This Priest Is Right!

For some reason I had the phrase, “The price is right” in my head as I finished up reading Hebrews 7, a great chapter on the priesthood of Jesus. As I’ve mentioned before, the book of Hebrews is a discussion of how much better Jesus is than the elements of the Jewish religious system and tradition. Jesus is better than angels. Jesus is better than Moses. Jesus is better than the sacrificial system. Then in chapter 7 the writer turns his attention primarily to the ministry of the high priest. The high priest was the most significant person in the Jewish religious system. The high priest would enter the temple once a year, into the Holy of Holies, to offer a sacrifice for the atonement of the entire nation of Israel. But the high priest had his own limitations. He also was a sinner and had to offer a sacrifice for his sins. The high priest had to taste death just like everyone else. But then the writer of Hebrews points out how Jesus has none of these limitations. He is sinless…no offering or sacrifice needed for Him. He is eternal and unchangeable. I can’t say it any better than what has already been written: 23 Also there were many priests, because they were prevented by death from continuing. 24 But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. 25 Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. 26 For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens; 27 who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people’s, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself. 28 For the law appoints as high priests men who have weakness, but the word of the oath, which came after the law, appoints the Son who has been perfected forever.

This is the Jesus who offers you forgiveness and eternal life. This is the Jesus who “always lives to make intercession for you”. By itself, that is an amazing sentence. This Jesus is so much better and is sufficient for you. Please don’t ignore Jesus. Please don’t minimize what He offers you, who He is and what He has done. This Priest is right!