Sunday: Our High Priest
Daily Lesson for Sunday 18th of May 2025
When Moses oversaw the construction of the tabernacle, he was not permitted to use just any design he wished. God gave him a blueprint to follow. “ ‘See to it that you make them according to the pattern which was shown you on the mountain’ ” (Exodus 25:40, NKJV). We discover in the book of Hebrews that the pattern used was that of a higher reality, the heavenly sanctuary.
Read Hebrews 9:11-15, about Christ as our High Priest in heaven’s sanctuary. What does this teach about what He is doing for us?
Image © Educational Concepts Collection at Goodsalt.com
The earthly sanctuary foreshadowed Jesus in astonishing detail, from the priest and the offerings to the furniture and other design details. _All _of it speaks of Jesus.
The book of Revelation, of course, is very rich in sanctuary imagery. We find the sanctuary lampstand in the opening verses, the ark of the covenant explicitly mentioned in chapter four, and numerous other allusions to the temple. Without an understanding of the Old Testament sanctuary, it becomes impossible to grasp what John is driving at in his descriptions of his visions. The experiences of Israel, Paul writes, “happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come” (1 Corinthians 10:11, NKJV).
There is much we can learn from studying the details of the temple. In the book of Psalms, we find an important component for understanding some of these details: how God’s people personally related to the temple. We catch glimpses of how David related to the sanctuary and its services, and we see the heart response of God’s people to what the Messiah would do for them. It is not just the patterns that help us see Jesus; we also can mine the personal experiences of those who understood what God was teaching us through the sanctuary and draw lessons for ourselves and for our own experiences with God.
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Read Psalms 122:1-9. Though we cannot go literally to the earthly “house of the Lord” (it’s not there, and even if one were built in the same place, it would be meaningless), what elements are found in this psalm that can encourage us about what Christ has done for us? Notice the themes of peace, security, praise, and judgment. |
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Psalm 122 is one of those psalms we all know - at least we know the first verse. Here it is in a modern translation.
In the first instance, it is a song of national pride but it also contains a sense of community where justice and mercy are important. Jerusalem is a place of safety where the weary and stressed find peace.
Three millennia later, we find ourselves in a world of uncertainty and disinterest in spiritual things. We need to ask ourselves whether our church community provides peace and safety for our community at large. Reread Psalm 122 and replace "Jerusalem" with "my church" and ask yourself the question; "Does the Psalm still make sense, or is it in contradiction to what happens in our little bit of Jerusalem?"
The ancient Israelites were obligated to make pilgrimages to Jerusalem, more so to the temple, during the three major festivals (Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles). As the pilgrims made their way up to Jerusalem, they sang “Songs of Ascent”. As worshippers climbed their way up Mount Zion to the temple, they were in a jubilant mood, singing psalms. The Book of Psalms captures these songs as recorded in chapters 120 – 134. Hence, they are referred to as “Songs of Ascent”. They were expressions of faith, hope, and community. These songs can also be described as “spiritual ascent”. Drawing closer to God's presence in the Temple, the worshippers were reaching their “spiritual crescendo”. It is not a surprise when David expressed his feelings, “I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord!” (Psalms 122:1). Even though Psalm 122 was originally written as a pilgrim’s song of joy to worship at the temple, it also has deep spiritual elements which shows what Christ has done for us and He is doing for us in the heavenly sanctuary.
1. Jesus Christ is the ultimate “House of the Lord” - (John 1:14; John 2:19-21)
2. It is only Jesus who can bring us into the New Jerusalem - (John 14:1-4, Hebrews 12:22-24)
3. In Christ Jesus, we are a unified “Body of Christ”, a holy temple of God – (Ephesians 2:20-22)
4. In Christ Jesus, we are a unified family of God, there is neither Jew nor Gentile - John 12:32
5. Jesus will establish a kingdom where perfect justice and mercy will reign forever – (Luke 1:32–33)
6. In Jesus alone, the peace of the world rests. Jesus alone is our “shalom” - Romans 5:1, Philippians 4:7).
Yes, He is doing an important work for us I do believe firmly our High Priest is presently interceding for us before Our Father. Hebrews 7:25. Psalms 110:4. In Revelation 20:6 it alludes to the fact that Christ is the High Priest and we will be priest also.
The priesthood of Christ commenced as soon as man had sinned. He was made a priest after the order of Melchizedek of which I also firmly believe God the Father made Him a High Priest
Psalm 110:4.
In Revelation there seems to be a allusion to Christ as our High Priest or Paul was wrong. I don't believe Paul was wrong. Revelation 19:7, Revelation 19:16, and Revelation 20:6. with Psalm 110 is proof a loving God. Who willing to intercede for us. 1 John 2:1-2.
Thank God for giving us several mountains to go over to be lost. I am not into that kind of mountain climbing any more.
When I was a child, I and the Adventis gang climbed mountains. We thought that was great. They were not snow covered more than once or twice a year. Now I have grown up and most of the time do not find pleasure in showing off, rather I have agape love. And rejoice in the Lord, because of that. 1 Corinthians 13:11-13. Philippians 4:4.
The idea and reality that Jesus Christ is our High Priest is not only good news but also reassuring. During the old testament biblical times, the work of the high priest was to intercede on behalf of the people with God. The priests made atonement for the sins of the people by sacrificing a lamb symbolically placing the people’s sin on the lamb. The system served but had one big weakness which is it could never totally satisfy the wrath of God. Besides it is good to note that the earthly priests were imperfect and sinful people themselves who also needed atonement for their own sins.
The self-sacrifice of Jesus, our Great High Priest,provides us with duty of a greater sense of love and affection for Jesus, because his self-sacrifice was the greatest act of love ever displayed. We had nothing to offer Jesus except our broken selves. We didn’t deserve his life, we deserved death in the form of eternal separation from. But thanks be to God, Jesus, our Great High Priest has done everything necessary to save us from our sin. We couldn’t earn salvation, we don’t deserve salvation, but have salvation in the name of Jesus Christ our High Priest.
“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.”Hebrews 4:15 (NIV)
We couldn’t earn salvation, we don’t deserve salvation, but have salvation in the name of Jesus Christ our High Priest.
“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”— Acts 4:12 (NIV)
Just like "The Bread and the Grape Juice," were and are "Symbols" of Jesus' "Body and Blood," so the "Earthly Temple," were only "Symbolic," of "The Universe," where God, Jesus, and The Holy Spirit, lives and reigns and controls and also intercedes for "All Humans that will live (By Faith) for God now."
Jerusalem, the "City of Peace" has since it's founding, been anything but peaceful. Even today two warring nations, Israel, and Palestine, claim it as their capital city. Israel's famed Temple whose foundation, the Western, or wailing wall, still remains there today. Meanwhile, one of Islam's most holy mosques is built upon the temple mount. Two peoples, two faiths claiming the same space as their most holy city.
"Throughout its long history, Jerusalem has been destroyed at least twice, besieged 23 times, captured and recaptured 44 times, and attacked 52 times."[1]
A city that bears the scars of the longest running "family feud" in history, of the descendants of Abraham, half-brothers, Ishmael, versus Isaac, the "child of promise." It serves as a cautionary tale of the potential long lasting and terrible effects of one person's lapse of faith and his attempt to "help God keep His promise." God doesn't need our help, He needs our cooperation.
Today we "pray for the peace of Jerusalem," while we await the New Jerusalem. The city where peace, and the Prince of Peace, will reign supreme for all eternity.
[1]"Do We Divide the Holiest Holy City?". Moment Magazine. Archived from the original on 3 June 2008. Retrieved 5 March 2008. According to Eric H. Cline's tally in Jerusalem Besieged.
Paul references Jerusalem and contrasts the Jerusalem on earth with the new Jerusalem in heaven in Galatians 4:25-26 KJV
“For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. [26] But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.”
Also, regarding what all "The Symbolic" and "Metaphoric" images in "Revelation" of "The Temple," the very last reference to those symbols in that "Prophetic Book," it is very clear that John sees "No Temple" there. And goes on to say why he sees "No Temple there," because Almighty God and the Lamb are the temple of it. Just like Jesus Himself said before He was crucified: He said that "He was" The Temple.
Thank you, each contributor to today's blog. It really seems like we're in Sabbath school class together, learning something new about the lesson from each other, doesn't it?
And, it also reminds me of Jesus' words; "Well done, good and faithful servants".
Every small and large detail in the Sanctuary points to the Savior. From the altar of sacrifice to the contents inside the Covenant ark, God is represented in the work of His Son. We no longer need this form because its activity is now in Heaven. But we still need His atonement, His pardon, and His redemption. Thanks to Him, we can come near the throne of Grace.