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CHRIST, OUR PRIEST Lesson 8

08 christ our priest

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CHRIST, OUR PRIESTLesson 8

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KEY TEXT

“Now the main point in what has been said is this: we have such a high priest, who has taken His seat at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, a minister in the sanctuary and in the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, not man” Hebrews 8:1, 2

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After His resurrection and ascension to the heavenly sanctuary, Christ entered into a new phase of the plan of redemption (Heb. 2:17).

With the indispensable requirement of His sacrifice fulfilled, He was inaugurated as Priest and began His priestly ministry in order to

mediate His perfect sacrifice in behalf of those covered, by faith, by His blood.

His priestly ministry consists of two phases, both foreshadowed in the earthly sanctuary: the daily ministry and the yearly ministry during the

Day of Atonement.

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This lesson we will study the work of Jesus during His daily ministry and see some of the practical ramifications that His work has for us. We can, indeed, draw great comfort from knowing that Jesus is now

standing in the presence of God, ministering the merits of His sacrifice in our behalf. The sanctuary message offers hope and encouragement

to even the weakest of His followers.

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THE PRIESTHOOD OF JESUS

His calling:According to the

order of Melchizedek.

According to the order of Aaron.

His duties:Advocate and

intercessor.

Mediator.

His qualities:

As priest.

As sacrifice.

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Our High Priest

The New Testament book that speaks the most about Christ as Priest is Hebrews. The Old Testament backbone of Hebrews consists of two verses quoted from Psalm 110. Verse 1 is cited to confirm that Christ is exalted above all because He sat down at the right hand of God. This is a recurring theme in Hebrews, one that emphasizes Jesus’ divinity and Messiahship (Heb. 1:3, 4:14, 7:26, 8:1, 12:2). Psalm 110:4 is used to demonstrate that Christ’s priesthood has been foreshadowed by Melchizedek (Heb. 5:6).

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CALLED ACCORDING TO THE ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK“The Lord has sworn and will not relent, “You are a

priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.”” (Psalm 110:4)

The priesthood of Melchizedek is a priesthood “not according to the law of a fleshly commandment, but according to the power of an endless life” (Heb. 7:16)

He is a symbol of the character of Jesus (Psalm 89:14): Righteousness and peace (v. 2)o “Melchizedek” = “My king is

righteous”.o “King of Salem” =“King of peace”.

He is a symbol of the eternity of Jesus and His priesthood (v. 3)o His genealogy is unknown.o We are not able to determine the

date of his birth or death, or how long he lived.

He is a symbol of the superiority of Jesus(v. 6-7)o He blessed Abraham and Abraham

gave him the tithe.

Who was Melchizedek? How is he related to the priesthood of Jesus (Hebrews 7)?

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CALLED ACCORDING TO THE ORDER OF

AARON

“And no man takes this honor to himself, but he who is

called by God, just as Aaron was” (Hebrews 5:4)

Although the Levitical priesthood (the priests were Aaron’s descendants) was limited because of human weakness, we still can see a clear example of the priesthood of Jesus in it (Hebrews 5:1-5)

He interceded on behalf of the people (v. 1)

He is patient with ignorant and lost people (v. 2-3)

He was called by God to his duty (v. 4-5)

Jesus fulfilled both the Aaronite and the Melchizedek high priesthood in a better way than either of those priests, or priesthoods, ever did or could. Both types met their antitype in Christ.

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The book of Hebrews portrays Christ as the new High Priest. He is of a better order than even Aaron; not only does He fulfill the requirements of the Aaronite priesthood, He enhances them. Jesus had no sin, was fully obedient, and did not need to bring an offering for Himself. On the contrary, He Himself was the offering—the most perfect offering possible.

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“The high priest held a position of power and importance. He was not only counselor and mediator, but judge; and there was no appeal from his decision … The high priest, clad in his consecrated and expensive robes, with the breastplate upon his breast, the light flashing upon the precious stones inlaid in the breastplate, presented a most imposing appearance, and struck the conscientious, true-hearted people with admiration, reverence, and awe. The high priest was designed in an especial manner to represent Christ, who was to become a high priest forever after the order of Melchisedec [RH 12-17-1872]” E.G.W. (SDA Bible Commentary, on Matthew 26)

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JESUS: ADVOCATE AND INTERCESSOR“My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” (1 John 2:1)What DOES NOT Jesus Christ do when He intercedes

on our behalf at the Heavenly Sanctuary?

Jesus does not need to beg the Father for us, or to beg Him to be merciful, because our Heavenly Father loves us (Jn. 16:26-27)

Jesus does not need to change the Father’s attitude to us or to appease an angry God (Jn. 3:16)

What DOES Christ DO when He intercedes on our behalf at the Heavenly Sanctuary?

Jesus meets His Father to help men and women in their daily struggles against evil by giving them the Holy Spirit (Jn. 15:5)

Jesus saves us by forgiving our sins and justifying us (Heb. 7:25)

Jesus vindicates us against Satan’s accusations. He gives us confidence in the Day of Judgment (1Jn. 4:17)

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Read Romans 8:31–34. What great hope and promise

is offered us here?

The background of verses 31–34 is a courtroom scene in which we should visualize ourselves on trial. Questions are asked: Who is against us? Who will bring a charge against us? Who condemns us? Such a situation could easily send shivers down our spines. After all, are we not well aware of our human imperfection and sinfulness?

JESUS: ADVOCATE AND INTERCESSOR

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REFLEXION

How can you better experience the marvelous

truth that nothing will separate you from God’s

love? How can you use this

assurance as a motivation to live as God would have you

live, as opposed, perhaps, to how you are living now?

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Mediator

“Who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time” (1 Tim. 2:4–6, NKJV). How do these verses help us to understand just what Christ is doing for us in heaven?

Christ is called the one Mediator between God and man. There is no one else because, in fact, no one else is necessary. Through Christ’s position as Mediator, salvation and knowledge of truth are universally available (1 Tim. 2:4). The crucial question for us all is whether or not we will take advantage of what Christ has offered to each of us, regardless of our status, race, character, or past deeds.

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JESUS: THE MEDIATORWhat is the difference between Jesus’ ministry of intercession and

His ministry of mediation?

The ministry of intercession involves Jesus pleading for the fallen man who needs to be justified.

The ministry of mediation involves Jesus restoring the broken relationship between God and man. He brings man to God through reconciliation and sanctification.

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“The world’s Redeemer possessed the power to draw men to Himself, to quiet their fears, to dispel their gloom, to inspire them with hope and courage, to enable them to believe in the willingness of God to receive them through the merits of the divine Substitute. As subjects of the love of God we ever should be grateful that we have a mediator, an advocate, an intercessor in the heavenly courts, who pleads in our behalf before the Father”

E.G.W. (“Selected Messages”, vol.1, cp. 36, pg. 258)

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PRIESTLY QUALITIES OF

JESUSWhich qualities does the Bible confers to Jesus as

the High Priest?

Jesus is merciful and faithful. Hebrews 2:17.

Jesus was in all points tempted as we are.

Hebrews 4:15.

Jesus has compassion on us. Hebrews 5:2.

Jesus is sovereign over us. Hebrews 3:6.

Jesus intercedes on our behalf. Hebrews 9:24.

“For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the

heavens” (Hebrews 7:26)

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QUALITIES OF JESUS AS SACRIFICE

“And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God” (Hebrews 10:11-12)

The animal sacrifices were symbols, so they could not actually forgive or cleanse any sin.

Sin is something too terrible to be forgiven by the death of mere animals. Only the death of God —represented by Jesus— can forgive sins.

The death of Jesus is the only one that can cleanse the sins of the whole human race.

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“As by His own choice He [Jesus] died in the presence of an assembled nation of worshipers, type met antitype. Priest and victim combined, He entered the Temple as a place of sacrifice. Christ our Passover was sacrificed for us. He was the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. He is a true high priest, for after enduring humiliation, shame, and reproach, after being crucified and buried, He was raised from the grave, triumphing over death. He is a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek”

E.G.W. (Manuscripts Releases, vol. 12, MR No. 999, p. 398)

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REFLEXION

Look around at the world, look at the damage that sin has caused: the pain, the

loss, the fear, the hopelessness.

How can we learn day by day, moment by moment, to cling to Jesus as the only solution to the sin problem in our own

lives?

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THE SANCTUARY

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