Series: Jesus Is Better- The Better Priest [#2]
TELL IT TO JESUS
Hebrews 5:1-10
Introduction:
I added this song, (“Tell It To Jesus”) to our worship this morning because it is very applicable to this sermon. I want you to think about the sins you have committed this week. Consider all areas of your life. Now don’t say them or write them down, just think on them for a moment. Now I want you to ask yourself, “Could I confess them to someone here without being completely humiliated”? All right, now let me ask you, “Have you confessed them to God”? If you have, then forget about it, because God already has.
1 John 1:9 (NIV)
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
What a great promise. If you are a Christian, you never have to confess your sins to me as your pastor or anyone else. Now I do realize that if you sin against someone, you need to go to them and ask for their forgiveness, but I am talking about all those sins you commit during the day that are against God. In fact, except in counseling situations, you should not confess them to others because Satan uses what he hears and runs to God to accuse you of that sin. Satan cannot do that if you do not speak it or write it because he is not omnipresent, or omniscient. He does not know what is on your mind or heart.
As Hebrews 4:15-16 tells us, take it to our High Priest, Jesus Christ. In our text today, we will see that Jesus fulfilled all of the qualifications of a High Priest.
Hebrews 5:1-10 (NIV)
“Every high priest is selected from among men and is appointed to represent them in matters related to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he himself is subject to weakness. This is why he has to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people. No one takes this honor upon himself; he must be called by God, just as Aaron was. So Christ also did not take upon himself the glory of becoming a high priest. But God said to him, "You are my Son; today I have become your Father." And he says in another place, "You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek." During the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek.”
Tell it to Jesus because…
1. He is your sacrifice for sin.
One of the qualifications of the priest was that he had to minister on behalf of other men by offering sacrifices for sins. Jesus took care of that once and for all. This was an impossible task for the Levitical Priests. Remember Aaron? God called Aaron to be a priest. The priest came from the Tribe of Levite, but none could ever match up to God’s standard. As you go through the Old Testament, you will see that some of the priest were very corrupt. They were allowing people to use sickly animals that they did not want for their sacrifices instead of giving God the best as He has commanded. Only Jesus fulfills our need of salvation.
Tell it to Jesus because…
2. He has compassion for us.
The next qualification of the priest was that he had to have compassion on those who inadvertently sinned out of ignorance. Jesus died for all sin- Problem solved. I want to point out verse 7. This verse is referring to Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane.
Hebrews 5:7 (NIV)
“During the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.”
Tell it to Jesus because…
3. He is God.
The last qualification of the priest was that he had to be called by God. Jesus left Heaven and took on the form of man so that He could pay our price. Only Jesus could do that.
Conclusion:
As Jesus died on the cross, He said, “It is finished”. The price for sin is paid. All you have to do as a Christian is confess your sin to the Father through the Son and you are cleansed. Tell it to Jesus.
