The Superiority of Jesus as Our High Priest: A New Covenant and Access to God

The book of Hebrews emphasizes the unique role of Jesus Christ as our high priest. He is not just another human priest, but a high priest seated at the right hand of God in heaven. This distinction sets him apart from all others who came before him.

The Old Testament tabernacle and its system of priests and sacrifices served as a shadow, a mere glimpse of what was to come. They pointed to the ultimate reality that would be fulfilled in Jesus Christ. He came to put an end to the old system and bring us into a new covenant with God.

Think of it this way: imagine you and your mom get separated in a grocery store. You start to panic and don't know which way to go. But then, at the end of an aisle, you see a shadow on the floor that looks just like your mom. It gives you hope and relief in the midst of your fear. But which is better? The hopefulness of seeing the shadow or the joy of your mom actually stepping around the corner and being with you?

That's the difference Jesus makes as our high priest. He is not just a shadow, but the real thing. Christmas is the celebration of his arrival, the moment when the shadows of the old system are replaced with the reality of Christ's presence. It's like your mom stepping around the corner of the aisle, bringing you relief and joy.

The book of Hebrews goes into great detail about the role of Jesus as our high priest. It explains that he is not just a minister in the earthly tabernacle, but in the true tent that the Lord set up. This true tent is in heaven, not made by human hands. It is where Jesus now ministers on our behalf.

Jesus is the perfect high priest, because he is both fully God and fully man. He understands our weaknesses and temptations, because he experienced them himself. He was tempted in every way, yet he never sinned. This makes him the perfect mediator between God and humanity.

In the Old Testament, the high priest would enter the Most Holy Place once a year, on the Day of Atonement, to make sacrifices for the sins of the people. But Jesus, as our high priest, entered the heavenly Most Holy Place once and for all, offering himself as the ultimate sacrifice for our sins. His sacrifice was perfect and complete, needing no repetition.

Through Jesus, we have access to God's presence. We can boldly approach the throne of grace, knowing that Jesus has made a way for us. He is our advocate, interceding on our behalf. He understands our struggles and is there to help us in our time of need.

The book of Hebrews also emphasizes the superiority of Jesus as our high priest. He is greater than any human priest who came before him. The Levitical priesthood was temporary and imperfect, but Jesus' priesthood is eternal and perfect. He is the fulfillment of all that the Old Testament pointed to.

As our high priest, Jesus brings us into a new covenant with God. The old covenant was based on the law, which no one could perfectly keep. But Jesus fulfilled the law on our behalf and offers us a new covenant based on grace and faith. Through him, we are forgiven and made righteous before God.

The book of Hebrews encourages us to hold fast to our confession of faith in Jesus as our high priest. We are called to persevere in our faith, even in the face of opposition and trials. Jesus is faithful, and he will help us to endure and overcome.

In conclusion, Jesus Christ is our high priest, seated at the right hand of God in heaven. He is not just another human priest, but the fulfillment of all that the Old Testament pointed to. Through his sacrifice, we have access to God's presence and the assurance of forgiveness. Let us hold fast to our confession of faith in him, knowing that he is faithful and will help us in our time of need.