Why Jesus Was The Ultimate Priest!

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Hebrews 7:26-28 "Such a high priest truly meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. 27 Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself. 28 For the law appoints as high priests men in all their weakness; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever."

 As the author continues to encourage these Jewish Christians, he teaches them how Jesus is a unique high priest in the order of Melchizedek.  King Melchizedek was unique because he was both a king and a priest in the Old Testament.  Because Jesus didn't not come from a priestly line, but a royal line some were questioning whether he could offer the sacrifice necessary to meet the requirements of the Jewish law. But the author outlines why Jesus is a superior high priest who truly meets our need.  

 Jesus' superior qualifications as a high priest include:

  1. Jesus was sinless therefore, he didn't have to make sacrifices for himself. 
  2. Jesus made the "once and for all sacrifice" for our sins thus ending the sacrificial system.  
  3. Unlike other high priests who died; Jesus lives to intercede for us in heaven.  
Though we may not quite appreciate as much as the Jewish Christians did Jesus' qualifications as a high priest in the order of Melchizedek, we know that Jesus is always interceding for us at the right hand of the Father.  Also he has made us a "priesthood of all believers".  God uses us through Jesus to draw people to people to himself.  We can also intercede on behalf of others to Jesus our high priest.  Finally, Paul tells us to offer our lives as a "living sacrifice" in view of God's mercy for us.  The lamb of God was offered as the once and for all sacrifice for us. We live each day giving thanks and offering our lives back to God!  

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