The Perfect Priest by Deon Crafford

Hebrews 9:11-14 But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent ( not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.

Many of us would have had experiences in our lives when we needed someone to do something on our behalf or where we acted for someone else. I doubt if I would ever have been married to the lady I am married to if a friend did not make arrangements for us to meet. This stepping into the gap for someone else is one of the most gracious things one could for another. We do it because we are using our “better” position to effect the meeting of the need. Maybe we’re closer to, better equipped in speech and negotiation prowess, perhaps just more pushy, but whatever it is, it enables us to intercede for another.

This was the burdened role of the Old Testament High Priest. His office was to step forward for the sins of the people and conduct the sacrifices of blood that would protect the people from the wrath of God. It would not have been a comfortable role at all, since in this role he stood between the Almighty God and a sinful and perverse nation. This latter condition never changed and is no different today – bar perhaps being even more evil.

Even the High Priest of the Old Testament was in need of cleansing before He could enter into the most holy part of the tabernacle. God will never change His abhorrence of sin, but His love for us led Him to secure a High Priest unblemished and pure, who would Himself become the atonement sacrifice for us all – forever. Jesus took on the office of the last and permanent High Priest, that would be the ultimate and final sacrifice for atonement. God’s position to sin did not change, and His love for us did not change. Without Jesus our sinfulness and God’s love could not exist side by side. But Jesus stepped into the fray for you and I – the High Priest to whom we owe our lives, here and beyond here.

Love to all