High Priest
DAY 18 WRITTEN BY: JACOB BAGLEY-
Hebrews 3:1
Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession.
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I remember when I was a kid hopping off the bus stop and being so excited to get home and eat some ramen noodles for a snack, knowing good and well that I was going to eat dinner about 2 hours later. I still vividly remember hearing my mom tell me to “keep in mind, we’re having dinner soon” as an effort to sway me into eating something a little… lighter. You’ve probably heard that statement “keep in mind” before. My mom was telling me to set my focus on the fact that dinner will be coming in a couple of hours, and I should not ruin my appetite with such a delicious, salty, affordable microwavable treat. We set our focus on facts every day that help determine how we interact with the world around us.
The author of Hebrews is telling us to “consider” or “keep in mind” Jesus. Let’s set our focus on the fact of who Jesus is. The word “therefore” points us back to chapter 2 in which we learned who Jesus is: a loving savior, who stepped down from his position above the angels to make himself lower than the angels “so that by God’s grace he might taste death for everyone.” Hebrews 2:17-18 tells us that Jesus had to be like us in every way “so that he could become a merciful and faithful high priest in matters pertaining to God, to make atonement for the sins of the people. For since he himself has suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted.”
Holy brothers and sisters, keep this truth in mind, we have a great high priest who empathizes with us in every way. We have a great high priest who acts as a perfect mediator between us and our father. We have a great high priest who loves us so much that he gave up every status of glory so that we could share in glory with Him for eternity. Let us consider Him without ceasing.
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Father, give me the ability to clearly and consistently consider the truth of the Gospel. Soften my heart as I pursue my savior, and bring forth to mind the beautiful truths of who he is and what he did on my behalf. Draw me closer to you. Amen.
