“The Ministry of Our Great High Priest”
Hebrews 8:1-6
Warden Assembly of God
Pastor John L. Harper
October 12, 2008
Introduction: When Alexander Graham Bell first introduced his invention for sending speech over electric wires - it was dismissed. In fact, Bell had to lie to his financial backer by telling him that he was inventing a dual telegraph - a telegraph capable of sending and receiving Morse code at the same time.
But in 1876 Bell patented his invention - the telephone. But people at the time didn’t really understand it. They though the telephone was simply a curiosity with no practical purpose - why would anyone want to talk to another person over a wire?
Today, of course, things are much different. The telephone is ubiquitous in the United States and much of the world. And just in the last decade wireless communications over cell phones has exploded. Most of us wouldn’t know how to get along without Bell’s invention. (Compare to today, people text other people that are sitting near them!)
To us the need for the telephone is obvious - but not for people living in 1870’s America. They were comfortable with face to face communication - letters, or if totally necessary, a telegraph which was nothing more than a fast letter. Change was difficult - especially to wrap their arms around the potential - at how much better life would be by embracing this new technology.
That brings us to Hebrews. The Hebrews were having a really hard time with change as well. They were raised in the system of Judaism - a system of laws, priests, sacrifices and a leader named Moses. Then people started telling them about a new way - a supposedly better way - where Jesus Christ actually supplanted all their cherished traditions.
They began to move towards this new way - but when persecution rose up they seriously considered abandoning it and going back to Judaism. So the author of Hebrews launches a long and sometimes complicated argument telling them that Jesus is the better - and ONLY way to reach God.
He’s been talking about Jesus as our new high priest - who became high priest due to God’s promise, not by being born into Aaron’s line - and supported by God’s oath, which made Jesus a more sure high priest - a guide leading us into God’s eternal rest.
As we move into Chapter 8 and into some of Chapter 9 - he continues this discussion - and his point is that if God had not meant something better, He would not have sent Jesus. This is true in regards to the rest in the Promised Land - and is also true of the covenants, or agreements God made with man. The Old Covenant was designed to show man how weak he is, so that when the New Covenant came along through Jesus - we would see obviously that it was a better way. But it was like trying to convince 19th century Americans that the telephone is better than the telegraph. (Tom Fuller Calvary Chapel)
We can’t mix the old and the new, we must forsake the old and embrace the new.
Danger of Mixing Medicines
A Reader’s Digest column "News From The World of Medicine", contained a hypertension drug alert for patients taking a new medication to treat high blood pressure. Although the new medication is excellent and most effective, patients may compromise the effectiveness of this treatment if they are also taking anti- inflamatory drugs or ibuprofens such as Advil or Motrin.
1. You will negate the positive effects
The alert warned about the mixing together of these medications. Such mixing would compromise the new high blood pressure medication and patients would not gain the needed effectiveness from the new medicine. Thus they would have a false sense of security.
As I read the article, I thought of the spiritual parrellels. It was hard for new covenant Jews to resist the temptation to mix in the old covenant which would compromise the ministry of Jesus as the great and eternal High Priest. It is hard for many people, jews and gentiles alike, to not try to mix in some religion, some good works, some self righteousness, etc. into the work of salvation thus compromising the ministry of Jesus in saving us and creating a false sense of security in one’s self.
This is probably why some new age books have found their way into some church groups. Books like: "Finding Your Own Spiritual Path", "Jesus: A New Vision", and "Ancient Christian Magic".
Mixing seems to be in vogue. Such mixing is often dangerous in the realm of medicine. In the realm of the spiritual, such mixing has eternal consequences and danger. People are deceived into believing that they can take a little bit of Jesus and mix Him in with the trends, fads, and value systems of our day.
2. You will reap eternal consequences
Spiritual mixing of any kind destroys true spirituality because as Paul warned against in I Cor. 1:17; it mixes human wisdom with the gospel and thus makes the cross of Christ of none effect...that is it empties the cross of its power. Mixing compromises the power of the cross! (John A. Holt “New is Better for You”)
Then since we are convinced that Jesus is the better way, let us give some reasons
I. EXISTENCE OF OUR HIGH PRIEST (vs. 1-2)
A. We have a High Priest
Who is seated at the right hand (of majesty) I. SEATED AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD (1)
a roundabout way of referring to God - cf. He 1:3
(Heb 1:3) Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
(Mark Copeland)
B. MANY PASSAGES REFER TO JESUS AT GOD’S RIGHT HAND...
1. David prophesied that the Messiah would sit at God’s right
hand - Ps 110:1
2. Jesus said that He would sit at the right hand of God - Mk 14:
60-62
3. When He ascended to heaven, He then sat down at God’s right
hand - Mk 16:19; He 12:2
4. At God’s right hand, He poured forth the Holy Spirit - Ac 2:33
5. Peter preached Jesus as being exalted to be at God’s right
hand as our Prince and Savior - Ac 5:30-31
6. Paul taught that Jesus is at God’s right hand, interceding for
us - Ro 8:34
7. He is at God’s right hand, "waiting till His enemies are made
His footstool" - He 10:12-13
8. Yet while He sits and waits, He rules! - Ps 110:1-2,5; cf.
1Co 15:24-26
9. For at God’s right hand, He is above all other authority
- Ep 1:20-22; 1Pe 3:22
-- In one place, we read of Jesus "standing at the right hand of
God" (Ac 7:55-56); was Jesus showing His respect for Stephen,
the first Christian martyr?
[Exalted to such a place of honor and authority, we truly have a
"glorious" High Priest, one who is "the ruler over the kings of the
earth" (Re 1:5)! As we look at the next verse in our text, we see
that He is also...]
1. Who is seated at the right hand (of majesty)
a roundabout way of referring to God
(Heb 1:3) Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
a. His right hand is one of power
(Rev 1:5) And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
b. His right hand is one of position
(Eph 1:20) Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
(Eph 1:21) Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
(Eph 1:22) And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
2. Who is seated in the heavens (on the throne)
B. We have a minister of the true sanctuary
We are now introduced to a contrast between two "tabernacles"
There had been the earthly sanctuary or tabernacle
1) As ordained under the first covenant (i.e., the Law)
- cf. He 9:1ff
2) It was built by man
b. But now we read of one "which the Lord erected"; i.e., a
heavenly tabernacle
1. He is part of the true tabernacle of the Lord
a. His service is in the true tabernacle
b. His service is in the heavenlies
2. He is part of the tabernacle that was built by the Lord not man.
The heavenly tabernacle is none other than heaven itself!
- cf. He 9:11-12; 23-24
Application: Have we forgotten that we have an advocate in heaven?
II. EXECUTION OF OUR HIGH PRIEST’S MINISTRY (vs. 3-4)
A. Every High Priest is appointed to offer
B. IN WHICH HE OFFERS "SERVICE"...
1. As a High Priest, it is necessary for Him to have something to
offer - He 8:3
a. Every high priest is appointed for this purpose - He 5:1
b. What Jesus has to offer is not mention here, but will be
later - cf. He 9:12
2. This service He renders in heaven, not on the earth - He 8:4
a. If He were on earth, He couldn’t be a priest!
b. For the Law required priests from the tribe of Levi, and
Jesus was from Judah
3. As for priests on the earth...
a. They serve only the copy and shadow of the heavenly things
- He 8:5
b. For Moses had been told by God to build the earthly
tabernacle according to pattern shown to him on the
mountain - cf. Exo 25:40
1. Gifts (what gifts?) He is appointed to offer gifts
(Heb 8:3) For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices: wherefore it is of necessity that this man have somewhat also to offer.
2. Sacrifices (He is offered to offer sacrifices)
B. This one should have something to offer (He offered according to the covenant and not the law
What Jesus has to offer is not mention here, but will be
later - cf.
(Heb 9:12) Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
1. If he were on Earth
2. He would not be a priest
3. Priests offer gifts according to the law
Application: Are you still trying to pay for your sins? (i.e. penance, good works, etc.)
III. EXAMPLE OF OUR HIGH PRIEST’S MINISTRY (vs. 5-6)
A. These priests serve the copy and the shadow (He didn’t serve the copy, but the real thing)
1. Their service in the tabernacle is a copy of heavenly things. (our High Priest is the example for all others to follow)
Whenever NASA builds a satellite - it also builds a copy that stays on earth. When things go wrong, they test out solutions on the model before sending commands to the real satellite in space. That’s how, for example, scientists were recently able to free the Mars Rover, which was stuck in a sand dune.
So the earthly Temple was a copy or a model of the real one in heaven. The sacrifices priests made on earth it was in a way like practice for the real sacrifice of Jesus in heaven. The analogy breaks down because the priestly sacrifices did cover sins - but only Jesus could atone for our sins once and for all - and it could only be done in heaven before God Himself.
But the model had to be good - that’s why in Exodus 25 God told Moses to build the Tabernacle just according to the pattern. Did God perhaps show Moses the real Tabernacle? I don’t know. But you can spend years studying the spiritual significance of the Tabernacle - from the coverings to the colors. (Sermon Central)
2. Their service in the tabernacle was per Moses instruction.
B. The Lord commanded Moses to make all things (He instructed Moses what to make)
1. According to the pattern
2. According to what Moses was shown on the mountain of God
(Exo 25:40) And look that thou make them after their pattern, which was shewed thee in the mount.
C. The ministry of our High Priest was obtained through obedience
1. His is a more excellent ministry than those who came before Him.
(Col 2:15) And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
(Col 2:16) Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:
(Col 2:17) Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.
2. He is the mediator of a better covenant
It means "one who intervenes between two, either in order
to make or restore peace and friendship, or form a compact,
or for ratifying a covenant"
(Heb 9:15) And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.
3. This covenant is established on better promises
What makes the new covenant better than the old are its
Promises
(2Pe 1:3) According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
(2Pe 1:4) Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
Application: Are you enjoying the promises of the New Covenant?
CONCLUSION:
1. Jesus is our High Priest
2. Jesus is in Heaven appointed by God to be our High Priest.
3. Jesus is the one who gave the ultimate sacrifice to pay in full other sacrifices.
This is my Father’s world, and to my listening ears
All nature sings, and round me rings the music of the spheres.
This is my Father’s world: I rest me in the thought
Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas;
His hand the wonders wrought.
This is my Father’s world, the birds their carols raise,
The morning light, the lily white, declare their Maker’s praise.
This is my Father’s world: He shines in all that’s fair;
In the rustling grass I hear Him pass;
He speaks to me everywhere.
This is my Father’s world. O let me ne’er forget
That though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the ruler yet.
This is my Father’s world: the battle is not done:
Jesus Who died shall be satisfied,
And earth and Heav’n be one.
This is my Father’s world, dreaming, I see His face.
I ope my eyes, and in glad surprise cry, “The Lord is in this place.”
This is my Father’s world, from the shining courts above,
The Beloved One, His Only Son,
Came—a pledge of deathless love.
This is my Father’s world, should my heart be ever sad?
The lord is King—let the heavens ring. God reigns—let the earth be glad.
This is my Father’s world. Now closer to Heaven bound,
For dear to God is the earth Christ trod.
No place but is holy ground.
This is my Father’s world. I walk a desert lone.
In a bush ablaze to my wondering gaze God makes His glory known.
This is my Father’s world, a wanderer I may roam
Whate’er my lot, it matters not,
My heart is still at home.
Canadian Rockies, Asulkan Glacier, by Albert Bierstadt (1830-1902)
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"Jesus Christ carries on intercession for us in heaven; the Holy Ghost carries on intercession in us on earth; and we the saints have to carry on intercession for all men." Chambers, Oswald
