Jesus – High Priest ~ 20251207 ~ Pastor Rodney Zedicher ~ Ephraim Church of the Bible ~ www.ephraimbible.org
2025 12/07 Advent 2: Fix Your Eyes on Jesus - High Priest; [Heb.3:1; 7]; Audio available at: http://www.ephraimbible.org/Sermons/20251207_jesus-high-priest.mp3
This Advent season we’re taking direction from the book of Hebrews to ‘fix our eyes on Jesus’(12:2); looking at some of the titles of Jesus, looking at who he is, and what he came to do.
Last week we looked at Hebrews 3:1 which calls Jesus ‘the Apostle’, one sent out from his Father, sent from above, the only begotten sent to become one of us, sent to rescue and redeem, to set us free and show us his grace.
What Is a Priest?
Hebrews 3:1 says:
Hebrews 3:1 Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession, 2 who was faithful to him who appointed him…
Hebrews 3:1 calls Jesus the apostle. It also call him ‘the high priest of our confession’. What are the implications of calling Jesus the high priest?
A priest is one who officiates in religious services, mediates between God and man; one set apart for the service of what is holy.
Although there were many priests, there was only to be one high priest at a time; in Exodus 28 a distinct outfit was made for Aaron, and when he died (Num.20), that was transferred to his son Eleazar. It was exclusively the duty of the high priest to bear the names of Israel into the holy place, and once a year, on the Day of Atonement (Lev.16), to enter the most holy place in the Tabernacle [later in the Temple], and make atonement for himself and for the sins of the people.
Merciful Toward Man; Faithful to God
The book of Hebrews has a lot to say about the role of Jesus as our great high priest.
Chapter 2 begins by pointing to Jesus’ character.
Hebrews 2:17 Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18 For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.
It is not just that Jesus holds the office of high priest. He is a priest with a certain kind of character. He is both merciful and faithful. We have enough examples of priests who were neither merciful toward people nor faithful toward God. Eli’s sons Hophni and Phinehas were ‘worthless men who did not know the LORD’ (1Sam.2:12). They took by force more than their portion of the sacrifices, and took advantage of the women who served at the tabernacle. They didn’t have care or compassion on the people, and their actions were not rooted in belief in God.
We see here the dual nature of the priestly office; both representing man toward God and God toward man. In representing man toward God, Jesus made propitiation for the sins of his people. He presented a sacrifice that satisfied the wrath of God against my sins. And Jesus our high priest is faithful, absolutely faithful to God’s perfect standards
Jesus is uniquely equipped to represent God to man. Because he himself suffered the ultimate temptation without ever giving in, he understands temptation, and he is uniquely able to help us when we are being tempted. He is both merciful toward us and faithful to his Father.
Hebrews 4:14 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. 15 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. 16 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.
Appointed By God
Hebrews 5 clarifies the role of a high priest;
Hebrews 5:1 For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins.
A priest represents men to God. Because we all are sinners, he must offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. But the focus of Hebrews 5 is on the appointment of the high priest.
Hebrews 5:4 And no one takes this honor for himself, but only when called by God, just as Aaron was. 5 So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you”; 6 as he says also in another place, “You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.”
Hebrews 5:9 ...he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, 10 being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.
Jesus didn’t presume to the position of high priest; he was appointed by his Father. And notice, his appointment is not temporary; he is a priest forever. Thus he can be the source of eternal salvation to all who believe.
Hebrews 6:17 So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath, 18 so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. 19 We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, 20 where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.
Here we have tabernacle or temple language; the inner place, or holy of holies; behind the curtain. Our hope enters the very throne room of God, because Jesus has entered first on our behalf. And God made it sure with an oath. The quote in Hebrews 5:6 is from Psalm 110:4. It says:
Psalm 110:4 The LORD has sworn and will not change his mind, “You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.”
Who Is Melchizedek?
So far, Hebrews has mentioned three times that Jesus is a high priest after the order of Melchizedek. Who is this Melchizedek anyway?
The first mention of a priest in the Bible is not Aaron, it is all the way back at the time of Abraham, in Genesis 14.
Genesis 14:18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. (He was priest of God Most High.) 19 And he blessed him and said, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; 20 and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand!” And Abram gave him a tenth of everything.
There’s a few things we need to know about Melchizedek; first, he’s said to be ‘a priest of God Most High; El Elyon. And he’s not only a priest, he’s a king; king of Salem or shalom; king of peace. This city later became known as Jerusalem. Here’s what Hebrews 7 says:
Hebrews 7:1 For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, 2 and to him Abraham apportioned a tenth part of everything. He is first, by translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then he is also king of Salem, that is, king of peace. 3 He is without father or mother or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God he continues a priest forever.
A Priest Forever
There’s been lots of speculation about Melchizedek. But here’s what we know; he shows up out of nowhere in Genesis 14, and we don’t hear anything else about him in the entire Old Testament, except in Psalm 110, a Psalm of David written over 1,000 years later, where YHWH proclaims that David’s descendant is David’s Lord, a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. When we read the Bible, we read a lot of genealogies, because there were blessings and promises made to specific people and their descendants. The priests who served at the tabernacle were descendants of Aaron of the tribe of Levi. In the time of Ezra and Nehemiah in the rebuilt temple, those who could not prove their genealogy were excluded from the priesthood (Ezr.2:62-63; Neh.7:64-65). Genealogy was a big deal. This is what Hebrews picks up on; in the pages of Scripture, Melchizedek shows up out of nowhere; no birth record, no death record; ‘without beginning of days or end of life’, he becomes an analogy of the eternal Son of God. When Hebrews says that Jesus is ‘a priest after the order of Melchizedek’ it is saying that he is eternal; not one priest in a long line of priests, succeeded after his death by another and another. The Son of God is eternal God; no beginning and no end.
Superior to Abraham (and therefore to Levi and Aaron)
Hebrews 7 goes on to say:
Hebrews 7:4 See how great this man was to whom Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth of the spoils! 5 And those descendants of Levi who receive the priestly office have a commandment in the law to take tithes from the people, that is, from their brothers, though these also are descended from Abraham. 6 But this man who does not have his descent from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. 7 It is beyond dispute that the inferior is blessed by the superior. 8 In the one case tithes are received by mortal men, but in the other case, by one of whom it is testified that he lives. 9 One might even say that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, 10 for he was still in the loins of his ancestor when Melchizedek met him.
Jesus, a priest after the order of Melchizedek, is greater than Abraham; Jesus is greater that Levi; Jesus is greater the Aaron and any priest descended from him!
Jesus Greater Than the Law of Moses
Hebrews 7 goes on:
Hebrews 7:11 Now if perfection had been attainable through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need would there have been for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek, rather than one named after the order of Aaron? 12 For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the law as well. 13 For the one of whom these things are spoken belonged to another tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar. 14 For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, and in connection with that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. 15 This becomes even more evident when another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek, 16 who has become a priest, not on the basis of a legal requirement concerning bodily descent, but by the power of an indestructible life. 17 For it is witnessed of him, “You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.” 18 For on the one hand, a former commandment is set aside because of its weakness and uselessness 19 (for the law made nothing perfect); but on the other hand, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God.
These verses highlight that Jesus could not be a priest after the order of Aaron, because he is from the wrong tribe, the royal tribe of Judah. These verses also point out that perfection was unattainable through the law and the Levitical priesthood; in fact, Hebrews boldly calls the law ‘weak and useless’; without strength and without effectiveness; the law made nothing perfect. It failed to bring any lasting change. It failed to transform even the sinners who served as priests into saints, and sacrifices had to be repeated over and over again. Something different was required. The former commandment is set aside; we have a better hope, through which we draw near to God! Jesus is the guarantor of a better covenant (7:22).
Jesus the Eternal Sinless Son
Hebrews 7:23 The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, 24 but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. 25 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. 26 For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. 27 He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself. 28 For the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever.
Jesus is the better high priest because he had no sin of his own to atone for; he is the perfect sinless Son of God.
Shadow or Reality?
Hebrews 8 and 9 contrast the earthly tent, the tabernacle of the Old Testament, the shadow, the copy, with the true reality, heaven itself.
Hebrews 8:1 Now the point in what we are saying is this: we have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, 2 a minister in the holy places, in the true tent that the Lord set up, not man. 3 For every high priest is appointed to offer gifts and sacrifices; thus it is necessary for this priest also to have something to offer. 4 Now if he were on earth, he would not be a priest at all, since there are priests who offer gifts according to the law. 5 They serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things. ... 6 But as it is, Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises.
Jesus our high priest has entered the heavenly original, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
Jesus Offered a Better Sacrifice; Once for All
Hebrews 9:6 These preparations having thus been made, the priests go regularly into the first section, performing their ritual duties, 7 but into the second only the high priest goes, and he but once a year, and not without taking blood, which he offers for himself and for the unintentional sins of the people. ... 11 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) 12 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. ... 24 For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. 25 Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the holy places every year with blood not his own, 26 for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.
Hebrews 10:11 And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, 13 waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. 14 For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.
Jesus offered a better sacrifice, a sacrifice of infinite worth; his own blood. His sacrifice never needs to be repeated; it is once for all; his work is finished, and he sat down at the right hand of his Father in glory. Jesus’ sacrifice does what the law could never do; it transforms, it perfects, it sanctifies.
Exhortation
Jesus is our merciful and faithful high priest. He was appointed by God with an oath; the eternal priest after the order of Melchizedek. He is superior to Abraham, to Levi, to Aaron; he is the Mediator of a better covenant. He is the sinless Son of God. He entered the heavenly original and offered once for all a better sacrifice, his own precious blood, and sat down at his Father’s right hand, having finished his work.
Hebrews 10:19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20 by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
***
2025.12.07 Sermon Notes
Fix Your Eyes on Jesus – The High Priest [Hebrews 3:1; Hebrews 7-10]
Priest: one who mediates between God and man;
-high priest enters holiest place once a year to make atonement
Exodus 28-29; Numbers 20; Leviticus 16; 1 Timothy 2:5
His character: merciful toward man; faithful to God
Hebrews 2:17-18; 4:14-16
Jesus appointed by God with an oath
Hebrews 5:1-10; 6:17-20; Psalm 110:4
Jesus a priest after the order of Melchizedek
Genesis 14:18-20
-eternal; no beginning or end
Hebrews 7:1-3
-superior to Abraham, Levi, Aaron
Hebrews 7:4-10
-Jesus the sinless Son
Hebrews 7:23-28
Jesus entered the heavenly original, not the earthly copy
Hebrews 8:1-6
Jesus offered a better sacrifice once for all
Hebrews 9:6-26; 10:11-14
Exhortation:
Hebrews 10:19-25
***
Pastor Rodney Zedicher ~ Ephraim Church of the Bible ~ www.ephraimbible.org