High Priest Forever

Jesus is the real sanctuary foreshadowed by the tabernacle, and he is the High Priest “forever” who serves in it on our behalf . Jesus is the Sanctuary of God foreshadowed in the religious structures and worship rituals of Ancient Israel, t he place where God’s presence and glory reside and are manifested for all men to see. He is also the one and only High Priest who mediates between Heaven and Earth for his people in “ the True Tabernacle pitched by the Lord .”

Jesus is the High Priest of the Heavenly Sanctuary “made without hands” foreshadowed by the Tabernacle in the wilderness . Jesus is our glorious High Priest who serves in the “ True Tent pitched by the Lord and not man ,” the greater tabernacle and place of worship foreshadowed by the religious structures and rituals of Israel. The Son of God has become our “ priest forever ” who ministers for us “ at the right hand of the Throne of the Majesty in the Heavens ” – (Hebrews 8:1-2).

Jesus is the High Priest of the greater heavenly sanctuary made without hands that prefigured the Tabernacle in the wilderness . Jesus is the High Priest who serves in the “ True Tabernacle pitched by the Lord and not man ” and foreshadowed by the religious structures and rituals of Ancient Israel. The Son of God has become our “ priest forever ” who ministers for us “ at the right hand of the Throne of the Majesty in the Heavens ” – (Hebrews 8:1-2).

Ever since the Word became flesh, God’s Glory has been manifested in Jesus of Nazareth, and all who believe in him behold God’s splendor . Jesus is the ‘ Logos ’, “ the Word made flesh ,” in whom “ the Glory of God ” resides. He is the Greater Tabernacle foreshadowed in the Tent carried by Israel, the place where the Glory of Yahweh was seen in the Wilderness. This glory in all its fullness is now displayed for all men to see wherever Christ is proclaimed. Jesus is the true “ light that illuminates  every man coming into the world .”

The New Covenant results from the once-for-all sacrifice of Jesus and his superior priesthood based on his resurrection life . The  Letter to the Hebrews  highlights key aspects of Christ’s ministry, especially his Priesthood and  once and for all  Sacrificial Death. The Letter stresses the  non-repeatable nature  of his sacrifice for sin and  the permanence  of his resulting Priestly Office. He has “ achieved the purification of sins ” that no animal sacrifice or priestly predecessor ever could.

The Good News announced by Jesus offers salvation and life to men and women of every nation and people . Jesus of Nazareth declared: “ All authority in heaven and on earth is given to me, therefore, go and make disciples of all nations .” He then sent his disciples to announce the salvation purchased by his death to the “ ends of the Earth .” The Age of Salvation commenced with his Death and Resurrection; therefore, his life-giving message must be announced to all men. The Son of God has achieved salvation for his people!

The types and shadows of the former covenant find their substance in the Son of God, his priesthood, sacrifice, and New Covenant – Hebrews 8:1-5. The eighth chapter of Hebrews highlights the incomparable benefits believers receive under the New Covenant inaugurated by Jesus. If the fulfillment of the promises arrived in him, especially in his Death and Resurrection, returning to the incomplete revelations of the past would mean embracing the glimpses and “ shadows ” of the “ coming good things ” rather than the substance we now have our “ Great High Priest .”

Foundational to the Letter to the Hebrews is the appointment of Jesus as our High Priest. This was due especially to his obedience “ unto death ” whereby he achieved the “ purification of sins .” In his sufferings, he was “ perfected .” God vindicated his sacrifice by resurrecting and  seating him at the “ right hand of the Majesty on High ” where he now intercedes for us.

The Letter to the Hebrews begins by stressing the superiority of the “ word spoken in the Son ” over all previous revelations “ spoken in the prophets .” This includes the Great Lawgiver himself, Moses, the greatest of the prophets, and it indicates the fundamental weaknesses of the Levitical priesthood and its sacrificial system. The previous words from the prophets were true but partial and preparatory. However, now, “ upon the last of these days ,” God has “ spoken ” with great finality in one who is His “ Son .”

Jesus inaugurated the superior New Covenant through his Death and Resurrection, rendering the old covenant obsolete – Hebrews 8:6-13. The definitive “ Word ” that God has spoken “ in the Son ” surpasses all past revelations made in “ the prophets ,” including Moses, the Great Lawgiver. Only Jesus “ achieved the purification of sins ,” therefore, he “ sat down ” at the right hand of God as our Great High Priest and instituted the long-promised “ New Covenant .”

Jesus intercedes for his people in the Real Tabernacle - the Sanctuary not made with human hands - that God pitched . Jesus is the true tabernacle where the presence and glory of God dwell. Unlike the ancient structure with its inner sanctuary that only the high priest could enter,  and only once each year , God’s glory is manifested in Jesus Christ for every man and woman to see. No longer is His presence limited by physical walls, geographic boundaries, or the annual calendar.

Having achieved the purification of sins, Jesus sat down at the right hand of God, where he now intercedes for us as our faithful High Priest . A key point of the  Letter to Hebrews  is Christ’s victory over sin for his people and his consequent exaltation to the “ right hand ” of God as their High Priest. Jesus secured what none of his predecessors could ever do. Through his “ once for all ” sacrifice, he “ achieved the purification of sins ” and “ sat down ” in the “ true and greater Tabernacle ” where he now intercedes for us.