Tag: high priest

Categories
Mark Devotionals

Driven out

Mark

Sometimes, looking at the same story in different gospels can be very interesting.

In Matthew 4, it says after Jesus was baptized, the Spirit “led him” into the desert.

In Mark 1, it says the Spirit “drove him out into the desert.” It’s the same word Mark uses when he talks about Jesus “driving out” demons.

And this just one verse after God had told Jesus, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well-pleased.”

Sometimes we go through times of testing. You may be feeling that way now. We feel driven out by God, and we wonder, “Does God really love me?”

Yes he does. Remember this: the times of testing God puts his children through are not to destroy them, but to strengthen them.

He is not hoping we will be defeated. He is cheering for our victory.

And though we may be surrounded by “beasts” at times, his angels are always with us, supporting us as well.

Jesus himself knew what like to be “driven out.” So if you feel driven out, turn to him, your high priest.

As the writer of Hebrews said,

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin.

Therefore, let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in time of need. (Hebrews 4:15-16)

Categories
Numbers Devotionals

A better high priest

Numbers

As I read this passage, I thought about Aaron.

He was the first high priest that Israel ever knew.

But he was a flawed man.

While Moses was up on the mountain getting the ten commandments, Aaron gave into pressure from the people, built a golden calf for them to worship, and then had the gall to call it “Yahweh.” (Exodus 32)

Then here, in this passage, he (along with Moses this time) fail to honor God as holy.

I am a little puzzled as to why God included Aaron in this rebuke, as it was Moses who struck the rock instead of speaking to it. Aaron so far as we can tell was just standing by when it happened.

But God sees the heart, and there was apparently something wrong in Aaron’s heart that day as well.

But the most important thing that shows the inadequacy of Aaron comes at the very end of this chapter: he died.

He was not a priest who could intercede for God’s people forever. Because of his sin, he too had to die, and another had to take his place.

What does all this show? The need for a better and greater high priest.

And that’s what Jesus is for us.

Unlike Aaron, he always obeyed his Father in heaven. Not once did he fail to honor his Father as holy.

More importantly, though he died (for our sins, not his own), he rose again, and lives forever never to die again. 

Because of that, the writer of Hebrews writes,

But because [Jesus] remains forever, he holds his priesthood permanently.

Therefore, he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, since he always lives to intercede for them. (Hebrews 7:24-25)

That’s the hope we have. Aaron couldn’t do it for us. Nor could any of his sons or descendants after him. But Jesus can and does.

So as the writer of Hebrews says,

Since we have a great high priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed in pure water.

Let us hold on to the confession of our hope without wavering, since he who promised is faithful. (Hebrews 10:21-23)

Categories
Job

The need for a mediator

Job

In this passage, we see more of Job’s frustration bubbling over at God.  On one hand, he recognizes God’s sovereignty in this world.  But on the other hand, God seems so distant.

Job said,

When he passes me, I cannot see him; when he goes by, I cannot perceive him.

If he snatches away, who can stop him? Who can say to him, ‘What are you doing?’  (Job 9:11-12)

Not only that, Job felt like God was torturing him for no good reason.  He said,

Even if I summoned him and he responded, I do not believe he would give me a hearing.

He would crush me with a storm and multiply my wounds for no reason.  He would not let me catch my breath but would overwhelm me with misery.

If it is a matter of strength, he is mighty!  And if it is a matter of justice, who can challenge him?  (16-19)

Further, it seemed like God was delighting in his misery.

When a scourge brings sudden death, he mocks the despair of the innocent.  (23)

Ultimately, it seemed to Job that God was simply being unjust.

It is all the same; that is why I say, ‘He destroys both the blameless and the wicked’…

When a land falls into the hands of the wicked, he blindfolds its judges.  If it is not he, then who is it?  (22-24)

It’s easy to criticize Job, but considering all that he went through, I think most people, even the strongest of Christians would feel that way.

Still, there is some truth in this chapter that would be well to remember.  First, no one can stand before God and claim to be righteous.  Job said,

But how can mere mortals prove their innocence before God?  Though they wished to dispute with him, they could not answer him one time out of a thousand.

His wisdom is profound, his power is vast.  Who has resisted him and come out unscathed?  (2-4)

Many people think that they’ll be able to stand before God on judgment day and give a reasonable defense for themselves.

But on that day, he will lay out before us every evil thought, every evil deed, and even every incident where we failed to do what we knew was right.

And when he does, and we compare our lives to his holiness, we will know that there is nothing we can say to defend ourselves.  All our excuses, all our logical arguments, and everything we could say will be revealed for the shams that they are.

Many on that day will find themselves saying the words of Job,

How then can I dispute with him?  How can I find words to argue with him?

Though I were innocent (compared to others, that is, for no one is truly innocent), I could not answer him; I could only plead with my Judge for mercy.  (14-15)

Job knew he could not stand before God and be found innocent, and so he cried out,

If only there were someone to mediate between us, someone to bring us together, someone to remove God’s rod from me, so that his terror would frighten me no more.

Then I would speak up without fear of him, but as it now stands with me, I cannot.  (33-35)

He didn’t have that mediator.  But we do.  Paul wrote,

For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men  (I Timothy 2:5-6).

He also wrote,

Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.  (Romans 8:34)

None of us can stand alone before God and be proclaimed guiltless before him.  All of us deserve to be condemned.

But Jesus is our mediator.  And he tells the Father, “I’ve paid for their sin on the cross.”

Now the Father says to us, “You are no longer condemned.  Your sins are forgiven.”

Not only that, in Jesus, we have someone who suffered like we do.  Unlike us, however, he was completely blameless, and yet suffered anyway.

So in Jesus, we have someone that understands our pain in suffering.  He understands our confusion.  He understands our feelings of abandonment.  And he reminds us that he went through every emotion we’re going through.

As the writer of Hebrews wrote,

Because [Jesus] himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.  (Hebrews 2:18)

And again,

For we do not have a high priest (in Jesus) who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. 

Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.  (Hebrews 4:15-16)