Psalm 22│Jeremiah 15.10-21│ Hebrews 7.11-28│John8.48-59
Psaumes 22 | Jérémie 15.10-21 |Hébreux 7.11-28 |Jean 8.48-59
A permanent priest
What does Melchizedek have to do with Easter? The
author of the letter to the Hebrews uses him to show that Jesus is a new kind
of priest “on the basis of the power of an indestructible life” (v.16).
Why does it matter that Jesus is “a priest for
ever”? V.25 explains that “he always lives to intercede for [those who come to
God through him]”. Sometimes we imagine that Jesus says, “I’ve done my part by
dying on the cross; now it’s up to you!” But one of the reasons the
resurrection is important is that Jesus lives forever to intercede for us. His
work continues. Every time the accuser tries to bring our sins up before God,
Jesus “reminds” his Father that these sins have been dealt with by his death.
He is on our side, constantly acting for us and putting forth irrefutable
arguments in favour of our acceptance and blessing by the Father.
A definitive sacrifice.
From Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. http://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=32210 [retrieved February 13, 2021]. Original source: Images donated by Patout Burns, Vanderbilt University.
In case we are still not sure that his
intercession is effective, vv 26-28 remind us how we can be sure of our
acceptance by the Father. Jesus is not only the priest but also the sacrifice
itself, so the fact that he is “holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners,
exalted above the heavens” means that his offering was so perfect as to pay for
all the sins of his people of all time. There is no need to repeat it. In that
one moment in history, all of our sins were paid for: every cross word, every
selfish choice, every failure to live wholeheartedly for God. We don’t need to
bring any offering to God to make him more pleased with us: no commitment to
pray more, or to serve in the church, or to be kinder to our family. He is
already perfectly pleased with those who trust in Jesus, the permanent priest
who offered the definitive sacrifice and who always lives to intercede for us.
Sarah Richelle
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