In today's gathering, we explored the profound significance of Christ as our greater high priest, a theme that resonates deeply as we approach the Lenten season. Lent, a time of spiritual reflection and preparation, leads us to the pivotal events of the crucifixion and resurrection. While some may choose to observe Lent through traditional practices, the essence lies in preparing our hearts for the celebration of Christ's ultimate sacrifice and victory over death.

The sermon series, "Something Greater Is Here," draws from the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, where Jesus declares that something greater than Jonah and Solomon is present. This statement underscores the unparalleled nature of Christ's ministry and His role as the ultimate priest, prophet, and king. Unlike the temporary ceasefire offered by the law, Christ's sacrifice established a permanent peace treaty between God and humanity.

Christ's priesthood is unique and eternal. Unlike the high priests of old, who offered sacrifices annually, Jesus offered Himself once and for all, securing eternal redemption. His role as our high priest means He is our personal representative before God, understanding our human experience fully, yet without sin. This allows us to approach God's throne with confidence, knowing that we are represented by one who is both merciful and faithful.

The sermon emphasized the permanence of Christ's priesthood. Unlike the 83 high priests who served over 1,600 years, Christ's priesthood is eternal. He lives forever to intercede for us, ensuring that the peace agreement He mediated remains unbroken. This assurance allows us to live with confidence, knowing that our relationship with God is secure.

As we partake in communion, we remember Christ's sacrifice and celebrate the unity we have in Him. Communion is a reminder of the community we share as believers, united by the body and blood of Christ. It is an invitation to all who have accepted Christ, regardless of denominational background, to come and partake in this sacred meal.

**Key Takeaways:**

- **Christ as the Greater High Priest:** Christ's role as our high priest is unparalleled. Unlike the temporary ceasefire offered by the law, His sacrifice established a permanent peace treaty between God and humanity, allowing us to approach God with confidence. [43:19]

- **Personal Representation:** Jesus, fully human yet without sin, serves as our personal representative before God. He understands our struggles and intercedes on our behalf, offering us mercy and grace in our time of need. [47:37]

- **Eternal Priesthood:** Unlike the high priests of old, Christ's priesthood is eternal. He lives forever to intercede for us, ensuring that the peace agreement He mediated remains unbroken. This assurance allows us to live with confidence. [50:56]

- **Perfect Sacrifice:** Christ's sacrifice was once and for all, securing eternal redemption. His blood, unlike the blood of goats and calves, is perfect and covers us forever, offering us a permanent relationship with God. [57:07]

- **Communion as a Celebration of Unity:** Communion is a reminder of the community we share as believers, united by the body and blood of Christ. It is an invitation to all who have accepted Christ to partake in this sacred meal, celebrating the unity we have in Him. [01:14:07]

**Youtube Chapters:**

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:30] - Introduction to Lent
- [03:15] - The Significance of Passover
- [06:45] - Preaching Calendar Overview
- [10:20] - Series Introduction: Something Greater Is Here
- [14:00] - Christ's Authority and Teachings
- [18:30] - The Pharisees' Challenge
- [22:10] - The Greater Priesthood of Christ
- [26:45] - Christ as Our Personal Representative
- [31:00] - The Role of the High Priest
- [35:20] - Christ's Perfect Sacrifice
- [40:00] - Eternal Redemption Through Christ
- [45:30] - Communion: A Celebration of Unity
- [50:00] - Invitation to Communion
- [55:00] - Closing Blessing and Dismissal

**Bible Study Discussion Guide**

**Bible Reading:**
1. Hebrews 2:17 - "For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people."
2. Hebrews 4:14-16 - "Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, 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 empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."
3. Hebrews 9:12 - "He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption."

**Observation Questions:**
1. What does it mean for Christ to be our "greater high priest" as described in the sermon? [43:19]
2. How does the sermon describe the difference between the temporary ceasefire of the law and the permanent peace treaty established by Christ? [43:19]
3. According to the sermon, what is the significance of Christ's eternal priesthood compared to the high priests of old? [50:56]
4. How does the sermon explain the role of communion in celebrating the unity of believers? [01:14:07]

**Interpretation Questions:**
1. How does Christ's role as a personal representative before God impact the way believers approach God, according to the sermon? [47:37]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that Christ's sacrifice is perfect and eternal, and how does this affect the believer's relationship with God? [57:07]
3. What does the sermon imply about the confidence believers can have in their relationship with God due to Christ's eternal priesthood? [50:56]
4. How does the sermon describe the significance of Christ's intercession for believers, and what does this mean for their daily lives? [01:08:45]

**Application Questions:**
1. Reflect on a time when you felt distant from God. How does understanding Christ as your personal representative change your perspective on approaching God with confidence? [47:37]
2. The sermon emphasizes the permanence of Christ's priesthood. How does this assurance affect your daily walk with God, especially during challenging times? [50:56]
3. Communion is described as a celebration of unity among believers. How can you foster a sense of unity within your own church community, especially with those from different denominational backgrounds? [01:14:07]
4. Consider the idea of Christ's perfect sacrifice. How does this understanding influence the way you view forgiveness and redemption in your own life? [57:07]
5. The sermon highlights Christ's role in interceding for us. How can this knowledge encourage you to bring your needs and struggles to God more openly? [01:08:45]
6. How can you prepare your heart for the Lenten season in a way that honors Christ's ultimate sacrifice and victory over death? [43:19]
7. Reflect on the concept of Christ as the greater prophet, priest, and king. How can you apply this understanding to your personal faith journey and spiritual growth? [43:19]

Day 1: Christ's Sacrifice as a Permanent Peace Treaty
Christ's role as our high priest is unparalleled, establishing a permanent peace treaty between God and humanity. Unlike the temporary ceasefire offered by the law, His sacrifice allows us to approach God with confidence. This peace is not just a cessation of hostility but a deep, abiding relationship with God, made possible through Christ's ultimate sacrifice. As we reflect on this, we are reminded that our access to God is not based on our merit but on Christ's finished work. [43:19]

Hebrews 9:11-12 (ESV): "But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption."

Reflection: In what ways can you live out the peace Christ has secured for you in your daily interactions with others today?


Day 2: Jesus as Our Personal Representative
Jesus, fully human yet without sin, serves as our personal representative before God. He understands our struggles and intercedes on our behalf, offering us mercy and grace in our time of need. This personal representation means that we have someone who knows our weaknesses and advocates for us, ensuring that we receive the help we need. It is a profound comfort to know that we are not alone in our struggles, but have a Savior who is intimately acquainted with our human experience. [47:37]

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 specific struggle are you facing today that you can bring to Jesus, knowing He understands and intercedes for you?


Day 3: The Eternal Priesthood of Christ
Unlike the high priests of old, Christ's priesthood is eternal. He lives forever to intercede for us, ensuring that the peace agreement He mediated remains unbroken. This assurance allows us to live with confidence, knowing that our relationship with God is secure. The permanence of Christ's priesthood means that we have a constant advocate before the Father, one who is always working on our behalf. This eternal intercession is a source of great hope and stability in our faith journey. [50:56]

Hebrews 7:24-25 (ESV): "But he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them."

Reflection: How does the knowledge of Christ's eternal intercession impact your sense of security in your relationship with God today?


Day 4: The Perfect Sacrifice of Christ
Christ's sacrifice was once and for all, securing eternal redemption. His blood, unlike the blood of goats and calves, is perfect and covers us forever, offering us a permanent relationship with God. This perfect sacrifice means that we no longer need to strive for acceptance or forgiveness; it has already been accomplished through Christ. As we reflect on this truth, we are invited to rest in the assurance of our salvation and live out of the abundance of His grace. [57:07]

Hebrews 10:12-14 (ESV): "But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified."

Reflection: In what ways can you rest in the assurance of Christ's perfect sacrifice today, rather than striving for acceptance?


Day 5: Communion as a Celebration of Unity
Communion is a reminder of the community we share as believers, united by the body and blood of Christ. It is an invitation to all who have accepted Christ to partake in this sacred meal, celebrating the unity we have in Him. This act of communion is not just a ritual, but a profound expression of our shared faith and commitment to one another as the body of Christ. As we partake, we are reminded of the love and sacrifice that binds us together and are encouraged to live out this unity in our daily lives. [01:14:07]

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: How can you actively foster unity within your community of believers today, reflecting the unity we have in Christ?

And the law provided for a ceasefire that needed to be reenacted every year, one day a year, called the Holy Day of Atonement. There was never a peace accord ever developed that lasted between God and Israel. That's why they were given the law. That's why one day every year, the high priest would enter the Holy of Holies with the blood of an unblemished lamb or calf and sprinkle it on the mercy seat. And God would acknowledge the faith expressed and say, okay, I will sustain the ceasefire for one more year. [00:43:19] (33 seconds) Edit Clip


Then Christ came and he literally negotiated a peace treaty, an irrevocable peace treaty. And when he entered the throne room with all the hostility of humanity towards God and all the hatred of God towards sin, he actually was able to bring about what did not happen the other day. That's why he is the greater priest. [00:43:56] (28 seconds) Edit Clip


And so today we're gonna look at the book of Hebrews, a couple of different verses and a couple chapters, and understand that he is your personal representative. He paid the perfect price to produce this peace. And it shall permanently exist for those who are in Christ. That makes him by far the greater priest. [00:45:30] (23 seconds) Edit Clip


The book of Hebrews chapter 2, as we talk about him being our personal representative, says this, for this reason, he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest and service to God. In other words, he became like us so that he could understand everything about us and everything there was to be us. [00:45:50] (24 seconds) Edit Clip


It would be incorrect to think that there was anything about the human experience that could be said that Jesus did not experience, except committing sin. That's it. He even experienced the full consequences of sin. He experienced more consequences for your sin than you did. You paid temporary consequences. He experienced eternal condemnation for you as your personal representative. [00:46:29] (30 seconds) Edit Clip


And that's how we're represented. If he's your personal rep, he's the faithful high priest in service to God. The high priest was the one who, once a year, once a year, the high priest was allowed to go into the Holy of Holies. No one else. Just one time a year on the Day of Atonement, which always falls mid to late September at the latest early October. [00:48:37] (22 seconds) Edit Clip


When he walked into the Holy of Holies, he took you and me with him. Therefore, since we have a great high priest who ascended into heaven, Jesus said, Jesus said, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we possess. See, the high priest, when they die, right, their reign is over. Christ ascended into heaven. [00:50:56] (22 seconds) Edit Clip


And that should elevate our level of confidence. Okay? Because it's a permanent, personal representative who's there so that you can continue to receive mercy and grace in your hour of need. Every high priest is selected from among the people, Jesus included, and is appointed, Jesus included, to represent the people. Exactly. In matters related to God. [00:53:35] (28 seconds) Edit Clip


Because your advocate's already in the room. And he goes in there to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. And we'll see this in a second. He's able to deal gently with those who are ignorant. I'm not saying we are. And are going astray since he himself is subject. I'm not saying we're not saying we're not saying we're not saying we're not saying we're not saying we're not saying we're not saying we're not saying we're not saying we're not saying we're not saying we're not saying we're not saying we're not saying we're not saying we're not saying we're not saying we're not saying we're not saying we're not saying we're not saying we're not saying we're not saying we're not saying we're not saying we're not saying we're not saying we're not saying we're not saying we're not saying we're not saying we're not saying we're not saying we're not saying we're not saying we're not saying we're not saying we're not saying we're not saying we're not saying we're not I don't know. [00:55:07] (17 seconds) Edit Clip


He knows exactly what it's like to have to walk this earth with the fear of death. And you're like, I'm not so sure, really. Look in the Garden of Gethsemane, and when he is sweating blood out of his forehead, that's because he knows of his impending death. And that is, I mean, not unbiblical fear, it's that anxiety that he's so wrought with. [00:56:47] (25 seconds) Edit Clip


He knows it, but when he died, what he did is he won, and he broke the stranglehold of the fear of death. I promise you, I do not fear death. I don't. I fear the process of dying sometimes, right? Because that can be grueling, that can be painful, I mean, this body, this container can leave very, very, very slowly. [00:57:07] (25 seconds) Edit Clip

Good morning. Welcome to Crossland Community Church. So glad you're here.

This week, and many of you know this, Wednesday is Ash Wednesday. Having been raised in the Catholic faith, it was definitely one of the more sacred celebrations in the Christian calendar. Some of you may be from Episcopalian and other Christian denominations that celebrate what is called Lent. Lent was expressed differently by a variety of different denominations—a 40-day kind of awakening within your spirit, some setting apart certain things in your life to get your attention, to prepare your heart for the celebration of two of the most diametrically opposed moments on the face of the earth: the worst moment and the best moment, separated by three days—the crucifixion and the resurrection.

So, whether you're a person who continues to practice Lent or not, it is your own spiritual preference. You can continue to do it, certainly. I would just caution you, don't ascribe a value to it that isn't there. You're pleasing to God whether you eat meat on Friday or not, okay? But if you choose to set aside Friday as a day to dedicate more attention to the Lord, do it.

So, if you choose to, I wouldn't necessarily recommend it this month to set aside college basketball. You really love Jesus in March. You know, you don't want to miss the whole tournament or whatever. But it is, without question, historically a movement towards the cross about 40 days out.

The reason why it's much different than Christmas, although we celebrate Advent, is because we can peg the moment that Christ died, okay? Because it was based on a historical calendar that had existed for nearly 1,600 years, and that is the celebration of Passover, which is always backed up. Don't hold me to this; it's like the first full moon after the first new moon. It's something like that. But generally, it's going to fall basically in the season somewhere late March to late April.

And it is a time. At Crossland, depending on kind of the—I have a two-year preaching calendar schedule that we follow. You may never have picked up on that. Year one, I start a gospel the first Sunday of December and preach it all the way to Easter. Last year it was—anybody remember? I'm a great teacher—Matthew. We did Matthew all the way through.

And then in year two, what we do in December is we do a series on Christmas. Then we start the new year with a powerful life change application series. This year it was called One Degree. That's exactly right. And then February, we'll always focus on some expression of the love of God, the love of Christ, or our love for man. We just finished that, right? For this reason.

And then in that year where we're not in a gospel, we'll do what's called a high Christology series where we'll focus only on Christ for seven to eight weeks as we walk into the crucifixion and the resurrection. So this year, the series is entitled Something Greater Is Here.

And this very statement comes from both the gospel of Matthew and the gospel of Luke. It's in Matthew 12 and Luke 11. It happens in a moment where the controversy about who Christ proclaims himself to be and has clearly demonstrated himself to be has ratcheted up—not exponentially. That'll happen soon; that's after the transfiguration. But the Pharisees are no longer just tolerating him. They're losing confidence in the crowds following them. They're losing some of their authority because the people are now saying not just that he's performing miracles, but he's also teaching.

Mark's gospel points this out repeatedly. It's one of the distinctives of Mark that when they saw him, they would say, "This is one who teaches with authority." It's just amazing; his teachings actually impacted them with a level of authority that I've ever seen.

In this scene in Matthew 12 and Luke 11, Christ has been healing people. And in this moment, he casts a demon out of a person. And so everybody's there. You can't refute that he has cast out a demon. The Pharisees are there intermixed with the crowd. And because of—like people are looking at them because they're easy to notify. They're like, "Oh, we know how he does that. We know why he does it. Because he is actually the son of Satan. He's Beelzebub. And the only reason the evil demonic spirits are listening to him is because he has one of them. He has the spirit of the devil."

Can you imagine that? The spirit of the devil in him. That's why he's casting out demons. And Jesus refutes that nonsense by saying, "That doesn't really make sense because any house divided against itself shall surely fall. So if Satan's kicking out Satan, his kingdom cannot last."

And then they said to him, "All right, Mr. Smarty Pants, then give us a sign." And Jesus said, "No sign shall be given to you, you wicked generation, except the sign of Jonah and Solomon."

Okay. And what he says when he describes this sign of Jonah, after he describes it—and we'll see this in a couple of weeks—he says, "Something greater is now here." Not someone, something greater is now here. Jonah representing the prophets. And then he talks about Solomon and the queen of Sheba coming to him. And he says, "And something greater than that is here."

So he's declaring that not that there's just a greater person, but there's a greater prophet. Not that there's just a greater person, but there's a greater king. Something greater is here.

Okay. And when you follow, especially the book of Hebrews, but we're going to be all over the New Testament because this is about Jesus, you discover that, yes, he is someone that was greater. But he did these some things that were greater.

Okay. He is the greater priest. He is the greater prophet. He is the greater king. He comes to provide a greater peace. He came to provide a greater healing. And we're going to look at all those things. Not just that he healed; he's not just another healer. It's something about that healing that is greater than any other healing that has ever happened.

And today we'll start with the priestly office.

Okay. Priest. And then next week is prophet, then king. And then we'll spend several weeks looking at the things he did and what they said about why his doing of it is greater than anybody else's ever doing of it.

Okay. So today we're going to talk about Christ being the greater priest.

All right. And one of the hardest things to do, believe it or not, some weeks it's easy. Some weeks it's gut-wrenching. Some weeks I can't even come up. Well, I just dive in. And that is the introduction to the sermon. You know, the introduction is that time when I get you on the bus to take you for a ride. I don't want to leave you standing on the sidewalk. I want to get you engaged and get you on with a contemporary metaphor, if you will, for the ancient truth we're going to look at.

Some weeks it's incredibly easy. And so this week I would like to—and it's just wonderful—I would like to thank President Trump, I'd like to thank Vice President J.D. Vance, and President Zelensky for giving me one of the greatest examples ever of how you don't mediate a peace deal, of how it's never supposed to go.

And honestly, I found it to be incredibly illuminating and actually hysterically funny, to be honest with you, because, you know, it's kind of like, have you ever gone out to dinner with your wife and you're having a nice date night or a good friend, and the couple next to you, they're out on a date night and they're fighting? You know how you're like, "Oh, I can't believe they're fighting. I can't believe that." They're just getting after it, and they go home, their hair's on fire. And then you look at each other like, "At least our marriage ain't that bad." You know what I mean? You just find some sense of relief.

And you look at these three guys—I mean, they're three powerful men. You're like, "Y'all can't even get along." And so it was just such a beautiful insight.

To be honest with you, I think the openness of that being displayed was phenomenal. I'm not gonna tell you my opinion of the events from the pulpit. Now, if you want to buy me a cup of coffee, I'll be glad to tell you my opinion of the events, but this is the pulpit.

And see, the goal of that was to mediate either a ceasefire or a peace deal. And it went from harmony to hostility in the blink of an eye. It went from talking about peace to really pointing out problems immediately.

When Christ came, that never happened. He came as the high priest, the priest who was going to actually represent man, not God. And when you think the Oval Office is a powerful place, it is. You ought to think about the throne room of heaven.

And when Christ had come to represent us before God, he did not come in order to enact a ceasefire, although those are—yes, you may hate Trump, but he's right, the bullet's gotta stop. You'll stop the bullets. Let's just get a ceasefire. That's what the law was. The law was a ceasefire between God and man, where God agreed that he would hold back his weaponry against man.

And the law provided for a ceasefire that needed to be reenacted every year, one day a year, called the Holy Day of Atonement. There was never a peace accord ever developed that lasted between God and Israel. That's why they were given the law. That's why one day every year, the high priest would enter the Holy of Holies with the blood of an unblemished lamb or calf and sprinkle it on the mercy seat. And God would acknowledge the faith expressed and say, "Okay, I will sustain the ceasefire for one more year."

And that happened for 1,600 years. Then Christ came, and he literally negotiated a peace treaty—an irrevocable peace treaty. And when he entered the throne room with all the hostility of humanity towards God and all the hatred of God towards sin, he actually was able to bring about what did not happen the other day.

That's why he is the greater priest. And what he did and how he did it was greater than how any other high priest had ever done it. The high priesthood had been in existence for about 1,600 years when Christ came to be the final high priest. There were 83 different men who served as high priests. They averaged about 15 years, and they would be replaced at their death.

It was kind of like a Supreme Court justice that they didn't step aside; they would be replaced at their death. And the person who would replace them was an appointed priest. Originally, it was only from Aaron's line, but then God knew that eventually Aaron's gonna run out of enough men to do that. And so God expanded it to the Levitical priesthood, and that is from the tribe of Levi.

So the only requirement was to be from the tribe of Levi; you could be the next high priest, and they would be chosen. But what Christ did is so substantially radical that he didn't just make an offering. He did far more than that. He's the greater priest.

And so today we're gonna look at the book of Hebrews, a couple of different verses and a couple of chapters, and understand that he is your personal representative. He paid the perfect price to produce this peace. And it shall permanently exist for those who are in Christ. That makes him by far the greater priest.

Today's big idea is we can live with great confidence because we followed—the followers of Christ—we followed the greater priest.

Okay? The greatest high priest ever, Jesus Christ. That's who we follow.

The book of Hebrews chapter 2, as we talk about him being our personal representative, says this: "For this reason, he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God."

In other words, he became like us so that he could understand everything about us and everything there was to be us. It would be incorrect to think that there was anything about the human experience that could be said that Jesus did not experience, except committing sin. That's it.

He even experienced the full consequences of sin. He experienced more consequences for your sin than you did. You paid temporary consequences. He experienced eternal condemnation for you as your personal representative. He became like you. He stepped into our world.

In the book of Hebrews, it says he was tempted in all ways as we were tempted, yet did not sin. So, I mean, he went right to the edge of temptation. His temptations were far greater than ours because the devil did it to Jesus in person.

And so, it's imperative that you understand when we call him a representative, he truly is a personal representative. Heaven forbid, if you think you should need an attorney because you end up in a criminal situation, you need a representative. It's highly unlikely that you're going to consider hiring someone who is also—in fact, if they've been convicted, they're probably of a felony. They're probably not an attorney; they've lost their license.

You don't hire someone who's been through the same things you've been through. You hire an advocate who understands the system and understands how to defend you. Rightly so. That's not Jesus. That's not him at all.

And the reason he can be merciful with you and me—and mercy is not to feel badly, okay? It's to feel along with you. It's to descend into the agony of what it means to be, in many ways, a human being, and embrace it.

He's merciful because he understands. He gets it. He knows exactly what it's like to be you. In fact, in some ways, he knows more about what it's to be you than you ever will because he was tempted greater, and he was punished greater.

And that's how we're represented. If he's your personal rep, he's the faithful high priest in service to God. The high priest was the one who, once a year, once a year, the high priest was allowed to go into the Holy of Holies. No one else. Just one time a year on the Day of Atonement, which always falls mid to late September at the latest early October.

And on that day, a high and holy feast, the high priest would get the spotless blood, and he—all the rest of the year, they would enter into what was the altar, the entrance to the Holy of Holies. There would be another altar there for the freewill offerings, and the sin offerings, and the guilt. This was, it's the once a year deal, to re-ratify the ceasefire.

And he'd walk in by himself. And he'd be in there, and he would offer it. And it was—no one else could do that. In fact, there were people who tried to step in and take on the role of priest. And Saul—think about Saul. He tried to take the office of priest and king. You're not allowed to do that because there are only two people who ever filled that office: Jesus and Melchizedek.

And he lost his reign, and he lost his anointing because he thought he could set—no, you're not allowed. Uzziah, the king of Israel, he was so arrogant and pompous, he went into the Holy of Holies, right at the entrance, and told the high priest, "I'm offering it." On that day, the high priest said, "No, baby, please, do not do that." His servants were telling him, "Uzziah, do not do that."

And he was so pompous, you know what he decided? "I dictate how I go before God, not you." Oh, never a good idea. Anyone can come to God, but you come on his terms and his terms only. And Uzziah was smitten with leprosy.

So in his arrogance, he demanded that he was going to have his way before God. And God said, "Well, here's what I need to show you. Now you won't even have your way among man because you're going to be alone, because you can't be near anybody."

And Christ is our high priest. When he walked into the Holy of Holies, he took you and me with him. Therefore, since we have a great high priest who ascended into heaven, Jesus said—Jesus said—Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we possess.

See, the high priest, when they die, right, their reign is over. Christ ascended into heaven. We know who he is, and praise God Almighty, we know where he is.

I'm going to show you in a minute what he's doing. But he is in—listen, I think, I will go so far as to say this. I really do believe to the core of who I am. The most powerful office on the face of the earth is the Oval Office. I really do believe that.

And yet, it's like a 300-year-old barn with rotten wood and no roof compared to the throne room of heaven. Disgracing the Oval Office—unacceptable. Unacceptable at all times. That's the people's office, not the president's office, okay?

But we're talking about the throne room of heaven. And Christ has ascended into that position. And he's your personal representative before God. That's a powerful, powerful access and position we have.

Because we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven. It's incredible. So confidence begins to rise dramatically.

Let us then, therefore, approach God's throne of grace with confidence so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

And I generally quote this passage often by saying, "Let us boldly enter the throne room of heaven with confidence and assurance to find our grace and mercy in our hour of need."

And the reason why it's bold and confidence and assurance is because that one word means all those things. How do you approach God? Well, because Christ is my high priest, I can now boldly—like I'm not Uzziah. I get to step right in. I don't have to ask permission. I don't got to follow the rules. I don't need an invitation.

I get to boldly enter the throne room because my representative is already in there. I get to go in with a level of confidence and assurance that God's not going to smite me. He's not going to kick me. I have a representative who's already in there. It's Christ, if you think about it, that gets us in the room.

He's the one who you're in the room because of your representative. And that should elevate our level of confidence.

Okay? Because it's a permanent, personal representative who's there so that you can continue to receive mercy and grace in your hour of need.

Every high priest is selected from among the people, Jesus included, and is appointed, Jesus included, to represent the people. Exactly. In matters related to God.

Now, let that sink in. Jesus is there to represent the people. The people. Not God. The people. You have a county attorney who represents the people of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. They don't represent the accused; they represent the people. Right? It's amazing.

And Christ—you would think it would say he came to represent God. You'd be wrong. He came to represent you. He's your advocate in the highest courtroom on the face of the earth—the highest office of authority. He is your representative.

And immediately, it should begin to cause you to have a really deep sense of confidence that there isn't anything you can't approach God with. Because your advocate's already in the room.

And he goes in there to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. And we'll see this in a second. He's able to deal gently with those who are ignorant. I'm not saying we are. And are going astray since he himself is subject.

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