Sunday, September 16, 2018

Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest Hebrews 3:1


As the writer of Hebrews continued to share how Jesus is superior to “angels”, “prophets” and creation, he demonstrated how He was “made like unto his brethren”, that He might “be a merciful and faithful high priest in things”. He also showed how Jesus “himself has suffered being tempted” so He is “able to succor them that are tempted”. In chapter three and verse one of Hebrews we discover Jesus declared as “the Apostle and High Priest of our profession” where we read:

Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling,
consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;

The verse begins, “Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, ...” The writer began with the word, “Wherefore” which means “from which, whereby and for which cause, reason and account”, “holy brethren” which refers to “sacred, pure, morally and religiously blameless fellow believers united by a bond of affection”, “partakers” or “those sharing in, associates and fellow partners” “of the heavenly calling” which means “according to invitation and salvation embraced within the celestial abode of God and angels ”. The writer of Hebrews came to another conclusion and his audience was the “fellow believers” who have received and partaken of the “call” which was originated from “Heaven”.

The verse goes on to say, “consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;” The writer continued, “consider” which means “behold, perceive and discover” “the Apostle” which refers to “the delegate, messenger and one sent forth with orders” “and High Priest” or “chief of priests” “of our profession” which refers to “of the writer of Hebrews and his fellow believers' confession and acknowledgment”, “Christ” which means “the anointed Messiah and Son of God” “Jesus” whose name means “Jehovah is Salvation” and was “the Son of God, Savior of mankind and God incarnate”. The Hebrew writer desired for his readers to “perceive and behold” Jesus Christ who was not only the “One sent forth with orders” but also the interceding “high priest” on behalf of those who “rely upon, trust in and cling to” Him.

When we think through these words in Hebrews, we too must “consider” this one called “Christ Jesus”. He came as a man to identify with us and was “specifically sent with a message” as “the Apostle”, and He became the procurer of that message by giving His life as a sacrifice for our sins. Oh that we might truly “consider” Him today, and should there be one reading these words who does not know Him as “Savior and Lord”, “behold, perceive and discover” “Christ Jesus” who came to be “the Apostle” and “high priest” on your behalf.

Next time we see the writer declare how Jesus “was faithful to him that appointed him”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites,
http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.





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