May 24, 2022
Tuesday
Permanent High Priest
John 16: 5-7
"Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.”
Several priests in Israel are named in the New Testament. Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist, was one of hundreds of priests who rotated through various duties at the temple in Jerusalem (Luke 1:5). Caiaphas, who participated in the trials of Jesus, is named as a high priest in the year of Jesus’ death (John 11:49). One word can best describe all the priests of Israel: temporary. Priests—even the high priest—came and went.
The impermanence of these priests is a primary point of comparison between them and Jesus. Jesus offered Himself “once for all when He offered up Himself.” In that way, He became a better High Priest than all who preceded Him in Israel. As the permanent High Priest, Jesus is an Advocate in heaven for all who He represents (1 John 2:1), always there to make intercession for us (Romans 8:34; Hebrews 7:25). No earthly priest could, or can, do that for us.
When you pray today, imagine Jesus as your Advocate, interceding for you before the Father.
A point to ponder…
Jesus Christ carries on intercession for us in heaven; the Holy Ghost carries on intercession in us on earth.
Oswald Chambers
Read the Bible through in a year
I love you!!!
© 2000-2022 B. Michael Goerlich