CHRIST OUR HIGH PRIEST

‘Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people’ (Hebrews 2:17).

In the Old Testament, the standing of the Israelite people as a nation before God was wrapped up in the standing of their high priest. What the high priest was before God, so was the entire nation before God. God would see the people as He saw their high priest.

If the high priest sinned, he brought guilt on his nation, and God would reject the entire nation no matter how law-abiding the people were or how faithful they were in bringing their sacrifices.

Conversely, if their high priest was without fault and acceptable to God, God would accept the whole nation even if the people were sinful.

Unfortunately, the high priests of Israel often failed, because, like any human being, they were imperfect.

Thank God that, today, you and I have Jesus as our High Priest, who is one hundred per cent man and one hundred per cent God. As our High Priest, His standing before God is always right; Jesus is always acceptable and pleasing to the Father. Therefore, we can never lose our acceptance with God because as our High Priest, Jesus only brings righteousness on His people.

In heaven right now, Jesus our High Priest is seated at the right hand of God the Father; which is the seat of enthronement (Romans 8:34). This means that God does not look at you. He looks at Jesus. If Jesus is good, you are good; if Jesus is accepted, you are accepted; if God sees Jesus perfect, then He sees you perfect; if Jesus is righteous, then you are righteous. And we know that Jesus our High Priest is good, accepted, perfect and righteous, which means that is how God sees us!

You cannot lose your right standing, because Jesus Christ is your High Priest. To lose your standing, Jesus has to lose His standing first. But we know that we have in Jesus a High Priest who is perfect and who cannot fail. So you need never be afraid or conscious of your faults when you fellowship with God. Because your standing is completely wrapped up in Jesus your High Priest, you can fellowship with God boldly and receive all that you need from Him!