JESUS OUR GREAT HIGH PRIEST

The churches of Christ Greet You (Romans 16:16)

We humbly thank God, the Father,

for giving us another opportunity to preach the Gospel of the Grace of God to you.

In this lesson we want to speak to you about our great Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ.

Jesus is so great that He is the very Heart of the NT.

In Matthew He is the King of the Jews (2:2).

In Mark He is the Servant of God (10:44, 45).

In Luke He is the Perfect Son of Man (9:56).

In John He is the Exalted Son of God (20:30, 31).

In Acts He is the Ascended Lord (1:9-11).

In Romans He is our Righteousness (3:21-25).

In 1 Corinthians He is the First fruits from the Dead (15:20).

In 2 Corinthians He is the One made Sin for us (5:21).

In Galatians He is the One who Lives in us (2:20).

In Ephesians He is the One who Blesses (1:3).

In Philippians He is the Joy Bringer (3:1, 3; 4:4).

In Colossians He is the Preeminent One (1:18).

In 1 Thessalonians He is the Returning Lord (4:13-18).

In 2 Thessalonians He is the World’s Judge (1:7-9).

In 1 Timothy He is our Mediator (2:5).

In 2 Timothy He is the Bestower of Crowns (4:8).

In Titus He is our Great God and Savior (1:3, 4).

In Philemon He is the Equalizer (vs. 16).

In Hebrews He is the Rest of Faith (4:8-11).

In James He is the Lord of Sabaoth [hosts] (5:4).

In 1 Peter He is the Theme of Old Testament Prophecy (1:9-12).

In 2 Peter He is the Longsuffering Savior (3:9).

In 1 John He is the Word of Life (1:1).

In 2 John He is the Target of the Anti-Christ (vs. 7).

In 3 John He is the Personification of Truth (vs. 1-4).

In Jude He is the Believer’s Hope (vs. 24, 25).

In Revelation He is the Victorious Lamb (5:6).

1. So we see that Jesus is GREAT and He is the very heart of the NT.
2. But Loved Ones, there is too much in these 27 passages
1. for us to study in this short lesson.
2. So let’s back up and quickly examine the greatness of Christ
3. from the marvelous book of Hebrews.
3. Among other things,
1. in the book of Hebrews,
2. the Holy Spirit reveals the greatness of Jesus as the…

Brightness of God’s Glory and the express Image of God’s Person (1:3).

One who tasted death for every man, and became the Captain of our Salvation (2:9, 10).

Son over His own house (3:6).

One who was tempted in all points like we are, yet without sin (4:15).

Author of eternal salvation to all them that obey Him (5:9).

Hope set before us, even the anchor of the soul (6:19).

Surety of a better testament, and able to save to the uttermost those who come unto God by Him (7:22-25).

One who has obtained a more excellent ministry, and became the mediator of a better covenant (8:6). What covenant?

Mediator of the New Covenant, the New Testament (9:15).

One who in a little while shall come and will come (10:38).

Word of God that framed the worlds (11:3).

Author and Finisher of our faith (12:2)

Same yesterday and today and forever (13:8).

4. But again, Loved Ones, there is too much in these 13 passages
1. for us to study in one sitting.
2. So let’s back up a little more
3. and zero in on the topic of our lesson:

Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest of our Profession

5. The text for our topic comes from Hebrews 3:1 (READ).
6. In this text we see the call to consider Jesus.
7. Well, to whom was this call given?
1. It was given to the Holy Brethren, that is, brethren who are sanctified,
2. or set apart for a holy purpose (READ Heb. 2:10-11).
3. Therefore, this call was given to Christians; those of us who are in Christ.
8. Like the early Hebrews, Christians today are partakers of the heavenly calling.
1. We have been called to share in the call from heaven.
2. This calling is the calling of the Gospel of the Grace of God,
3. for this is how God calls us (READ 2 Thess. 2:13-14).
4. It is a call to glory (READ 1 Thess. 2:12).
9. Our text (back in Hebrews 3:1) tells us to consider Jesus as the Apostle…
10. How is Jesus the Apostle?
1. The term comes from the Greek word apostolos.
2. Apo – meaning “from” and Stello – meaning “sent.”
3. Therefore the word "apostle" means “one sent forth.”
11. Just as Moses was sent by God, so was Jesus,
1. as foretold by Moses and the prophets (Acts 3:22-26).
2. Jesus said to the Jews, “My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me” (John 7:16).
3. In Acts 3:26, Peter told the men of Israel: “Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus,

sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.”

12. So, in the Bible the term “apostle” is used officially
1. to denote the 12 apostles (14 in all),
2. and the term is used unofficially to simply designate
3. one who was commissioned or sent forth,
4. such as Jesus here in Hebrews 3:1.

1. We also are to consider Jesus as the High Priest of our profession, or confession.
2. This is one of the most important themes in the book of Hebrews.
1. The Bible says…Jesus is our great High Priest (Heb. 4:14).
2. He is a High Priest after the order of Melchisedec (Heb. 5:10).
3. But how is Jesus our “High Priest?”
4. Back in the 1960’s Simon Garfunkel wrote a song entitled,
1. “Bridge Over Troubled Waters.”
2. That song reminds me of a short story…
5. A train filled with passengers was speeding along its route that crossed a number of rivers.

Looking out the window, a child saw the treacherous waters in the distance

and was afraid they could not reach the opposite bank. But as they came closer,

a bridge appeared and soon the “danger” was behind them.

Each time this occurred the youngster was very much disturbed

until they had safely crossed to the other side. Finally, however, she leaned back

and said with confidence, “Somebody has put up bridges for us all the way!”

6. A High Priest is a bridge builder.
1. Our great High Priest, Jesus the Christ,
2. is our “bridge over troubled water.”
3. It is through Christ that we have access to God.
7. Please turn your Bibles to Hebrews chapter two,
1. and follow along
2. as we notice some things about His priesthood.
8. First of all, the High Priesthood of Jesus is introduced in Hebrews 2:17 (READ).
9. The work of a High Priest is to offer gifts and sacrifices for sin (READ Heb. 5:1).
10. You see, the sacrifices of the OT (that animal blood) could not take sins away.
1. (READ Heb. 10:4; 9:9).
2. So animal blood was just a shadow, a figure.
11. But blood had to be shed for forgiveness (READ Heb. 9:22).
1. Eternal forgiveness, then, took the blood of a man who was sinless.
2. Jesus was man and Jesus was sinless.
3. He asked the Jews, “Which of you convinceth me of sin?” (John 8:46).
12. READ Hebrews 4:15.
1. Peter said we have been “redeemed with the precious blood of Christ,

as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Peter 1:19).

2. Again, speaking of Jesus, Peter said He“did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth” (1 Peter 2:22-24).
3. If Jesus had committed sin,

1. when He died He could not have offered Himself for others,

2. He would have died only for His own sins.

3. But Peter said, “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust,

that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh,

but quickened by the spirit” (1 Peter 3:18).

13. Second, Jesus had to offer Himself (READ Heb. 10:5).
14. Concerning His life, Jesus said: “No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself.

I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again.

This commandment have I received of my Father” (John 10:18).

15. Read Hebrews 8:3.
1. Therefore, He offered Himself.
2. There was no other sacrifice that was available.
3. No other sacrifice could satisfy the demands of a just God.
16. Third, Jesus needed to offer Himself only once (READ Heb. 7:27; 9:7, 12, 25-26, 28; 10:10-12).
17. Fourth, Jesus was not a priest on earth (READ Heb. 8:4; 7:13-15, 17).
1. Jesus went into heaven itself to be a High Priest for us.
2. He offered His blood in heaven (READ Heb. 9:24).
3. He is therefore our only access to the Father.

“Jesus said unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life:

no man cometh unto the father, but by me” (John 14:6).

“For through him we both (Jew and Gentile) have access

by one Spirit unto the Father” (Eph. 2:18).

CONCLUSION

1. Yes, Jesus is GREAT...He is our Great High Priest.
2. And because Christians are IN CHRIST, the Christian life is GREAT.
3. You see, in Christ we have:

LOVE - - that can never be fathomed (Eph. 3:18, 19).

a. It is a love that would let the Father send His only begotten Son

b. to die for rebellious man (Rom. 5:6-11).

LIFE - - that can never perish (John 10:28; Ps. 23).

RIGHTEOUSNESS - - that can never be tarnished or made dull (1 Cor. 1:30).

a. God makes clean, no matter how sinful.

b. He prescribes the remedy.

LIGHT - - that can never be darkened…it will never go out (Prov. 4:18; Matt. 5:14).

STRENGTH - - that can never be enfeebled or made weak (Phil. 4:13; 2 Cor. 4:16-18).

a. This refers to spiritual strength, not physical strength.

b. Man labors with much effort for physical strength,

c. but for some reason he seems to think that spiritual strength

d. will just rub off on him.

PEACE - - that passeth all understanding (Phil. 4:7).

The world cannot understand the peace of mind of the child of God.

HOPE - - that can never be disappointed (Heb. 6:19).

a. We may have various disappointments in this earthly life,

b. but there will be none in the hereafter.

JOY - - that can never be diminished or made less (Ps. 16:11).

As we mature in Christ our joy will just grow and grow.

GLORY - - that can never be clouded (Ps. 84:11).

What a glory it is to be one of God’s elect…a child of God.

RESOURCES - - that can never be exhausted or done away (Rom. 8:32).

4. ALL SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS (salvation, forgiveness, etc.) are in Christ (Eph. 1:3).
5. There are no spiritual blessings outside of Christ.
6. We must live our life so that when we die, we die in the Lord (Rev. 14:13).
7. Remain faithful unto death and God will give you the crown of life (Rev. 2:10).
8. Are you in Christ?
1. If not, why not?
2. If you are a penitent believer in Jesus as the Son of God,
3. then you should be baptized INTO Christ ASAP (Rom. 6:3; Gal. 3:27).
   

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