We began the week emphasizing the preciousness of the poverty of Christ.  Jesus gave up heaven and was made poor by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men (Philippians 2:7).  He did that so that we might be rich by inheriting the kingdom of God.  The Hebrews writer gives us another reason that Jesus took on a flesh and blood body.

Hebrews 2:17 (ESV)
17 Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.

Jesus took on a human body so that He could become a merciful and faithful high priest.  The priesthood of Jesus is most precious to us all.  Remember that the word precious refers to that which is very valuable, and there are very few things more valuable than the priesthood of Jesus.  The Latin word for priest means, “a bridge builder.”  When we sin, we need a priest to help us reconnect with our God.  This was the original reason Jesus came to earth.  He came to save man from sin by reconciling, reconnecting us, if you will, to God.  This is what a priest does.

The Hebrews writer tells us that Jesus took on the role of priest so that He could make propitiation for us.  A propitiation is an offering made to atone for sin.  The Greek word for propitiation is equivalent to the Hebrew word for mercy seat.  The mercy seat was the lid of the Ark, covering the  tablets of law that was inside.  Paul tells us that the law was added because of transgression (Galatians 3:19), and that it concluded all under sin (ver. 22).  The mercy seat, then, covered the guilt of the people.

Jesus is our mercy seat.  He covers our guilt in two ways, and He does both of them in His role as our priest.  First, as we have shown, Jesus offered a sufficient offering.  As a priest, Jesus is unique in that He is both the priest offering the sacrifice, and the sacrifice that is offered.  While the Levitical priests would offer an animal as a sacrifice to atone for sin, Jesus offered Himself as the Lamb of God (Hebrews 9:14).  As a result, man can be saved from sin.  He has to obey the gospel, of course, but now there is a way, a bridge, back to God because Jesus was willing to make atonement for us.  Another difference between Jesus and the Levitical priesthood is that they had to make daily sacrifices, while Jesus only had to make one because His was sufficient for all time (Hebrews 7:27).

There is something Jesus does continually as our great high priest.  He ever lives to make intercession for our sins (Hebrews 7:25).  This is the second way that Jesus covers our sins.  He pleads for us to God.  He has entered the most holy place, that is, heaven, to appear in the presence of God on our behalf (Hebrews 9:24).  What comfort, strength, and confidence this should give us.  When I have to go to God in prayer, asking Him to forgive me for some transgression, I am not appearing before Him alone.  I have a personal high priest to intercede for me (Romans 8:34).

Do not ever try to hide or ignore your sins.  They can never be taken care of that way.  They can only be covered by Jesus.  We are extremely blessed to have a high priest like Jesus in our lives.  It is what makes our salvation sustainable.  Try with all your heart not to sin.  When you do, however, let your great High Priest do His job.  He is good at what He does.  You repent and confess your sins to God and Jesus, your precious Priest, will do the rest.

As you wind down for the night, think about these things.