Hebrews 4:14-16 - Jesus, great and High Priest

So far, in Hebrews, we have hit on the realities that Jesus is our model of how to live and be fully alive as a human. Jesus is greater than the angels. Jesus is greater than Moses and Joshua. Jesus has set us free, canceling our debts on the cross. The author has pressed into us not to harden our hearts to Jesus and his love. Yesterday we dove into resting in God's love, actively seeking and striving for it. And all of this sets us up for the closing of Hebrews 4, that Jesus is our great and high Priest. All this makes me think of something I heard on Rethinking God with Tacos podcast;

God is love. 

His love is always good. 

He looks like Jesus. 

So good! God is love. His love is always good. He looks like Jesus. Let’s jump into Hebrews 4:14-16, and I am going to use The Message translation today.

“Now that we know what we have—Jesus, this great High Priest with ready access to God—let’s not let it slip through our fingers. We don’t have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He’s been through weakness and testing, experienced it all—all but the sin. So let’s walk right up to him and get what he is so ready to give. Take the mercy, accept the help.” - ‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭4:14-16‬ ‭MSG‬‬

Friends, now that we know what we have, Jesus! Do we really know what we have, are we living from this relationship and connection with the creator of the universe? David Guzik’s commentary says this:

The writer to the Hebrews calls attention to the specific, unique character of Jesus as our High Priest.

· No other High Priest was called great.

· No other High Priest... passed through the heavens.

· No other High Priest is the Son of God.

This is who Jesus is, and He is approachable for us. He’s been through weakness and testing, experienced it all—all but the sin. There is nothing we have walked through, nothing we will walk through that Jesus has not already faced and experienced fully, as human. Jesus is our model, and He is our guide to how to live as a human. So let’s walk right up to him and get what he is so ready to give. Take the mercy, accept the help.

God, you are love. Thank you! God, your love is always good. Thank you! God, your love looks like and is Jesus. Thank you! God may we embrace this love, receive this love today. Thank you. God, we need your mercy, may we take it today. Thank you. Lord, we need your help, may we accept it today. Thank you.