Jesus is our perfect high priest
During the days of Jesus’ life on ear th, he of fered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suf fered and, once made per fect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.
— Hebrews 5:7-9
Is it possible to be too good? Can someone be too great? A while back, the news reported that a girls’ basketball team in Minnesota was kicked out of its league because it was too good. The action was taken because the other teams in the league refused to play the team that was deemed “too talented.”
What about Jesus? Is it possible that he might be “too great” to be the “Great High Priest” that the writer of Hebrews proclaims him to be? After all, the high priest was supposed to be able to relate to the people he ser ved. Chapter 5 of Hebrews begins this way: “Every high priest is selected from among the people and is appointed to represent the people in matters related to God, to of fer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he himself is subject to weakness” (vs. 1, 2).
Is Jesus great? No question about it. But is he too great? Is Jesus too great to relate to the sinners he is supposed to represent? The high priests of Israel were human beings, just like the people they ser ved; as sinners, they were able to sympathize with those who sinned. How could someone as great as God’s son possibly relate to sinners?
While it is true that Jesus never sinned, he still became man. He became one of us. As one of us, he experienced ever ything we could possibly experience. He suffered, he was tired, he was hungr y, he was betrayed, he was sad, he found happiness and success, and he was born, and he died. He experienced it all, which means there is nothing that you or I have or will go through that our God can’t sympathize with.
But, he was also different. He didn’t sin. He didn’t fall into the temptation to hurt others, get revenge, mistreat, or act selfishly. He remained perfect in ever y way while taking our place.
This is important. If Jesus didn’t do all of that, then we wouldn’t be saved. If he didn’t completely take our place by experiencing ever ything for us, we wouldn’t be saved. Also, if he didn’t stay perfect and defeat ours sins on the cross, we wouldn’t be saved. That is what makes him our perfect high priest. He did it all for us so that we could be saved and given a home in heaven.
Jesus may be too good for us, but he didn’t allow that to keep us from being called his children. He made himself like us so that we could be with him forever in heaven.
Happy to know that Jesus did what it took to make me one of his, just like you!
Jacob Hanneman is the pastor of Shepherd of the Plains Lutheran Church in
For t Morgan. Worship online at shepherd oftheplainslutheranchurch.com.
“Jesus may be too good for us, but he didn’t allow that to keep us from being called his
children.”