Lighthouse scribes

Our Perfect and Eternal high priest v1-10

Still on the continuous conversation through the chapters, the writer opens chapter 5 discussing the office of the high priest, comparing the office of the Old Testament high priests and the office of Jesus, our high priest. Remember that at the end of chapter 4 (verses 14-16), we learnt that Jesus was a compassionate high priest who understands our weaknesses and invites us to boldly approach his throne to receive mercy. So, it’s unsurprising that human high priests were also expected to be empathetic. However, Christ didn’t have to be broken with sin to understand our brokenness. The high priests were expected to naturally show compassion for others because they could identify the same human failings in themselves.

In the Old Testament, high priests were chosen by God to represent men in the affairs of offering sacrifices and gifts to God. A system that ended with the death and resurrection of Jesus, who was appointed by God to be our final high priest. Christ didn’t choose himself; the Father did, and we see that a solid difference between Christ and the Aaronic priesthood is that Christ never had to offer sacrifices for himself because he was a sinless man. Even now, if we sin, the Bible tells us Christ pleads our case before the Father because he’s our eternal high priest (Romans 8:34, 1 John 2:1, Hebrews 7:25).

While Jesus was here on earth, he offered prayers and pleadings, with a loud cry and tears, to the one who could rescue him from death. And God heard his prayers because of his deep reverence for God v7.

The verse above refers to the prayer in the garden of Gethsemane recorded in Luke 22, Mark 14, and Matthew 26. What do the words in bold mean when Jesus still died? The Gospels tell us the facts. Jesus knew the Father’s will and was determined to accomplish it, so when He prayed, He made his specific request and asked for God’s will to be done above all else. Jesus’ utmost desire was that the Father’s will be done, and the Father answered that prayer.

Even though Jesus was God’s Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered v8.

This is why studying with different translations helps. See how Amplified puts it.

Although He was a Son [who had never been disobedient to the Father], He learned [active, special] obedience through what He suffered. AMP

Consider that Heaven is a holy place with no sin and no suffering, and the Godhead is always in sync. Then consider that the Son has had to take on human flesh and be exposed to our heavy weight of sin and suffering. Jesus on earth lived out obedience every moment to the cross. Many times in the gospel of John, he’d refer to doing His Father’s will or obeying His Father’s commandment. The hallmark was going the way of the cross despite of the shame and suffering he’d have to endure.

How does this make you feel?

Conversations like this break me in a good way. Indeed, who am I that God is mindful of me? How can a God like Him love a girl like me? I wouldn’t trade this for anything else. I wouldn’t live life for anyone else.

Spiritual growth is a personal responsibility

I chuckle at the thought of a pastor saying the exact words in verses 11 to 14 to his church who have refused to mature spiritually. Surely there will be a ‘storming out’ with no return. LOL. Maybe this is why many of our churches are like social circles now. Yet, we must all be humble to accept the truth about our evaluation if it is standardised by the word of God, and ministers must boldly tell the truth in love and with the right intentions, without fear.

The writer had been explaining the Priesthood of Christ in the order of Melchizedek when he seemed to pull the breaks to address the stumbling block in the lives of the Christians.

Concerning this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull and sluggish in [your spiritual] hearing and disinclined to listen.

We understand from these texts that these believers were once ‘firebrands’. Showing us that Christians can go from milk to strong meat and back to milk. Physical activity supports our total being. When we neglect physical activity and adopt a sedentary lifestyle, the following will happen:

• Loss of endurance and active heart rate
• Muscle shrinkage and expansion of fat cells resulting in weight gain
• Major health risks, such as cardiac diseases and diabetes
• Death

If we wane in our fervour for spiritual growth, we may think we have it, but we will be empty, devoid of what is solid, and become spiritually dull. The end of a lifestyle that neglects spiritual growth is death.

Where are you?

Where are you on your journey with God? Do you feel like you are in a place where you should have progressed? Have you become cold towards God or lukewarm; showing up but without depth? Start again now. Set out times to study the word and to talk to God. Let the Holy Spirit lead you and meet you at the level you’re at. His goal is to make us like Christ, so if we let Him, He will do His perfect work.

Love

Osi