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Holy Communion with our Eternal High Priest Holy Communion with our Eternal High Priest! How does Christ serving as High Priest forever in heaven add meaning to our observance of the Lord’s Table today? Hebrews 5:5-8:2 21 (Jesus) became a priest with an oath when God said to Him: “The Lord has sworn and will not change His mind: ‘You are a priest forever.’ ” Hebrews 7:21 (NIV84) 2 2 2
Jesus Christ is God the Father’s High Priest who is able to bring God to us and make Him real to us and who goes to God on our behalf. Jesus Christ will remain God the Father’s High Priest even through eternity in heaven. Our celebration at the Lord’s Table intends to highlight the truth of Christ’s eternal, priestly ministry. 3
Micah’s Communion Messages We are united as the body of Christ at Communion by one loaf and one cup. 2. Our approach to our Lord’s Table needs to be with humility. 3. The invitation to come to the Lord’s Table: Will you put your faith in Jesus to save you from your sin? 4. Believing in Jesus is to eat of Him. 4
What it means that Jesus Christ is our Great High Priest forever. Today What it means that Jesus Christ is our Great High Priest forever. 5
Micah’s Sermon Last Lord’s Day Jesus, the Son of Man, as the Judge of the final judgment, grounded that identity and office of Jesus in Psalm 110! Dan’s Sermon Today Jesus as our High Priest in the order of Melchizedek, that identity of Jesus is also grounded in Psalm 110! 6
Today Pastor Adrian Rogers Your Great High Priest. https://www.oneplace.com/ministries/love-worth-finding/listen/your-great-high-priest-642334.html 7
Hebrews 5 We are introduced to Jesus Christ as our high priest by an Old Testament man named Melchizedek. 8
Hebrews 5:5-6 (NIV84) 5 So Christ also did not take upon Himself the glory of becoming a high priest. But God said to Him, “You are My Son; today I have become Your Father.” 6 And He says in another place*, “You are a priest (talking to Jesus) forever, in the order of Melchizedek.” (*Psalm 110:4) 9
Jesus Christ was appointed by His Father to be a high priest. 2. His term of office as a priest is forever. 3. Jesus is a priest from the order of Melchizedek. 10
The holy of holies within the tabernacle Hebrews 6 The holy of holies within the tabernacle is the background. Jesus as the Great High Priest provides all sinful humanity with hope by entering that inner sanctuary. 11
Hebrews 6:19-20 (NIV84) 19 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, 20 where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek. 12
Melchizedek is a shadow of the Lord Jesus Christ in the Old Testament. When we learn about Melchizedek, we learn about Jesus our high priest. 13
A priest is someone who can bring God to you and someone who can go to God for you. 14
Job 9:32-33 (NIV84) 32 “He (speaking of God) 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, 15
“Jesus is as much God as if He were not man at all, as much man as if He were not God at all, not half man and half God, not all God and no man, not all man and no God, but the God-Man.” Adrian Rogers 16
We do have a priest! 17
Hebrews 2:17 (NIV84) 17 For this reason He had to be made like His brothers in every way, in order that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that He might make atonement for the sins of the people. 18
Hebrews 4:14-16 (NIV84) 14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. 16 Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. 19
A. The sacred mystery of our high priest. Hebrews 7:1-3 (NIV84) 1 This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the defeat of the kings and blessed him, 2 and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. First, his name means “king of righteousness”; then also, “king of Salem” means “king of peace.” 3 Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, like the Son of God he remains a priest forever. 20
Melchizedek he was a king king of peace A. The sacred mystery of our high priest. Melchizedek he was a priest of God he was a king king of righteousness king of peace salem means peace. Jeru-salem mean city of peace. 21
A. The sacred mystery of our high priest. Melchizedek There’s no genealogy Hebrews 7:3a (NIV84) 3 Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, 22
Melchizedek and king of peace. Hebrews 7:3b (NIV84) 3 … like the Son of God Jesus was not like Melchizedek. Melchizedek was like Jesus. Melchizedek was king of righteousness and king of peace. king of righteousness king of peace 23
Psalm 85:10 (NIV84) 10 Love (mercy) and faithfulness (truth) meet together; righteousness and peace kiss each other. 24
the King of righteousness and Jesus is the King of righteousness and the King of peace and so we’ll never have peace until sin is dealt with. At Calvary, righteousness and peace are reunited. 25
Genesis 14:18-20 (NIV84) 18 Then Melchizedek king of Salem (king of peace) brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, 19 and he blessed Abram, saying, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. 20 And blessed be God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand.” Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything. The one who gets the victory is the one to whom all praise and honor and giving is due. 26
B. The sovereign majesty of our high priest. See the greatness of the one who is in control of all things. Hebrews 7:4 (NIV84) 4 Just think how great he was: Even the patriarch (father-ruler; patri-arch) Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder! 27
B. The sovereign majesty of our high priest. 1. His preeminence. Hebrews 7:5-6 (NIV84) 5 Now the law requires the descendants of Levi who become priests to collect a tenth from the people—that is, their brothers—even though their brothers are descended from Abraham. 6 This man, however, did not trace his descent from Levi, yet he collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. 28
B. The sovereign majesty of our high priest. 1. His preeminence. Hebrews 7:7 (NIV84) 7 And without doubt the lesser person is blessed by the greater. 29
B. The sovereign majesty of our high priest. 2. His permanence. Hebrews 7:8 (NIV84) 8 In the one case, the tenth is collected by men who die; but in the other case, by him who is declared to be living. 30
B. The sovereign majesty of our high priest. 3. The primacy of our high priest. Hebrews 7:9-10 (NIV84) 9 One might even say that Levi, who collects the tenth, paid the tenth through Abraham, 10 because when Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi was still in the body of his ancestor. 31
B. The sovereign majesty of our high priest. 3. The primacy of our high priest. Our Melchizedek, Jesus, was on the scene before Levi was ever heard of and Levi did not come first. Jesus has the primacy, not the Old Testament Law 32
The Old Testament priesthood was only a shadow. B. The sovereign majesty of our high priest. 4. The perfection of Jesus. Hebrews 7:11 (NIV84) 11 If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the law was given to the people), why was there still need for another priest to come—one in the order of Melchizedek, not in the order of Aaron? The Old Testament priesthood was only a shadow. 33
B. The sovereign majesty of our high priest. 4. The perfection of Jesus. Hebrews 7:20-22 (NIV84) 20 And it was not without an oath! Others became priests without any oath, 21 but He became a priest with an oath when God said to Him: “The Lord has sworn and will not change His mind: ‘You are a priest forever.’ ” … (implied) after the order of Melchizedek (cf. 5:6, 10; 6:20; 7:11, 17). 22 Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant. 34
C. The saving majesty of our high priest. 1. The permanence of that saving ministry. Hebrews 7:23-24 (NIV84) 23 Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; 24 but because Jesus lives forever, He has a permanent (unchangeable) priesthood. 35
He is able to save you to the end. He’ll never let you go. C. The saving majesty of our high priest. 2. The power of that saving ministry. Hebrews 7:25a (NIV84) 25 Therefore He is able to save completely (to the uttermost) those who come to God through Him, He is able to save you to the end. He’ll never let you go. 36
A priest brings God to us and He brings us to God. C. The saving majesty of our high priest. 2. The power of that saving ministry. Hebrews 7:25b (NIV84) 25 … because He always lives to intercede for them. A priest brings God to us and He brings us to God. 37
C. The saving majesty of our high priest. 3. The saving purity of that ministry. Hebrews 7:26-27 (NIV84) 26 Such a high priest meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. 27 Unlike the other high priests, He does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when He offered Himself. 38
The place of His ministry is there at the right hand of the Father. C. The saving majesty of our high priest. 4. The place of His ministry. Hebrews 8:1-2 (NIV84) 1 The point of what we are saying is this: We do have such a high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, 2 and who serves in the sanctuary, the true tabernacle set up by the Lord, not by man. The place of His ministry is there at the right hand of the Father. 39
You will have a high priest, someone who will bring God to you and someone who will intercede for you before the Father! 40
There’s one God and one Mediator between God and man, the Man Christ Jesus! 1 Timothy 2:5 41