Jesus as Priest

Well, thank you, worship team, and thank you, orchestra, for leading us into worship today.

! What a joy it is during Christmas season to have such a gifted group of musicians and leaders to usher us into Christ's presence.

I want to just express my own gratitude to all of you in your generosity in the harvest offering.

We exceeded our expectation, and so I thank you for your contribution to the harvest offering and partnership with our missionaries in those substantial ways.

Looking forward to being able to be a...

Yeah, go ahead. Let's thank the Lord together.

Thank you.

It's a true and living word of God.

This morning, we come to Jesus as priest.

Imagine with me, if you would, a man who is standing outside of his house.

It was a door that used to swing freely, but now that door is shut.

It's locked.

Inside those rooms, as he's looking in, there's warmth, there's light, there's presence, and someone he loves.

But now the door is locked.

But now the door is locked.

Now the key is gone.

And no amount of banging on that door will open it up.

You can see the light under the door, but he cannot enter.

He needs someone on the inside.

Someone untouched.

Someone with full access to open that door for him.

You see, this is the story of Adam.

The story that we will look at as we move through the Genesis record and see not only our need for a priest, for a mediator,

but the answer that we get to enjoy in the person of Jesus Christ.

Adam, who was once welcomed by the presence of God, who enjoyed that fellowship with God in an intimate, consistent way.

But now he's standing outside.

Now he's locked out.

Now there is no key, no access, no way back.

And the story of Scripture will become the story of God who will mediate for this son, this Adam,

this first person of humanity.

Opening this door that Adam actually closed.

Last week we were reminded of this greater prophet, this word of God that had come to us.

The prophet whose words would prove true and dependable and reliable.

We got to see that God provides this ultimate word through his son, Jesus.

And this ultimate word, this true word, is important because true faith depends on a true word.

True faith depends on this message of God in the very words, life-giving words of God to change our hearts.

And as we move through this Christmas season, this little baby that we celebrate during Advent and during Christmas,

while he came as a picture of innocence and sweetness,

we see that God had sent his son, his very son, the word of God, had been made flesh and dwelt among us.

This clear, authoritative, living word of God.

And we're going to see through this series the significance of the ministry of Jesus.

What did this ministry bring?

Well, as a prophet, Jesus brings the word of God.

As a priest, this morning we're going to see that he brings the presence of God.

As a king, he will bring the rule of God.

And as a shepherd, Jesus will bring the very heart of God.

Today we see that Jesus Christ is this perfect priest.

This priest that ushered in God's presence.

This is accentuated by two instances in Scripture.

When the presence of God came because through the temple and through the tabernacle,

we see that the presence of God was ushered in.

How did the priestly ministry accomplish this?

That's what we're going to look at this morning.

And what were the elements involved?

And how did Jesus' life encompass the fullness of this priestly, mediatorial ministry to us?

This is the catchphrase I want us to remember as we work through this together.

That priests lived in God's presence.

They guarded God's presence and reopened the way back into God's presence.

Everything they did was an expression of the calling to usher in this presence of God.

So we turn our attention again.

And every week, we're going to turn our attention to Hebrews 1, verses 1-3.

Hebrews 1:1–3

It's kind of the introduction to our time together.

And a reminder of this work of God for us.

Not only as prophet and priest, but also as king.

And here we see in Hebrews 1, verses 1-3.

Hebrews 1:1–3

The exalted priestly son.

This exalted priestly son.

Look at this with me.

Hebrews 1, verse 1 says,

Hebrews 1:1

Long ago, at many times, and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets.

But in these last days, he has spoken to us by his Son,

whom he appointed the heir of all things,

through whom also he created the world.

He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature.

And he upholds the universe by the word of his power.

After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the majesty on high.

God here reveals his presence through the person of his Son, Jesus Christ.

He's the very radiance of an image, an imprint of God's nature.

This mediative role that Jesus had, and we're going to see throughout this book of Hebrews,

is this role of ushering in the presence of God.

We see many functions.

And I want to just touch on them briefly, and then develop them as we go along.

We see here, in Hebrews 1, verses 1 to 3, especially in verse 3,

Hebrews 1:1–3

we see that through his ministry, that Jesus as priest addresses our need for purification.

Our need for purification.

Do you see that at the end of verse 3?

After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the majesty on high.

Through Jesus' ministry, we can enjoy purification.

Where do you struggle to believe that God really receives you and welcomes you,

in spite of the sin that you have sinned?

That his arms are open, that he is available as this purifying, sanctifying Savior?

Savior, this morning we'll see and be reminded of the fact we serve a God who purifies,

who sanctifies, who desires to make us like his Son.

We also see in Hebrews 2, verses 17 and 18,

Hebrews 2:17

that this priestly ministry of Jesus addresses our need for a propitiation.

Notice Hebrews 2, 17 says this,

Therefore, he had to be made like his brothers in every respect,

so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service to God,

to make propitiation for sins of the people.

For because he himself has suffered,

when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

Are you in a position of recognizing the gravity of your sin?

Have you come to a place of seeing that you are weak and unable,

unfit to address the heart issues of your sin?

You have a God, a priest,

the priestly ministry of Jesus Christ,

who makes a way.

Propitiation is just a fancy word for saying appeasement.

That God has made a way.

He has allowed us to enjoy the benefits of his kindness and grace

through his son, Jesus Christ.

We can gain favor because the work of Christ,

the priestly work of Christ,

has satisfied the demand.

The demand that sin has.

Where Jesus was willing to pay the penalty for our sins on the cross.

We find in Hebrews 4, 15,

that Christ, through his priestly ministry,

addressed our need for pity.

Our need for pity.

Notice Hebrews 4, 14, 15 says this,

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 with confidence draw near to the throne of grace

that we may receive mercy

and find help, find grace

to help in time of need.

Every place where we feel weak

is a place where Christ understands us deeply.

We are never coming to a priest

who rolls his eyes,

who says they did it again.

We are coming to a priest

who sympathizes,

who understands,

who presses in,

a priest who is accessible,

a priest who wants to address

the deepest needs

in pity,

in sympathy,

in mercy,

in grace.

If you are feeling

like an outsider,

Jesus beckons you

as priest

to come and enjoy

the benefits

of his care

and tenderness

to address

the sins of your life.

We also find

his priestly ministry

that addresses

our need

for permanence.

In Hebrews 7,

Hebrews 7:23–24

verses 23

to 24,

it says this,

it says,

the former priests

were many in number

because they were prevented

by death

from continuing in office.

But he holds

his priesthood

permanently

because he continues

forever.

Consequently,

he is able to save

to the uttermost

those who draw near

to God through him

since he always lives

to make intercession

for them.

You serve

an eternal priest,

a God who is

always living

and he always

is there

to address

the needs,

the sin needs

that you have.

He continues

forever.

He's not like

those priests

that come and go.

He is that priest

who remains.

The permanence

of his priesthood

is what we need.

We also see

in chapter 7,

verse 26 and 27,

that he addresses

our need

for perfection.

Anyone who is

honest with himself

will know

that they

are not perfect.

We've said that.

You've probably

said those very words.

Well, I'm not perfect.

And of course

that's true

and it's addressed

by the perfection

of our high priest.

Notice

Hebrews 7, 26.

For it was indeed

fitting

that we should have

a high priest

holy,

innocent,

unstained,

separated from sinners

and exalted

above the heavens.

He has no need

like those high priests

to offer sacrifices

daily,

first for his own sins

and then for those

of the people

since he did this

once for all

when he offered

up himself.

We have a perfect

high priest

who has covered

sin once

for all.

We need his perfect

priestly ministry

that Jesus brings

to us.

And in Hebrews

Hebrews 10:14

chapter 10,

verse 14,

it says,

for by a single

offering

he has perfected

for all time

those who are

being sanctified.

We have a perfect

high priest.

This priest

that we're going

to see

was an intermediary.

He was a mediator.

He was a go-between.

He stood between

those who

had sinned

in bringing them

to God.

That was the goal.

To lead people

to God

spiritually.

Jesus did this

for us

by atoning

for our sin

and priests

leading up to

that point

would also

atone for sin

in a very

temporary way

through sacrifices.

But how did

this priestly

office evolve?

How did we come

to need a priest?

And for that

we need to go

all the way back

to the beginning.

Why do we need

a mediator?

Why do we need

this priestly ministry?

Well you remember

the story of Adam

going all the way

back to Genesis

Genesis 1 · chapter mention

chapter 1.

You know in this

story that Adam

was sinless.

He walked with God.

And if you remember

the story

he enjoyed

this fellowship

this unbroken

fellowship

with God.

You see Adam

and Eve

were made

in God's image

and likeness

and they were

given directives

as related to

worship

and fellowship

and work

and they

followed those

instructions

perfectly

and carefully

and they

enjoyed this

perfect fellowship

with God.

They lived out

and carried out

that mandate.

There was no need

for a mediator

because there was

no separation.

There was no guilt.

There was no distance.

God's presence

was open.

It was natural.

It was unguarded.

And Adam

and Eve

walked with God

freely

and fully.

But remember

that God

had given them

a command.

Right?

And that command

was given to them

from the very beginning

that that command

that they should not

eat of the tree

in the midst

of the garden

and you remember

what would happen

if they ate

of that fruit.

The day you eat

of that fruit

you shall

surely

die.

This tree

of good and evil

and God

uses Adam

as this mouthpiece

to his wife

to share

in a prophetic sense

this word

from God

to his wife.

And you know

the story.

At some point

along the way

Satan tempted

Eve

and Eve

gave this fruit

to her husband.

The two of them

ate

and sin

entered

the world.

Now what was

open is closed.

now this

relationship

that was once

secure

is severed.

God's presence

which was near

is now distant.

What was whole

is now broken.

What was welcomed

is now barred.

This harmony

has now led

to hostility.

What once

was accessible

is now guarded.

Adam's sin

introduced

this need

for a mediator

because he drove

his sin

drove

humanity

from God's presence.

Presence

was the issue.

Sin

was the issue

that drove Adam

and Eve

away

from the presence

of God.

And when

Adam sinned

the entire

spiritual

landscape

changed.

The way back

is guarded.

Fellowship

is broken.

Sin

blocks

access

from

the presence

of God.

For the very

first time

in history

Adam

would need

a mediator.

He would

need a go-between.

Somebody

who could

stand.

Who could

represent

him to

God.

Someone

who could

bridge

the gap.

Someone

who was

on the

outside

who could

let him

in.

But Adam

cannot

serve

his own

mediator.

Because

mediation

requires

another

party.

Just like

the individual

who is

drowning.

Needs

somebody

outside

who is

able to

rescue

that

drowning

individual.

You see

Adam is

exiled.

He's

cut off.

He's

on the

wrong

side

of the

flaming

sword.

And you

remember

in the

Garden

of Eden

the

flaming

sword

that was

put

in the

way

to

guard

the

presence

guard

Adam

and Eve

away

from the

presence

of God.

I

imagine

that some

of you

even in

this

moment

can

resonate

with

feeling

distant.

With

feeling

cut

off.

Feeling

isolated

from God

because of

your sin.

And just

like Adam

you have

been cut

off

because

of sin.

But

the story

doesn't

end here.

There is

a way.

God has

provided

a mediator.

And here

is the

absolutely

essential

thing for

us to

understand.

God

cannot

himself

perform

Adam's

atonement

in the

garden.

He

cannot

do

this

in his

divine

capacity

alone

because

this

go-between

needs

someone

to

represent

both

man

and

God.

You

see

God

cannot

make

payment

for

Adam's

sin

at this

point

because

if

he

did

it

would

violate

his

own

design

for

mediation.

Why?

Because

redemption

requires

a true

mediator.

A real

son of

Adam

in the

physical

flesh.

Someone

who is

capable

of

representing

him

to

God.

If

God

simply

atoned

for

Adam

there in

Genesis

Genesis 3 · chapter mention

chapter

3.

If

God

simply

atoned

for

Adam

and

we

understand

those

skins

that

have

been

used

as

coverings

and

it's

sometimes

infrequently

mentioned

that those

skins

represent

atonement

but they

cannot.

They

cannot

because

if

God

had

atoned

for

Adam

then

the

pattern

of

human

representation

collapses.

The

priesthood

becomes

unnecessary

because

God

has

already

bridged

the

gap.

The

promised

seed

of

the

woman

is

emptied

of

meaning

and

the

entire

Christological

foundation

of

scripture

then

disintegrates.

God

cannot

bypass

the

need

for a

human

mediator.

So what

are these

coverings?

What are

these

coverings?

Well we

find the

answer

in

Genesis

Genesis 3:7

chapter

3

verse

7.

And

notice

that

Adam

and

Eve

are

the

initiators

of

needing

these

coverings.

It

says

then

the

eyes

of

both

of

them

were

opened

and

they

knew

that

they

were

naked

and

they

sewed

fig

leaves

together

and

made

themselves

coverings.

Adam

and Eve

did

this.

Why?

It was

a

self

covering.

This is a

human effort

to deal

with guilt

and shame

and sin.

So they

make

coverings

for

themselves

and the

Hebrew

is emphatic

when it

says

they

sewed

fig leaves

they

made

coverings

self

effort

humanly

driven

to cover

this

shame.

shame.

This

was a

human

attempt

to

resolve

a

spiritual

problem.

And

it's

the

first

picture

by the

way

of

humans

trying

to

manage

the

effects

of

sin

without

removing

the

sin.

That

sin

was not

gone

it

remained

it

was

just

covered

up.

And

all

they

could

do

was

cover

their

shame

not

atone

for

their

sin.

So

then

what

is

happening

in

Genesis

Genesis 3:21

chapter

3

verse

21

it

says

in

the

Lord

God

made

for

Adam

and

for

his

wife

garments

of

skins

and

clothed

them.

Notice

that

the

language

here

is

the

same.

Here's

what

the

text

does

say

God

made

coverings

God

clothed

them

God

provides

for

their

inadequate

attempt

and

he

allows

now

this

covering

to

have

some

level

of

permanence.

God

makes

permanent

what Adam

and Eve

made

temporary.

And

here's

what the

text

does

not

say

and

why

we

need

to

be

so

careful

about

reading

into

the

scripture.

It

does

not

say

that

God

sacrificed

an

animal.

It

does

not

say

that

garments

symbolize

atonement.

It

does

not

say

that

their

shame

was

removed

because

they

are

still

driven

out

of

the

garden.

It

does

not

say

that

their

relationship

was

restored.

which is

what would

have

happened

if

their

sin

had

been

atoned

for.

It

doesn't

say

that

their

access

was

regained.

They're

still

driven

out.

Their

shame

remains,

their

fear

remains,

their

alienation

remains,

and the

way

back

is

barred.

It's

blocked.

So

their

coverings

stand

as

this

perpetual

reminder

of

their

nakedness.

And it

tends to

be a

gift

that

God

has

given

to

them

to

help

them

understand

perpetually

their

shame.

That

sin

has

produced

shame

and

guilt.

God,

while he

improves

Adam's

covering,

he does

not

remove

Adam's

guilt.

that

human

covering

is a

hiding

from

shame.

This

divine

covering

becomes

a

measure

of

protection

in the

midst

of

shame.

God

does not

atone

for them,

but instead

it sets

the stage

for a

human

mediator.

We need

a human

mediator.

That is

still

what is

on the

table

as we

continue

to move

through

this

story.

So

God

promises

that sin

will be

resolved.

And we

find that

answer in

Genesis

Genesis 3:15

chapter 3

verse 15

where God

promises Eve.

Remember

he says

I will

put

excuse me

this is

to the

serpent

I will

put enmity

between

you and

the woman

and between

your offspring

and her

offspring

he shall

bruise your

head and

you shall

bruise his

heel.

This

mediative

work,

this priestly

function will

happen through

a son.

This

mediator,

this go

between,

this human

representative

which will

represent

Adam to

God

and God

to

humanity.

But now

we begin

to see

this

insufficiency

of this

human

mediator.

Why

was Adam's

son

an

insufficient

mediator?

You see

God does

raise up

a son.

The son

named

Abel

we see

in Genesis

Genesis 4:1–5

chapter 4

verses 1

to 5

it says

now

Adam

knew

his

wife

Eve

and

she

conceived

and

bore

Cain

saying

I

have

gotten

a

man

with

the

help

of

the

Lord

and

again

she

bore

his

brother

Abel

now

Abel

was a

keeper

of

sheep

and

Cain

a

worker

of

the

ground

in

the

course

of

time

Cain

brought

to

the

Lord

an

offering

of

the

fruit

of

the

ground

and

Abel

also

brought

the

firstborn

of

his

flock

and

of

their

fat

portions

and

the

Lord

had

regard

for

Abel

and

his

offering

but

for

Cain

and

his

offering

he

had

no

regard

so

Cain

was

very

angry

and

his

face

fell

we

see

right

out

of

the

gate

this

priestly

mediative

role

that is

now

beginning

to

take

place

and

Abel

stands

beside

Cain

as

this

immediate

test

case

this

immediate

test

case

of

Genesis

Genesis 3 · chapter mention

chapter

3

15

would

God

provide

a

true

mediator

and

now

we

see

these

two

sons

Cain

and

Abel

and

these

two

seeds

we

see

these

two

lines

we

see

these

two

forms

of

worship

one

that's

accepted

one

that is

not

accepted

we

see

these

two

spiritual

destinies

Abel

becomes

the

first

post

fall

worshiper

who

approaches

God

rightly

the

right

offering

the

right

way

with

the

right

heart

with

obedience

and

with

faith

and

we

see

the

example

of

Abel

and the

testimony

of his

righteous

sacrifice

written

across the

pages

of

Hebrews

Hebrews 11 · chapter mention

chapter

11

Abel

stands

before

God

as a

faithful

son

of

Adam

and the

most likely

candidate

of a

human

representative

others

follow

an

Abel's

pattern

Noah

which

who will

mediate

for his

family

Noah

excuse me

Abraham

who will

intercede

for his

family

Job

as we

saw

in our

study

who

intercedes

and offers

sacrifices

for his

family

but

each

shares

Adam's

fallen

nature

each

requires

atonement

of his

own

each

mediator

needs

a

mediator

needs

a

priest

to

represent

him

to

God

none

can

fully

mediate

for

themselves

because

of

imperfection

because

of

sin

in

their

life

every

son

of

Adam

inherits

Adam's

sin

Romans

Romans 5:12

chapter

5

verse

12

says

therefore

just as

sin came

into

the

world

through

one

man

and

death

through

sin

so

death

spread

to

all

men

because

all

sin

yet

death

reigned

from

Adam

to

Moses

even

over

those

whose

sinning

was not

like

the

transgression

of

Adam

who

was a

type

of

the

one

who

was

to

come

therefore

no

child

of

Adam

could

ever

qualify

as

this

human

mediator

this

representation

this

representative

who

would

represent

Adam's

race

to

God

why

because

all

of

Adam's

children

inherit

corruption

none

can

stand

in the

presence

of

God

for

others

that

presence

is

still

shut

that

presence

is

still

closed

so

how

will

God

resolve

this

human

problem

you know

based upon

what we've

read in

Hebrews

that God

raises

up

his

final

son

this

final

son

Jesus

only

a

divine

son

can

become

a

human

representative

who can

represent

men

to God

and represent

God

to men

and only

the

God

man

can

enter

God's

presence

without

fear

and bring

his people

near with

confidence

Jesus

is

that

mediator

Jesus

is

that

priest

he's

the

true

son

of

Adam

he's

the

true

seed

of

Abraham

he's

the

heir

of

David's

throne

all

the

genealogies

converge

on

Christ

he's

the

one

who

can

now

represent

man

to

God

as

the

true

and

final

high

priest

it's

all

encapsulated

in

summary

probably

the

best

summary

we

get

of

Christ's

ministry

is

found

for

us

in

1st

Peter

chapter

3

verse

18

see

it

or

listen

to

it

as

I

read

for

Christ

also

suffered

once

for

sin

the

just

for

the

unjust

that

he

might

bring

us

to

God

being

put

to

death

in

the

flesh

but

made

alive

in

the

spirit

all

the

components

are

there

Jesus

as

the

mediator

who is

able

to

usher

us

into

the

very

presence

of

God

Jesus

himself

who was

just

and

righteous

and

holy

who met

the

standard

who only

was the

only

representative

who

could

stand

as

a

perfect

reflection

of

God's

nature

and

he's

being

put

to

death

in

his

flesh

and

made

alive

by

the

spirit

this

summary

of

the

righteous

work

of

the

ultimate

mediator

Jesus

who

stands

in

our

place

he

does

this

in order

to

bring

us

to

God

Jesus

as

that

perfect

representative

of

humanity

is able

to

finally

do

the

work

of

mediation

he's

finally

able

to

lead

us

into

the

presence

of

God

that

he

might

bring

us

to

God

and

now

through

Christ

the

way

that

was

once

guarded

the

fellowship

that

was

once

broken

the