JESUS IS BETTER
Opening Prayer
Take me as I am, Lord, and make me what You want me to be.
Read Hebrews 5:1–10
5 Every high priest is selected from among the people and is appointed to represent the people 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 And no one takes this honor on himself, but he receives it when called by God, just as Aaron was.
5 In the same way, Christ did not take on himself the glory of becoming a high priest. But God said to him,
“You are my Son;
today I have become your Father.”[a]
6 And he says in another place,
“You are a priest forever,
in the order of Melchizedek.”[b]
7 During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. 8 Son though he was, 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.
Footnotes
- Hebrews 5:5 Psalm 2:7
- Hebrews 5:6 Psalm 110:4
New International Version (NIV)Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
Surely He took up our pain and bore our suffering’ (Isaiah 53:4).The writer to the Hebrews has already told us that Jesus is without sin (4:15). So why did Jesus have to ‘learn obedience’ and be ‘made perfect’ (8)? It’s because Jesus’ perfect obedience to the Father needed to be lived out, proved, learned during His life on earth, through suffering (7). So, He qualified as the better high priest (4:14), who through His obedient submission, became the source of salvation for all (8,9).
The high priest had to be one of the people (1), compassionate (2) and appointed by God (4). Jesus met the criteria – called by God (4,5), compassionate (4:15) and fully human (7). But while the other priests offered sacrifices for sin that were only symbolic, Jesus’ sacrifice of Himself actually effects atonement for sin for all who would receive it (9). Other priests would pass away, but Jesus, like Melchizedek (7:23–25), was not part of a line of priests (6,9,10). Priest forever, His atonement is permanent (7:27). Though He became one of us, He is also the eternal Son of the Father (5; 1:3).
The one who saved us eternally knows what it’s like to suffer (7) and to do what is right despite the pain (8).
Apply
Bring your pain and your confessions to Him now, knowing that He understands (2).
Closing prayer
Jesus, I am so thankful that You understand. You don’t condemn me and I am eternally grateful.
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