(Hebrews 4:15) “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses…”
As a press photographer I spend time recharging my batteries as there is nothing worse than having no power if and when the need arises. This means that the batteries need to be plugged into a charger so that they can carry out their intended purpose, which is to power up my camera. Without power my camera is useless, all I would be left with is an expensive paper weight.
Life seems to demand a similar mindset, work hard, relax recharge and then back to work and so the cycle of life continues. Once a year we calibrate our batteries by taking a holiday. But do we realize that as Christians we never need calibrating, we either have the Spirit of Christ or we do not, there is no in-between, we are either a son of God or we are not! Throughout the Old Testament life was full of in type “battery recharging” - sacrifice for sin, but “calibration” happened when the high priest would offer a sin offering for Israel. This was a very scary time, firstly for the high priest and then for all of Israel.
“A golden bell and a pomegranate, a golden bell and a pomegranate, around the hem of the robe. And it shall be on Aaron when he ministers, and its sound shall be heard when he goes into the Holy Place before the LORD, and when he comes out, so that he does not die.” (Exodus 28:34-34) – Imagine the anxiety they faced not knowing whether the high priest would live once he entered the “Holiest of Holies”. They even had a bell and pomegranate sewn on to the bottom of his robe so that they could hear the jingle and by implication would listen for its chime; if it stopped then the priest would be dead and their sacrifice unacceptable before God. It was a time of Godly fear and holy reverence. Anticipation would have filled the outer courts of the temple. His life depended upon his and their obedience toward God. A life filled with uncertainty, scary times!
However in today’s day and age it is not like that. Why has God changed? He hasn’t! But in the fullness of time His plan has now run its course, the Lord Jesus our ultimate sacrifice has risen and is seated on the right hand of God making intercession for all His people. No longer is the sacrifice of bulls or goats required, as our “Ram” has paid the final sacrifice and this is now in the past tense. Look at these beautiful words; “We have an altar from which those who serve the tent have no right to eat. For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy places by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside the camp. So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured. For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come.” (Hebrews 13:10-14)
It is now the spilt blood of the Lord Jesus that has made a way for all His people. Who are His people? Only those who are covered by His blood, all repentant sinners who acknowledge that they deserve hell because of their sin, but have found repentance in Him, and only because the Lord Jesus paid the price for their sin can they now escape hell and hope for heaven. It was John Newton who captured this with such potency in the hymn we still sing today, Amazing Grace. The line that impacts me mostly is; “who saved a wretch like me”. Are you captivated by His great achievement? I trust your answer is yes! If you have His Spirit then I know your answer can only be yes, but if you are a church goer and like the idea of religion and what it stands for, then I fear for your soul. His sacrifice goes far deeper than that. He came to set the captive free, do you believe this? No matter where we may find ourselves, if our batteries need recharging we need look no further than to our great High Priest as He is now touched with the feelings of our infirmities. He has live as a man and understands exactly what we go through…
“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.” (Hebrews 4:14-16)
It is not a holiday we need but rather we need to obtain mercy and find grace whenever the pressure seems overwhelming. Our King and great High Priest is able, no rather does sympathise with our struggles. So let us remember to cry out to Him, praise his holy name, for He alone is worthy! He will get all of those whom the Father has given Him home. We will all see heaven, only trust, obey and believe!
Signing off
Tyrone
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