Jesus - a better person to connect us with God A superior Priesthood Hebrews chapters 2-8

greater, better, more excellent … Greater than angels1:5 Greater 3:3 Better 4:8 Better 7:11 Better 7:19 Better 7:22, 8:6 Better ministry 8:6 Greater 9:11 Better 9:23 Better 10:34 Better 11:35 Better 11:40 Hebrews …

greater, better, more excellent … Greater than angels1:5 Greater honour than Moses 3:3 Better rest than Joshua gave 4:8 Better priesthood than Levi/Aaron 7:11 Better hope 7:19 Better covenant 7:22, 8:6 Better ministry 8:6 Greater and more perfect tabernacle 9:11 Better sacrifices 9:23 Better possessions 10:34 Better resurrection 11:35 Better future 11:40 Hebrews …

Two key questions… When faced with other religions, ask … Does this other religion show me better things about God than I already know through Jesus? Does this other religion improve on the way Jesus connects me to God (for now and for ever)?

Flow of thought in the Hebrews letter … Not a linear logic letter like Romans Spiral/concentric logic – Hebrews e.g. Chiastic structure in OT – key points are in the middle, not the beginning or end.

Flow of the letter The New Covenant - chapter 8 Truer, greater and more perfect Tabernacle 8:2; 9:11 Better Priesthood – great High priest Better covenant Better promises Better sacrifices – the gold standard agreement with God

Why have an “old” one anyway? Illustration - Preparing us to understand Guardian – keeping us on the right pathway to Christ “Type” or pattern – a shadow that pre-figures the real thing 7:22 Jesus the guarantee of a better covenant Chapter 8 The First Covenant was a copy and a shadow of the second, 8:1-6

The reality of the New Covenant 7:22 Jesus the guarantee of a better covenant Chapter 8 There was something wrong with the first, 8:7, the fault not so much in the covenant but in “them” 8:8 - the people’s inability to keep it (Romans 8:3; 3:19-26) God had prophesied to Israel that there would be a New Covenant, Jer. 31:31-34 The two covenants cannot be run together - the first has to cease with the start of the second, - the first is now obsolete and disappearing 10:9. It is truly “OLD!”

You have NOT come to … BUT you have come to … Hebrews 12:18-24

… making the covenant with Exodus 19:1-8; 24:1-8

… on their wedding day Exodus 32 – making the covenant Golden Calf Idol worship Israel committed adultery

Moses intercedes for Israel … Exodus 32:11-18; 33:12-17

Aaronic priesthood … Making the Tabernacle –dwelling place of God Anointing Aaron & sons Leviticus 8

New Covenant – New Priesthood Jesus – the great High Priest This truth is assumed as a starting position Hebrews 1:3-4; 3:1, and then subsequently demonstrated and explained

Jesus qualifications as High Priest 1 Tim 2:4-5 God/Man(kind) & the man Christ Jesus Hebrew chapters 1-4 His person and nature His Deity -- 4:14; 7:26 As perfect God, Son of God, now in the highest heavens he has perfect access to and standing before God to be our High Priest His Humanity -- 2:10-18; 4:15-16 As perfect man he is able to represent us fully to God

Establishing the criteria for priesthood Hebrews 5:1-4 Taken from among the people to speak on their behalf to God v1 By personal experience, needs to know what the people need and what they are like v2 Subject to the same failings, he also needs a sacrifice for sin before God v3 Not self appointed but God ordained v 4 Of Aaron’s Seed? 

Jesus qualifications as High Priest Hebrew chapters 1-4 His person and nature 1. His Deity -- 4:14; 7:26 1:3 – the exact imprint of God’s nature 1:6 – uniquely “Son of God” 1:8 – addressed as God, having an eternal kingdom

Jesus qualifications as High Priest Hebrew chapters 1-4 His person and nature 1. His Deity 2. His Humanity – 2:11-13 of the same family/source (contra 1:3 same nature as God) 2:14 of the same – flesh and blood 2:10-18; made complete through a time process of suffering (defined as below) 2:17-18; 4:15-16 being proven through testing/temptation 4:15; 2 Cor. 5:21; 1 Pet. 2:22; 1 Jn. 3:5 His sinlessness 5:7-10 being proven through costly obedience (embraces his whole life lived and death, not just the cross itself)

Divine choice of Jesus as great High Priest 1. 5:4-10 The calling came prophetically before Jesus’ birth Psalm 2:7 & 110:4 2. 6:13-20 The Certainty of Jesus’ Priesthood lies in the Promises of God Gen. 22:15-18 Two unchangeable things;- (a) God cannot lie (b) God swore an oath by himself, the greatest power and authority in the universe

Priest in the order of Melchizedek 5:4-10 The calling came prophetically before Jesus’ birth Psalm 2:7 & 110:4

Melchizadek – God’s minister TO Abram Genesis 14, esp v17-24 Name - “King of righteousness” Place – King of Salem “peace” Priest of El Elyon “God Most High” Refreshes Abram with “bread and wine”

Melchizadek – God’s minister TO Abram Blesses Abram Identifies God’s role in Abram’s life Receives a tithe on behalf of God from Abram

The superiority of Jesus’ priesthood Dual role of Melkizedek as King and Priest, v.1 Blessed Abraham, implying superiority to Abraham. vs.1, 6-7 Collected a tithe from Abraham, which was a priests prerogative according to Mosaic Law. vs.2, 4-6; Num. 18:28-30; Deut. 14:22, His names have dual meaning, King of Righteousness and King of peace. v. 2, Ps.85:10; Isa. 32:17; Rom. 14:17 Priesthood was not dependent on genealogy as his parentage is unknown. v.3 Biblically speaking he appears without a birth date or a death date, as if permanent in his ministry. Levi/Aaron appears to be subject to Melkizedek through Abraham’s actions vs.8-10

Explanation of Jesus as our Great High Priest 7:11-8:2 New priest needed because the Aaronic priesthood could not bring perfection to the people represented by it, v.11, 17-18; His right to this office depends on his indestructible life not on human ancestry vs13-16 His ordination was by sworn testimony of God himself, vs His priesthood is eternal and so the effect of his work is perfect, complete and eternal, vs His personal holiness means he has no sins of his own to first cleanse before cleansing ours, so he is a perfect high Priest, vs He serves not in the sanctuary in Jerusalem but the true (actual) presence of God He is the only High Priest who has (a) sat down (b) has done so in the very presence of God, on the throne, 8:1-2.

Explanation of Jesus as our Great High Priest 7:11-8:2 The need for it because the Aaronic priesthood could not bring perfection to the people represented by it, v.11, 17-18; Rom 8:3-4; Gal. 2:15-16; 3:11 A change of priesthood requires a change of law, hence Jesus associated with a New Covenant. v.12. This is superior to the Old v.22; 8:6-8, 13. His right to this office depends on his indestructible life not on human ancestry vs His ordination was by sworn testimony of God himself, vs His priesthood is eternal and so the effect of his work is perfect, complete and eternal, vs His intrinsic holiness means he has no sins of his own to first cleanse before cleansing ours, so he is a perfect high Priest, vs He is the only High Priest who has (a) sat down (b) has done so in the very presence of God, on the throne, 8:1-2. He serves not in the sanctuary in Jerusalem but the true (actual) presence of God, built by God not Moses.

Thursday Questions Hebrews main circles of through teach us that Jesus is better and greater than all. However Hebrews 2:5-18 teach s that he became less than, and that he is like or equal to? What do these verse mean and why should these be very special and exciting truths for us? From what we have learnt this morning and 1 Timothy 2:5, discuss why you think Jesus is the ideal person to be our High Priest to reconcile us to God and keep us in the right relationship with God? (helpful passages: Hebrews 1:3-14; 2:15-18; The Old Testament character Melchisedek is an example of an unusual way of reading the Bible called “typology,” where a real historical person’s life becomes a shadow cast backwards by Jesus in the New testament. Discuss and explain why the writer to the Hebrews believes that Melchisdek illustrates key aspects of the way Jesus is our great High Priest and not Aaron. (helpful passages: Genesis 14:17-24; Psalm 110; Hebrews 7:1-18) Describe some examples (from personal experience or what you have heard) of mediation, of helping two people (or two groups of people) to restore a broken relationship. How have you been helped in this way? What are some of the challenges and difficulties in helping to mediate a peaceful outcome? A intercession is an aspect of mediation. Explain to each other how intercession is part of the work of a priest/mediator. (Make use of the example of Moses from this morning – Exodus 32:11-18). a) Discuss how Jesus has done this for us in relationship to God in a special unique way. How can these truths help you in your daily life? b) We are also called to intercede for others or be mediators, discuss how we can do this using these Bible passages Genesis 18:17-33; 1 Timothy 2:1-6; Matthew 5:9; Galatians 6:1-2; Philippians 4:2-3; Acts 9:26-28