Both Sacrifice and High Priest

When they look at Jesus they see Him both as Sacrifice and High Priest. ^{2The Acts of the Apostles, 33.}MOL 4.3

On Calvary, He did something about the crushing “wages of sin” that forever changed our relationship with God: He died! He is the only Person who has ever truly died! All other men and women who have “passed on” are now sleeping, ^{3The Bible speaks of the first death as a “sleep.” See John 11:11-14; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-16; 5:10. The second death is reserved for sinners who reject the gospel’s invitation. See Revelation 20:6, 14; 21:8.} except for those few who have been resurrected or translated and are now in heaven. ^{4Enoch (Genesis 5:24), Elijah (2 Kings 2:11), Moses (Jude 9), those raised with Jesus (Matthew 7:52, 53).} Jesus alone has tasted “death,” so that all who make Him Lord of their lives will never have to “die.” “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23, RSV). What a gift! Through Him we escape what we deserve!MOL 4.4

But there is even more! He now lives as our High Priest. What does this mean? He stands before the heavenly beings and the unfallen worlds as a Man whose cheerful obedience proved that God had not been unfair in asking for willing compliance from His created beings. Satan was wrong! And they see this heroic Overcomer who went through the unspeakable anguish of being “God-forsaken” on Calvary, proving that God Himself did care about His creation, that He was unselfish and the essence of genuine love. The whole universe (beyond the confines of earth) sees Jesus standing in heaven’s Most Holy Place as God’s answer to Satan’s lies about Him.MOL 4.5

What do we see when we think of Jesus as our High Priest? We see Him as the Mediator between God and sinful humanity. We see Him as our Advocate who joins justice and mercy, stopping all charges against God and believers (1 John 2:1). He is our Intercessor, not only representing us before the Father but also interceding between us and the evil one (Hebrews 4:16). ^{5“Everyone who will break from the slavery and service of Satan, and will stand under the blood-stained banner of Prince Immanuel will be kept by Christ’s intercession. Christ, as our Mediator, at the right hand of the Father, ever keeps us in view, for it is as necessary that He should keep us by His intercession as that He should redeem us with His blood. If He lets go His hold of us for one moment, Satan stands ready to destroy. Those purchased by His blood, He now keeps by His intercession.” (Manuscript 73, 1893, in The S.D.A. Bible Commentary 6:1078, comments on Romans 8:34; also Manuscript Releases 15:104.}MOL 4.6

The apostle Paul put it this way: “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 have not 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 sinning. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:14-16, RSV).MOL 4.7

This kind of intercession every person needs every day: the peace of pardon and the power of interceding grace. Christ’s powerful presence, through the Holy Spirit and angels, reaches out to every person committed to Him. He breaks through the power with which Satan has held each person captive. He reaches into their neural pathways. He strengthens the believer’s will power. He is ever ready to assist human beings in resisting sin, both from within and without. Jesus simply shares with us the defense system by which He overcame temptation (Revelation 3:21).MOL 4.8

Too often, after contemplating Christ’s condescension as a hounded and finally crucified Man, believers consider His “gift” to earth finished. But God did not give “his only Son” (John 3:16, RSV) on a kind of temporary lend-lease basis. The Creator of hundreds of billions of island galaxies, who walked among the stars and whirled universes into orbit, imprisoned Himself within His own creation, not for just nine months, nor for only thirty-three years, but forever!MOL 5.1

This kind of love awakens love. And heart-appreciation. And towering commitment to this great Lover, above any of this world’s most alluring appeals.MOL 5.2

Before the prophet can tell the truth about God, as known through Jesus, the prophet must know Jesus personally. Theological talk is cheap; personal experience comes with a price.MOL 5.3