Jesus -our high priest and mediator

Plan• Introduction – definitions and facts• Why the need for a mediator?• Mediators from Adam• High priest – Levitical• Priesthood of Melchizedek• Jesus as high priest and mediator• Exhortation

Mediator - definition Concise Oxford Dictionary• Mediate – “intervene (between 2

persons) for purpose of reconciling them”

• Mediator – “one who mediates”Arbitrator, go-between, intercessor

Occurrence in scripture• Mediator – x6 - All in NT (x3 in

Hebrews)• Intercessor – x1 (Isaiah 59:16)• Intercession – x10

x4 in OT, x6 in NT• High Priest – x21 in OT, x59 in NT

x41 Caiaphas etc x18 in Hebrews

Mediator

For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; (1 Timothy 2:5)

State of manFor all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:23)

Contrast with GodThou (God) art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity:(Habakkuk 1:13)

As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: (Romans 3:10-11)

God Man

Mediator

Mediators between God & man

• Before Law of Moses–Firstborn–Noah–Patriarchs– Job

• Moses • High priest• Jesus

Must approach God in a specific way

Before the Law of Moses• Firstborn offered sacrifices for family

(Num 3:12)• Noah (Gen 8:20)• Abraham offered ram instead of

Isaac (Gen 22: 9-13)• Isaac and Jacob (Gen 26:25, 33:20)• Job – (1:5)• Priests (Exodus 19:22)

Moses as mediator• Tent of meeting where Moses spoke

“face to face” with God (Exod 33:7-11)

• “The LORD spake unto Moses” x105• Mount Sinai

–No one else could approach the Mount (Exodus 19:12)

–Given details of tabernacle, priests & worship

High Priest• Ordained by Moses (Lev 8)• Incredible amount of detail

–Washing–Garments–Anointing–Offerings

All point forward to “good things to come” (Heb 9:11) i.e. Jesus

“Holy garments…for glory and for beauty” (Exodus 28:2)

Significance

• Gold – tried faith (1 Peter 1:7)• Blue – healing (Prov 20:30)• Purple – royalty (John 19:2)• Scarlet – sin (Isaiah 1:18)• Fine twined linen – righteousness (Rev 19:8)

High Priest

• God resided above the mercy seat and between the cherubim of the ark in the Most Holy Place (Holy of Holies) -Exodus 25:22

• Only the High Priest could approach the ark and only once/year (Exodus 30:10)

High priest• Was a type, “shadow” (Col 2:17),

“schoolmaster” (Gal 3:24-25)• A new way was requiredFor what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (Romans 8:3-4)

A new and better wayBy so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament. And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death: But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself. (Hebrews 7:22-27)

“Unchangeable priesthood”• Order of Melchizedek (Heb 7)• King of righteousness• King of Salem (peace)• Priest of the most high God• Jesus made a high priest after the

order of Melchizedek (Heb 6:20)• Jesus from the tribe of Judah and not

Levi (Heb 7:14)

Order of Melchizedek• Is superior to Levitical (Heb 7)

–King AND priest - v1-2 (Zech 6:12-13)–Higher order – v4-7–Appointed by oath – v20-21–No descent – v3

Comparison of priesthoodsLevitical Melchizedek

Genealogy Yes NoDuration Finite (20 years) For everCalibre Variable ConsistentSacrifices Many oneNature Infirmity

(weakness) – Heb 7:28

Consecrated (made perfect)

Priesthood Ineffective – Heb 7:18

Effective – Heb 7:25-27

Why Jesus?1. He was a man and suffered like us

Hebrews 2:17-182. He did not sin

Hebrews 4:14-15

Sinless bearer of a sinful nature

JesusWhen did Jesus become high priest and mediator?

• Was not high priest during ministry (Mat 8:3-4)

• Commenced following crucifixion (Heb 7:27)

JesusSituation now• Jesus is the mediator of the new

covenant (Heb 12:24)• He has ascended to God’s right hand

…It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. (Romans 8:34)

Exhortation• We must also do our part• Approach Jesus in appropriate way• Correct spirit / true repentance • If we have done our part then we will

receive help – Rom 8:26• Then……

Glorious prospect• Jesus is able “to present you (us) faultless

before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy” (Jude v24)

• Jesus has “washed us from our sins in his own blood, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father” (Revelation 1:5-6)

And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. (Rev 5:10)

ConclusionHaving therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; And having an high priest over the house of God;  Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith….Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering;… Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. (Hebrews 10:19-25)