High Priest

One of the amazing gifts that Jesus gave us is to be able to approach God directly. As a little girl, I remember sitting with my grandmother at her breakfast nook while she did her morning prayers. One of her favorite verses was Hebrews 4:16, “So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.” Another version uses the words, “with confidence, draw near.” My grandmother’s eyes would gleam with light and joy, confident that God heard her and that she had the freedom to request anything boldly from him.

For much of my younger life, I didn’t approach God with that same confidence. More often, I viewed God from a distant position of fear and trembling, thinking I needed to do everything right and abide by his rules to receive his love and forgiveness. My prayers sounded more like that of a pleading servant.

Only much later, did I begin to grasp the incredible freedom we have received through Jesus. In the Old Testament, people couldn’t approach God like we can today. The high priest was the only one who could intercede on the behalf of the Jewish people—and only once a year, on the Day of Atonement.

The High Priest wore a special chest piece with precious stones engraved for each of the 12 tribes of Israel as a constant reminder that he bore the responsibility of interceding for them. He had a long list of requirements to be kept ceremonially clean, to stay set apart for this role, including offering a blood sacrifice for his own sins first, before he could offer the animal sacrifices for the sins of the people.

It was a long and messy process as the high priest sacrificed animal after animal, then entered the Holy of Holies, the holiest place in the temple. He would sprinkle the blood upon the Mercy Seat to receive forgiveness and atonement for their sin. The people never spoke directly to God; there was always a separation, a veil, and the need for a high priest to do this again, year after year.

When Jesus was crucified, the sacrifice of his own blood and body, tore the temple veil in two, making the yearly sacrificial system no longer necessary. Jesus is our perfect High Priest, once and for all. Seated at the right hand of God, he intercedes for us. We can now approach God boldly, with confidence through the work of Jesus, our High Priest.

Reflect

As you reflect on today’s devotional, listen to the song, “Great High Priest”while you answer this question:

What is holding you back from approaching God with boldness and confidence?