Fred's Devo #33 "Jesus, Our Great and Merciful High Priest"

Today, We have a guest writer, Bill Bauerly. This is a powerful meditaiton about God's precious mercy as lavished on us by Jesus, Our Saviour! Enjoy! Brother Fred

Good morning friends,

Hebrews 4:14-16

Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

These verses are so precious that there was no way that I could take them separately. The writer has been hammering on us to make sure we are not in unbelief and so as enter into God’s rest. We should almost have the sense that we should question our salvation at every turn. We should be weary of our utter sinfulness and moral failures. We should be aware that our secrets are not hidden before an all knowing and seeing God. But finally we are given a reprieve in that God’s precious mercy is poured out on us. The high priest is one that mediates between God and man. Pleading our cause before this righteous God, Jesus is there in heaven. Whereas we could never enter into God’s rest, Jesus is leading us. It is with a tenacity we are to grasp on to our confession that Christ’s blood has paid the price for our transgression and clothed in His righteousness we can enter into God’s rest. Consider for a moment, Jesus pleading our case before
God as one who was tempted in all areas, but did not sin. Yes we are guilty, but we have a mediator who can sympathize with our weakness. The picture we have here is the priest as he sprinkles the blood of the lamb on the Ark of the Covenant. Picture God looking down on the Ark with the law contained in it. The priest then brings the blood as an offering for a guilty people who have broken that law. Now picture the mercy seat that was between God and broken law. It is not that God winks at sin – heaven forbid - Christ paid the required payment for our sin with his own life, but at the same time he sympathizes with the fact of our weakens. We must always feel the shame and utter sinfulness of our sin, but we must always look to Christ for mercy. It is here that the writer wants us to feel the tension that exists. We are guilty and vile but on the other side we can draw near with confidence that we will receive mercy and grace.

“What language shall I borrow to thank thee dearest Friend"