Living in the Spirit
October 14, 2021
Scripture Reading: Hebrews 5:1-10
Every high priest chosen from among mortals is put in charge of things pertaining to God on their behalf, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He is able to deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is subject to weakness; and because of this he must offer sacrifice for his own sins as well as for those of the people. And one does not presume to take this honor, but takes it only when called by God, just as Aaron was.
So also Christ did not glorify himself in becoming a high priest, but was appointed by the one who said to him,
‘You are my Son,
today I have begotten you’;
as he says also in another place,
‘You are a priest forever,
according to the order of Melchizedek.’ –Hebrews 5:1-6
Having been raised in a faith system that emphasizes the priesthood of all believers who follow the example of Jesus Christ, I have no problem accepting the description of Christ as the one High Priest. I have always been curious, though, about this character Melchizedek. Did Christ come to earth much earlier in our history of God? The name means something like the King of Righteousness*. John 1:2 does tell us that Jesus was with God at creation.
The first part of this scripture tells us the job description of a high priest. The job includes being the chief executive officer of mortals in their relationship with God, who offers gifts and sacrifices for mortals’ sins while dealing gently with them. The High Priest must know what being weak is like and what it is like to offer sacrifices for oneself. Allowing oneself to be hung on a cross indeed covers these last two requirements. Finally, the High Priest must be selected and appointed by God.
The author of Hebrews describes the Christ who is above all and yet lowers himself to understand humans. The description highlights the one and only God that loves us enough to come and dwell among us. God with us experienced the way we feel, saw the world through the eyes of a regular person, understood personal temptation and human hypocrisy, and was willing to die on a cross to fill the gap between our striving to follow God and our missteps along the way. We call that amazing grace. And for that, we are eternally thankful.
Prayer:
Thank You Lord For Saving My Soul,
Thank You Lord For Making Me Whole,
Thank You Lord For Giving To Me,
Thy Great Salvation So Full And Free. Amen.
*The Interpreter’s Dictionary of the Bible Volume 3 page 34, Abingdon Press, 12th Edition 1981
All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.