Jesus: Our High Priest

Mark 16:1-7; Hebrews 7:23-28; 9:11-14
Related Sunday School Lesson, Family Bible Series, March 27

How important is the resurrection? A missionary was attempting to demonstrate the importance of Christ's resurrection to some people. He used this thought: "I am traveling and come to a fork in the road that leads to two very different destinations. I look for a guide to lead me and I find two men who are known to be guides. However, one is dead the other is alive. Which of the two should I ask for directions?"

The people said, "The one who is alive should be your guide." The missionary agreed and asked the people, "Then why do you follow a man who is dead instead of following the living Christ?" Christ's resurrection is the distinguishing characteristic of the Christian faith and the clear reason why Jesus alone can be our High Priest!

Living Lord, Mark 16:1-7

It is clear (from verses 1-3) that these women were expecting to find a dead body when they reached the tomb. They had seen the brutal death and burial. They bought expensive spices to cover the odor of a decaying body (Jews did not embalm); they questioned how the stone would be removed to allow them entrance to Jesus' body.

What they found at the tomb was entirely unexpected! They arrived and found the stone rolled away. They entered the tomb, still expecting to accomplish their task of preparing Jesus body for burial. But what they found instead was that the body was gone and a heavenly messenger was there to comfort them with the words "do not be alarmed . . . He is risen!" What an amazing message! Their funeral plans were, in an instant, turned into joy and celebration! But notice that the messenger not only comforted them, he also instructed them!

It has been said that we can sum up the resurrection message in the four words found in the Gospels concerning the angel's instruction to the women: "Come see. Go tell!" They were not allowed to be spectators; they were commanded to be a witness to others!

Is this not still true of us today? After we come to faith in the living Christ and experience His life changing power (come and see) we too are commanded to be His witnesses (go and tell)!

Too many of us today want to stay inside and celebrate Christ's resurrection but just like these first disciples we too must go tell! There is a dying world out there depending on us to bring them a living hope from our living Lord!

Permanent Priest, Hebrews 7:23-28

The book of Hebrews tells us where the living Christ is today and what He is doing! Jesus is in the presence of God the Father ministering on our behalf! Many priests had preceded Christ as a priest in Israel's temple. However their work was interrupted or ended by death!

Christ is imminently more qualified than any of these priests since He alone is alive and continues forever in His unchanging priesthood! Christ's resurrection also affirms Himself as the only one "...able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them." (v.25)

Our lesson also shows that Christ was not only set apart from the other priest by His resurrection for death, but also by His sinless life. Jesus' life was distinguished by holiness, a characteristic that separates Him from all others who ever lived.

The sinfulness of the prior priest is seen in the fact that they had to first offer sacrifice for their own, personal sin. But not so with Christ! They had to offer sacrifice over again every year, but not so with Christ. His sacrifice for sin was offered once for all and for all time! This is why Jesus alone qualifies as our perfect and permanent High Priest!

Sufficient Savior, Hebrews 9:11-14

The imagery here comes from the work of the High Priest in the Holy of Holies on the Day of Atonement. Christ alone is our sufficient Savior since He ministers, not in an earthly tabernacle, but in the very throne room and presence of God!

But the sufficiency in Jesus' sacrifice is not simply in the location of His ministry but also in the quality of His sacrifice. The blood of animals was offered in faith and obedience for the people's sins and God accepted their blood sacrifice and pronounced them "ceremonially" clean according to the Law.

But the Old Covenant's rituals and sacrifices could not change a person's heart! Christ's blood did what no animal sacrifice could do!

When we by faith, through repentance, accept Christ's sacrifice for our sin our lives are transformed and we are clean on the inside (i.e. cleanse your conscience)!

Many people live under the false idea that they have to work to make themselves good enough for God to accept or love them. They try to keep religious rules and rituals, hoping these will earn God's forgiveness and favor.

It is only by Jesus' sacrifice on the cross that we can be cleansed on the inside, be free from sin's penalty, sin's power and sin's guilt.

Consider today what Jesus' death, burial and resurrection can mean for you! He alone is our Living Lord, our permanent High Priest and the only sufficient Savior!

By faith, turn to Christ by repenting of your sin and accept Him and Him alone as your High Priest! Oh yeah, remember, no spectators allowed! If you have accepted Christ then you should "go tell!"