This Is Our Priest

Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man. of the sanctuary...: Or, of holy things - Hebrews 8:1-2

    We bow to no earthly priest. Our great High Priest, the only Mediator and Priest by which sinners may approach the holy Lord God is in heaven. The eighth chapter shows us the superiority of Christ’s ministry as our High Priest over the ministry of the Aaronic priests in the Old Testament. The superiority of our Savior’s priestly ministry is here demonstrated in three ways.

    A Seated Priest

    Our great High Priest, the Lord Jesus Christ, is a Seated Priest. – “We have such a high priest, who is set” (v. 1; Ps. 110:1; Heb. 1:1-3; 10:12-13). The fact that he sat down declares that his work was done. When our Lord Jesus cried, “It is finished,” he meant, “It is finished!” – What was finished? All the types, promises and prophecies concerning him were fulfilled and finished. All the commandments and ceremonies of the law were fulfilled and finished. All the work of redemption, which he came into the world to perform, was finished. No priest ever sat down in the typical holy of holies, because none of those priest could ever finish their work. Their sacrifices could never put away sin. The Lord Jesus Christ sat down, because his work was finished.

    Seated Upon A Throne

    Our great High Priest is seated upon the throne of God! – “On the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the Heavens” – (v. 1). The fact that he is seated upon the throne of God, the throne of universal monarchy, the throne of grace, declares that he is, indeed, able to (and most assuredly will) save all his people unto the uttermost, for he has been given power over all flesh for that purpose (John 17:1-2; Rom. 14:9.

    The True Sanctuary

    All earthly priests served in the earth. Theirs was an earthly, carnal ministry. Our Lord Jesus Christ is “a minister of the true sanctuary” in heaven. – (v. 2). The fact that he sat down declares that his work is done. The fact that he sat down on the throne of God declares that he is able to save all for whom he died, whose interests he serves as God’s High Priest. And the fact that he sat down in heaven declares that his work has been accepted. – Hallelujah!

    Be sure you do not miss this. – When he sat down in heaven, our Savior sat down as our Forerunner, and our Covenant Head; and we sat down in him (Eph. 2:4-7). He took possession of eternal salvation and all the glory of heaven in the name of his people, as our representative. That means that we entered into heaven and sat down with him. He entered into and took possession of heaven as our Forerunner. That means that we, for whom he entered in, shall also enter into heaven by him.

    Our great High Priest, the Son of God in human flesh, ministers for us continually in the holy of holies, not on earth, but in heaven itself, in that holy place not made with hands, in the very presence of God (Heb. 9:24). This is the superiority of our Savior’s priestly ministry. Our great High Priest is interceding for us in heaven (Rom. 8:33-34). That is the work of a priest. He makes intercession; and the intercession of that Priest, who has been accepted in heaven for us, is infallibly effectual.

    “The Father hears Him pray, His dear anointed One,

    He cannot turn away The presence of His Son!”