Our Heavenly High Priest!

Our Heavenly High Priest!

“But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.” Heb. 9:11-12.

“And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.” V. 15.

Christ entered into heaven itself now to appear in the presence of God for us. V. 24.

His work before God’s face on our behalf is varied. First He obtained, by His blood, an eternal redemption for us. Then He intercedes for us, for after we have been redeemed—had our sins forgiven—a tremendous work is to occur in us. Rom. 5:10.

The law could not lead anyone to perfection, but a better hope was brought in through which we draw near to God; for Jesus is able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him. Heb. 7:19, 25.

They also had their sins forgiven in the old covenant, but the sacrifices they brought could not make them perfect according to the conscience. They sinned all over again. There was no redemption such as Jesus’ blood has given us. Heb. 9:10; 10:1-4; Col. 1:13-14. The time of restoration has come with the new covenant. Now that we have had our sins forgiven, we have also been redeemed from te power of sin so we can be preserved with a good conscience in order to do God’s will. Then everything has been restored. This is the better hope we have received. Those who want to can now come to God in this hope through Jesus, our heavenly High Priest, and be saved to the uttermost.

The work that Jesus has to do with us after we have been reconciled by His blood is expressed in the following words: “For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field . . . .” 1 Cor. 3:9.

“For the earth which drinks in the rain which often comes upon it, and bears herbs useful for those by whom it is cultivated, receives blessing from God; but if it bears thorns and briers, it is rejected and near to being cursed, whose end is to be burned.” Heb. 6:7-8.

By being reconciled in Jesus’ blood, we have become a field that God cares for, and Jesus, our heavenly High Priest has been given the task of cultivating it. God works those things in us that please Him, through Jesus Christ. Heb. 13:20-21.

Here we see Jesus’ work as the Mediator. He stands before God’s face and communicates what He is working, to us, because we are in dire need of His intercession.

Jesus, too, has fellow workers in those whom He has molded. The ones He has put in the church in the various ministries are God’s fellow workers. Jesus is our High Priest, but He also has a priesthood to assist Him.

“That I might be a sacrificial priest of Jesus Christ for the Gentiles, by being a priestly steward of the gospel of God so that the Gentiles might be an acceptable sacrifice, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.” Rom. 15:16.

“You also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” 1 Pet. 2:5.

The spiritual sacrifices that are to be pleasing to God are the fruit of what grows in His field; for example, sacrifices of praise and sharing with the others. God is well pleased with such sacrifices. Heb. 13:15-16. God’s Word is the seed. Thus God’s Word translated into works become spiritual sacrifices. Therefore the entire body has to be presented as a well-pleasing sacrifice to God. Then the earth will bear useful fruit. This is when Jesus, again, enters in as our Mediator. Jesus, who is to communicate to us what God is working, will also bear these sacrifices and gifts back to God.

“Now this is the main point of the things we are saying: We have such a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens . . . . For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices. Therefore it is necessary that this One also have something to offer.” Heb. 8:1-3.

However, if the field bears thorns and thistles, that is, if we sin, Jesus cannot present that to the Father. God always asks for the fruit. “By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit . . . .” John 15:8. The first thing Jesus says to the seven churches is: “I know your works,” and He judged them according to their works. Jesus says that he will confess the name of him who overcomes before His Father and before His angels. Rev. 3:5.

Let us therefore always highly esteem our heavenly High Priest and Mediator, Jesus Christ, and be a good field for God’s Word and His workings. Then our fellowship with the Father will become more meaningful through Jesus our Mediator, and when He bears the fruit of God’s work back to Him, we are known by God. Gal. 4:9. Then the Father and the Son will come to us and make their home with us. John 14:23.