Jesus: Our Great High Priest - Finding Strength in His Mercy and Qualifications

In our journey of faith, we often find ourselves struggling to hold on. Like a phone slipping from our grasp as we drift off to sleep, our connection to God can feel tenuous at times. But what if we had someone who could not only understand our struggles but also intercede for us with perfect empathy and authority? This is exactly what we have in Jesus Christ, our great high priest.

The concept of a high priest might seem antiquated to our modern sensibilities, but understanding this role is crucial to grasping the depth of what Jesus offers us. In ancient Jewish tradition, priests served three primary functions: caring for God's people, offering gifts to God on behalf of the people, and making sacrifices for sin. They were the bridge between humanity and the divine, speaking to God on our behalf.

However, the old system of priesthood had limitations. The sacrifices were temporary, requiring annual renewal. The priests themselves were flawed, needing to make offerings for their own sins before they could intercede for others. But in Jesus, we find the perfect and eternal high priest.

What makes Jesus uniquely qualified for this role? First and foremost, He is merciful. Having taken on human form, Jesus experienced the full range of human temptations and struggles. He wasn't a distant deity playing at being human; He fully immersed Himself in the human experience. This means that when we approach Him with our struggles, He truly understands. There's no temptation outside of Jesus' experience - from anger to desire, from weariness to despair, He's faced it all.

Moreover, Jesus didn't just experience these temptations and then retreat to heaven, leaving us to fend for ourselves. He left us the Holy Spirit, ensuring that divine help is always available to us. Even now, Jesus sits at the right hand of the Father, interceding for us. Imagine the weight and significance of those conversations in the throne room of heaven as Jesus advocates for each of us!

This brings us to a profound truth: we can approach God's throne with confidence. Not because of our own merit or worthiness, but because Jesus has given us access. It's not like being called to the principal's office, uncertain of the outcome. When we come to God through Jesus, we are assured of receiving mercy and grace. What an extraordinary invitation!

But Jesus isn't just merciful; He's also supremely qualified. The book of Hebrews outlines three criteria for a high priest: the ability to offer sacrifices, to sympathize with people, and to be chosen by God. Jesus doesn't just meet these criteria; He exceeds them in every way.

In terms of selection, Jesus was divinely appointed by the Father to a superior priesthood, that of Melchizedek (a fascinating figure we'll have to explore another time). His ability to sympathize goes beyond what any human priest could offer, having faced temptations we can scarcely imagine and carried the weight of the world's sin. And when it comes to sacrifice, Jesus became the ultimate offering Himself - a once-and-for-all sacrifice that is the source of salvation for all of humanity throughout history.

This is what sets Christianity apart from every other faith tradition. While other religions often present a path of working our way up to God, Jesus came down to us. He put on flesh, experienced our temptations, and went to the cross for each of us. He doesn't just show us the way up the mountain; He carries us there Himself.

The implications of this truth are staggering. God knows us completely - every flaw, every mistake, every dark corner of our hearts - and still chooses to suffer for us. This isn't just about God wanting to know us; it's about Him being prepared to suffer for us despite knowing us fully. It's a love that defies comprehension.

So how do we respond to this incredible reality? The answer lies in holding fast to our faith. But here's the beautiful paradox: we don't hold on by our own strength. Just as we can't keep ourselves from dropping our phones when sleep overtakes us, we can't maintain our faith through sheer willpower. Instead, we hold firm through the power of the Holy Spirit working in us.

Our response, then, is threefold:

1. We come to God with confidence, boldly approaching His throne through Christ.
2. We live in obedience - not to earn our salvation, but as the only fitting response to God's overwhelming mercy and grace.
3. We confess our need for Jesus, trusting Him and asking for His help to live for Him.

This isn't about Jesus being a life coach we consult occasionally for advice. He is our priest and king who deserves our all. When we recognize this, we can truly hold fast to our faith, saying, "Jesus, I need you. I trust you. Help me to live for you."

For those who already know Jesus in this way, the challenge is to approach Him with the confidence that comes from receiving His mercy, and then to extend that same mercy and grace to others. Show the world the great high priest you walk with daily.

And for those who haven't yet experienced Jesus as their great high priest, today is an opportunity to meet Him. Come to the one who can truly sympathize with you, who loves you beyond measure, and who offers mercy and grace in abundance.

In a world that often feels chaotic and uncertain, we have an anchor: a great high priest who understands us completely, who has sacrificed everything for us, and who invites us into an eternal relationship with God. May we all learn to hold fast to this incredible truth, not through our own strength, but through the power of the Holy Spirit working within us.