Jesus: Our Compassionate High Priest and Advocate

 

Summary

In reflecting on the profound tenderness of Jesus as our High Priest, we are reminded of the depth of His compassion and the extent of His understanding of our human frailties. Jesus, unlike any earthly high priest, embodies both the majesty of divinity and the intimacy of humanity. He is not a distant figure but one who is deeply connected to our experiences, having been tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin. This unique position allows Him to empathize with our weaknesses and to intercede on our behalf with a heart full of love and understanding.

The role of the high priest in the Old Testament was one of mediation between God and humanity, a role that required immense tenderness and understanding. Jesus fulfills this role perfectly, not only because of His divine nature but also because of His human experiences. He knows the weight of our burdens and the depth of our sorrows, and He carries them with us. His heart is touched by our infirmities, and He offers us a place of refuge and strength.

Moreover, Jesus' sinlessness does not distance Him from us; rather, it enhances His ability to sympathize with us. His perfect nature means that His compassion is pure and untainted by the hardness that sin can bring. He offers us a model of love and tenderness that we are called to emulate in our interactions with others. As followers of Christ, we are encouraged to cultivate a heart of compassion, to love and serve those in need, and to be a source of comfort and support to those who are suffering.

In our own lives, we are invited to approach Jesus with confidence, knowing that He understands our struggles and is eager to help us. His invitation is open to all who are weary and burdened, offering rest and peace to those who come to Him. As we reflect on His tenderness, let us be inspired to live lives marked by love, compassion, and a deep commitment to serving others in His name.

Key Takeaways:

1. Jesus as Our High Priest: Jesus fulfills the role of the high priest by mediating between God and humanity with unparalleled tenderness and understanding. His divine nature and human experiences allow Him to empathize deeply with our struggles and intercede on our behalf. [03:16]

2. Empathy Through Experience: Jesus' life on earth, marked by trials and temptations, equips Him to understand our weaknesses intimately. His empathy is not just a matter of knowledge but of shared experience, making Him a compassionate advocate for us. [12:24]

3. Sinlessness and Sympathy: Jesus' sinlessness enhances His ability to sympathize with us. His perfect nature ensures that His compassion is pure and untainted, offering us a model of love and tenderness that we are called to emulate. [45:11]

4. Invitation to Rest: Jesus invites all who are weary and burdened to come to Him for rest. His heart is open to those who seek refuge, offering peace and strength to those who approach Him with their struggles. [23:40]

5. Call to Compassion: As followers of Christ, we are called to cultivate a heart of compassion, serving those in need and being a source of comfort and support. Our love for others should be practical and active, reflecting the tenderness of Jesus. [49:33]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:08] - Introduction to Jesus as High Priest
- [00:37] - The Substance of the Law in Christ
- [01:17] - Personal Possession of Blessings
- [02:47] - Boldly Approaching the Throne
- [03:16] - Jesus' Kinship and Love
- [04:44] - Our Merciful High Priest
- [06:23] - The Greatness of Our High Priest
- [07:25] - Jesus' Tenderness and Compassion
- [09:12] - The High Priest's Role in Communicating with God
- [12:24] - Jesus' Empathy Through Experience
- [15:05] - Dealing with Sin and Judgment
- [18:01] - Consoling the Sorrowful
- [20:04] - Instruction and Reproof
- [23:40] - Invitation to Rest in Jesus
- [24:24] - Jesus' Tender Feelings
- [30:03] - Jesus' Tender Nature
- [37:24] - Jesus' Tender Training
- [45:11] - Sinlessness and Sympathy
- [49:33] - Call to Compassion

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
- Hebrews 4:15: "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin."

#### Observation Questions
1. How does the sermon describe Jesus' role as our High Priest in comparison to the high priests of the Old Testament? [00:20]
2. What are some specific ways the sermon mentions that Jesus empathizes with our weaknesses? [03:16]
3. According to the sermon, how does Jesus' sinlessness enhance His ability to sympathize with us? [45:11]
4. What invitation does Jesus extend to those who are weary and burdened, as mentioned in the sermon? [23:40]

#### Interpretation Questions
1. In what ways does Jesus' experience of temptation equip Him to be a compassionate advocate for us? [12:24]
2. How does the sermon suggest that Jesus' perfect nature influences His ability to offer pure compassion? [45:11]
3. What does the sermon imply about the relationship between Jesus' divinity and His ability to empathize with human struggles? [03:16]
4. How does the sermon encourage believers to emulate Jesus' model of love and tenderness in their interactions with others? [49:33]

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt burdened or weary. How can you approach Jesus with confidence, knowing He understands your struggles? [23:40]
2. Jesus offers a model of love and tenderness. What is one practical way you can show compassion to someone in need this week? [49:33]
3. Consider a personal weakness or struggle. How does knowing that Jesus empathizes with your weaknesses change your perspective on this issue? [03:16]
4. How can you cultivate a heart of compassion in your daily life, following Jesus' example as described in the sermon? [49:33]
5. Think of a situation where you might have been judgmental or lacked empathy. How can you change your approach to reflect Jesus' tenderness and understanding? [45:11]
6. Identify a person in your life who is going through a difficult time. What specific action can you take to be a source of comfort and support to them? [49:33]
7. How can you make time in your daily routine to rest in Jesus' presence and find peace amidst life's challenges? [23:40]

Devotional

Day 1: Jesus as Our Compassionate Mediator
Jesus, as our High Priest, stands uniquely as a mediator between God and humanity, embodying both divine majesty and human intimacy. Unlike any earthly high priest, His role is marked by profound tenderness and understanding. His divine nature and human experiences allow Him to empathize deeply with our struggles and intercede on our behalf. Jesus is not a distant figure; He is deeply connected to our experiences, having been tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin. This unique position allows Him to empathize with our weaknesses and to intercede on our behalf with a heart full of love and understanding. [03:16]

"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." (Hebrews 4:15, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you invite Jesus into your daily struggles, knowing He understands and empathizes with your weaknesses?


Day 2: Empathy Through Shared Experience
Jesus' life on earth, marked by trials and temptations, equips Him to understand our weaknesses intimately. His empathy is not just a matter of knowledge but of shared experience, making Him a compassionate advocate for us. He knows the weight of our burdens and the depth of our sorrows, and He carries them with us. His heart is touched by our infirmities, and He offers us a place of refuge and strength. This shared experience with humanity allows Jesus to be a source of comfort and support, offering us a model of love and tenderness that we are called to emulate. [12:24]

"For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted." (Hebrews 2:18, ESV)

Reflection: How can you draw on Jesus' shared experiences to find strength in your own trials today?


Day 3: Sinlessness Enhances Sympathy
Jesus' sinlessness does not distance Him from us; rather, it enhances His ability to sympathize with us. His perfect nature ensures that His compassion is pure and untainted by the hardness that sin can bring. He offers us a model of love and tenderness that we are called to emulate in our interactions with others. As followers of Christ, we are encouraged to cultivate a heart of compassion, to love and serve those in need, and to be a source of comfort and support to those who are suffering. [45:11]

"For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens." (Hebrews 7:26, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you reflect Jesus' pure compassion in your interactions with others today?


Day 4: Invitation to Rest and Peace
Jesus invites all who are weary and burdened to come to Him for rest. His heart is open to those who seek refuge, offering peace and strength to those who approach Him with their struggles. In our own lives, we are invited to approach Jesus with confidence, knowing that He understands our struggles and is eager to help us. His invitation is open to all who are weary and burdened, offering rest and peace to those who come to Him. [23:40]

"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." (Matthew 11:28-29, ESV)

Reflection: What burdens can you lay at Jesus' feet today to find rest and peace in Him?


Day 5: Call to Active Compassion
As followers of Christ, we are called to cultivate a heart of compassion, serving those in need and being a source of comfort and support. Our love for others should be practical and active, reflecting the tenderness of Jesus. We are encouraged to emulate His model of love and tenderness in our interactions with others, offering a place of refuge and strength to those who are suffering. This call to compassion is a call to action, inviting us to be the hands and feet of Jesus in a world that desperately needs His love. [49:33]

"Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." (Galatians 6:2, ESV)

Reflection: Who in your life can you reach out to today with a practical act of compassion?

Quotes


Beloved, we have a high priest, all that Israel had under the law we still retain, only we have the substance of which they had only the shadow. We have an altar whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle. We have a sacrifice which being once offered forever avails. We have one greater than the temple, and he is to us the mercy seat and the high priest. [00:23:36]

It is precious to reflect that Jesus as high priest is still ours, though according to the text, he is passed into the heavens. He does not forget us now that he has passed through the lower heavens into the heaven of heavens where he reigns supreme in his Father's glory. He is still touched with a feeling of our infirmities. [00:55:12]

Great as he is, our high priest is not one who cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities. He puts a negative on that fear which might naturally arise in trembling bosoms. This morning, being myself more than usually compass with infirmities, I desire to speak as a weak and suffering preacher of that high priest who is full of compassion. [00:07:25]

Let no man be afraid of him who is the embodiment of gentleness and compassion. Though conscious of your own infirmities, you may feel free to come to him who will not break the bruise read nor quench the smoking flax. I want to speak so tenderly that even the despairing may look up and may feel a drawing towards our beloved master. [00:08:48]

The high priest had to be a man who could commune with God and hearken to the sacred oracle, and then he was bound to come out to commonplace men of the wilderness or men of the farm and tell them what he had heard in secret from the infinite God. He must mediate and allow his mouth to be God's mouth to the people. [00:10:34]

Our high priest is quite at home with mourners and enters into their case as a good physician understands the symptoms of his patients. When we tell our Lord the story of our inward grief, he understands it better than we do. He rightly reads our case and then wisely presents it before the majesty on high, pleading his sacrifice. [00:13:24]

Jesus will make no mistake as to your meaning, dear friend, even though you should be as one drunken with sorrow. Go to your chamber all alone, tell Jesus your trouble, and he will meet it in the fullest of his compassion and wisdom. Through him, the comforter shall come to you and your sorrow shall be turned into joy. [00:18:08]

Our Lord Jesus Christ tells us our faults in terms of love. His rebukes never break the heart. He never upbraids in bitterness, though he does so in faithfulness. Oh, the tenderness of Christ! I feel my subject deeply, but I cannot speak it as I would. He has been most gracious in correcting me. [00:20:29]

Our Lord is not only tender of nature but quick of understanding as to the infirmities of men. Want of sense often prevents men being sensitive and sympathetic. If you have never suffered under disease, you need a little imagination to realize it, so as to be touched with the feeling of it. [00:31:55]

Our blessed Lord had real experience and beside that the faculty of being able to put himself into the place of sufferers and so to be acquainted with grief. His quick understanding made him realize as high priest the sorrows of his people. Too many people are so wrapped up in their own grief that they have no room in their souls for sympathy. [00:34:38]

Beloved, our Lord has endured so much of temptation that he will be tender towards you this morning, touch with the feeling of your infirmities because tempted at all points as you are, even though temptation follows you as the serpent which biteth at the horse's heels, your Lord knows it and will deliver you. [00:44:30]

Rejoice, you people of God, rejoice in this that the sinless one has perfect sympathy with you in your infirmities. He sympathizes all the more graciously because he is without sin. I have done when I have said this: if our Lord was thus sympathetic, let us be tender to our fellow men. [00:47:36]

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Transcript
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