Search This Blog

How was Jesus a high priest?


Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.  Hebrews 4:14
            The book of Hebrews makes a strong case that Jesus is our high priest.  Here are the facts.
1.      Jesus became human like a high priest so he could empathize with our weaknesses and experience temptation, yet overcome sin. (Hebrews 4:15, 5:2)
2.      Like a high priest, Jesus was selected and appointed to represent people (by God) in Godly matters, offering sacrifices for sins (himself).  (Hebrews 5:1)
3.      The high priest job was usually inherited from father to son.  Jesus is the son of God.  (Hebrews 5:5)
4.      A high priest offered prayers for the people. (Hebrews 5:7)
5.      A high priest’s job was to lay a foundation for eternal salvation. (Hebrews 5:9)
6.      A high priest served in the temple.  Jesus serves in the true tabernacle. (Hebrews 8:1-2)
7.      A high priest offered sacrifices. Jesus offered himself as a sacrifice.
8.      A high priest reinforced the covenant between God and man, established in Exodus.  Jesus created a new covenant, himself, a new promise between God and man.
9.      A high priest offered himself for the sins of the people.  Jesus did exactly that.  (Hebrews 9:7)
We don’t need a high priest any longer because Jesus fulfilled all the qualifications.