But because Jesus lives forever, his priesthood lasts forever. Therefore he is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through him. He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf. [Hebrews 7.24-25]
I am going to associate another scripture with this passage and explore some thoughts from there...
I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. [John 14.12]
Comparing these two scriptures with one another reveals an undeniable Biblical truth.
I think almost everyone I know has struggled with John 14.12, especially the part about us doing "greater works." The problem most of us encounter with "greater works" is that we interpret it as "greater works than Jesus" immediately sending our reasoning in a spiraling tailspin of confusion at the thought of doing greater works than God.
The misinterpretation of John 14.12 is found in our human hard-hearted self-centered individualism.
If we see ourselves "in Christ," as Paul so clearly described in his letter to the Colossians, we would and should see that our state of "being in Christ" is, in fact, eternal, not temporal. In other words, our being "in Christ" is not just in our time and space on earth! We are "in Christ" for eternity. That would mean our existence on earth is tied to Jesus in His eternal state of existence at the right hand of God
The greater works Jesus declared in John 14.12 are HIS greater works done in us because of His place with the Father. WE WILL NOT DO GREATER WORKS THAN JESUS - BUT DO GREATER WORKS BECAUSE HE IS DOING GREATER WORKS!
Yes, we are to heal the sick, raise the dead and preach the Gospel here on earth. But, because Jesus now sits at the right hand of God, and since we are IN HIM, we are tasked also with the greater works of passionately interceding on behalf of others in God's very presence BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT JESUS IS DOING!
And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” [2 Corinthians 5.18-20]
As Paul instructed the Corinthian Church, we are to be reconciling people unto God in the boldness described in Hebrews 4.16 (see yesterday's article One Step Further).
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 4.16]
The mercy and grace we "need" as cited in Hebrews 4.16 SHOULD be seen as mercy and grace to DO GOD'S WILL of reconciling people unto Him as Jesus is doing, not to fulfill some personal earthly desire or need. Besides, Jesus is interceding for our every need (not His own). And, if we are going to follow Jesus' example, we will be interceding for the needs of others, not our own!
Jesus' "priesthood" is His "works." As we are "in Christ," "priesthood" is our "works" (I apologize for the grammar). Jesus' priesthood at the right hand of the Father is the "greater works." All who are genuinely "in Christ" boldly serve as priests with Jesus, at the right hand of God, in that "greater work."
This is truth straight from the Bible. However, until God's people understand that their existence is not for themselves, but purely for the good of others, this truth will lie concealed. Our lives are not ours to preserve, but to freely lay down for others.
There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. [John 15.13]
If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it. [Matthew 10.39]
The ONLY WAY to get to God's right hand with Jesus (in Christ) is to die unto ourselves as a daily routine:
Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but are yourself lost or destroyed? [Luke 9.23-25]
How do we take up our cross every day? By putting the needs of others ahead of our own. We do it IN CHRIST as He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf. That was how Jesus quite literally used the Cross to get into God's presence where the greater works take place! Jesus is our priest and Jesus is our example ...forever.
But because Jesus lives forever, his priesthood lasts forever. Therefore he is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through him. He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf. [Hebrews 7.24-25]
Father, You have revealed deep truth here by which I am measured and weighed and found wanting. Forgive me for my self-centeredness. May my eyes be open to see my cross every day, and may my will be found climbing upon it. May my life demonstrate Jesus both as He walked the earth and as He sits in His priesthood at Your right hand interceding for others. So be it.
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