Reflect on Hebrews 5:1-10 to understand Jesus as our perfect high priest who fully empathises with our struggles and offers eternal salvation.
Scripture: Hebrews 5:1-10 (ESV)
“For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness. Because of this, he is obligated to offer sacrifice for his own sins just as he does for those of the people. And no one takes this honor for himself, but only when called by God, just as Aaron was.
So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you”; as he says also in another place, “You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.”
In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.
Devotion:
Imagine a ship’s captain who, through years of sailing the roughest seas and enduring the fiercest storms, has become a seasoned navigator. This captain, having faced the same dangers as his crew, leads with understanding and compassion. The crew trusts him not just for his skills, but for his shared experiences.
In Hebrews 5:1-10, we see a picture of Jesus as our perfect high priest, one who leads us with both divine authority and human empathy. High priests were chosen to act on behalf of people offering sacrifices for sins. They were the conduits by which people could access God. But the Old Testament priests had a flaw – they were still sinful. They also had to offer sacrifices for their own sins. Before a high priest was allowed to make a sacrifice for the people, they first had to be ritualistically cleaned themselves. And their sacrifices weren’t really all that effective – they had to be offered again and again.
Jesus, however, is different. He did not have sin. He did not need sacrifices to clean him. He was the sacrifice. As a high priest he did not come from the line of Levi. No Jesus was a different kind of high priest. A God appointed “a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek”. Melchizedek is somewhat mysterious figure in scripture, but we know that he was both king and a priest. And it is in Jesus’ kingly-priesthood that he offers a sacrifice for us.
This gives us the confidence to approach God, because our High Priest is better that the high priests of old.
Our High Priest is perfect.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank You for being our perfect high priest, appointed by God and understanding our struggles. Help me to trust in Your sacrifice and draw near to God with confidence. Teach me obedience through my own trials and guide me in Your grace and mercy. Amen.
Spiritual Challenge
Today, reflect on an area in your life where you need Jesus’ understanding and support. Spend time in prayer, bringing your struggles to Him, and find comfort in knowing He fully empathises with your situation.