Jesus: Our Transcendent and Sympathetic High Priest
Summary
In today's gathering, we focused on the profound truth of Jesus Christ as our great high priest, a role that is both transcendent and deeply sympathetic to our human struggles. We began by celebrating the new life we have in Christ, emphasizing the importance of being "born again" and living out our faith through good works. This is a call to turn away from evil and pursue peace, as highlighted in Psalm 34:14. We also took time to reflect on the upcoming Easter celebrations and the various events planned to foster community and spiritual growth.
The heart of our discussion centered on the book of Hebrews, where we explored the context and purpose of the letter. The original recipients were weary Christians, tempted to revert to Judaism to escape persecution. The author of Hebrews encourages them—and us—not to turn back but to hold fast to our confession of faith. This is possible because Jesus, our high priest, is both transcendent, having passed through the heavens, and sympathetic, having been tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin.
We are reminded that Jesus is the only mediator between God and humanity, making Him the perfect high priest who understands our weaknesses and intercedes on our behalf. This understanding should lead us to confidently approach the throne of grace, seeking mercy and grace in our times of need. Prayer becomes a vital practice, a means by which we draw near to God, relying on Jesus' perfect sacrifice for our sins.
As we concluded, we participated in the Lord's Table, a powerful reminder of Christ's sacrifice and our peace with God through Him. This act of communion is not just a ritual but a declaration of our faith and a source of spiritual nourishment, encouraging us to remain steadfast in our journey of faith.
Key Takeaways:
- New Life in Christ: Embrace the transformative power of being "born again" in Christ. This new life calls us to turn away from evil and pursue peace, living out our faith through good works as a testimony to the world. [16:31]
- Understanding Our High Priest: Jesus, as our great high priest, is both transcendent and sympathetic. He has passed through the heavens and understands our struggles, having been tempted in every way yet without sin. This dual nature makes Him the perfect mediator between God and humanity. [39:53]
- The Importance of Prayer: Prayer is a vital practice for holding fast to our confession of faith. Through prayer, we confidently approach the throne of grace, seeking mercy and grace in our times of need, knowing that Jesus intercedes on our behalf. [54:04]
- The Role of Communion: The Lord's Table is a powerful reminder of Christ's sacrifice and our peace with God through Him. It is a declaration of our faith and a source of spiritual nourishment, encouraging us to remain steadfast in our journey of faith. [01:00:06]
- Encouragement for the Weary: For those feeling weary and tempted to give up, remember that Jesus is our perfect high priest who understands our struggles and is here to help. We are encouraged to run to Him for strength and support in our spiritual journey. [01:07:38]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:30] - New Life in Christ
- [02:15] - Announcements and Upcoming Events
- [05:45] - Easter Preparations
- [08:30] - Weekly Verse: Psalm 34:14
- [10:00] - Prayer for Guidance and Support
- [12:00] - Introduction to Hebrews
- [16:31] - Context of Hebrews
- [20:00] - The Audience of Hebrews
- [25:00] - The Author's Intent
- [30:00] - Jesus as Our High Priest
- [39:53] - The Transcendence and Sympathy of Christ
- [54:04] - The Power of Prayer
- [01:00:06] - Communion: A Reminder of Christ's Sacrifice
- [01:07:38] - Encouragement for the Weary
- [01:17:07] - Closing Prayer and Benediction
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Hebrews 4:14-16
- Psalm 34:14
- 1 Timothy 2:5
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Observation Questions:
1. What does Hebrews 4:14-16 tell us about Jesus' role as our high priest? How is He described in terms of His ability to sympathize with our weaknesses? [43:43]
2. According to Psalm 34:14, what actions are we encouraged to take in our daily lives? How does this relate to the concept of being "born again"? [16:31]
3. In 1 Timothy 2:5, who is identified as the mediator between God and humanity? How does this reinforce the message in Hebrews about Jesus' unique role? [54:04]
4. How does the sermon describe the original audience of the book of Hebrews, and what challenges were they facing? [39:53]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does understanding Jesus as both transcendent and sympathetic impact a believer's approach to prayer and seeking help in times of need? [54:04]
2. What does it mean to "hold fast to our confession of faith," and why is this emphasized in the sermon? How does this relate to the role of Jesus as our high priest? [01:00:06]
3. The sermon mentions the importance of turning away from evil and pursuing peace. How might this be practically applied in the life of a believer today? [16:31]
4. How does the concept of Jesus as the perfect high priest provide encouragement to those who are weary and tempted to give up? [01:07:38]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you felt weary or tempted to give up in your faith journey. How can the understanding of Jesus as your high priest encourage you to persevere? [01:07:38]
2. In what ways can you incorporate the practice of prayer more intentionally into your daily routine, knowing that Jesus intercedes on your behalf? [54:04]
3. Psalm 34:14 encourages us to turn away from evil and pursue peace. Identify one area in your life where you can actively seek peace this week. What steps will you take? [16:31]
4. The sermon emphasizes the importance of being "born again" and living out our faith through good works. What is one specific good work you can commit to this week as a testimony to your faith? [16:31]
5. How can participating in communion serve as a reminder of Christ's sacrifice and encourage you to remain steadfast in your faith journey? [01:00:06]
6. Consider the role of community in your spiritual growth. How can you engage more deeply with your church community to foster spiritual growth and encouragement? [01:00:06]
7. Identify a specific struggle or temptation you are currently facing. How can you rely on Jesus' understanding and sympathy to help you overcome it? [54:04]
Devotional
Day 1: Embrace New Life in Christ
In Christ, believers are called to experience a transformative new life, characterized by being "born again." This new life is not merely a change in status but a call to action, urging individuals to turn away from evil and actively pursue peace. Living out one's faith through good works serves as a testimony to the world, demonstrating the profound change that occurs when one is in Christ. This transformation is a daily journey, requiring intentional choices to align one's actions with the teachings of Jesus. [16:31]
1 Peter 1:23-25 (ESV): "Since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; for 'All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord remains forever.' And this word is the good news that was preached to you."
Reflection: Identify one area in your life where you can actively turn away from evil and pursue peace today. How can you demonstrate your new life in Christ through your actions?
Day 2: Jesus, Our Sympathetic High Priest
Jesus serves as our great high priest, embodying both transcendence and sympathy. He has passed through the heavens, yet He understands our human struggles, having been tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin. This dual nature makes Him the perfect mediator between God and humanity, offering a unique understanding of our weaknesses. Believers are encouraged to hold fast to their confession of faith, knowing that Jesus intercedes on their behalf, providing strength and support in times of need. [39:53]
Hebrews 4:14-16 (ESV): "Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 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: Reflect on a recent struggle or temptation you faced. How does knowing that Jesus understands your struggles and intercedes for you change your perspective on this situation?
Day 3: The Power of Prayer
Prayer is a vital practice for believers, serving as a means to hold fast to their confession of faith. Through prayer, individuals confidently approach the throne of grace, seeking mercy and grace in their times of need. Knowing that Jesus intercedes on their behalf, believers can rely on His perfect sacrifice for their sins, drawing near to God with confidence. Prayer is not just a ritual but a powerful tool for spiritual growth and connection with God. [54:04]
James 5:16 (ESV): "Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working."
Reflection: Consider your current prayer life. What is one specific way you can deepen your prayer practice this week to draw nearer to God?
Day 4: Communion as a Declaration of Faith
The Lord's Table is a powerful reminder of Christ's sacrifice and the peace believers have with God through Him. This act of communion is not just a ritual but a declaration of faith and a source of spiritual nourishment. It encourages believers to remain steadfast in their journey of faith, reminding them of the unity they share with Christ and with one another. Participating in communion is an opportunity to reflect on the significance of Christ's sacrifice and to renew one's commitment to living out their faith. [01:00:06]
1 Corinthians 10:16-17 (ESV): "The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread."
Reflection: As you prepare for the next communion service, take time to reflect on the significance of Christ's sacrifice. How can you live out this declaration of faith in your daily life?
Day 5: Encouragement for the Weary
For those feeling weary and tempted to give up, the reminder that Jesus is our perfect high priest who understands our struggles is a source of encouragement. Believers are encouraged to run to Him for strength and support in their spiritual journey. Jesus' understanding and intercession provide the assurance that they are not alone in their struggles. This encouragement is a call to persevere, trusting in Jesus' strength and guidance to navigate the challenges of life. [01:07:38]
Isaiah 40:29-31 (ESV): "He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint."
Reflection: Think of a specific challenge you are currently facing. How can you rely on Jesus' strength and understanding to persevere through this situation?
Quotes
"Good to see everyone here. Glad that we can gather once again and worship Jesus Christ. We are so thankful that he does provide salvation. We are in new life. This is why people are called born again, right? This is why John records Jesus saying we must be born again. That song we just sang about, right? You know, that when Christ saves us, we run out of that grave, new life in him. And that's what we're celebrating here. That's what we're trying to encourage one another to live for Christ by gathering today. And maybe you're here today and you don't have that relationship with Christ. And we pray that today that changes, that today's the day that you understand Christ as your Savior." [00:07:53] (44 seconds)
"Turn away from evil and do good. Seek peace and pursue it. Remember, this is in the context. In verse 11, I think it is, that he has just said, let me teach you what the fear of the Lord is. That's what these next few verses, including this one, is all about. And so in that context, understanding that he's saying this is the fear of the Lord, he says part of that is you turn away from evil and you do good. You seek peace and you pursue it. And so this is what we're called to do. We're called as followers of God to turn away from evil and to do good works, right? That's why God saves us." [00:12:41] (35 seconds)
"So one of the things that we know about them is, as we read through this, is that they were confessing Christians. These were people who had confessed Christ, and so they were people who were, at one point in time, they had decided to align themselves with Jesus Christ, and they were most likely from a Jewish background, and so they had turned away from Judaism and followed Christianity and followed Christ, okay? We know from chapter 10 that they had endured persecution. It says in verse 32 of chapter 10, but recall the former days when after you were enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings, sometimes being publicly exposed to reproach and affliction, sometimes being partnered with those so treated, for you had compassion on those in prison, and listen to this, you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession than an abiding one." [00:35:00] (60 seconds)
"They were people who were weary from the life, from the fight. We know in chapter 12, verse 1, it says, let us run with endurance the race that is set before him. He says in verse 3, consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against themselves so that you may not grow weary or faint -hearted. And so these are people who are struggling. And this is why in chapter 12, in verse 12, he says, therefore, lift up your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees. So he's writing to people who are tired and they're weary and they're being worn out. And as we've said all along, they're considering giving up. They're considering going back to Judaism. They're considering that maybe that this isn't worth it anymore." [00:37:28] (45 seconds)
"We get the sense that he had a pastoral relationship with them by the way he describes his letter and the way he talks to them and the way he writes it. It feels very sermonic. And someone who's associated with and knows these people well. Like I just read in chapter 10 when he says, remember the former days. He knew what they had gone through. He was very closely associated with them. But he was writing to encourage them. That's the main point. And we need to understand that when we're interpreting this book, we need to interpret it with the intention of the original author. And so in chapter 13, verse 22, he says, I appeal to you, brothers, bear with my word of exhortation, which I have written to you briefly." [00:38:17] (44 seconds)
"This is his word of exhortation, overall purpose, word of exhortation, chapter 13, verse 22, but then we see how he's doing that, and it's through reminders and through warnings. That's what he's trying to do here. So, when we get into these passages that we've been doing, it's helpful to remember what is the author trying to do here. So, the reminders is he's trying to remind them that Jesus is better. You're talking about leaving Jesus and going back, but Jesus is better. He's reminding them that. He's basically saying, Jesus is better than what you're considering going back to, and furthermore, he's better than any other possibility." [00:39:52] (38 seconds)
"And so, that's what he's really trying to warn them and say, listen, you're considering this, but you don't understand this. If you apostatize, if you turn away, if you renounce Jesus, if you deny him, you're denying your only hope of eternal rest. And so, he's warning them of this. So, the encouragement, the word of exhortation, the reminders, and the warnings. So, fundamentally, his reminders and his warnings are meant to encourage, and we see that in chapter 6. Chapter 6, we're going to get into that. It's a very tough text that we're looking forward to going through. But in verse 9, he says, Though we speak in this way, yet, in your case, beloved, we feel sure of better things, things that belong to salvation." [00:40:46] (41 seconds)
"So, what is this text teaching us? First of all, the text is teaching us that we have a great high priest. That's really what it says. It says, seeing then, verse 14, that we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God. So, we need to remind ourselves, first of all, okay, what is a priest? Okay, what is a high priest? Well, why, you know, one of the reasons why we believe that this was written to a Jewish audience or an audience with a Jewish background, one of the evidences, and there are several, but is that he doesn't have to explain any of this stuff. He just says these things, and he anticipates, he assumes that they're going to know what he's talking about here because of their background." [00:45:27] (38 seconds)
"How much better is it to have a representative who is in the presence of God, who is God, than to have a representative who is on earth and a human, right? So this is what he's trying to make the contrast. Remember, zoomed out, larger picture, he's trying to encourage these people. He said, you want to go back to the system where now you have to go to these priests, and then every year they're going to have to go back, and then they're going to have to continually offer sacrifices. I'm getting ahead of myself here, but in a few weeks we're going to talk about, as we continue in chapter 5, of how they had to offer sacrifices for their own sins. And he says, Jesus doesn't have to do that. So he's a great high priest because he's transcendent." [00:51:41] (40 seconds)
"So he's transcendent, but he's sympathetic. This is why he is the great high priest, and he's tempted in every respect. Now, some people have debated this and said, well, how is this possible? Because we have sins today that were not available in Jesus' time. Do you think Jesus, I've had this conversation with someone, and they've said, well, do you think Jesus then was tempted by internet pornography? Well, of course not, because there was no internet in Jesus' day. So of course not. Well, then see, the Bible's wrong there, because it says he's tempted in every way, and he was not tempted in that way." [00:54:04] (40 seconds)
"Well, I mean, very quickly, many of you are doing the math right now in your head and figuring it out, how to answer that, is that it's not so much the specifics of it, it's the fundamental temptation underneath it all. Right? Okay? So it's the fundamental temptation underneath all of these sins. So, for instance, we have a story of Jesus, and this is in Luke chapter 4, where Jesus goes into wilderness. And by the way, interesting, in Luke 4, it says, Jesus being led by the Spirit to be tempted in the wilderness. So this was the plan. So he goes into the wilderness, and he'd been there for 40 days. He'd been fasting there for 40 days, and then Satan comes along and begins to tempt him. Now, I don't know about you, but when I'm hungry, I'm more easily tempted. All right? I think I'm convinced our ability to make good decisions proportionally decreases with the increase of hunger." [00:55:44] (61 seconds)
"That's what we have here, how we go to distance. Prayer works because we have direct access to the throne of grace through our great high priest. If it wasn't for Jesus, we don't have direct access to God. He is the mediator. He is the go -between. So this is why we don't pray to anyone else. We pray in the name of Jesus because he is the one who gives us access to God. So what can we expect if we boldly draw near in prayer? Mercy, it says there, which is not getting what we deserve. We can expect God's mercy to be shown towards us if we go to God in prayer. We deserve punishment for our sins. But because of Jesus Christ, we don't have to bear that." [01:04:56] (49 seconds)
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