SCRIPTURE BY JANICE HALL
Lesson Text: Hebrews 4:14-5: 10
Related Scriptures: Matthew 26: 36-46; Luke 22: 39-46; John 11: 32-45;17:9-16,20-24
We see in our lesson text, since Jesus is our great High Priest, the Son of God who has passed through the heavens we must hold fast our confession. He is a High Priest who sympathizes with our weakness, and we should draw near to the throne of grace for help in our times of need. Jesus is qualified to be our ultimate High Priest because of his humanity, his prayers, his sacrifice and His appointment by God.
In the related scriptures, we follow Jesus and the disciples into a place called Gethsemane, in the Mount of Olives. Jesus takes Peter,James, and John aside from the main group, then prays to God the Father with intense anguish. Luke 22 depicts how Jesus was obedient to the Father, even to the point of death. Jesus does not only provide a model of praying, but a model of what to pray. This prayer shows us the battle between flesh and spirit.
In John 11:32-45, Jesus had the same reaction that the mourners did. “ Jesus wept”. The raising of Lazarus from the dead, is the last of the miracles of Jesus’ divinity which John relates. In John chapter 17, we read of Jesus’ High Priestly prayer, making requests on behalf of Himself, the apostles and future believers. After this, Jesus will go into Gethsemane where Judas will turn Him over for arrest and His death.
SYNOPSIS BY DEBORAH HILLMAN
In this week’s lesson we learn to recognize how Jesus as the Great High Priest is superior to human high priests. There are two characteristics of Christ’s priesthood, We see it was forever and eternal because the Priest Himself was eternal never to be succeeded by another. Also based on the order of Melchizedek, Jesus did not assume the glory of being a high priest on His own, but God the Father called Him to be a priest forever.
The qualifications of a high priest were that they could identify with human weaknesses, have empathy for those that were lost in sin, and could sympathize with all human issues relating to sin and their lack of obedience to God. Only a human could represent other humans in things pertaining to God. A high priest had to steer a middle course in dealing with human weakness, being neither too lenient nor too harsh, because he saw within himself the same weakness.
The major qualification of our High Priest was His identity with humans in their sufferings. He learned obedience from the things He suffered. He is able to sympathize with every spiritual weakness one suffers, except He is without sin. Though he was the Messiah and Son of God, Jesus did not appropriate to Himself the position of high priest. He awaited the appointment from his Father.
PRACTICAL APPLICATION BY RAUFU SPAGNOLETTA
This week’s lesson helps us understand Jesus’ role as our Great High Priest, who superior to all human priests, passed into the heavens, sat down at the right hand of the throne of God, and ever lives to make intercession for all who come to God by Him. In the text, the Hebrew writer shows the wonder of having Jesus as our Great High Priest, perfectly human and perfectly God because He understands us perfectly! Jesus sympathizes with us in our weaknesses because in every way He was tempted just as we are, yet remained without sin. The fact that Jesus experienced temptation shows that He can identify with our humanity.
John writes in, 1 John 2:1-2, “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And He is the propitiation (sacrifice) for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” Jesus, our Great High Priest is both our advocate and sacrifice, and His priestly work gives us open access to God. Therefore He invites us: “Come boldly unto the throne of grace, that you may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16)
“During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, He offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverent submission. Son though He was, He learned obedience from what He suffered.” (Hebrews 4:7-8, New International Version). Jesus’ identity with human suffering is expressed in His emotional turmoil at Gethsemane as He faced the cross. The author states: “Enduring physical pain on the cross and the infinitely painful separation from the Father shows beyond doubt that Jesus can intercede for us.” Whether you are experiencing temptation or suffering, Jesus, our Great High Priest, bids you, “Come to the Throne of Grace!”
