Hebrews - Ch3 & Ch4

Here is Hebrews chapter 3.

Who is Jesus Christ?

He is...

...the Apostle of our confession (v1)

...the High Priest of our confession (v1)

...faithful to God (v2)

...worthy of more glory than Moses (v3)

...a faithful Son over all of God's house (v6)

& Hebrews chapter 4.

He is...

...a great High Priest (v14)

...the Son of God (v14)

...a sympathetic High Priest (v15)

...One who was tempted in all things (v15)

...SINLESS!!! (v15)

Though these two lists are shorter than those from chapters 1 & 2, I submit they pack a heavier, weightier punch of truth! Chapter 2:10 says that it was fitting for God to perfect the Author of salvation for many sons through suffering. This is a curious statement to me. Certainly it does not imply that God had to punish Christ so that He might become perfect, so as to become a fitting Savior. We know this is not true, it is silly to even consider suggesting such a thing.

So what does it mean that Christ was perfected through suffering?

It means that through His sufferings - the desert temptations, His day to day life, the Garden of Gethsemane, the cross and death - Christ became the ultimate and perfect High Priest for helpless sinners, because through all the suffering He was subjected to, He proved to be SINLESS (4:15), "For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin." This is what makes Him the great High Priest who we have confidence in to draw near to the throne of grace so that we may be the recipients of mercy & grace in times of need (4:16).

His sufferings make Him sympathetic to our plight as weak-willed, weak-minded, & weak-hearted sinners! Because He became flesh, He too was weak as I am, as you are, as we are! Yes He remained 100% God, but He was all man too, & thus subjected to all that we are subjected to! He knows what it is like to be human & to be limited! Can you imagine it? He stepped down from the glories of His eternal position of honor next to the Father, from eternal strength and ability, from eternal & infinite glory & became man, flesh, clay, dirt, elemental! There is no way that anyone but Jesus alone knows what it means to be human, He knows better than you or I, for sure! Does this not make Him an even greater High Priest?! Just think of Philippians 2:1-11, which I wrote about HERE, think of the description used there & then let the outworking of that grow in your mind! It will blow you away, when it does, turn & fall on your knees with me & praise our eternally worthy and infinitely great High Priest!

Jesus be praised!