The Great High Priest

October 16, 2016 Background Scripture: Hebrews 4:14 – 5:10 Lesson Passage: Hebrews 4:14 – 16; 5:1 – 10 One of the challenges of congregational governance is recognizing the role of a religious official outside of the congregational setting. For Baptists, there are only two religious officers and that is the office of Pastor (spiritual leader) and the office of Deacon (secular leaders appointed by the Pastor). There are no other biblical officers beyond these that have any governance over a local Baptist congregation. As such, congregational governed bodies are autonomous. By contrast, Episcopalian and Presbyterian governance recognizes area, regional, and national officers who exercise governance that affects local congregations. For these groups, it is not a stretch to consider the role of an officer beyond the congregation who has direct impact on local congregations. Old Testament Judaism was closer to congregational governance with the spiritual leadership role split between two officers: the prophet spoke to the people on behalf of God and the priest went before God on behalf of the people. Only a few people filled both roles of prophet and priest. Within the office of the priesthood of Israel, there was one leader who was the High Priest. The most important role of the High Priest was to appear before God once a year to petition Him for the forgiveness of sins for the people. No other person, priest or otherwise, could do this. No person can choose the position of high priest for himself. Every person chosen from among men to be high priest is chosen by God. God chooses the high priest from among the people so that he would bear the same burdens as the people and therefore would serve them with compassion. The high priest had to be properly prepared before he could appear before God. First, he had to offer a sin offering for himself to be forgiven and then he made a sin offering on behalf of the people. The congregation depended on the high priest being acceptable to God so that they would have an advocate to plead for them. If the high priest survived the annual encounter with God in the Most Holy Place, the people knew that God had accepted the sin offering and their sins were forgiven. This process was repeated every year by the high priest of Israel. When Jesus was taken from among the people to be a high priest, he too had suffered every temptation known to man. In spite of being tested, Jesus remained sinless. On Calvary, Jesus offered his sinless life upon the altar of the cross as a sin offering for the people who put their trust in him. This he did one time and it suffices throughout eternity. When Jesus rose from the grave on the third day, he entered into the office of High Priest to serve in the true temple in heaven. Unlike the other Jewish high priests, he did not have to make an offering for himself because he was without sin. However, he took upon himself the sins of the world and offered himself as a sin offering before God in the true temple. Because God accepted Jesus’ offering of himself, I know that my sins are forgiven. He is our great High Priest. Robert C. Hudson September 14, 2016