SUNDAY September 28, 2025
Jesus Our High Priest
Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession....
Hebrews 3:1
Jesus’ superior office is revealed in Hebrews 3:1. The titles Apostle and High Priest reveal His divine mission. As we have confessed Jesus to be our Savior and Lord, we are to consider what it means for Jesus to become our High Priest. Jesus is the Mediator between God and men. Nobody can come to God unless they come through Jesus Christ.
In the Old Testament, the high priest would stand before God to intercede for the people of Israel. He entered the Temple, and, with the blood from an animal sacrifice, he sprinkled the blood on the Mercy Seat. He mediated for the people in prayer. Today, we do not need an earthly high priest. Why? Jesus Christ has become our High Priest:
Also there were many priests, because they were prevented by death from continuing. But He, [Jesus] because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them (Hebrews 7:23-25).
Jesus as our High Priest has a divine, continuous ministry toward us. God has qualified us to be partakers of a heavenly calling through His Son, who shed His blood on the Cross and became our High Priest forever:
...giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins (Colossians 1:12-14).
We have an assurance of our redemption. If we died today, we would go to heaven. As we journey through this life as pilgrims, Jesus is praying for us, and we can come anytime to God’s throne of grace to find help.
Reader, if you know what it is to go to the throne of grace for mercy and pardon, do not forget that the Mediator by whom you draw near to God is the Man Christ Jesus. Your soul’s business is in the hand of a High Priest who can be touched with the feelings of your infirmities.
~J. C. Ryle~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!
