JESUS IS OUR PERFECT HIGH PRIEST (Outline)
March 9, 2008 –
LENT 5 -
Hebrews 5:7-9
INTRO: These verses remind us that Jesus is our perfect High Priest. A quick review is in order. Martin Luther compiled the “Small Catechism” so that parents might teach their children the basic teachings of the Bible necessary for salvation. This catechism book is divided into six chief parts. The first part is the Ten Commandments. The commandments are a summary of God’s Law. The law shows us our sins.
Next comes the Apostles Creed. This creed is a good summary of God’s Gospel. The gospel shows us our Savior. Now the Apostles Creed is divided into three parts called articles. The first article helps us to understand God the Father – Creator. The third article teaches about God the Holy Spirit – Sanctifier (= sets apart as holy by working faith in hearts). Back to the second article and God the Son, Jesus Christ – Redeemer (Savior). The second article is divided into three parts. We learn of Jesus’ person – he is true man and true God. We learn of Jesus’ work – humiliation and exaltation. We also discover Jesus’ office – what he is. Scripture tells us Jesus is Prophet, King, and Priest. Compared to the Old Testament office of priest Jesus is far superior. Jesus is perfect. "Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. Such a high priest meets our need--one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens"(HEBREWS 7:25,26).
JESUS IS OUR PERFECT HIGH PRIEST.
Today we study what that means for
us and what it cost Jesus:
I. A sacrifice of suffering,
II. An offering of obedience.
I. A SACRIFICE OF SUFFERING
A. This letter is addressed to the Jewish believers, Hebrews. This book is in the New Testament, not Old.
1. A great danger was lurking among these believers. They wanted to return to the old ways.
2. They thought their sacrifices were needed more than the single sacrifice of Jesus.
3. It was difficult for these people to simply give up generations of worship so quickly.
B. The writer emphasizes and re-emphasizes that Jesus was far superior compared to the Old Testament.
1. Verse 7a. Jesus’ gave up the perfection in heaven to live an entire life of suffering on earth.
2. From the moment of conception by the Holy Spirit Jesus’ suffering began, his humiliation.
C. The suffering of Jesus sharpened at the end of his ministry shortly before his crucifixion.
1. One of his own would betray him. His disciples would sleep while he prayed. Suffering.
2. The soldiers would make a great show of his arrest. The crowds turned against him. Suffering.
D. How would / did Jesus endure all of this betrayal, rejection, and suffering? We are told in our text that he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death. God, his Father, would never leave him nor forsake Jesus, his Son. Jesus prayed understanding that it was always the will of his heavenly Father which needed to be done. Listen to the intensity and the anguish of a suffering sacrifice. "An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground"(LUKE 22:43,44). Jesus is strengthened. He wakes his disciples. Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer! We, too, can turn to the Lord God, our heavenly Father – and be strengthened, any time and all the time!
E. This sacrifice of suffering was not unknown to God’s people. Isaiah describes the event of Jesus’ sacrifice 700 years before it takes place. "But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed"(ISAIAH 53:5). Pierced, crushed, and wounded. How this mortal body of Jesus had to suffer. How Jesus’ suffered so that we are healed. The sacrifice of Jesus’ suffering paid the penalty for our sins.
F. Unlike the Old Testament priests, Jesus’ sacrifice was perfect. Jesus’ sacrifice was complete. "For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit"(1 PETER 3:18). We who were once far off and separated from God by sin are now brought near to God. We do not suffer eternally because Jesus suffered here.
JESUS IS OUR PERFECT HIGH PRIEST.
Jesus provides himself as a sacrifice of suffering.
II. AN OFFERING OF OBEDIENCE
A. Old Testament priests offered sacrifices for their own sins before they could sacrifice for others’ sins.
1. These sacrifices were to always point ahead to the perfect Sacrifice, Christ the Lamb of God.
2. By the New Testament times these sacrifices often were only done as duty rather than worship.
B. These verses directed the believers back to the perfect Sacrifice who was also the perfect High Priest.
1. Jesus prayed and his Father heard him, verse 7b. Jesus had submitted to his Father’s will.
2. The obedience of Jesus was perfect from eternity. Jesus did not disobey – ever.
C. Some have twisted verses 8 & 9 to make Jesus appear much more mortal than what he really is.
1. Verse 8. Did Jesus learn to be obedient? No. Jesus was never evil and did not disobey.
a. What did he learn from suffering? b. Jesus learned about the temptations mankind faces.
2. Verse 9. Again, Jesus was not made perfect because he was perfect. What was made perfect?
a. Our eternal salvation is perfected. b. Jesus’ offering of obedience made salvation perfect.
D. This obedience of Jesus was very clearly noticed by those who came into close contact to him. Even those not believing had to admit the innocence of Jesus. The crowds, the religious leaders, and many Jews sought the crucifixion of Jesus. They demanded the release of Barabbas, a murderer. The Roman ruler of the day felt, thought, and knew differently. "Once more Pilate came out and said to the Jews, ‘Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no basis for a charge against him.’" (JOHN 19:4). This was obedience – perfect and innocent. This is Jesus’ offering for our disobedience.
E. Jesus is our perfect High Priest. We are imperfect – Jesus is perfect. We are sinners – Jesus is sinless. We disobey – Jesus obeys. Jesus’ offering of obedience takes the place of our offering of nothing but wickedness. ALL our righteous acts are like filthy rags. Not all the wealth in the world could even begin to make a down payment for one single sin. Nothing we could say, think, or do can take away the punishment that we truly deserve. "For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous"(ROMANS 5:19). Praise God who provides the perfect High Priest who meets all of our needs.
F. Think about the truth of Scripture. An innocent man is put to death because of others. A perfect person pays the price for others imperfection. Our perfect High Priest gives up perfection and lives in this imperfect world to offer his obedience on an altar known as the cross. "And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross!"(PHILIPPIANS 2:8). This death was not quick. Crucifixion was the cruelest form of torture lasting for hours. This death was not just. This death was not fair. Jesus’ death was absolutely necessary so that we might live forever.
CONC.: Jesus IS OUR perfect High Priest. This is truly God’s gift of amazing grace for every believer. When we look at ourselves we can only admit our utter failures. We cannot save ourselves. We cannot pay for our sins. We cannot earn or pray our way into heaven. But our heavenly Father does not forget nor forsake us. Instead, God sends his Son, our Savior Jesus Christ to serve as our perfect High Priest. Adam and Eve sinned in a perfect world. God’s perfect plan was to require payment of and from himself. JESUS IS OUR PERFECT HIGH PRIEST. Our sins are forgiven and our eternal salvation is made perfect because of Jesus’ payment: a sacrifice of suffering and an offering of obedience. "The Lord Jesus Christ…gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be glory for ever and ever"(GALATIANS 1:3b-5). Amen. Pastor Timm O. Meyer
SERVICES: SAT – 1:00pm @ NCF Min.,
+ SUN – 12:00pm @ NCF Medium / 9:30am @ Redeemer
Sunday radio broadcast @ 9:05am on KQNK 106.7FM or 1530AM + www.kqnk.com
LENT 5 readings:
EZEKIEL 37:1-14;
ROMANS 8:11-19;
JOHN 11:17-27, 38-45
(PSALM 116)
