Journey Through The Bible
     Old Testament Reading: 2 Kings 1-3
     New Testament Reading: Hebrews 7

For this is the kind of high priest we need: holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. He doesn’t need to offer sacrifices every day, as high priests do—first for their own sins, then for those of the people. He did this once for all time when he offered himself. For the law appoints as high priests men who are weak, but the promise of the oath, which came after the law, appoints a Son, who has been perfected forever (Hebrews 7:26-28).

There is a world of difference between knowing about God and knowing God. You can know about God from having a degree in doctrine, but you can only know God from a devotion that draws you near to His heart. But there is a problem! Between humanity and a holy God stretches an abyss that no amount of religious fervor or good deeds can span.

The good news of Hebrews is that a better hope through which we draw near to God is found in Jesus Christ. He is our high priest, our bridge to God. He is the one—the only one—who can open the way to God. And He does it perfectly and permanently. Once you know Him and approach God through Him, you never again need another human priest. He is the superior priest.

What makes Jesus superior is that He stands in contrast to all other priests. In fact, with the coming of Jesus Christ, the priesthood became obsolete.

Jesus Christ is superior because He is sinless. Being perfect, He can exercise a perfect ministry for His people. The Old Testament priests were “set apart” for their ministry, but they were not always holy in character. They were sinners like the people to whom they ministered. Our Lord never needed to offer sacrifices for His cleansing.

Jesus Christ is superior because His sacrifice was offered once for all. The Old Testament priest offered daily sacrifices as part of the temple ritual. But Jesus Christ offered just one sacrifice and settled the matter forever.

Jesus Christ is superior because He is the perfect Son of God. The human priesthood has been superseded by a divine and eternal priesthood. Jesus Christ, the incarnate Son of God, is the priest we need. We are prone to sin and we need to turn to Him for spiritual help. As our High Priest, Jesus Christ gives us the grace and mercy that we need to not sin. But if we do sin, He is our Advocate at God’s throne.

Jesus is our perfect high priest. Only through Christ’s perfect sacrifice are we able to find forgiveness for our sins. Jesus offered this sacrifice once for all. Only through Jesus Christ can we reach God and know God. He is the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Him (John 14:6). No one can know the Father without knowing Him.