Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame (He 12:2). Amen.
We repeatedly use the word. Perfect. But we really misuse the word.
Let me explain. Perfect is relative. Today is Valentine’s Day. Go ahead and chuckle. Not one of my best holidays. I am anything but a romantic. Just hopeless. That is a concern for only one person though. But what is the perfect gift for this day? A heart made out of red construction paper? A ring made up of white sparkling diamonds? (The correct answer is anything chocolate, preferably dark.) But there is no one present that is perfect for all because of all different opinions.
Perfect is also not right. There is no such thing. While cutting a heart, it may be misshapen or when giving a ring, one might be mistaken.
Except for Jesus. He is perfect. Faultless. Flawless. But also necessary and needed. As we make our Lenten journey this year, we will be considering him as our High Priest. That is something that the Jewish readers of the letter of Hebrews were familiar with since they knew the Old Testament. That was a critical person that was a picture of Christ—anointed to be our prophet, priest, and king. He is our perfect High Priest seen in the way he prayed and seen in the way he obeyed. We read from …
Hebrews 5:7-9
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus, our perfect High Priest,
Maybe you have heard me say this before. But it has been four years. When I watch the winter Olympics, I don’t comment: “I could do that.” I can stand on skates to do a triple axel. I can’t slalom on skies to navigate the numerous moguls. Those athletes from around the globe are not just good, they are great. They are in incredible shape with unbelievable skill. But perfect? They chase a score of a 10 (or a multiple of it). But there is tumble on the mountain or a trip on the ice.
Jesus is not just good or great. He is perfect.
Jesus Is Our Perfect High Priest
1. Seen in the way he prayed (7)
2. Seen in the way he obeyed (8,9)
1. Seen in the way he prayed (7)
Perhaps you are watching the Olympics and a particular competition comes on that you are not that fond of even if you like the song that the two are dancing their long program to. But you know someone in the room can’t get enough of outfits with sequins. So you ask, “Do you want to see this?” On a much grander scale, Jesus does that. Jesus is our perfect High Priest seen in the way he prayed.
Jesus was a man of prayer. The Gospels record various times that Jesus would go off in private to speak to his heavenly Father. On one occasion he spent the night doing that before he chose the 12 apostles (Lk 10:12-16). But he also taught prayer during his Sermon on the Mount. One of the petitions is this: “Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Mt 6:10). Jesus didn’t just say it in theory for us. He stated it in reality for himself.
The unnamed author of Hebrews takes us back to Christmas—“during the days of Jesus’ life on earth” (He 5:7). He took on human flesh like we have—true man, born of the virgin Mary. Now during Lent, we see why—to be our Savior, punished for our sins.
That is what Jesus prepared for and pointed to. There are several occasions when he talked plainly and purposely about the suffering that was ahead of him in Jerusalem—betrayal and denial, rejection and crucifixion (ex. Mk 8:31). But always in view of the resurrection three days later. Keep that in mind the next six weeks. The final goal is Easter Sunday.
The finality sunk in for Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. The writer refers to that crisis on the night before his crucifixion: “He offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death” (He 5:7). After celebrating the Passover and Lord’s Supper in the Upper Room, Jesus and the 11 made their way to the olive grove. He sat the eight down and selected those three—Peter, James, and John to go with him a bit farther. We hear the anguish and anxiety as Jesus announces: “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death” (Mt 26:38).
Going a stone’s throw away, Jesus fell on his face in extreme need. There is anything but calm and quiet. He poured out his serious pleas and urgent requests—shouts from his mouth, water from his eyes, even sweat from his forehead like drops of blood (Lk 22:44). Jesus knew the physical pain of what was approaching—his back ripped to shreds with a whip and his arms and legs fixed to a cross with nails.
But there was so much more—the spiritual part of what was looming. He called out, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me” (Mt 26:39). Two other times he uttered something similar. But always: “Your will, not mine.” In that cup that the Father was pressing to Jesus’ lips is the eternal punishment for the sins of the world (Jn 1:29). We know the guilt of our own heart. Now multiply it by the number in this room. Now of the world—past and present. God was dumping on him the evil of the whole human race. Jesus was not being reluctant. He recoiled at the thought of drinking it. It is like a little child when it comes to the horrible tasting medicine on a tablespoon. They shudder, even scream. But they end up swallowing it. It is for their good.
But Jesus gulps it down to the very dregs for our good. The Father had the ability and the capability to spare his Son of that painful, shameful death on that Roman instrument of torture at Calvary. But he didn’t. He didn’t for us. He did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all (Ro 8:32). God did not remove the cross; he readied him for it, even sending an angel to strengthen him and support him for the day to come (Lk 22:43). That was the Father’s desire and that was the Son’s determination. He went back to his disciples and urged them: “Rise, let us go! Here comes my betrayer” (Mt 26:46).
In the Old Testament, the high priest represented the people before God. He prayed on their behalf. Jesus prayed for us—with his words. Jesus is our perfect High Priest seen in the way he prayed for us.
2. Seen in the way he obeyed (8,9)
Go back to the living room where you are watching the world vie for precious medals. It is one thing to inquire about someone’s preference, it is another to do it. Even though you want to change the channel (even if it means watching commercials), you put down the remote and stare in silence as a duo makes figures on ice. Again, on a much higher level, that is Jesus. Jesus is our perfect High Priest seen in the way he obeyed.
And he did. The author to the Hebrews highlights that. “Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered” (He 5:8). Jesus accepted the Father’s will—from Gethsemane to Golgotha (Mt 26:42). He lived what he taught: “Your will be done” (cf. Jn 4:34). And that meant the cross. He “became obedient to death—even death on a cross” (Php 2:8). He did not shy away or step away from going to his death.
And it happened. Jesus reached the goal. That is what is behind the phrase, “once made perfect” (He 5:9). Jesus accomplished his task. When we stand beneath the cross, Jesus yelled out from it: “It is finished” (Jn 19:30). His mission was all done—nothing left to do. Our guilt is all gone. And three days later he rose, signifying the defeat of death.
As a result, “he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him” (He 5:9). On him, we base our confidence that he has rescued us from the impossible situation of being lost in sin. He is the way, the truth, and the life (Jn 14:6). His is the only name that saves (Acts 4:12). And there is none other. And this “obeying him” is nothing more than believing in him. As the apostle John once jotted down: “We obey his commands and do what pleases him. And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ” (1 Jn 3:22,23). All who believe have eternal life (Jn 3:16).
Another important function of the high priest in the Old Testament was to offer sacrifices for the people. There was no missing the meaning behind that. Animals lost their lives in the place of another. Jesus paid for us—with his death. That makes him our perfect High Priest seen in the way he obeyed.
It must run in the family. My brother once remarked about the Olympics. He noted it during the summer games, but the thought still applies. I will modify it a bit. “We forget how good they are. You should put me on the cross country track so the common man can see how fast they are. I wonder how many times they would lap me.” Those participants are great because their training doesn’t include sitting on the couch. But like a Valentine’s gift, none of them ultimately is perfect. Jesus is. Jesus is our perfect High Priest seen in the way he prayed and obeyed. “Your will be done, Father.” And it was. He died in our place. He is exactly the High Priest that we needed. Perfect. And we have him. Amen.
Grace be with you all (He 13:25). Amen.
February 14, 2018
7 During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. 8 Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered 9 and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.
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