That’s why I’m here writing; I hope that’s why you’re here reading. Even more, I hope that’s why you’re reading with your Bible open beside you or a Bible tab open on your screen. I hope you’re reading to know the God who “has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him” (2 Peter 1:3 NIV).
This section will cover a large portion of Scripture but contains only two key points. We’ve discussed the belief necessary to enter God’s rest and also the when and why of entering His rest. Today, we’ll discuss who made it possible as we study through Hebrews 4:14-5:10. I encourage you to read it now.
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Therefore, let us hold fast to the confession (4:14)
We need to hold on to our confession of faith. We hold it before us in our hands, not tuck it away in a pocket for later. We hold on to it in such a way that shows we cherish it; that we’ll always be careful and faithful to keep it.
Why? Because Jesus is our priest who passed through the heavens (4:14)
The ancient Israelite people went through a lot as they left slavery in Egypt, wandered in the desert for forty years, and eventually entered the Promised Land. We’ve talked about the unbelief that held them back from the land blessed by God’s rest. A whole generation died in the desert because of the prevalence of their unbelief.
Eventually, though, the time came for them to enter the land. Moses had passed away; God called Joshua to lead the people into the new land. I encourage you to read Joshua 3:1-4:18, paying careful attention to the role of the priests as they journeyed into the land of promise.
The priests carried the Ark of the Covenant – a symbol of God’s presence on earth – as they crossed the Jordan River. When the priests stepped into the waters, the river stopped flowing and the land dried. They continued in further, walking on a dry river bed where water flowed only moments earlier. When they reached the middle of the river bed, they stopped. All of the people passed through. Once the last one was safely on the other shore, the priests continued walking with the symbol of God's presence on their shoulders. They did so “until everything was completed that the Lord had commanded Joshua to tell the people. … The people hurried across, and after everyone had finished crossing, the priests with the ark of the Lord crossed in the sight of the people” (Joshua 4:10-11). In short, the priests passed through the waters of the Jordan so that the people could pass through and enter the Promised Land.
In section five, we compared the superiority of Jesus’ message of grace to Moses’ law along with the superiority of Jesus’ universal tabernacle to Moses’ earthly tabernacle. We remember that as we realize here that Jesus isn’t only a priest who passed through the Jordan River carrying the presence of God. In complete superiority, He is the priest who passed through the heavens as the very Son of God. He passed through so that we might pass through as well and enter the rest of eternity with Him.
Why? Because Jesus is our high priest who sympathizes with our weaknesses (4:15)
Sometimes we think life must have been easy for Jesus. After all, He’s God; surely He didn’t struggle with anything. However, Jesus “has been tested in every way as we are” (Hebrews 4:15). Even still, I think it’s easy for us to say, “Yeah, He might have been tested but He’s God. It was easy for Him to pass the test.” What if, though, the fact that He is God makes the test all that more painful because He sees the depth of the depravity, the extreme ugliness of the pride, and the eternal horror of separation with a clarity that you and I will never possess.
And yes, Jesus knew what it was to be tested. All the same tests that we face – He faced them as well.
- Satan tested Jesus (Matthew 4:1-11). He was hungry after fasting for forty days and nights. In that moment of weakness, Satan came to Him to see if He was up to the test. Satan offered Him food to satisfy the hunger pains rumbling through His human stomach. Don’t we all long to be satisfied from hunger? Satan offered Jesus the display of heavenly affirmation of His deity. Don’t we all long for affirmation before the masses of people? Finally, Satan offered Jesus the glory of the kingdoms of the world. Don’t we all long for glory and power?
- The authorities tested Jesus. The religious leadership of Jesus’ day – the Pharisees and Sadducees – constantly schemed and connived as to how they might trap Jesus in a test. They tested Him to show off His supernatural abilities (Matthew 16:1). Don’t we all love to show off what we can do? They tested Him to reveal His vast knowledge (Matthew 19:3). Don’t we all love to show off what we know? They tested Him to proclaim His authority (Matthew 22:18, 35). Don’t we all want everyone to know when we’re in charge?
- The people tested Jesus (1 Corinthians 10:1-13). This reference again relates back to the ancient Israelites wandering in the desert; even they tested the Lord Jesus. 1 Corinthians 10:9 says, “Let us not test Christ as some of them did and were destroyed by snakes” referring to an incident described in more detail in Numbers 21:4-9. Take note of this – it’s not only the people alive with Jesus that tested Him. Those who came before did so; I’m thinking we probably do too. The ancient Israelites griped and complained despite all He had done, thereby putting Him to the test. I know I gripe and complain sometimes. Does my faithless, selfish whining test Jesus? Probably so, and yet it’s written, “Do not test the Lord your God” (Matthew 4:7).
Jesus was tested, as were all of the priests of God. Tests constantly fired at Him from Satan, religious authorities, and the people. In the midst of it all, He was “tested in every way as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15). He alone can make that final claim.
So, hold on tight to that faith you have in Him. Cherish it as He alone passed through the heavens to give it to you. He alone endured testing without sin. His willingness to do so created your privilege to do the same - to endure the testing of this life and to pass through the heavens into the presence of God. Yes, our testing ends in sin sometimes, but His sacrifice covers that as well. Hold on to your faith because with it, Jesus made great things possible.
Therefore, let us approach the throne of grace with boldness (4:16)
Jewish rabbis taught that God had two thrones – one of mercy and one of judgment. The people knew God required justice which naturally brought judgment upon the people. However, they also knew He was a God of mercy. To reconcile the two, they thought He must have two thrones. The author of Hebrews reconciles the concept of two thrones into a single truth. God only has one throne – the throne of grace. Yes, God’s justice requires judgment but He also extends mercy. In that moment when judgment meets mercy, we find His grace (Source).
Why? Because Jesus is our priest who served in the duties of a priest of Aaron’s order (5:1-5)
The Jewish priests descended from Aaron, of the tribe of Levi. As priests, they had certain duties to perform. Jesus fulfilled every one of those duties…
- He served God on behalf of the people (5:1). It is written of Jesus, “He had to be like His brothers in every way, so that He could become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people” (Hebrews 2:17).
- He offered gifts and sacrifices for sins (5:1). It is written of Jesus, “For every high priest is appointed to offer gifts and sacrifices; therefore it was necessary for this priest also to have something to offer… He entered the most holy place once for all, not by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood, having obtained eternal redemption” (Hebrews 8:3, 9:12).
- He served with compassion (5:2-3). It is written of Jesus, “For since He Himself was tested and has suffered, He is able to help those who are tested” (Hebrews 2:18).
- He was descended from Aaron but called by God (5:4-5). Jesus didn’t descend from Aaron. He is of the tribe of Judah, not Levi. Yet, His ministry is superior to that of Aaron. He may not be a son of Aaron, but He is the true Son of God and God appointed Him to His ministry. "Messiah did not exalt Himself to become a high priest, but the One who said to Him, "You are My Son; today I have become Your Father" (Hebrews 5:5).
Why? Because Jesus is our priest who served in the duties of Melchizedek’s order (Hebrews 5:6-10)
Under Aaron’s lineage, the priesthood didn’t allow us to boldly approach the throne of grace. The people couldn’t walk into the holy of holies anytime they wanted. If Jesus’ priestly service was only of Aaron’s order, I’m not sure we still would be able to enter God’s presence. But Jesus was also a priest in the order of Melchizedek. With His sacrifice, the temple curtain separating the holy of holies from the world split in two. We may now – with boldness – approach the throne of grace.
I did a lot of studying about Melchizedek for this lesson. We know very little about him other than what we read in Genesis 14, Psalm 110, and Hebrews 5-7. We’ll discuss him a lot over the next few sections as we work our way through those Hebrews sections. Some of what I learned is extremely interesting, however. It’ll lead to some thought provoking questions over the next few sections.
For now, we’ll focus on three duties of a priest of Melchizedek’s order which I believe this passage presents to us. The passage begins and ends by declaring Jesus to be a priest of Melchizedek’s order. I believe the three qualifications listed between those bookend declarations reveal to us what that means...
- He offered prayers and appeals unto God and God heard him (5:7). Jesus often went off by Himself and prayed fervently to God the Father. Despite His oneness with the Father and the Spirit, prayer was a constant and integral part of His earthly life.
- He learned obedience through suffering (5:8). Jesus knew suffering of the highest level. Yes, the nails, whips, and thorns hurt. No one will deny that but many people endured a Roman crucifixion. Jesus’ ultimate pain came, I believe, when He cried out, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken Me?” (Matthew 27:46). I don’t think we can fully comprehend the suffering He endured as the weight of the sin of the world piled on His sinless human body, causing the Father with whom He had experienced all of eternity past to turn away His holy head.
- He became the source of eternal salvation (5:9). It doesn’t get any more clear than that. Jesus alone, the only source of salvation for all eternity.
Why do we care?
We care because God made a way for you to enter His rest. He longs to be with you in eternity so He appointed Jesus as our priest to make it possible. As such, He knows your tests and temptations. He gets what you’re going through because He’s been there as well. After enduring the test without sin, He passed through the heavens of His universal tabernacle to dwell in the presence of God. Because He did so, we will pass through them as well to be with Him forever.
But you have to believe. It all comes down to faith.
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