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Monday, December 18, 2017

Jesus, High Priest, Example

So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most. [Hebrews 4.14-16]

I must say, today's OYCB reading is at another level.

I simply don't believe that casual reading will reveal much of Hebrew's author's intent. Consequently, I found myself struggling to comprehend anything from today's reading.

However, the following seems to stand out to me:

To fully understand Jesus' role on our behalf is to understand our role in the earth today.

The thing about a High Priest is that his life is not his own. His life is dedicated to God and the people God loves. And, this is where modern culture doesn't get it. Modern culture (yes, even sadly in the Church) is more focused on self than others.

There is no question that Godless Church-less people are self-absorbed - everything in modern society incessantly preaches self-love. But, the sad truth is, this same self-love indoctrination had penetrated the Church. Most of us don't even recognize how self-absorbed we have become. And, consequently, our self-love prevents us from understanding the true and pure role of a High Priest. We cannot even comprehend giving our lives entirely for others and we certainly do not understand Jesus doing so.

And so, emotional but powerless religion has spread like a disease across the world and, most noticeably, in affluent societies like the USA.

Yes, people cry rivers of tears thinking of Jesus' treatment on their behalf, but never fully engage themselves in the very selfless behavior Jesus demonstrated.

Because Jesus died for us, we have His example that we can lay down our lives for others - and have His mercy and grace to do so.

But we would rather "have God in our lives..." to enhance our lives and make them better. We don't seem to embrace the fact that we don't need God in our lives. Our lives are a mess and God wouldn't want to compromise all He is to be a "part of" or "in" our lives! No! His purpose is that we, like Christ and in Christ, render ourselves dead so that we might selflessly live IN HIM!

The difference between 'having God in our lives' and 'our lives being in God' is seen most clearly in Jesus Christ. Jesus' purpose on earth was precisely what He said it was in Luke 4.16-21: When he [Jesus] came to the village of Nazareth, his boyhood home, he went as usual to the synagogue on the Sabbath and stood up to read the Scriptures. The scroll of Isaiah the prophet was handed to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where this was written: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see,
that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come.” He rolled up the scroll, handed it back to the attendant, and sat down. All eyes in the synagogue looked at him intently. Then he began to speak to them. “The Scripture you’ve just heard has been fulfilled this very day!”

So, why does the author of Hebrews tell us to come boldly to God's throne of grace? Is it for self-preservation? I don't think so. I think we will find mercy there, but only as our purpose there at the throne of grace mirrors Jesus' purpose there - as a High Priest!

Father, help us to understand that Jesus has shown us how to live on earth, how to pray, and how to please You - in laying down our lives for others.

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