Hebrews 4:14-16 KJV
14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
Hebrews 4:14-16 Amplified Bible
14 Inasmuch then as we [believers] have a great High Priest who has [already ascended and] passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession [of faith and cling tenaciously to our absolute trust in Him as Savior]. 15 For we do not have a High Priest who is unable to sympathize and understand our weaknesses and temptations, but One who has been tempted [knowing exactly how it feels to be human] in every respect as we are, yet without [committing any] sin. 16 Therefore let us [with privilege] approach the throne of grace [that is, the throne of God’s gracious favor] with confidence and without fear, so that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find [His amazing] grace to help in time of need [an appropriate blessing, coming just at the right moment].
Under the Old Covenant, only the High Priest could enter the Holy of Holies once a year, and offer the atoning animal blood sacrifice for the sins of the people. He was the only person who could enter this area and survive.
This would change in the course of time, at the fullness of time, when Jesus would be born of a virgin and begin His earthly life and ministry, culminating in His sacrificial death and resurrection.
The Old Covenant would be no more and God’s final “New Covenant” with humankind would be in place.
This lesson looks beyond the indisputable fact that to be “saved” we must accept Jesus Christ into our life as our Lord and Savior. Once we believe fully in Him, repent and ask forgiveness for our sins and accept Him as Lord, we become a child of God. AND we have a Great High Priest.
Before this, because of our sin, we are separated from God as our Holy God can have nothing to do with sin. Before we are saved and reconciled with Him, there is a great gulf between us.
When we accept Jesus, because of and through His atoning blood, we are redeemed and reconciled with God. There no longer is a gulf between us and our Father in Heaven.
We are now able to approach God through prayer. Think about this for a minute.
We no longer need a human “high priest” to make intercession for us.
We don’t need to confess our sins to a “high priest” in order for atonement and salvation to be received.
This is because the Old Covenant was destroyed and replaced by the New Covenant between God and humankind.
Please read other lessons on this subject in your Bible study, especially the one titled “Jesus Pierced the Veil."
Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior who died on the cross of Calvary shedding His blood as our atoning sacrifice, is therefore now our great “High Priest.”
Through Jesus, we can boldly approach the throne of grace on our own. We can approach God through Jesus at any time, day or night. 24/7.
Through Jesus, we can approach God with confidence and without fear, receiving mercy and grace in our time of need.
Jesus is always there to intercede for us and make our case.
Jesus Is Always There in Our Time of Need
Not only is Jesus our great High Priest, but He is also always there for us in our time of need.
Remember Jesus’ words “take MY yoke upon you?” Jesus wants us to do just that, no matter how small our trial might be.
Jesus is there for us because He became one of us. He lived and walked as a human for approximately 33 years. He felt hunger. He felt human emotions. He faced many trials in His ministry. He was tempted by Satan. And he felt pain, especially on the cross.
God tell us in His word, that because of Jesus becoming “like” us, He is now a merciful and faithful high priest providing a way of reconciliation between God and mankind. Also, Jesus as our high priest is able to offer immediate help to those who are being tempted or are suffering.
Hebrews 2:17-18 Amplified Bible
17 Therefore, it was essential that He had to be made like His brothers (mankind) in every respect, so that He might [by experience] become a merciful and faithful High Priest in things related to God, to make atonement (propitiation) for the people’s sins [thereby wiping away the sin, satisfying divine justice, and providing a way of reconciliation between God and mankind]. 18 Because He Himself [in His humanity] has suffered in being tempted, He is able to help and provide immediate assistance to those who are being tempted and exposed to suffering.
Hebrews 2:17-18 KJV
17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.
Jesus Always Represents Us Before Our Heavenly Father
Jesus, our Great High Priest, represents us before our Heavenly Father in different ways.
As you can see, all of the descriptive titles given to Jesus refer to His being our representative before God, IF we are a believer.
Jesus became our Advocate
Being called our advocate is an important name for Jesus Christ as it reflects His role as our intercessor. He is the representative for every believer before God.
1 John 2:1 KJV
1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
Jesus is our Intercessor
The writer of Hebrews clearly describes Christ’s high priestly role in heaven when he writes, “He is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through Him.” Jesus’ intercession on our behalf seeks our perseverance in the faith and our steadfastness no matter the trials and struggles we may encounter.
Hebrews 7:24-27 KJV
24 But this man (Jesus), because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.
25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
26 For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;
27 Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.
Romans 8:34 KJV
34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
Jesus is our Mediator
Per the dictionary, a mediator is a person who attempts to make people involved in a conflict come to an agreement, or in other words a go-between.
1 Timothy 2:5 KJV
5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
Because of the blood of Jesus, we can approach God boldly, for whatever we need.
Whether it is mercy, grace or help of any kind in our time of need.
Hebrews 4:16 KJV
16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
Jesus is our great High Priest, our Advocate and Intercessor, and He is only a prayer away.
RVH