Our High Priest & Our Priestly Task
- Guy Cohen
- Aug 30, 2022
- 2 min read
Harvest of Asher
Akko, Israel
Yeshua is the high priest through whom our prayers are accepted. As His priests we are tasked with interceding for the people.
This is one of the central messages of the letter to the Hebrews. The terminology and subject matter seen throughout Hebrews involves the temple sanctuary, sacrifice and high priest. The three of these point to Yeshua; for He is all of them and more! If we look at the function of the Temple priests, we see that they were responsible to receive, prepare and present sacrifices before God for forgiveness of sins of the people. Only one day a year, on the Day of Atonement, could the High Priest enter the Holy of Holies.
In the book of Hebrews, we are given the example of Melchizedek who was not only priest of Salem (Jerusalem) but also its king. Abraham gave him his tithe and offering, as they blessed one another. The writer of Hebrews emphasized that Yeshua was a King and Priest, on the order of Melchizedek (Genesis 14:18-20; Psalm 110:4). Unlike the other high priests of Israel who were chosen by man, Yeshua was ordained by God. He is our High Priest forever (Hebrews 5:1-5).
In His three years of ministry here on earth, Yeshua reflected all that the world needs in a leader, and He reflected all that is written in the Word of God about Messiah.
“Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Yeshua the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest 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 4:14-16)
This is our job; we are priests called to come before God at the mercy seat and intercede for the nation. We must do so with a clean heart before Yeshua. Yeshua is our High Priest, Messiah King, Sacrifice Lamb, the First and the Last, the Faithful One. He is our Temple, our Healer and Deliver, and Prince of Peace.
As I write this, many in Israel are preparing to fast and mourn before God commemorating the destruction of God’s temple in Jerusalem. Our intercession is that even the solemn fast days will become joyful and glad occasions and happy festivals for Judah (Zechariah 8:19).
