Jesus the Great High Priest: Enter With Confidence

The congregation celebrates the risen and ascended Christ who now serves as the great high priest, having passed through the heavenly holy places into the very presence of God. Scripture unfolds the contrast between the earthly tabernacle—its thick veil, annual rites, and fragile sacrifices—and the once-for-all offering of the Son, who entered the true heavenly sanctuary with his own blood. That entrance secures atonement, seating Christ at the Father’s right hand until all enemies become his footstool and the promised consummation arrives.

Hebrews frames this work as both finished and personal: the Son has gone where no human priest could go, and he did so bearing the sins of his people. The text stresses that Jesus experienced testing and temptation in ways like those of humanity, yet he remained without sin. Because of that fidelity he can sympathize deeply with human weakness and intercede with authority. This dual reality—victory accomplished, empathy offered—gives believers the right and reason to approach God’s throne.

The writer calls for firm, living faith: hold fast the confession, refuse hard-hearted rebellion, and enter the rest God provides. The torn temple veil illustrates that access to God is now open, but entry comes only by repentance and faith in the crucified, risen, and ascended Son. Drawing near does not presume moral perfection; it rests on Christ’s perfect work credited to those who trust him.

Practical life flows from these truths. Worship, sacrament, and prayer become means of receiving mercy and grace in times of need because the great high priest both understands and intercedes. Communion becomes a present participation with the risen Lord through the Spirit, a foretaste of the marriage feast to come. The reading, confession, and prayers throughout the service reinforce a posture of dependence on Christ alone for salvation, guidance, and sustaining strength amid trials.

Key Takeaways

• 1. The risen Christ is ascended The resurrection culminates in ascension: the Son has passed into the heavenly presence and sits at the Father’s right hand. That placement proves the efficacy of his sacrifice and marks the beginning of his reign as king and priest. Believers gain assurance in their standing because the one who intercedes has conquered death and now rules with authority. [54:58]
• 2. He entered the heavenly holy places The earthly temple served as a copy; the Son entered the true sanctuary in heaven with his own blood. That entry does not repeat sacrifices but fulfills them, bringing definitive atonement and opening direct access to God. Understanding this shifts worship from ritual repetition to thankfulness for a finished work. [64:12]
• 3. He was tempted yet without sin The Son faced trials, loneliness, sorrow, and the tempter’s lures in ways akin to human experience, but he never yielded to sin. That sinlessness qualifies him to be both Savior and sympathetic intercessor. Believers find in him a mediator who truly understands human weakness without sharing its guilt. [68:46]
• 4. Draw near to the throne confidently Because Christ has entered and intercedes, approach to God becomes bold, not brazen—seeking mercy and finding grace in time of need. Confidence rests on his priestly work, not on human merit; it invites honest need and trustful dependence. This confidence calls for repentance, steady confession, and perseverance in faith. [52:21]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [11:36] - Announcements and Calendar
• [15:34] - Call to Worship
• [22:24] - Confession and First Peter Reading
• [26:54] - Assurance from Psalm 32
• [32:05] - Apostles’ Creed
• [33:41] - Psalm 24 Scripture Reading
• [39:08] - Prayers for Church and World
• [51:22] - Hebrews Reading (Hebrews 4:12–16)
• [54:58] - Exposition: The Ascended High Priest
• [64:12] - How Jesus Entered the Heavens
• [68:46] - Temptation, Sympathy, and Sinlessness
• [77:30] - Application: Draw Near in Confidence
• [87:55] - Communion: Participation with the Risen Lord
• [104:24] - Benediction and Sending

1. According to Hebrews 4:14, where has our great high priest gone?
2. What two things does verse 16 say we can receive when we draw near to God's throne?
3. The sermon described the earthly temple's most holy place as being separated by a thick curtain. What happened to that curtain when Jesus died? [01:15:29]
4. What does the sermon say Jesus carried with him when he entered the true heavenly sanctuary? [01:12:47]

1. The passage says Jesus can "sympathize with our weaknesses." What are some of the specific human experiences, as mentioned in the sermon, that Jesus went through which allow him to relate to us? [01:09:47]
2. Why is it significant that Jesus entered the "true" heavenly sanctuary rather than the earthly copy? What does this tell us about the finality of his work?
3. The sermon contrasts the confidence of Israel entering a conquered Promised Land versus an unconquered one. How does Jesus' finished work change our confidence in approaching God? [01:19:14]
4. The text says we can draw near "with confidence." Is this a confidence in ourselves or in something else? What is the basis for this boldness?

1. The torn curtain means the way to God is now open. What does it look like for you to regularly "ascend the hill of the Lord" and draw near to God's throne in your daily life?
2. Jesus knows every fear, worry, and temptation we face. How does the truth that he truly understands your specific struggles change how you pray about them this week? [01:14:00]
3. The passage encourages us to approach God's throne to "find grace to help in time of need." What is a current "time of need" in your life where you need to consciously rely on this available grace instead of trying to handle it on your own?
4. Holding fast to our confession means our trust is in Christ alone. Where are you most tempted to place your confidence instead of Jesus—in your own abilities, other people, or certain circumstances? [01:21:26]
5. Because Jesus is a sympathetic high priest, we can be completely honest with God about our weaknesses and failures. Is there an area of your life you've been hesitant to bring to God because of shame? How can this truth encourage you to be open with him?
6. The sermon described communion as a present participation with the risen Lord. How can regularly remembering Jesus' sacrifice and victory through the Lord's Supper strengthen your faith and your sense of connection to him? [01:28:41]