SERMON OUTLINE:
Three Questions:
Question one: Who is this Great high priest?
Question Two: What does this high priest have to offer?
Question Three: Why does He qualify?
SERMON BODY:
Ill:
• Readers’ Digest Magazine contains the story;
• Of an employee who confided in a co-worker.
• Quote: ‘I told her about a problem in our office and my fear that I would lose my job.
• She was concerned and said she would pray for me.
• I know she keeps a list of 10 people she believes need her prayers the most,
• So I asked her if she had room for me on her list.
• “Oh yes,” she replied.
• “Three of the other people have died”’
• I guess if we ask somebody to intercedes for us,
• We are expecting and wanting better results than that!
• The book of Hebrews reassures us again and again;
• That we have the best intercessor anyone could hope to have.
Note: There are two reasons every Christian should be confident in their priest Jesus.
FIRST: WE HAVE A PRIEST WHO IS AVAILABLE,
• Quote: Hebrews chapter 7 verse 25.
• Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him,
• Because he always lives to intercede for them”.
Ill:
• Do you remember the old batman series?
• The one that starred Adam West as Bruce Wayne?
• When Commissioner Gordon needed Batman’s help;
• He would pick up a special red telephone and be instantly connected to the bat-cave,
• Where batman would get the message and be available to help.
• It did not matter what time of night or day Commissioner Gordon called;
• If he used that red telephone then he had instant access to Batman!
Transition: You and I come to an eternal living priest who is always available:
• Some people have the mistaken idea that once Jesus finished His work on the cross,
• He went to heaven to retire.
• This verse reminds us that nothing could be farther from the truth.
• ‘He lives to make intercession for us’ (Hebrews chapter 7 verse 25),
• Another example is chapter 9 verse 24:
• ‘He entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence’.
• As our high priest, He stands ready to hear our pleas, our petitions, and our pain.
• Quote: “His ear is eager. His heart is empathetic. His hand is extended.”
SECOND: WE HAVE A PRIEST WHO IS ALL-SUFFICENT.
• Quote: Hebrews chapter 7 verse 25.
• Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him,
• Because he always lives to intercede for them”.
We have a priest who is all-sufficient to meet our deepest needs.
• That means no sin is so great:
• That it would turn the head of our high priest away from us.
• No sins are so numerous;
• That they could bar the entrance to into his listening ear.
• ill: In fact there is a sense that when we say; “Sorry Lord I did it again!”
• He replies: “What do you mean again!”
• That is not an excuse just carry on deliberately sinning (we saw that in our 1 John studies);
• But genuine confession brings genuine forgiveness!
• And we have a Great High priest;
• Who is all-sufficient to meet our deepest needs.
Quote: Graham Kendrick Hymn ‘The price is paid’.
“The price is paid
Come let us enter in
To all that Jesus died
To make our own
For every sin
More than enough He gave
And bought our freedom
From each guilty stain”
• Because he is All-sufficient;
• There is no reason why we should hesitate to come to Him in our time of need.
Note:
• Before we can confidently draw near to this Great High Priest,
• There are a few questions that we need answered.
• Hebrews chapter 4 verses 14-16 answer those questions.
Question one: Who is this Great high priest?
“…since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess”.
• Our high priest is identified for us as: “Jesus the Son of God”,
• While the name ‘Jesus’ and the title ‘Son of God’;
• Are used in the New Testament on many occasions;
• This is the only time they are used together in this way.
Now they are used together in this way to remind us of the criterion of our priest:
• “Jesus” is the earthly, the human name given to the baby born at Bethlehem,
• “Son of God” is the title given to the second member of the Godhead.
• The name “Jesus” reminds us that he is fully human.
• The title “Son of God” reminds us he is fully divine!
• Together those two descriptions remind us;
• Quote: “He is man as though he were not God, and God as though he were not man!”
Ill:
• When the new parents went with their baby to get him examined by the doctor;
• The doctor told them, "You have a cute baby."
• The father replied, "I bet you say that to all new parents."
• The doctor responded “No, just to those whose babies really are good-looking."
• The father then asked: "So what do you say to the others?"
• The doctor said, "He looks just like you."
• We have a priest who ‘looks just like you’
• He is fully human;
• Yet he also ‘looks just like God’ – because this priest is fully divine.
• Quote: “He is man as though he were not God, and God as though he were not man!”
Question Two: What does this high priest have to offer?
• Answer: verses 15-16, refer to at least two:
• ‘Sympathy and grace’.
“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathise with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are— yet was without sin.
16 Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need”.
• Question: What does this high priest have to offer?
• Answer: ‘Sympathy and grace’.
(A). SYMPATHY.
• Our high priest sympathizes with our weakness.
• The Greek word for ‘sympathize’ means “to suffer with.”
• There’s identification in that word.
Ill:
• Our high priest has been tested as we are tested.
• We know he was tempted by the devil in the wilderness.
• ill: Often buy things e.g. My Computer,
• Has a little stickers on them that say "Hardware tested".
• That is not put on my computer for negative reasons, but positive.
• The product has been examined and proven to be the genuine article in working order!
• Our high priest has been tested as we are tested.
• We know he was tempted by the devil in the wilderness.
• As a man he has been weak, just as at times we are weak.
• As a man he has suffered, just as at times we suffer.
• And don’t forget he has known what it’s like to stand before the court;
• And to face its merciless judgment.
• And he faced the court as an innocent man with a corrupt judge!
• Our high priest really does sympathize with us;
• There’s real identification in that statement.
(B). GRACE.
• Not only does he offer us “grace to help us in our time of need.”
• Did you notice that his throne is even called; “a throne of grace’.
Ill:
• Normally in the scripture the throne of God is one of holiness & judgement;
• i.e. Ezekiel said: “The brightness of the throne was the glory of the Lord”.
• And he fell down upon his face before this glory.
• i.e. Isaiah saw that throne and responded: “Woe is me, I am ruined!”
• i.e. The apostle John saw that throne and “fell down as dead”.
But here in Hebrews chapter 4 verse 16 we are invited to come to a throne of grace!
• Isn’t that comforting?
• It’s not called a throne of truth, or a throne of holiness, or a throne of justice.
• Our high priest Jesus does not sit in a courtroom, robed in condescension,
• Scowling down from His bench;
• Brining a gavel down on our lives and saying, “Guilty, guilty!
• As we stumble over our humiliating confessions.
• No, his throne is not a smug courtroom;
• But a sympathetic confessional - a throne of grace.
You and I are called to come before the throne of grace & mercy:
ILL:
• The story is told of a politician;
• Who, after receiving the proofs of a portrait, was very angry with the photographer.
• He stormed back to the photographer and arrived with these angry words:
• "This picture does not do me justice!"
• The photographer replied,
• "Sir, with a face like yours, you don’t need justice, you need mercy!"
Note:
• Did you notice in Hebrews chapter 4 verse 16 the order given.
• Let me read it to you again.
“Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need”.
• This verse says we come asking for mercy not grace;
• In fact when we come asking for mercy we then find grace to help!
• But it important not to get the cart before the horse!
• We come asking for mercy we then find grace to help!
Quote:
• "Mercy is when you don't get what you deserve”.
• We deserve punishment but we find forgiveness.
• “Grace is when you get what you don't deserve."
• Grace is receiving blessing from God and that blessing is undeserved”.
• I think this verse is a reminder that we may come into the presence of God;
• With ‘confidence’, with ‘boldness,’ with “assurance”;
• But we are not to come the wrong way
• i.e. taking God for granted or expecting cheap forgiveness.
• We have an open door into the presence of God;
• But we must always come the right way i.e. asking for mercy!
• This verse is a reminder that we have no bargaining power with God;
• We simply come in and through the work of our Lord Jesus Christ!
• And the good news is God is rich in mercy, he delights in mercy;
• And when we come asking for mercy we then find grace to help!
Question Three: Why does He qualify?
• Jesus qualifies to be our high priest because as we have already seen;
• He alone is the perfect mediator.
• i.e. Being the Son of God, he perfectly represents God.
• i.e. At the same time, being fully man, Jesus perfectly represents humanity.
The book of Hebrews also teaches that he qualifies to be our priest;
• Because he is appointed by God to offer sacrifices for the sins of the people.
• In chapter 7 verses 25-28 he show us the uniqueness of Jesus:
“Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.
26 Such a high priest meets our need— one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens.
27 Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself.”
Quote:
• An old man going a lone highway
• came at evening, cold and gray
• to a chasm vast and deep and wide.
• The old man crossed in the twilight dim,
• the sullen stream had no fear for him;
• But he turned when safe on the other side,
• and built a bridge to span the tide.
• “Old man” said a fellow pilgrim near,
• “You are wasting your strength by building here,
• Your journey will end with the ending day;
• You never again will pass this way;
• You’ve crossed the chasm deep and wide,
• Why build you this bridge at eventide?“
• The builder lifted his old gray head,
• “Good friend, in the path I’ve come,” he said,
• “There followeth after me to-day
• A youth whose feet must pass this way;
• This chasm that has been naught to me,
• To this fair youth may a pitfall be;
• He, too must CROSS in the twilight dim –
• Good friend, I’m building this bridge for him“
Note:
• The Latin word for “priest” ('Pontifex') means “bridge builder.”
• God the Father gave Jesus Christ, his Son;
• Two pieces of wood and three nails and asked Him to build a bridge;
• For man to access God
• And Jesus our Great High Priest successfully built that bridge;
• The bridge of salvation – where sinners can cross over from death to life;
• The bridge of fellowship;
• Where Christians can confess their failings and know restoration.
Some people have the mistaken idea that once Jesus finished His work on the cross,
• He went to heaven to retire.
• Nothing could be farther from the truth.
• He lives to make intercession for us.
• As our high priest, he stands ready to hear our pleas, our petitions, and our pain.
• His ear is eager. His heart is empathetic. His hand is extended.
Quote: Over 250 years ago, the prolifically lyrical pen of Charles Wesley inked this hymn:
Arise, my soul, arise!
Shake off thy guilty fears;
The bleeding Sacrifice
In my behalf appears.
Before the throne my Surety stands;
My name is written on His hands.
He ever lives above,
For me to intercede;
His all redeeming love,
His precious blood to plead;
His blood atoned for all our race,
And sprinkles now the throne of grace,
Five bleeding wounds He bears; received on Calvary;
They pour effectual prayers; they strongly plead for me:
'Forgive him, O forgive,' they cry,
'Forgive him, O forgive,' they cry,
'Nor let that ransomed sinner die!'
The Father hears Him pray, His dear anointed One;
He cannot turn away, the presence of His Son;
His Spirit answers to the blood,
His Spirit answers to the blood,
And tells me I am born of God.
My God is reconciled; His pardoning voice I hear;
He owns me for His child; I can no longer fear:
With confidence I now draw nigh,
With confidence I now draw nigh,
And 'Father, Abba, Father,' cry.
In summary:
We have a great high priest who is:
• Accessible.
• All-sufficient.
• He invites us into his presence!
• Look at verse 16 one last time.
Question: Who is invited?
Answer: “Let us come” – every Christian is welcome (no exceptions!)
Question: How do we come?
Answer:: Boldly.
Question: Where do we come?
Answer: “To the throne of grace”.
Question: Why do we come?
Answer: “That we might receive mercy”
Question: What do we receive?
Answer: “Mercy and grace to help”
Question: When do we come?
Answer: “In our time of need”.
