Jesus' Role As Our Faithful High Priest (Hebrews 2:10)

"In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering" (Hebrews 2:10)

Part 1 of 4

Do you wonder why Jesus suffered? For just a moment, take the fact that the Holy God became sin for us out of the equation. Why did he endure the suffering associated with humanity? Why did Jesus give up everything and enter into the world with nothing? Entering as a hostage under the dominion of Satan to redeem mankind from his control. This is an important question to ask because finding the answer will help you understand this amazing truth: Jesus suffered through the human experience to be perfectly equipped for His office as our High Priest.

The Role of a High Priest

The High Priest was responsible for certain things that the other priests were not. He presided over the Sanhedrin and was in charge of the temple rituals to make sure they were carried out according to the law. But most importantly the High Priest would make the annual sacrifice on the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur). This means he would act as an advocate for the people before God. He was allowed into the Holy of Holies to make intercession for the people, meeting with God. The priest only had access on this day otherwise he, like the rest, was confined to the outer chambers forbidden from entering into the presence of God.

On the Day of Atonement he would take blood into the Holy of Holies to pour out on the mercy seat as an offering to God. This is how he interceded for the people. The blood was used as a covering for sin, although it couldn't cleanse them from sin, thus, it would have to be offered again and again. It is important to know that the High Priest also had to offer this sacrifice for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people. This whole system was a foreshadow to Jesus and His role as our High Priest serving in the Heavenly Tabernacle (Hebrews 9:7-14).

Over the next four days we will look at Hebrews 2:10. We will look at the role of the High Priest. We will look at how suffering perfected Jesus for this office. We will look at the oath promised to Jesus by God when He was made our High Priest and we will see how we can approach God because of this oath.

Tomorrow we look at Part 2: Suffering Perfectly Equipped Jesus for His Office as High Priest