Text: Hebrews 5:1-5
Only in the book of Hebrews the term "high priest" is applied to Jesus. The author may intend to convey that Jesus as superior to all other priests, Or he may be using the term because he sees Jesus' saving work as fulfilling all that is signified by the ceremonies of the Day of Atonement.
Within the religion of the Jews, the high priest hold an highly exalted position. And the most important task of the high priest took place on the Day of Atonement.
On this day, he would be arrayed in a white linen robe over which he wore a blue robe, a breastplate with 12 stones, and a golden frontlet. On this day, he would enter into the innermost part of the temple and make a sacrifice for the sins of the nation. On this day, he was the official representative of the people before their God.
The passage is very clear in stating the qualifications as a high priest.
The writer closed the chapter 4 with the statement that we have a high priest in the person of Jesus. The high priest has the quality of A Godly Calling. For every high priest taken from among men is appointed on behalf of men in things pertaining to God.
The main function of a priest was not to teach or preach. His main function was to act as a mediator between human beings and God.
Now, the fact that human need a mediator to approach God implies that there is not anything wrong with human. After all, human were originally created in the image of God. Jesus is also a mediating priest. He has crossed the gap between God and human. He has provided reconciliation between God and human.
Jesus is not only a mediating priest; He is also a GENTLE priest. The reason that He is gentle is because He knows what it is like to be vulnerable. The best kind of comforter is one who has gone through the pain and anguish and who can empathize with us. He understands because He has been there.
We have seen that Jesus is a mediating priest, a gentle priest and an appointed priest. He is also a SUFFERING priest. When we think of the suffering of Jesus, are drawn to the pain of His beatings during the trials, the crown of thorns and the scourging and later the torture of the crucifixion with the nails in His hands and feet.
But the suffering which is viewed in this verse is different. It is not the suffering upon the cross. It is the suffering that preceded the cross. It is the way of his life and ministry which voluntarily took suffering for the noble cause. Although He was a Son; He learned obedience from the things which He suffered.
We have seen that Jesus is a mediating, a gentle, an appointed and a suffering priest. He is also an OBEDIENT priest. A lot of people have a problem being under authority. Jesus has been characterized as a rebel and a revolutionary. But that misses the point that He was one who was obedient to authority. The only question was which authority.
As we all are being the ministers of this high priest in our different realms of life are we ready to mediate between the needy and the god can we became gentile enough to do so. Are we ready to take up the suffering for the cause of justice and peace in a way obedient and disobedient to the authority for the cause of vulnerable human beings. Amen.
Only in the book of Hebrews the term "high priest" is applied to Jesus. The author may intend to convey that Jesus as superior to all other priests, Or he may be using the term because he sees Jesus' saving work as fulfilling all that is signified by the ceremonies of the Day of Atonement.
Within the religion of the Jews, the high priest hold an highly exalted position. And the most important task of the high priest took place on the Day of Atonement.
On this day, he would be arrayed in a white linen robe over which he wore a blue robe, a breastplate with 12 stones, and a golden frontlet. On this day, he would enter into the innermost part of the temple and make a sacrifice for the sins of the nation. On this day, he was the official representative of the people before their God.
The passage is very clear in stating the qualifications as a high priest.
The writer closed the chapter 4 with the statement that we have a high priest in the person of Jesus. The high priest has the quality of A Godly Calling. For every high priest taken from among men is appointed on behalf of men in things pertaining to God.
The main function of a priest was not to teach or preach. His main function was to act as a mediator between human beings and God.
Now, the fact that human need a mediator to approach God implies that there is not anything wrong with human. After all, human were originally created in the image of God. Jesus is also a mediating priest. He has crossed the gap between God and human. He has provided reconciliation between God and human.
Jesus is not only a mediating priest; He is also a GENTLE priest. The reason that He is gentle is because He knows what it is like to be vulnerable. The best kind of comforter is one who has gone through the pain and anguish and who can empathize with us. He understands because He has been there.
We have seen that Jesus is a mediating priest, a gentle priest and an appointed priest. He is also a SUFFERING priest. When we think of the suffering of Jesus, are drawn to the pain of His beatings during the trials, the crown of thorns and the scourging and later the torture of the crucifixion with the nails in His hands and feet.
But the suffering which is viewed in this verse is different. It is not the suffering upon the cross. It is the suffering that preceded the cross. It is the way of his life and ministry which voluntarily took suffering for the noble cause. Although He was a Son; He learned obedience from the things which He suffered.
We have seen that Jesus is a mediating, a gentle, an appointed and a suffering priest. He is also an OBEDIENT priest. A lot of people have a problem being under authority. Jesus has been characterized as a rebel and a revolutionary. But that misses the point that He was one who was obedient to authority. The only question was which authority.
As we all are being the ministers of this high priest in our different realms of life are we ready to mediate between the needy and the god can we became gentile enough to do so. Are we ready to take up the suffering for the cause of justice and peace in a way obedient and disobedient to the authority for the cause of vulnerable human beings. Amen.
[Liju Raju, the preacher of this sermon, is a final year BD student in Gurukul Lutheran Theological College and Research Institute, Chennai, India.]
