Hebrews- Our Great High Priest

The first time I read the Epistle to the Hebrews from cover to cover I was sitting in my car, waiting for my family to come back from a hike. I chose to read that day because I felt compelled to understand this  letter from Paul. I still get the same joy today as I teach it to my seminary students.

Jesus, Jehovah of the Old Testament, is the great High Priest of all time. He is higher than the angels who have come with messages from God, yet, he was made lower than the angels by taking a half mortal body and becoming one of us. He can go into the Holy Place and mediate for all mankind because he is perfect. No need to tie a robe around his waist to pull him out in case he is struck dead for being unclean on the Day of Atonement. All the other High Priests act in his behalf, pointing us to him.

     Hebrews7:26 "For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself."
    To begin reading Hebrews it is wise to throw around some vocabulary words. Playing Seven Little Words always gets the conversation going.

7 Little Words about Hebrews

Hebrew - A people who come through the lineage of Abraham

Angels- spirits, translated beings, or resurrected beings who bring a message from God

Moses- a prophet who brought the Children of Israel out of Egypt

Abraham- a prophet of God who was the Father of the Hebrews

Sacrifice- an ordinance made by shedding the blood of an innocent animal

Melchizedek- a priesthood holder who was revered by the Hebrews  for his service and sacrifice

Levitical- the priesthood calling held by the those with a lineage through Levi, a son of Jacob

                          

Later in the week it is a great idea to give this little questionnaire about the Priesthood. Just like the Hebrews in Jerusalem, we need reminding of the quality of Jesus as our High Priest in this new and everlasting covenant established by him and restored in our day.

Years ago I made two parallel posters showing a diagram of the tabernacle in wilderness. The purpose was to show how Jesus is the tabernacle, not made of man but made as a life lived to become a template for us to follow.

  Hebrews 9:11 "But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;"
   Hebrews is exquisite and I am so uplifted by this inspired message to saints in all ages.