Sermon Central
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Jesus The Great High Priest Series
Contributed by William Lock on Mar 4, 2009 (message contributor)
Summary: Jesus surpasses the OT priest system and our current priestly system
Jesus the Great High Priest
What image do you first think of when you think of a Priest?
Religious Sacrifices (Yom Kippur)
Religious Systems
Religious Clothing (ephod, shoulder stones, breastplate, the robe, turban, crown)
Religious Buildings or Altars
What was the purpose of the OT Priest
The high priest was responsible for the Tabernacle, its daily offerings and functions and also its regular Feasts, three times in the year: at Passover, at Pentecost and at Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement (which was followed by a week of joy in the Feast of Tabernacles), as seen from Leviticus chapter 23.
What about the priest of the order of Melchizedek?
This is a non-Levitical priest who was both priest & king (see Genesis 14:18)
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. 2 He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he himself is
subject to weakness.
3 This is why he has to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people.
4 No one takes this honor upon himself; he must be called by God, just as Aaron was.
What about priests today?
What is the purpose of the Priest?
Religious Sacrifices
Religious Systems (baptisms, prayers, Christmas, Easter, Weddings and funerals)
Religious Clothing—outward appearance
Religious Buildings or Altars
Who is Your Priest?
14 Therefore, 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. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize 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.
7 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. 8 Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered
9 and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him 10 and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek.
Who is Your Priest?
Your heavenly representative (vs. 14)
The temptation destroyer (vs. 15)
The great sympathizer (vs. 15)
Your confidence, mercy & grace provider (vs. 16)
The obedient & submissive sufferer (vs. 7-8)
The perfect source of eternal salvation (vs. 9)
GOOD NEWS & BAD NEWS
Good News
Way of the Priest is only an OT example.
Christ is the only high priest and the OT priesthood is no longer needed
Bad News
I could be out of a job
New temple
New priest
Be careful of how you treat religious leaders
Religious leaders should be careful of when they are trying to do something Christ has already done or is doing.
NAME DROPPING
Have you ever done this?
Moses in Egypt
Christ our High Priest
Our future depends on Jesus Name Dropping on our behalf!
IN THE BOOK OF HEBREWS
He’s better than angels
He’s better than any man that’s ever lived
He’s a better high priest than has ever served
He offers a better covenant than man has ever known
He offers a better sacrifice than has ever been offered.
Jesus is better… than anything.
Who is Your Priest?
JESUS IS YOUR PRIEST, YOUR…
Heavenly representative (vs. 14)
Temptation destroyer (vs. 15)
Great sympathizer (vs. 15)
Confidence, mercy & grace provider (vs. 16)
Obedient & submissive sufferer (vs. 7-8)
Perfect source of eternal salvation (vs. 9)
