6/07/2015
Hebrews 4.14-16 14 Since then we have a great high priest
who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our
confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize
with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are,
yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of
grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.The Writer of Hebrews (ESV)
Just like Paul in Ephesians 3.20-21, the writer of
Hebrews offers a glimpse of the magnitude of our God: Jesus, the Son of God. He
used words like, since then, let us. He said: for we, but One. He went
on: Let us, that we. These are huge statements that underscore our faith and
the One in Whom we place it.
We do have a
great high priest. To the modern western believer, a high priest is often
misunderstood. We evangelicals would want to say: we have a great pastor. But a pastor is not like a priest who goes between us
and God. A pastor is a leader, a guide, a mentor, but he is not an
intermediary. And our Great High Priest did for us what no other priest could
ever do: He offered Himself as a sacrifice for us. Well, since then, let us; for
we, but One. Let us, that we.
Since we have this High Priest, let us hold fast our
confession. Our confession is not a diatribe against same-sex marriage. Our
confession is not a stand for conservative politics. Our confession is not
sitting in our corner of the sand-box yelling and throwing sand, screaming that
everyone else is wrong because they don’t hold our point of view. Our
confession is Jesus Christ is the Son of God and He is able to sympathize with
our weaknesses because He has been tempted in every way that we are but withstood
the temptation and relied on the power and presence of God to see Him through.
Since then, let us; for we, but One. Let us, that we.
Let us then draw near to the throne of Grace with
confidence to the One who is not threatened or confused or intimidated but the
comings and goings of the world. Let us draw near to the One who placed us in
the sand-box and said: Represent Me and
My presence in you to those who don’t see, and don’t understand. Show off My
power in your weakness and be a beacon of light in a very dark place that
really wants nothing to do with you…or Me. That is all He’s ever asked of
us. So, since then, let us; for we, but One. Let us, that we.
These are action words: since then, let us; for we, but
One. Let us, that we. These are words of power and import. These are words of
comfort, as are the words: Now to him who
is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to
the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus
throughout all generations, forever and ever.
Jesus is our Great and Wonderful High Priest: Since then,
let us; for we, but One. Let us, that we. Amen. I’m in. You?
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