JESUS CHRIST OUR SUPERIOR HIGH PRIEST - THE DAILY FOUNTAIN DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE OF THE CHURCH OF NIGERIA (ANGLICAN COMMUNION)

THE DAILY FOUNTAIN DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE OF THE CHURCH OF NIGERIA (ANGLICAN COMMUNION)

DATE: FRIDAY, 11TH MARCH, 2022 

TOPIC: JESUS CHRIST OUR SUPERIOR HIGH PRIEST

TEXT: HEBREWS 7:11-28

11.  Therefore, if perfection were through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need [was there] that another priest should rise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be called according to the order of Aaron?

12.  For the priesthood being changed, of necessity there is also a change of the law.

13.  For He of whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no man has officiated at the altar.

14.  For [it is] evident that our Lord arose from Judah, of which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood.

15.  And it is yet far more evident if, in the likeness of Melchizedek, there arises another priest

16.  who has come, not according to the law of a fleshly commandment, but according to the power of an endless life.

17.  For He testifies: "You [are] a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek."

18.  For on the one hand there is an annulling of the former commandment because of its weakness and unprofitableness,

19.  for the law made nothing perfect; on the other hand, [there is the] bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.

20.  And inasmuch as [He was] not [made priest] without an oath

21.  (for they have become priests without an oath, but He with an oath by Him who said to Him: "The LORD has sworn And will not relent, 'You [are] a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek' "),

22.  by so much more Jesus has become a surety of a better covenant.

23.  Also there were many priests, because they were prevented by death from continuing.

24.  But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood.

25.  Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.

26.  For such a High Priest was fitting for us, [who is] holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens;

27.  who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people's, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself.

28.  For the law appoints as high priests men who have weakness, but the word of the oath, which came after the law, [appoints] the Son who has been perfected forever.

MESSAGE: 

In our text today, the Scripture makes it clear that only the priesthood of Jesus guarantees perfection because it is superior to that of the Levitical order. Since the Levitical order with all the sacrificial practices could not guarantee human forgiveness and salvation, Jesus Christ became our High Priest, in the order of Melchizedek (Psalm 110:4). Animal sacrifices were therefore abolished because He became both the priest and sacrificial lamb, for total forgiveness and salvation of mankind. As our High Priest, Christ is the advocate and the mediator: He gives us direct access to God. There is no other substitute for Christ. He is the guarantee of a better covenant. Through Him we were saved. Christ’s continuous presence in heaven with the Father assures us that our sins have been paid for and forgiven (Rom. 8:33). The wonderful assurance frees us from guilt and fear. Let us therefore draw near to Him daily through prayers, worship and study of His Word.

PRAYER: 

Lord Jesus, we acknowledge Your everlasting priesthood and come to You in reverence today. Amen.