a year and only by the high priest). We must certainly not take this for granted!
From this passage, this also shows that we don't need a human priest in this day and age telling us that 'our sins have been forgiven' as Jesus Christ our great high priest has already paid for all of our sins when he offered himself on the cross at Calvary.
3. Jesus like other high priests, was APPOINTED by God the Father!
"No one takes this honor upon himself; he must be called by God, just as Aaron was. So Christ also did not take upon himself the glory of becoming a high priest. But God said to him, "You are my Son; today I have become your Father." And he says in another place, "You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek". (Hebrews 5:4-6)
4. He is THE source of eternal salvation!
"Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek." (Hebrews 5:8-10)
5. Jesus has PERMANENT PRIESTHOOD unlike the other high priests.
"Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. Such a high priest meets our need - one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens." (Hebrews 7:23-26)
Who needs a new priest when we already have a perfectly good High Priest? Praise God that Jesus has permanent priesthood! One that understands us FULLY and hence is able to deal gently with us, One who has unselfishly offered himself to pay the price for our sins that we may receive eternal salvation, One whom through we may communicate with God the Father so freely wherever/whenever we want to, well...what are we waiting for? If you do not have Jesus Christ as your High Priest, let me invite you. This IS the day!
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