Why is understanding Jesus as the High Priest important for Christians?

Understanding Jesus as the High Priest is fundamental in Reformed theology as it highlights His mediatorial role between God and humanity. In the Gospel of John, especially in the context of His betrayal and arrest in John 18, we see Jesus acting in accordance with His priestly duties. He not only teaches and prays but also moves towards His sacrificial role, fulfilling the Old Testament typology of the high priest who offers sacrifices for sin. This revelation assures Christians of Christ’s active role in interceding for them, emphasizing that His sacrificial death was deliberate and necessary for the atonement of sin, thus securing eternal life for those who believe.