“More than merely adequate”
By Rev. Michael Stonhouse
Meditation – Friday, May 19, 2023
Hebrews 4:14-5:6 (Forward, p. 21) CEV p. 1261
The author of the Epistle to the Hebrews was up against something that none of us are, namely to prove that our Messiah, our Christ, was superior to the Judaism in every way—superior in terms of the priesthood, superior in terms of His sacrifices, superior to the ancient covenants, superior even to the angels (which some people were very hep about).
In today’s passage, our author latches on to the subject of the priesthood, the high priest in particular. The high priest, year after year, would go into the Temple to offer sacrifices on behalf of his people—as an atonement for their sins. In a way, he was rather qualified for this task, as himself was weak and prone to sin and so could ‘feel sorry for foolish and sinful people’. However, because of his own sin, he obviously had to offer sacrifices for his own sin as well as the sins of others.
It is here that Jesus was able to ‘top’ this. Being without sin, He never needed to offer sacrifices for sin, but only for us. Indeed, as mentioned elsewhere, He could Himself become the pure, unsullied, unadulterated sacrifice for sin.
And what is more, like the fore-mentioned high priests, Jesus does understand, and here, also by personal experience. “Jesus understands every weakness of ours, because he was tempted in every way that we are, and yet did not sin” (chapter 4, verse 15). Imagine that: Jesus has ‘been in our shoes’, totally. I must say that the first time I realized that, it was truly mind-boggling. No wonder we can so freely and unreservedly come to Him. He understands like no one ever has or can.
And, what is more, is that He continues to be accessible, for evermore. Jesus did not choose to become our high priest but, like Aaron of old times, He was designed this by God Himself. Furthermore, like Melchizedek (which our author mentions later), He has no beginning and no end. Furthermore, Jesus now resides in heaven, where He can continually make intercession for us, continually ‘go to bat’ on our behalf. And so, Jesus is more than adequate. In fact, He is everything we will ever need as far as being our Advocate and Mediator. And so, we should always feel that we can come boldly, bravely, to His throne to ask for His help. There we will be treated with undeserved kindness and will indeed find the help we need. Thanks be to God. Amen.
Forward notes: “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (chapter 4 verses 15-16).
“I was sitting in a crowded hospital waiting room when I witnessed one of the simplest and most extraordinary acts of kindness. A woman began to weep, and without missing a beat, an older woman sitting on the other side of the room walked up to her and embraced her. A scarf loosely covered the top of her head because the chemotherapy had taken her hair. ‘I’ve been there too,’ she told her companion, ‘and it’s only by the grace of God that we get through this.’
“In my own moments of grief, I’ve been grateful for the people who have put their arms around me and comforted me with those words: I’ve been there too. That same good news is in this passage from Hebrews. Jesus, our Great High Priest, has been there too and understands what we need. We can approach God’s throne seeking the grace of knowing we are never alone.”
Moving Forward: “Who needs your loving embrace today?