In biblical literature, particularly the Hebrew texts, types often present specific characteristics or traits of the Messiah. This was not a feature of the prophetic, rather it was seen as a foreshadowing of what we later read about Christ. Subsequently, references in the New Testament to Christ’s work and witness were treated as revelations of how Christ fulfilled those roles. The formula of ‘Prophet, Priest, and King’ are three such examples. Today’s Holy Nougat speaks about Christ, our High Priest.
Hebrews 4:15 CEB
[15] because we don’t have a high priest who can’t sympathize with our weaknesses but instead one who was tempted in every way that we are, except without sin.
Christ, our Empathetic High Priest
A good writer writes for his/her intended audience’s comprehension. Thus, literary devices are used to help the audience relate to what is being communicated. In presenting the persona of Jesus Christ as the long anticipated Messiah, our Hebrew writer sought to prove that Christ matched the most important types in the Hebrew Scriptures. After presenting those facts, the writer offered other special insights or details that made Christ stand out from a divine perspective.
(This is slightly simplified perhaps, but it’s one of the ways I’ve understood how the Hebrews writer writes.)
Whereas today we are obliged to refer to the Levitical texts for more details about the High Priest, those readers immediately understood. It was part of their religious tradition. The writer therefore only needed a few connections between Christ’s role and that of the High Priest for the readers to get the point. What was more essential for the author was demonstrating that the High Priest role pointed to Y’shua as the long-awaited Messiah.
That’s where our Nougat was helpful. It not only confirmed Y’shua as the fulfilment of the audience’s tradition and of scripture, but also showed the added benefit of Y’shua as High Priest.
Self-Check
How much convincing do we need in order for us to believe Y’shua is our Messiah?
Application
Having Christ as our High Priest comes with the automatic benefit of one Who has eternal access to God. He doesn’t have to wait for one specific day, not does he need specific garments to present Himself in before approaching God. Y’shua is God, and also God’s Son. He has live and direct access to God at all times. It is true, He had that kind of access while on earth. But as human, Y’shua was contained to earthly form and was only in one place at a time. Now He is accessible to all of us at the same time, while serving as our High Priest.
When living on earth in human form, Y’shua was tempted, although He was still God, not once but multiple times. He understands how enticing temptation can be. In Luke 4, we see Him using Scripture successfully to deflect the devil’s temptations. In all of those three cases, He overcame. By His example, we know that we can also overcome life’s temptations. As a result, He can ‘sympathize with our weaknesses‘, forgiving us when we sin.
Another of Y’shua’s temptations stands out for me, two actually. In Matthew 16, we are presented with Y’shua being tempted to avoid the crucifixion by Peter. It does not seem like He was tempted, until we see His sharp retort to Peter in verse 23. On the basis of that response, I see Y’shua’s Garden Prayer as one of the most profound moments of Jesus overcoming temptation, proof that He was fully God and fully human.
Matthew 26:39; Mark 14:36; and Luke 22:42 present the picture of Y’shua at His most human. There, at the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus cried out to God, ‘If You wish, don’t allow me to take this final journey‘. That was the temptation right there. He was at the peak of Ministry. A few days prior, the people – His people – voluntarily affirmed His sovereignty! They sought His (and God’s) protection! Human nature could have desired to stay longer.
But in His divinity, Christ yielded to God’s intent.
Despite being tempted, Jesus never sinned!
That, above everything else makes Y’shua the best High Priest ever. We know that at any given moment when we call on Him to intercede on our behalf, He has Unrestricted Access to God. Face to Face. He needed no personal atonement to approach the Throne of Grace.
He was
Sinless –
Yet empathetic to our cause.
Our High Priest began interceding for us on the Cross … ‘Abba forgive‘. So that we would not perish if we cry out for God’s mercy through Him. Instead, we qualify for living fully in the Land of God’s Promise.
Always.
Point to Ponder
How do we relate to such a loving, empathetic High Priest?
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May all we seek be found in Christ
