Day 1, Week 3 - Jesus, Great High Priest
DEVOTION: The most prestigious spiritual leader in Israel was the high priest. Of all the priest and rulers in the nation, he was the one, the only one, who could enter the Holy of Holies once a year on the day of atonement to offer sacrifices for the sins of the people.
After ceremonial cleansing for his own sins, he would go behind a thick veil that separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies. There he would offer the blood of a goat on the golden mercy seat that sat atop the Ark of the Covenant so that the sins of Israel would be covered for another year.
The old priesthood and system of sacrifices was not meant to last forever. God gave them to Moses and the Israelites to foreshadow their fulfillment in Jesus. They had to repeat with sacrifices every year, but Jesus death on the cross made final atonement for our sins and abolished the system once and for all.
Just as the Aaronic high priest would disappear from the people's view when they entered the Holy of Holies, so Jesus passes through the heavenlies into the sanctuary of God. He is the one that hears our prayers because He has entered the Holy of Holies in heaven.
As the writer of Hebrews explains, there were many high priests throughout history since death prevented them from continuing in office, but because Jesus lives forever, He has a permanent priesthood (Hebrews 7:23-24). He remains to this day the enduring High Priest who is alive and able to fulfill that role.
In heaven, Jesus sits on the great throne of grace ready to hear our prayers and assist us in our time of need. He sympathizes with our weakness because He himself was tempted in every way just as we are yet without sin (Hebrews 4:15-16). Jesus is not aloof and prideful, but rather concerned and available. This comforting truth invites us to approach the throne of grace with confidence.
Because Jesus is our High Priest, we no longer need anyone else to intercede between us and God. We have direct access to the father through Jesus and he stands ready and willing to help us in our time of need.