READ: Hebrews
5:1 - 10
This letter was written to Jews. They are used to offering sacrifices,
and having a high priest offer certain sacrifices for them. This idea of
needing the death of one life so that another might live was just part of their
everyday living. Every person needed to have the high priest sacrifice an
animal on their behalf in order for their sins to be forgiven. Without this,
forgiveness was not possible.
The high priest had to do it. It couldn’t be done by just anyone. There
was never a ‘job opening’ for the position of high priest and no one could
volunteer for the job either. A high priest could only be a high priest if God
appointed him. This is why it is so important for the new believers – Jewish
believers – to know what God said about Jesus. The writer is showing them that
God Himself appointed Jesus as the High Priest.
There are many similarities and also many differences between all the
other high priests and Jesus as High Priest. The biggest difference is that
Jesus Himself was the sacrifice. All the other priests had to first sacrifice
for their own sin before they could sacrifice for the sins of the people. But
because Jesus became the sacrifice, His new life is the on-going sacrifice for
our sin.
This sacrifice was not easy. Jesus did it willingly, but it was not
easy. We read in verses 7-8 how Jesus suffered. He wept and cried out loud –
because it was hard! Jesus also had to learn obedience. Verse 8 is one of the
most encouraging verses in all of Scripture because if Jesus, who is God, had
to learn obedience, and even struggled with it to the point of tears and loud
wailing, is it any wonder that we also have to learn it? This does not give us
permission to stop learning, or to be lenient on our sin and failure. However,
it does motivate us to grab a hold of the hope Christ offers because, not only
did He experience it Himself, He offers to walk through it again by our sides.
What an awesome God He is!
Journaling
and Prayer
1.
Spend some time meditating on the truth that in
order for you to have your sins forgiven and enter into God’s rest… someone had
to die. Thank Jesus for His sacrifice. Spend some time in humble worship.
2.
What’s an area of obedience you’ve been struggling
in lately? Ask the Lord to speak to you about what it is exactly that is
holding you back from complete and immediate obedience. Ask Him to give you
encouragement about continuing to learn and even suffer while you learn to be
obedient just like He had to. Thank Him for His faithfulness to persevere to
the end.
3.
Take a few minutes to pray for an unbelieving
friend, co-worker or family member. Ask the Lord to open their eyes to their
need for forgiveness. Ask the Holy Spirit for direction on how to pray and then
obey.
