Embracing Our High Priest: Jesus as Our Mediator
Summary
In our journey through life, we often find ourselves in a world that feels both familiar and foreign, much like the Israelites in the wilderness. They had the tabernacle, a portable tent for worship, while we have permanent church buildings. They had priests; we have spiritual leaders and self-help resources. Yet, the essence of our spiritual journey remains the same: seeking a relationship with God. In Exodus 28, we encounter the strange and intricate details of the priests' garments, which may seem like an ancient fashion show but hold profound lessons about our approach to God.
The priests, chosen from among the Israelites, were ordinary men, flawed and sinful, yet set apart to serve as mediators between God and His people. This choice underscores God's wisdom in using human means to accomplish His divine purposes. The priests' humanity allowed them to empathize with the people they served, understanding their struggles and weaknesses. This is a powerful reminder that God uses imperfect people to minister to others, reflecting His immense love and grace.
The priesthood ultimately points us to the final and perfect High Priest, Jesus Christ. Unlike the priests of old, Jesus is both fully human and fully divine, able to sympathize with our weaknesses yet without sin. He stands as the ultimate mediator, bridging the gap between a holy God and sinful humanity. His life, death, and resurrection offer us the hope of salvation and the assurance that we can approach God with confidence.
As we reflect on the role of priests and ministers, we are reminded of the importance of community and the gift of spiritual leaders who guide us in our faith journey. They, too, are human, sharing in our struggles and triumphs. We are called to support and pray for them, recognizing that they are vessels of God's grace in our lives.
Ultimately, our need for a mediator is fulfilled in Jesus Christ, who invites us to come to Him with our doubts, fears, and sins. He offers us the strength to overcome and the grace to grow in faith. In Him, we find the perfect balance of empathy and power, humanity and divinity, making Him the High Priest we desperately need.
Key Takeaways:
- The priesthood in ancient Israel highlights God's choice to use flawed humans to accomplish His divine purposes. This reminds us that God can use anyone, regardless of their past, to serve His kingdom and minister to others. [05:04]
- The humanity of the priests allowed them to empathize with the people they served. Similarly, our spiritual leaders today are called to understand and support us in our struggles, reflecting God's love and grace. [09:04]
- Jesus Christ, our ultimate High Priest, is both fully human and fully divine. His unique nature allows Him to sympathize with our weaknesses while offering us the strength and grace to overcome sin. [20:22]
- Our spiritual leaders, like the priests of old, are gifts from God, chosen to guide and support us in our faith journey. We are called to pray for them and recognize their role in our spiritual growth. [12:25]
- Jesus invites us to come to Him with our doubts, fears, and sins. He offers us the assurance of His love and the power to overcome, making Him the perfect mediator between us and God. [22:58]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:26] - The World and the Tabernacle
[01:29] - Unease with the Priestly Garments
[02:26] - The Priestly Garments Explained
[03:00] - Lessons from the Priesthood
[03:57] - The Priesthood of the People
[05:04] - God's Use of Human Means
[06:07] - The Tribe of Levi
[07:00] - God's Grace in Choosing Priests
[09:04] - Empathy and Weakness
[10:37] - The Role of Priests
[11:28] - God's Provision for His People
[12:25] - The Gift of Spiritual Leaders
[13:32] - Ministers as Jars of Clay
[15:28] - Distinct Yet Human
[18:23] - Our Need for a Perfect Priest
[20:22] - Jesus, Our High Priest
[22:58] - Invitation to Come to Jesus
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Exodus 28:1-2, 4, 36, 42
- Hebrews 5:1-2
- Hebrews 2:18
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Observation Questions:
1. What were the specific garments that the High Priest was required to wear according to Exodus 28, and what was their significance? [02:26]
2. How does the sermon describe the role of the priests in ancient Israel, and what was their primary function? [03:00]
3. According to Hebrews 5:1-2, why were the priests able to deal gently with the people they served? [09:38]
4. What does the sermon suggest about the humanity of the priests and their ability to empathize with the people? [09:04]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the choice of flawed individuals as priests in ancient Israel reflect God's wisdom and purpose? [05:04]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that Jesus Christ fulfills the role of the ultimate High Priest? [20:22]
3. How does the sermon describe the relationship between spiritual leaders and the community they serve? What responsibilities do both parties have? [12:25]
4. What does the sermon imply about the importance of having a mediator between God and humanity, and how is this fulfilled in Jesus? [22:58]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you felt inadequate to serve in a spiritual capacity. How does the sermon’s message about God using flawed individuals encourage you? [05:04]
2. How can you actively support and pray for your spiritual leaders, recognizing their humanity and the role they play in your faith journey? [12:25]
3. In what ways can you approach Jesus with your doubts, fears, and sins, as the sermon invites? What steps can you take this week to deepen your relationship with Him? [22:58]
4. Consider the role of empathy in your interactions with others. How can you better empathize with those around you, following the example of the priests and Jesus? [09:04]
5. How does understanding Jesus as both fully human and fully divine impact your view of Him as your mediator? How can this understanding influence your daily walk with God? [20:22]
6. Identify a specific area in your life where you need Jesus' strength and grace to overcome sin. What practical steps can you take to invite His help in this area? [22:58]
7. How can you cultivate a community that reflects God's love and grace, similar to the supportive role of the priests and spiritual leaders described in the sermon? [12:25]
Devotional
Day 1: God Uses Imperfect People for His Purposes
God's choice to use flawed humans to accomplish His divine purposes is a profound reminder of His grace and wisdom. In ancient Israel, priests were chosen from among ordinary men, despite their imperfections, to serve as mediators between God and His people. This choice highlights God's ability to work through human weakness to achieve His divine plans. It is a testament to the fact that God can use anyone, regardless of their past or present struggles, to serve His kingdom and minister to others. This truth encourages us to embrace our own imperfections and trust that God can use us in ways we might not expect. [05:04]
1 Corinthians 1:27-29 (ESV): "But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God."
Reflection: Think of a time when you felt inadequate or unworthy to serve God. How can you trust Him to use you despite your imperfections today?
Day 2: Empathy in Leadership Reflects God's Love
The humanity of the priests allowed them to empathize with the people they served, understanding their struggles and weaknesses. Similarly, our spiritual leaders today are called to understand and support us in our struggles, reflecting God's love and grace. This empathy is a powerful tool in ministry, as it allows leaders to connect with those they serve on a deeper level. It reminds us that God values relationships and desires for us to support one another in our faith journeys. As we reflect on this, we are encouraged to appreciate the empathy and understanding our leaders offer and to extend the same to others. [09:04]
Hebrews 5:1-2 (ESV): "For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness."
Reflection: Consider a leader in your life who has shown empathy and understanding. How can you express your gratitude to them this week?
Day 3: Jesus, Our Perfect High Priest
Jesus Christ, our ultimate High Priest, is both fully human and fully divine. His unique nature allows Him to sympathize with our weaknesses while offering us the strength and grace to overcome sin. Unlike the priests of old, Jesus is without sin, making Him the perfect mediator between a holy God and sinful humanity. His life, death, and resurrection provide us with the hope of salvation and the assurance that we can approach God with confidence. This truth invites us to rely on Jesus as our mediator and to trust in His ability to guide us through our spiritual journey. [20:22]
Hebrews 4:15-16 (ESV): "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need Jesus' strength and grace today? How can you invite Him into that area?
Day 4: The Gift of Spiritual Leaders
Our spiritual leaders, like the priests of old, are gifts from God, chosen to guide and support us in our faith journey. They are human, sharing in our struggles and triumphs, yet they are called to a special role in our spiritual growth. We are encouraged to support and pray for them, recognizing their role as vessels of God's grace in our lives. This acknowledgment not only strengthens our relationship with our leaders but also enhances our own spiritual journey as we learn from their wisdom and guidance. [12:25]
1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 (ESV): "We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves."
Reflection: How can you actively support and pray for your spiritual leaders this week? What specific actions can you take to show your appreciation for their guidance?
Day 5: Jesus Invites Us to Come to Him
Jesus invites us to come to Him with our doubts, fears, and sins. He offers us the assurance of His love and the power to overcome, making Him the perfect mediator between us and God. This invitation is a reminder of His constant presence and willingness to help us grow in faith. As we bring our burdens to Jesus, we find the strength to overcome challenges and the grace to continue our spiritual journey. This truth encourages us to approach Jesus with confidence, knowing that He is always ready to receive us with open arms. [22:58]
Matthew 11:28-30 (ESV): "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."
Reflection: What burden are you carrying today that you need to bring to Jesus? How can you take a step towards surrendering it to Him right now?
Quotes
HYDE: We live in a world that is stained by sin, just like our forefathers, the Israelites, out in the wilderness. Our world is the same as their world, but as we no doubt know, our world is also very, very different. Let me give you a couple of examples that give us a contrast as we think about the tabernacle and the life of the Israelites around that tabernacle and what does that say to us about our relationship with God. [00:00:09]
And the main concern here we see in Exodus 28 as we again continue through a little series on the tabernacle and our relationship with God, we see here the priests' garments, the High Priest in particular. There were eight articles of clothing that he was to wear when he served and ministered and did his priestly duties. He had a breastpiece, he had the ephod, a robe, a coat of checkered work, a turban upon his head, a sash around him and a plate of pure gold for his forehead with linen undergarments. [00:02:09]
First, in God's infinite wisdom, He uses the means of humans to accomplish his eternal sovereign purposes in his wisdom. He's chosen to use us, to use people. The creator of the universe, He's free to work above of his creation, apart from his creation, beyond any means. He doesn't need anything yet He chooses to use those that are his creations to serve Him in the world. [00:04:36]
And so with the priests of Israel, He pulls out of the congregation a small group of men to be his servants, to act as his hands, to be his mouthpieces to the people. Second of all, the Lord uses men because they know best how to serve their fellow sinners. Now, which tribe do the priests come from? They come from the tribe of Levi, right? The Levites, we call them. [00:05:43]
Yet God in his grace chooses this angry and violent man to use him to make priests to illustrate to the rest of these sinners. In their own hearts, these are all angry and violent sinners. He wants to illustrate to all these sinners that He was going to provide for them ministers, servants, who totally knew what it was to be a sinner -- to sympathize, to empathize with their weaknesses. [00:07:22]
The priests of Israel could deal with the ignorant and the wayward because they themselves are ignorant and wayward, because they themselves came from an ignorant and wayward people, from among the people (Exodus 28:1). John Calvin says this, summarizing this point, he says, "The whole body of the people, all the Israelites, saw a man like themselves who could not enter the sanctuary trusting in his own innocence." [00:10:29]
Well, God says this to us as we reflect upon the truthfulness of God drawing out of the rest of us, some to serve us, that as the recipients of a ministry from men, from humans, from sinners like ourselves, we are called to rejoice in that because this is a picture to us of the immense love of God. He's not left us alone in our sins to find Him; God has provided us with servants to act on behalf of men in relation to God, as Hebrews 5:1 says again. [00:11:31]
Thomas Manton, a great Puritan preacher, said it like this. He spoke about Jesus Christ and he said that, "Ministers, like Jesus Christ, know what it is to be tempted by the devil." Think about Matthew 4 -- Jesus' temptation. Ministers know what it is to be tempted by the devil. God allows your pastor to be tempted so that they might be used "for the recovery of poor souls out of their bondage into the liberty of the children of God." [00:12:33]
And so like the priests in the tabernacle, as a minister, I can't help people who are in bondage to sin and struggle unless I know what it is to be a filthy, rotten, scoundrel myself. Thomas Manton again says it like this -- "Ministers should not only be men of science, but of experience," not just men who know a lot, that's what science is, knowledge, but men of experience. Your minister knows your weaknesses, pray for him and his. [00:15:05]
We, too, need a priest who is of the people, who is a human just like us. But we need one who is, although like us, different from us, one who's not a sinner, one who's been tempted as we have been in every single point but hasn't given in to sin, has resisted, has fought and has one. We need a high priest who can stand between God and us, a holy God and us, a sinful people because we can't save ourselves. [00:18:26]
The priesthood teaches us about Christ ultimately, his person, his work. He's our priest. He shares in our flesh and blood. Hebrews 2 tells us that He shares in our flesh and blood, our true humanity. He's made like us in every point to be merciful and to be faithful to us and for us. As Hebrews 2:18 says, "He has Himself suffered when tempted." Because of that, He is able to sympathize with us in our weaknesses, to enter into our weaknesses and sufferings and woes, yet without sin. [00:19:41]
Jesus Christ is this great High Priest for us in our salvation, and because of who He is, He speaks to us as sinners and He invites us, He invites us to come to Him with our ignorance, with our waywardness, with our sins, with our weaknesses to come, He says. He invites us to come if we've never trusted in Him before. He invites us to come if we have struggles with our faith. He invites us to come with our doubts. [00:22:36]
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