“A PRIEST LIKE NO OTHER”
Hebrews 5:1-11
August 3, 2008
Pastor John L. Harper
Warden Assembly of God
Introduction: Jesus was made a High Priest because
• He understood the condition of mankind
• He is compassionate to those who are weak
I read about a small boy who was consistently late coming home from school. His parents warned him one day that he must be home on time that afternoon, but nevertheless he arrived later than ever. His mother met him at the door and said nothing. At dinner that night, the boy looked at his plate. There was a slice of bread and a glass of water. He looked at his father’s full plate and then at his father, but his father remained silent. The boy was crushed.
The father waited for the full impact to sink in, then quietly took the boy’s plate and placed it in front of himself. He took his own plate of meat and potatoes, put it in front of the boy, and smiled at his son. When that boy grew to be a man, he said, "All my life I’ve known what God is like by what my father did that night."
• He is the one who conquered sin and death
Babbie Mason “Jesus The One and Only”
Who was born Son of God yet Son of Man
Who laid down His life and rose to live again
Who rides the clouds of glory
Whose kingdom never ends
There is no other name
Chorus:
Jesus the one and only
Faithful, true and holy
He’s the Son of righteousness
Worthy of the glory
Jesus Christ, the one and only
Let every voice in earth and heaven offer praise
And every heart become His holy hiding place
Let every knee bow down
And every tongue confess the name
Of Jehovah’s only Son, the risen One
Bridge:
All hail the power of Jesus name
(Jesus the one and only)
Let angels prostrate fall
(Faithful, true and holy - He’s the Son
Bring forth the royal diadem
(Of righteousness, worthy of the glory)
And crown Him Lord of all
I. THE CHARACTER OF THE HIGH PRIEST (vs. 1-3)
A. Every high priest is among men
He is appointed for men to offer gifts (pertaining to godly things)
(Heb 7:28) For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated forevermore.
1.
a. Un bloody offerings
(1) meal offering
(2) sometimes burned on the altar
(3) sometimes placed on altar, and given to the priest
2. He is appointed for men to offer sacrifice for sins
a. Bloody offerings
b. Bulls, rams, sheep
B. Every High Priest has compassion on those he serves, because he is subject to weakness.
1. He is compassionate towards the ignorant (sacrifices were offered for this “sin”)
a. He must not condemn the sinner
b. He must not grow weary of dealing with the sinner
2. He is compassionate towards those going astray (sacrifices were not offered for this “sin”)
C. Every High Priest deals with weakness
(2Co 12:9) And he said unto me My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, thatG2443 the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Illustration: General George Patton was a strong man. There was not too much that scared this six foot man from Pasadena. The only weakness that he had was that he could not read until he was 12 years old. (“The Rest of the Story” Paul Harvey Pg. 47)
1. He must offer sacrifice for his sins first
a. He must take care of his own sins, before he represents God.
b. He must not think he is above sin.
2. He is required to offer sacrifices for the people
a. Since he is subject to sins himself
b. He is susceptible to temptation
Application: We all deal with weakness, what we need is someone who has overcome sin. Jesus was tempted like you and I, and did not sin. Call on Jesus and ask him to help you with your weakness.
II. THE CALLING OF THE HIGH PRIEST (vs. 4-6)
A. This priesthood
1. No one takes this honor upon him
2. Must be appointed by God
(Psa 2:7) I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.
B. The perfect High priest
1. He did not appoint himself for this honor
(Psa 110:4) The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.
2. He was appointed by God
When I was preaching in the Southern States of America, the minister called my attention to one of the elders. He said: "When the Civil War broke out, that man was in one of the far Southern States, and he enlisted in the Southern Army. He was selected by the General and sent to spy the Northern Army. As you know, armies have no mercy on spies if they are caught. This man was caught, tried by court-martial, and ordered to be shot. While he was in the guardroom awaiting the day of execution, he would call Abraham Lincoln by every name that he could think of.
"One day while he was in prison, a Northern officer came into his cell. The prisoner, full of rage, thought his time was come to be shot. The officer, when he opened the door, handed him a free pardon, signed by Abraham Lincoln. He told him he was at liberty; he could go to his wife and children. The man who had before been full of hatred asked, ’Abraham Lincoln pardoned me? I have never said a good word about him.’ The officer replied: ’If you got what you deserved, you would be shot. But some one interceded for you at Washington, and obtained your pardon. You are now at liberty.’" --Christian Endeavor World
a. after his resurrection
(Act 7:55) But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,
(Act 7:56) And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.
b. after the Priesthood of Melchizedek (forever)
(Gen 14:18) And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.
(Gen 14:19) And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth:
(Gen 14:20) And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.
• “King of Salem”
• “King of Peace”
• “Prince of Peace”
• Without Mother or Father
• Abraham gave him an offering
• Was it a theophany? (Pre-incarnate appearance of Jesus?)
Application: Christ was appointed by God because He met all of the qualifications. Christ was appointed by God to save you. Have you called on Him today?
III. THE CONQUEST OF THE HIGH PRIEST (vs. 7-10)
A. When he was on the earth
1. He offered up prayers
2. He offered up supplications
Illustration: The word supplication comes from the practice of wrapping an olive branch wrapped in wool (pleading our case)
The word for supplications is hiketeria. This ancient Greek word essentially means “an olive branch wrapped in wool,” because that is was someone in Greek culture would hold and wave to express their desperate prayer and desire. Significantly, this supplication of Jesus took place in a garden of olives - and he supplied the “wool,” being the Lamb of God! (© 2001 David Guzik)
The word supplication is never used in the Bible except to denote a cry or prayer that is vocalized. In other words, it is not private or merely a meditation. Supplication has to do with the voice!
The Hebrew word for "supplication" signifies "an olive branch wrapped with wool, or some kind of cloth, waved by a supplicant seeking peace or surrender." These were called "branches of supplication." Simply put, they were flags of surrender. They signified a cry of total, unconditional surrender.
Picture a battle-weary soldier, ragged and worn, tired and overwhelmed, stuck in a foxhole of self-will. He is all alone, weary and haggard, and he has come to the end of himself. So he breaks a branch off a tree. He ties his white undershirt to the end, lifts it, waves it and crawls out of his foxhole, crying, "I surrender - I give up!"
That is supplication! It says, "I surrender - I can’t fight this battle anymore. I’m lost and despairing." Used with permission granted by World Challenge, P. O. Box 260, Lindale, TX 75771, USA.
3. He offered up cries and tears to God
a. (Psalm 22) His cries on the Cross
(Psa 22:14) I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels.
(Psa 22:15) My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death.
(Psa 22:16) For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have enclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.
(Psa 22:17) I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me.
(Psa 22:18) They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.
b. His cries related to His sacrificial work on the Cross
c. Who could save him
d. Who heard him
B. Though he was a son
1. He learned obedience
(Php 2:8) And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
(Php 2:9) Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
(Php 2:10) That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
(Php 2:11) And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
2. He suffered on the Cross (and before)
C. After He was perfected (meaning?)
1. He became the author of salvation (eternal?)
2. He offers salvation to those who obey Him
D. Called by God
1. as a High Priest
2. forever after the order of Melchizedek
Application: Jesus has conquered sin and everything that would keep you back from Him. Why not ask Him into your heart today?
CONCLUSION: (vs. 11)
We have much to say
• hard to explain
• dull to hear
Alila stood on the beach holding her tiny infant son close to her heart. Tears welled in her eyes as she began slowly walking toward the river’s edge. She stepped into the water, silently making her way out until she was waist deep, the water gently lapping at the sleeping baby’s feet. She stood there for a long time holding the child tightly as she stared out across the river. Then all of a sudden in one quick movement she threw the six month old baby to his watery death.
Native missionary M.V. Varghese often witnesses among the crowds who gather at the Ganges. It was he who came upon Alila that day kneeling in the sand crying uncontrollably and beating her breast. With compassion he knelt down next to her and asked her what was wrong.
Through her sobs she told him, "The problems in my home are too many and my sins are heavy on my heart, so I offered the best I have to the goddess Ganges, my first born son." Brother Varghese’s heart ached for the desperate woman. As she wept he gently began to tell her about the love of Jesus and that through Him her sins could be forgiven. She looked at him strangely. "I have never heard that before," she replied through her tears. "Why couldn’t you have come thirty minutes earlier? If you did, my child would not have had to die."
• God is not asking you to give up your son or daughter, He has already given His Son
• God is asking you to accept the sacrifice of His Son, and ask Him into your heart.
