A PERFECT REPRESENTATIVE
Hebrews 5:1-10
In this country, our government is frequently described as a “representative” government.
One legislative body is called the “House of Representatives”
People sometimes ask: “Once elected, do these “representatives” really represent me?
Are they really looking out for MY interests?”
I’ve occasionally written to a representative of my district about issues whuch concern me.
As I write the letter, I think to myself, “He had better represent me!
We had better be able to count on him to represent us faithfully!”
While we may not always be satisfied with the response to that question,
we can be sure we have a perfect representative before God’s throne!
There’s One Who represents us perfectly—who looks out for our interests.
Hebrews tells us about our Perfect Representative in Hebrews 5:1-10
In the midst of his affliction, Job cries out for an arbitrator, a mediator,
a go-between to stand in the gap between Him and God.
9:32-35: "He is not a man like me that I might answer him, that we might confront each other in court. 33 If only there were someone to arbitrate between us, to lay his hand upon us both ... 35 Then I would speak up without fear of him . . .
God has provided a go-between. 1 Tim 2:5 For there is one God and one mediator [ => one arbitrator] between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,
Hebrews affirms the same, we have a High Priest
—appointed by God as a mediator–an arbitrator–to intervene in our behalf.
[The writer develops a new idea.
First: Jesus is superior to the great leaders of Israel
because He is the best revelation of the Father [1-4:13], now he shows that . . . ]
JESUS IS THE BEST HIGH PRIEST 4:14-7:28
5:1-10 explains why we can come confidently to our great High Priest.
In 4:14-16 he urges us to come.
Now he tells us why we can come:
We come to Him confidently,
because He, as an ideal High Priest represents us.
The High Priest had to be human like us
so he could represent us faithfully before God.
Spurgeon summarizes what this passage is about: “A high priest . . . must be one who has learned compassion in the school of suffering, so that he can succour the afflicted.
There is no learning sympathy except by suffering.
It cannot be studied from a book, it must be written in the heart.
You must go through the fire to have sympathy for others who tread glowing coals;
You must bear the cross if you would feel for those whose life is a burden to them.
. . . We need one who can put away our sin and become a sharer in our sorrow.
If he can’t go with us through rough places of our journey, how can he be our guide?
If he has never travelled in the night himself,
how can he whisper consolation to us in our darkest hours?
We have a fully qualified High Priest in our Lord Jesus Christ;
He is perfect in that capacity.”
This is what Hebrews 5 wants to tell us:
The fact that He is able to sympathize with us in our griefs,
ought to induce US to draw near to Him when WE face times of suffering!
One of the greatest changes Jesus made
was to eliminate the need for another priest to represent us before God.
Because of Christ, we can come directly to God. We can speak for ourselves.
We can bring Him our own needs, our own sins, our own requests.
Jesus, our representative, hears our petitions, and represents us to God.
[ Last week we observed that . . . ]
JESUS UNDERSTANDS OUR WEAKNESS 4:14-16
He became a man and was tempted in every way as we are. ∴, He is able to help us.
Since we have this kind of High Priest, we can approach Him confidently.
JESUS IS QUALIFIED TO SERVE AS OUR HIGH PRIEST 5:1-10
Jesus can function as our High Priest because HE MEETS ALL THE PREREQUISITES.
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE HIGH PRIEST 5:1-4–Prerequisites Aaron had to meet.
1.The High Priest must be GENUINELY HUMAN 1-3
He must represent men before God 1
The priest was called to minister on behalf of the people before God.
The priest was to concentrate on things related to God,
rather than things of the world.
Other people had to concentrate on worldly things;
they didn’t have time to focus on spiritual matters.
The priest was to intervene–as their representative
–especially in presenting offerings and sacrifices for the people.
He must understand man’s weakness—he’s one of us 2-3
Since High Priest represents people before God,
he must be truly human, to be the kind of priest we need.
Hughes: “The solidarity factor was essential to effective priestly ministry...
a real man with a real link to God and a real bond to man.”
If he were not human, and didn’t experience what we experience,
he could not have compassion on the weak.
“Able to deal gently” –appropriate response when faced with failure.
Attitude midway between explosive anger and passive indifference
Attitude which doesn’t lead to anger at a fault; doesn’t condone it either.
A gentle sympathy which patiently leads us back to the right way.
2. The High Priest must be appointed by God 4
He couldn’t choose it himself!
THE PRIESTHOOD OF CHRIST 5:5-10
Aaron and sons had to fulfill these requirements; so did Christ [ and He did! ]
Since Jesus meets the requirements, He is qualified to be our High Priest.
Jesus was appointed by God 5-6 (4)
Jesus was appointed to a higher priesthood--a better order!
Melchizedek was both king and priest.
Jesus is that kind of priest. Aaron could never do that.
Jesus was genuinely human 7-10
Jesus identifies with our suffering 7 (2-3)
He knows what it feels like to cry out to God with deep groanings and tears.
He’s been there!—a moment of genuine affliction.
Don’t miss the agony He went through. –He knows what it’s like!
He cried out to God with loud cries and tears–just like we do!
Yet He remained submissive in the midst of the suffering!
He continued to trust God--which is exactly what the writer wants his readers to do!
Gethsemane was an awesome experience, even for our Lord.
He was loaded down with the weight of all that lay before Him.
He presented petitions to Him who was able to save Him from death.
Never questions God’s ability to save Him; His prayer is about conforming to His Father’s will; it isn’t a pleasant outlook.
He endured far more there than we could ever imagine!
Because of what HE endured, He knows how to help US in OUR affliction.
Nothing we go through takes Him by surprise. He’s been through it all!
Jesus cried out to the One who’s able to deliver Him out of death.
God heard His prayer, because He was “rightly religious.”
He called out to God in faith, and He heard Him.
He learned about obedience through suffering.
He understands the struggle the persecuted Hebrew believers face!
That’s the sequence WE go through too.
Jesus can help US through our struggles because He’s been there!
Jesus learned by experience what obedience costs us 8 (2-3)
Doesn’t say he learned to obey, nor how to obey.
As God, Jesus couldn’t disobey.
It would be contrary to His nature to be rebellious or disobedient.
He did have to experience obedience.
He learned by experience what it’s like for a person to choose to trust God.
He wouldn’t understand what it feels like for people to trust Him,
unless He experienced obedience and paid price Himself.
When we do what we want to do, we don’t learn anything about obedience.
(Ice Cream for breakfast!)
Obedience is learned doing hard things—those you might not desire.
Jesus learned experientially what it feels like to obey God in suffering —lesson they’re struggling with at that moment.
His attitude, even in praying was total submission to the Father.
Trusting Him for grace to see Him through.
That’s what obedience should mean for us also.
Are we struggling with the lesson in obedience God is teaching us?
Are we going through affliction that makes it hard to trust God and obey Him?
Jesus knows what it feels like. He’s been through it too!
He represents us when we’re in that situation.
[ Having completed His work, . . . ]
Jesus became the source of salvation. 9
Was Jesus ever LESS THAN perfect?
“To be made perfect” —to carry out purpose for which a thing is designed.
What a person is when he becomes all he’s created to be, end of process.
Jesus’ suffering fitted Him to be Savior.
We can lay hold of that eternal salvation
He offers it to those who obey Him, by trusting in Him,
To those who stop trying to earn our own way, and trust Him.
Jesus was designated High Priest by God. 10
The source of eternal salvation is the eternal High Priest.
He’s the One who “ever lives to make intercession” for us.
His priesthood is eternal and His salvation is eternal.
We can count on both.
He who is High Priest forever, brings us a salvation that lasts forever.
Jesus became a better High Priest than the sons of Levi because He met the prerequisites but HAD NO SIN!
He’s the source of our salvation. But He’s more than that!
He’s our High Priest.
He lives to make intercession for us.
He sits at the Father’s side to represent us before Him.
He is perfectly qualified for that role because He knows all about what we're going through.
He learned it by His own experience.
JESUS IS A BETTER HIGH PRIEST THAN LEVI:
He fulfills all the prerequisites 5-7
He’s perfect 9
He’s the “Author” of salvation—its cause and its source. 9
He’s High Priest of a superior order (Melchizedekan) 10
HOW SHOULD THIS PASSAGE AFFECT OUR LIVES?
WE have a great High Priest!
GOD HAS APPOINTED A GREAT HIGH PRIEST to serve on our behalf!
He represents us faithfully and looks out for our best interests.
He’s our mediator. He intervenes on our behalf.
He understands our weakness. He’s been through the process Himself.
He knows what it’s like to go through the things we’re going through.
HE’S THE PERFECT ONE TO REPRESENT US!
This reality brings us back to the same conclusion the author urged on us last Sunday:
“LET’S COME CONFIDENTLY INTO HIS PRESENCE!
He knows what it feels like. He’s been there.
He sits at the Father’s right hand to intercede for us.
He urges us to come.
He’s a faithful representative for US, when WE face the hard times!
He understands what it feels like to deal with human pain and affliction.
Now He urges US to bring our pain to Him—to come confidently into His presence.
We can trust Him to represent us before the Father and provide all we need to handle it!