6. Jesus, the Faithful Priest
Sabbath afternoon
Prayer Thought
God did establish Himself, and He carried the worlds unfallen and the heavenly universe with Him, but at a terrible cost. His only begotten Son was given up as Satan’s victim. The Lord Jesus Christ revealed a character entirely opposite to that of Satan. As the high priest laid off his gorgeous, pontifical robes, and officiated in the white linen dress of a common priest, so Christ emptied Himself and took the form of a servant and offered sacrifice, Himself the priest, Himself the victim. {CTr 14.4}
Memory Text
“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, NKJV).
This week’s SSLesson will show the wonderful intervention of the Godhead to bridge the gap cause by sin in humanity. Christ did offer himself as substitute on our behalf and become our advocate in the heavenly court, what an amazing hope for sinners to hope for. We are reconciled through Christ’s blood which was shed on Calvary.
Outline of the Study
Sunday: A Priest on Behalf of Human Beings - His role: Merciful Mediator (Heb. 5:1-10)
Heb. 4:15; 7:26-28; 13:20; 2:17; 1Pet. 2:9
Monday: According to the order of Melchizedek - His lineage: The order of Melchizedek (Heb. 7:1-3)
Heb. 1:3; 5:6; Gen. 14:13-20
Tuesday: An Effective Priest - His right: Changing the law (Heb. 7:11-16)
Heb. 9:14; 10:1-3, 10-14, 17, 18; John 1:29; Num. 3:10; 16:39, 40
Wednesday: An Eternal Priest - His regulation: A better covenant (Heb. 7:17-22)
Heb. 7:16, 21, 25; Heb. 3:7-11; 4:12, 6:13-15; 9:14; 10:1-4; 8:10-12; Gal. 3:29
Thursday: A Sinless Priest - His character: The perfect Priest (Heb. 7:26)
Heb. 2:18; 4:15; Heb. 5:7, 8; 9:14; 12:1-4; Lev. 1:3, 10; Ps. 57:5, 11; 108:5; 1Pet. 2:21-23
Friday: Further Study and Meditation
Sunday: A Priest on Behalf of Human Beings - His role: Merciful Mediator (Heb. 5:1-10)
Heb. 4:15; 7:26-28; 13:20; 2:17; 1Pet. 2:9
“And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him.” (Hebrews 5:9)
The Author of Our Eternal Salvation
For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings." {Con 33.1}
"And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him." {Con 33.2}
"Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted." {Con 33.3}
"For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin." {Con 33.4}
A Simple and Complete System of Theology and Philosophy
The Bible contains a simple and complete system of theology and philosophy. It is the book that makes us wise unto salvation. It tells us how to reach the abodes of eternal happiness. It tells us of the love of God as shown in the plan of redemption, imparting the knowledge essential for all--the knowledge of Christ. He is the Sent of God; He is the Author of our salvation. But apart from the Word of God, we could have no knowledge that such a person as the Lord Jesus ever visited our world, nor any knowledge of His divinity, as indicated by His previous existence with the Father. {LHU 130.5}
Consider the following
Mediating between God and humans was one of the tasks of the priests.
Priests could fully understand people because they were as sinful as them.
Therefore, they had to “have compassion on those who are ignorant and going astray” (Hebrews 5:2).
Jesus was not a sinner, but He took our nature and was perfected in obedience and suffering (Hebrews 5:7-8). This way He proved that He could understand us and love us.
He was qualified as priest because of His obedience, His suffering, and His perfect life. He became the mediator between God and us (Hebrews 5:9-10).
Monday: According to the order of Melchizedek - His lineage: The order of Melchizedek (Heb. 7:1-3)
Heb. 1:3; 5:6; Gen. 14:13-20
“called by God as High Priest ‘according to the order of Melchizedek,’” (Hebrews 5:10)
Combination of Priest and Victim
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. {12MR 398.1}
Who is Melchizedek?
It was Christ that spoke through Melchizedek, the priest of the most high God. Melchizedek was not Christ, but he was the voice of God in the world, the representative of the Father. And all through the generations of the past, Christ has spoken; Christ has led His people, and has been the light of the world. When God chose Abraham as a representative of His truth, He took him out of his country, and away from his kindred, and set him apart. He desired to mold him after His own model. He desired to teach him according to His own plan… {1SM 409.3}
Jesus - Our High Priest Forever
Christ’s work was finished when He expired on the cross, crying with a loud voice, “It is finished.” The way was laid open; the veil was rent in twain. Sinners could approach God without sacrificial offerings, without the service of a priest. Christ Himself was a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. Heaven was His home. He came to this world to reveal the Father. His work on the field of His humiliation and conflict was now done. He ascended up into the heavens, and is forever set down on the right hand of God. . . . {CTr 293.3}
Consider the following
Melchizedek is only mentioned two times in the Old Testament. The first one is the story in Genesis 14:18-20. The second one is Psalm 110:4. Paul used the latter to introduce the story of the king-priest as a type of Jesus.
Melchizedek was “made like the Son of God” (Hebrews 7:3). Jesus is King and Priest. He is eternal, “having neither beginning of days nor end of life” (Hebrews 7:3). Jesus is not a descendant of Melchizedek, but Jesus’ priesthood is similar to his.
Tuesday: An Effective Priest - His right: Changing the law (Heb. 7:11-16)
Heb. 9:14; 10:1-3, 10-14, 17, 18; John 1:29; Num. 3:10; 16:39, 40
“who has come, not according to the law of a fleshly commandment, but according to the power of an endless life.” (Hebrews 7:16)
Christ’ Mission on Earth
We have a great High Priest to whom we may come boldly; we have a Mediator in the heavens. "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 Timothy 2:5, 6. {RH, May 7, 1889 par. 5}
The mission of Christ to this earth was to direct erring human beings to God, to lead them to seek for holiness of character, to lead them to pray to Him that is mighty in counsel. Confess your sins to God, and he will never betray your trust. Although we are sinners, he will pardon abundantly. "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
Christ the One True Mediator
Our great High Priest completed the sacrificial offering of Himself when He suffered without the gate. Then a perfect atonement was made for the sins of the people. Jesus is our Advocate, our High Priest, our Intercessor. Our present position therefore is like that of the Israelites, standing in the outer court, waiting and looking for that blessed hope, the glorious appearing of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. . . . Type met antitype in the death of Christ, the Lamb slain for the sins of the world. The great High Priest has made the only sacrifice that will be of any value. {7BC 913.3}
In the typical service the high priest, having made the atonement for Israel, came forth and blessed the congregation. So Christ, at the close of His work as mediator, will appear, "without sin unto salvation" (Hebrews 9:28), to bless His waiting people with eternal life (ibid., p. 485) {LHU 330.5}
He “shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne.” Not now “upon the throne of his glory;” the kingdom of glory has not yet been ushered in. Not until his work as a mediator shall be ended, will God “give unto him the throne of his father David,” a kingdom of which “there shall be no end.” [Luke 1:32, 33.] As a priest, Christ is now set down with the Father in his throne. [Revelation 3:21.] Upon the throne with the eternal, self-existent One, is he who “hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows,” who “was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin,” that he might be “able to succor them that are tempted.” “If any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father.” [Isaiah 53:4; Hebrews 4:15; 2:18; 1 John 2:1] His intercession is that of a pierced and broken body, of a spotless life. The wounded hands, the pierced side, the marred feet, plead for fallen man, whose redemption was purchased at such infinite cost. {GC88 416.3}
Consider the following
The priests were not perfect, so they could not make other people perfect. Besides, the sacrifices were not a means to perfection (Hebrews 10:1).
Humans needed a perfect priest that could perfect us before the Father. The law of the priesthood had to change because none of Aaron’s descendants would be perfect.
Changing the law of the priesthood: from the order of Aaron to the order of Melchizedek.
Changing the sacrificial law: from many animals to only Jesus’ sacrifice.
Wednesday: An Eternal Priest - His regulation: A better covenant (Heb. 7:17-22)
Heb. 7:16, 21, 25; Heb. 3:7-11; 4:12, 6:13-15; 9:14; 10:1-4; 8:10-12; Gal. 3:29
“by so much more Jesus has become a surety of a better covenant.” (Hebrews 7:22)
Under the new covenant the conditions by which eternal life may be gained are the same as under the old--perfect obedience. Under the old covenant there were many offences of a daring, presumptuous character for which there was no atonement specified by law. In the new and better covenant Christ has fulfilled the law for the transgressors of law if they receive Him by faith as a personal Saviour. . . . Mercy and forgiveness are the reward of all who come to Christ trusting in His merits to take away their sins. In the better covenant we are cleansed from sin by the blood of Christ. . . .{TMK 299.4}
New Covenant Grounded on Mercy
The blessings of the new covenant are grounded purely on mercy in forgiving unrighteousness and sins. The Lord specifies, I will do thus and thus unto all who turn to Me, forsaking the evil and choosing the good. "I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more." All who humble their hearts, confessing their sins, will find mercy and grace and assurance. Has God, in showing mercy to the sinner, ceased to be just? Has He dishonored His holy law, and will He henceforth pass over the violation of it? God is true. He changes not. The conditions of salvation are ever the same. Life, eternal life, is for all who will obey God's law. . . . {7BC 931.9}
The Covenant Throne – Seat of Mercy
The ruling principles of God's throne are justice and mercy. It is called the Throne of Grace. Would you have divine enlightenment, go to the Throne of Grace. You will be answered from the Seat of Mercy. A compact entered into by the Father and the Son to save the world through Christ, who would give Himself that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. No human power or angelic power could make such a covenant. The rainbow above the Throne is a token that God through Christ binds Himself to save all who believe on Him. The covenant is as sure as the throne. Then why are we so unbelieving, so distrustful? Ms 16, 1890, pp. 25, 26. ("Our Constant Need of Divine Enlightenment," 1890.) {1MR 109.5}
Consider the following
The old covenant was based on Aaron’s priesthood. Therefore, a new covenant was necessary because the law of priesthood had changed (Hebrews 8:7, 13).
In the new covenant, the weakness of the priests was replaced by the “endless life” of our Guarantor, Jesus. He is the High Priest according to the order of Melchizedek.
Furthermore, the oath in this new covenant is a guarantee. Human oaths expire when the person died, but the Father’s oath about Jesus’ priesthood is eternal because they will never die (Hebrews 7:21). His promises are certain.
Thursday: A Sinless Priest - His character: The perfect Priest (Heb. 7:26)
Heb. 2:18; 4:15; Heb. 5:7, 8; 9:14; 12:1-4; Lev. 1:3, 10; Ps. 57:5, 11; 108:5; 1Pet. 2:21-23
“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)
As our Mediator, Jesus was fully able to accomplish this work of redemption; but O, at what a price! The sinless Son of God was condemned for the sin in which He had no part, in order that the sinner, through repentance and faith, might be justified by the righteousness of Christ, in which he had no personal merit. The sins of every one who has lived upon the earth were laid upon Christ, testifying to the fact that no one need be a loser in the conflict with Satan. Provision has been made that all may lay hold of the strength of Him who will save to the uttermost all who come unto God by Him. {7ABC 485.3}
Christ receives upon Him the guilt of man's transgression, while He lays upon all who receive Him by faith, who return to their allegiance to God, His own spotless righteousness.--The Review and Herald, May 23, 1899. {7ABC 485.4}
Consider the following
Holy: Literally “pious” or “pleases the Lord.” He does God’s will.
Harmless: Not evil or vengeful. He always does good to others and doesn’t ever think badly.
Undefiled: Pure, sinless. He was tempted in all points, yet without sin.
Separate from sinners: He was separated from sinners when He ascended. Now He intercedes in their behalf.
Has become higher than the heavens: He is exalted above everything, like God is (Psalm 57:5; 108:5).
Friday: Meditation
Our great High Priest is pleading before the mercy-seat in behalf of His ransomed people. . . . Satan stands at our right hand to accuse us, and our advocate stands at God's right hand to plead for us. He has never lost a case that has been committed to Him. We may trust in our advocate; for He pleads His own merits in our behalf.--The Review and Herald, Aug. 15, 1893. {7ABC 486.1}
Christ glorified not Himself in being made High Priest. God gave Him His appointment to the priesthood. He was to be an example to all the human family. He qualified Himself to be, not only the representative of the race, but their Advocate, so that every soul if he will may say, I have a Friend at court. He is a High Priest that can be touched with the feelings of our infirmities.--Manuscript 101, 1897. {7ABC 486.2}
Questions to Ponder
1. What does it mean to be “a royal priesthood” (1Pet. 2:9), and how does it relate to Christ as the High Priest?
2. How can we describe the “order of Melchizedek”, and what significant revelation about Him on how God works for humanity?
3. How should we response to the matchless offering of God where no other animal sacrifices could truly repay even for the sins of Israelites? Why there’s a need for Him to lay down His role as Creator-Godhead?
4. What assurance does Jesus offered for our behalf – in dying on the cross of Calvary?
5. In the above quotations, what would you feel when you’re accuse and you cannot defend yourself in court, in the home, in the church and in the community?
From the Pen of Inspiration
“Christ is the connecting link between God and man. He has promised His personal intercession. He places the whole virtue of His righteousness on the side of the suppliant […] As we approach God through the virtue of the Redeemer's merits, Christ places us close by His side, encircling us with His human arm, while with His divine arm He grasps the throne of the Infinite […] He promises to hear and answer our supplications.”
Testimonies for the Church, vol. 8, cp. 29, p. 178
SSL-Q1-06-Jesus The Faithful Priest.pdf