Sermon: Christ the Great High Priest

Hebrews chapter 4 verses 14 through 16 and let's pray before we open the word together this morning.

Our Father we Come before you in humility this morning. Recognizing that you are a creator.

But you formed us from the dust of the ground you breathed life into us. You're not only our creator, but you are sustainer.

If we have breath today, just because you have given it. And if our bodies have any strength it is because you are animating them. and we also confess that if there is any life in our spirit is because you have granted it. You pray this morning that you would be our sustainer. You would shine light into the midst of Darkness. We would find that. We not only had the Breath of Life this morning, but the spirit of life. And that it is enlivened within us we hear your word

red. As we hear it preach. We pray all this and the strong name of Christ. the one and only savior of men amen Hebrews chapter 4 verses 14 through 16. This is the holy inherent sufficient. word of God

Since then we have a great high priest. Whose 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 help in time of need so the grass withers and the flower

fades. word of God Is forever thanks be to God. amen

one of the greatest struggles in the Christian Life is the discouragement. Reminds are often filled with and that they begin. spiral down in when we Face hard life circumstances and we Face the pains in the miseries of this life. when we begin and a circle and begin to send farther into that pit often the question that runs through our minds is the question of Does God actually care?

there's that moment on the Sea of Galilee in the gospels where Jesus is in the boat with his disciples and this great storm arises on the Sea of Galilee of violence storm. And in that storm the boat begins to fill with the water from the sea is the waves can crashing upon that boat and you have the wind that is howling and it feels like this entire boat is going to be swamped and that they are all going to die and remember Peter looks over and he sees Jesus asleep

in the stern of the boat. And Peter sees his life flashing before his eyes and Jesus is asleep. And he exclaims what many have found upon their minds and in their hearts of not upon their lips when it feels like all of life is being dashed before us with the trial that we're in.

He says in that accusatory voice to the Lord Jesus Christ. Do you not care? That we are perished.

Maybe God doesn't actually care.

May not be life circumstances that solicit that kind of thought or that kind of confession from you. It may just be your struggle with sin. You feel like I have wanted this sin to be done in my life. I have continually cried out to God that this sin would no longer be part of my living and yet it feels like the temptation just keeps coming and coming and coming and I don't want it. Does he not care?

He able. To see willing to help.

Recipients of this letter of the Hebrews as we've discussed in previous weeks. They are facing persecution. They're facing suffering their facing even possible martyrdom for the sake of their faith They've trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ, and now that they're facing persecution. It looks like Christ may be isn't actually worth trusting. And they're tempted to go back to that old form of Judaism that they had abided by and

they lived by before they'd come to know Christ as Lord and Savior the questions are circulating in them. If not also among them does God really care. Is he worth continuing to trust in? And that is the single greatest Temptation that any Christian faces. that question

right of Hebrews knows this is an issue. And so he does what any good preacher would do he just sets Christ before them? He's already made it clear and Hebrews 2:17 that the Son of God became flesh. She had to be made like his brothers in every respect. He tells us so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest. He identifies with his people. He then represents his people upon the cross and he makes a propitiation for our sins that

he that is he Bears the very Wrath of his father on the cross in our place. He is a perfect substitute for sinner. And then we are told in verse 14 of our text that he passed through the heavens. He is raised from the grave on that third day. And when he is raised from the grave he then dwells on Earth for a period of time and then he ascends to the right hand of the father. So the writer of Hebrews says here he passed through the

heavens and he is now at the right hand of God. He is entered the holy of holies above. And it's that knowledge. Knowing that Christ is ascended to the right hand of the father that he's entered into the holy of holies above that the writer charges his readers and charges us since we have a great high priest to even now is in the presence of God. Let us hold fast or confession. hold fast

but here's the question. Is Jesus worth holding fast?

Does he even care anymore for us? Does not the circumstances that these Hebrew Christians find themselves in does that not tell them that Christ no longer cares for them that he entered into his Heavenly Glory above? And that as he entered into that Heavenly Glory above and is exalted over all the heavens and overall the Earth to paraphrase John Owen has he any concern for us in our week and in our frail and in our tempted sinning condition has he forgotten?

Times you may feel like it. And that's the question that the writer is wrestling with in verses 15 and 16. He wants us to understand. No matter what you may feel. the reality is That he cares for his own.

first of two points from the Texas morning only two points First is this. Jesus sympathizes with our weakness Jesus sympathizes with our weakness The writer makes it clear that Christ is not stopped identifying with us upon his exultation and Heaven. He sympathizes even now with us. as we approach Christmas here in a couple weeks and we celebrate Christmas our minds immediately run to the Incarnation rightfully. So and I think often when

we are thinking about the Incarnation, we think that the Son of God became becoming flesh was a kind of momentary decision. And it was something that needed to happen and it didn't need to happen so that there could be that baby in a Manger in the nativity scene. But it wasn't just for that. Sometimes we run and we say well it was so that he could live that Earthly life for around 33 years. And so the Incarnation was about

that that he lived on Earth and was simply made flesh for those 30 three years. the moment the Son of God adorned himself with flesh He became the god-man forever. He is now forever truly God and truly man, though. He passed through the heavens. He is still truly human though. He sits enthroned above he sits upon the throne as deity. He is not only there as Sovereign God he is there as perfected Humanity. And that Assumption of humanity informs

his ministry as our high priest at the right hand of God now and tomorrow and forever more.

He sympathizes with us in our week.

It leads him to the writer says to sympathize with us in our weakness. He wants us to understand this point.

He actually uses. a rhetorical of a rhetorical device that We will call double negative. Just emphasize this point. To his readers and to you and I we do this sometimes. for example if a child woke up on Christmas morning and went in running to their parents' bedroom and kind of said and and angry tone. There aren't no presence under the tree. That would be a double negative. The parents might respond to that child talking like

that won't get you nowhere. That's a double negative. It's emphatic. for we do not have A high priest who is unable to sympathize? He's writing into neon colors. He's flipping the lights off and on. He's getting a megaphone out and he's screaming it to you as loud as he can Christ sympathizes with us because he knows or weak. He knows it and that he is experienced at he's lived it. He knows sorrow he knows pain fear temptation.

weakness

God he is a great God. And he is a merciful god. He knows our weakness. He knows our Frailty. He knows all things but it is in the Incarnation and the second person of the Triune God coming down and adorning himself with flesh that he adds knowledge upon knowledge that he who knows now even more know.

And I do premarital counseling in. As I've done it over the years over. Close to 20 years now and sitting down with couples. I love to do it and yet I think as I do it every time I sit there and I'm telling them all of these Joys that they're going to experience in marriage and all the Sorrows that they're going to experience in marriage and all of the pains that they're going to experience a mess in marriage. And then I tell them about the Temptation that we all have

in marriage to want to get our own way as I tell them this and they're shaking their heads up and down and I I know that they know what I'm talking about. But they don't know what I'm talking about. They will after they get married they'll know. But they don't know.

Jesus knows or weaknesses not hypothetically but by experience he was tried. He suffered. He was tempted. So the point of the writer of Hebrews is that now in his Heavenly ministry as our high priest he his experience of weakness and forms his ministry on our behalf. He sympathized

He absolute key for you, and I to understand so that we keep trusting in God.

As the writer says here that we would hold fast or confession. You often hear people say they want to God who? Who Weeps with them Who Mourns with them who? The sorrowful with them. Who cries for them? You often hear that and pop Christian Psychology today God weeps with you. No, he doesn't. Doesn't weep with you.

If anything can move God if anything can affect God then that thing has power of over God. No, he is Sovereign. He cannot be acted upon he does not suffer. God is impassable. That is the name of the doctrine the impassibility of God. That means that there is nothing that's subjects God to suffering or pain or that acts upon him. but there's often leads people to accuse God of not understanding their pain and sorrow but here's the absolute beauty of

the Incarnation and where it comes to bear as Ernest that second century theologians that he said the impossible became passable in Christ.

And does that mean that Christ weeps over our struggles or Mourns with those who mourn? No. He doesn't either. Not now. To remember he's above. He's in heaven. And there's no sorrow in heaven. He enjoys perfect. Peace and perfect joy and Perfect Harmony there. Does that mean he doesn't care? No, there is better Comfort than what pop Christian psychology offers. He sympathizes in the sense that he understands. He knows and he remembers the

experience the great comfort of the Christian in this world of suffering is not that God suffers when we suffered but that Christ Jesus suffered. He suffered.

And that's suffering informs all his ministry is our high priest. At the right hand of God. He sympathizes with our weakness.

the writer knows the objection we might offer in response. Yes. He may be able to sympathize with that struggle or that temptation but not What I personally endured he hasn't been tempted as I have been tempted. He hasn't suffered as I have suffered.

So the writer just takes that argument out of our mouths. He says in verse 15 that Jesus in every respect has been tempted as we are. It's very much like you.

His experience all that this world and the Flesh and the devil and sin could throw at him. As Thomas Shriner said he is if intimately acquainted with The Human Condition and experience the full range of Temptation. Not that he has experienced every particular Temptation or trial. He never lost a wife and was tempted not to trust God feeling abandoned in that moment, but the experienced the loss of his sentiment disciple.

And he felt that abandonment in the garden and on the cross. He experienced every kind the full range of suffering pain disappointment discouragement. That would test his faith and that would trust his continued trust in God is God really worthy of my continued Trust? Does he actually care? He is not unfamiliar with the Temptations of his people. He is intimately familiar. He is tempted was tempted as we are tempted.

Even as he is like us he is also unlike us as the writer says. Because he faced every Temptation every trial with out sin.

He didn't face what I face. No, we didn't. He faced what you face even more severely.

I can say that categorically.

Whatever Temptation you face.

in fronting sin, or Life circumstances or disappointment or pain? It may be great. It's not as great as what he fakes.

Because he never yielded to the temptation. He never gave in. It was just a continual onslaught of Temptation after Temptation after Temptation suffering after suffering pain after pain. Will you continue to trust in God?

Just Lewis captured this well. when he wrote this He said a silly idea is current that good people do not know what Temptation means. This is an obvious lie. Only those who tried to resist temptation know how strong it is after all you find out the strength of the German Army by fighting against it not by lying down. The man who gives into temptation after five minutes simply does not know what it would have been like in

our later. That is why bad people in one sense know very little about Badness. They have lived a sheltered life by always giving in Christ because he was the only man who never yielded. The Temptation is also the only man who knows to the full what temptation mean he was assaulted from without throughout every single minute of his Earthly life and he never gave in he knows what you face. He knows what you Faith at face exponentially.

Because he never sinned.

He sympathizes with you in your weakness. second

he helps us in that weakness. He helps us in that weakness.

if we go back to Hebrews 2 Look there at Verse 18. You may remember that verse. We're told for because himself has suffered when tempted he is able to help those. Who are being tempted? and he picks up that idea here in verse 16 of our chapter that there are these two great streams flowing from Christ to help us and our weakness mercy and Grace.

This is verse is constructed her first. Christ's willingness to help us he willingly extends mercy and Grace. He doesn't simply sympathize with our weakness. He helps us in our week.

The writer says it is help in time of need or we might translate it. There. It is timely help. Today's English version translation of the Bible. I think captures it. Well, we shall find Grace to help us just when we need it. That's what he did.

Thomas Goodwin the Puritan and reflecting upon This notes that in Hebrews 2 we're told that Jesus is quote not ashamed to call us Brethren And yet when he ascended on high, the writer of Hebrews tells us that he was crowned with Glory and Honor. And yet the writer of Hebrews are what what the Puritan Goodwin is pointing out as he's looking at he says but do you remember when Paul or Soul at the time is persecuting the church?

That as he's persecuting the church. It is Jesus as he is glorified on high that says down to Soul on Earth. He says so so why are you persecuting me? As good one said the head in heaven cries when the foot is trodden below.

Cares as he's there.

he helps

impose writing in Timothy and he says that a man that does not provide for his own family is worse than an unbeliever. For his brethren. for his bride He's our father. Everlasting father Isaiah says and that prophecy we read about this time of year.

Does he not provide for those who are his family?

That's Esther said so Christ says to us How Can I Endure? See the evil that befalls my people he not only sympathizes but helps us in our weakness wind we need it.

Often we struggle. Struggle with anxiety we struggle with fear. We can't see the end.

Why would God allow this to occur? Why is it that this keeps happening? Can you see that I've had enough.

Why am I tempted in this way yet again?

But he knows the end.

He sees more than you do he knows what is needed when it is needed. And when it's needed mercy and Grace. flow

he's not reserved in his giving.

He's the Fountain of mercy and Grace. He's overflowing with. When it is needed it flows to you.

He sits above where no question is remaining.

We have a high priest who has suffered and secured are in.

Would be laughable in heaven if it wasn't so offensive that you and I doubt his care.

the Christians the church triumphant as we call them that are before his throne now with all of the angels and all of the archangels would say to you and I when we have that burden whether we utter it or not, when we think does he actually care they would no doubt say to us. Look at his hand.

And what do you see on his hand? They would say do you not see that your name is written on his hands. Those hands that you want to minister mercy and grace to you. He has you always before his face. Your name is written on his hand. But that isn't the only imprint on his hand. Also Nails scars in those hands.

He has completely and finally secured your salvation. He loved you so much that he became man for your sake and suffered and died for your sake. How could we ever doubt his care about? As if it is less above than it was here.

He knows. He sympathizes and he helps us in time of need.

John Calvin said Christ undertook. Our infirmities willingly contended with them to attain a victory over them for us. But that wasn't the only reason but also that we may feel assured. That he is present with us whenever we are Tried by them. There's Goodwin wonderfully said he said thy misery can never exceed his Mercy. Your God is Not indifferent. your struggles and temptation

God is Not disinterested and distant. No, he is quite engaged and not engaged in a hypothetical way. He provides help and so the great admonition that the writer of Hebrews gives you and I let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace with confidence boldly. Isn't it so crazy? It's it's absolutely absurd and it shows our utter fallenness that you and I when we are in hard times when we are facing discouragement when it

feels like the onslaught of temptation just keeps coming when we are going through great struggles and pains that it's often then that we turn away from God.

It's the definition of insanity. That in the midst of that. That we turn away from him and what the writer of Hebrews is saying, do you not understand? You are To Boldly approach this through.

This Throne which none would dare approach ever. It's the Judgment seat. It is deity that sits upon this this is the throne that God was sitting upon when he casts Lucifer Out of Heaven it is this Throne that he's sitting upon when he casts Adam and Eve out of the garden, but the writer of Hebrews says to you and I you are To Boldly approach that through why because it's a throne of grace to you. If you are in Christ, it is the throne of grace.

He is not distant.

He's not uncaring. Is not unfailing.

There that you receive Mercy. There that you find Grace to help in time of need.

So you come boldly?

the great high priest

Friends, you will find the greatest rest when you have the greatest Trust.

And this high priest is worth your trust.

I priest worthy of your trust he sympathizes and he helps us in our week.

pray

father we do exalt you this morning.

Thankful for your divine plan.

You and the Sun? Spirit Covenant together back in eternity past that the sun would become flesh. He would take to himself a true human body. true human soul

He might forever be clothed with our Humanity that he might forever. Be the God man who intercedes for us at your right hand.

We're thankful that he is not a priest like those who have gone before. That he is the great high priest. Who is truly able to sympathize with us in our weakness? Not simply sympathized but also help. provide divine

there is none like him. May we find that we are boldly approaching your throne of grace in Christ or Lord and savior? And finding timely help. And it is needed. We pray this all in the strong name Christ Jesus. amen