In my post yesterday, I asked this question:

How can Jesus as the Great High Priest be our perpetual help?

Our first response to this question based on Hebrews 4:14-16 is that Jesus can perpetually help us because of who He is.

A follow-up question then is proper:

How, then, is Jesus described in Hebrews 4:14-16?

A Great High Priest

Christ is compared to a high priest in verse 14. To appeal to his audiences—Jewish Christians aware of the nature of sacrifices in the Torah—the author compared Christ to this, even if it was a true statement. In the Old Testament, the only person with access to the Holy of Holies, where sacrifices are made to atone for the sins of the people, was a high priest.

According to Leviticus 16, this access was restricted to a single day every year known as the Day of Atonement, on which the high priest would enter the Holy of Holies while carrying the sacrifice's blood in order to atone for both himself and the people. The high priest acted as a mediator between God and Israel, bringing the people’s offerings to God and representing them before Him.

We read in the Old Testament about Aaron, Eleazar, Eli, and others being high priests. However, Christ, in this text is depicted not just as a high priest, but the adjective, “great” is used. This tells us that Jesus is distinct from all the other high priests. In what sense? Well, unlike the repetitive nature of the Old Testament sacrifices, which had to be offered once every year; Jesus’ sacrifice was once-for-all. And, contrary to the animal sacrifices in the Old Testament, our great high priest himself is the sacrifice! He is both the mediator and the sacrifice. It is between the imperfect sacrifice and the perfect sacrifice that removes all our sins.

He has Passed Through the Heavens

Additionally, the adjective ‘great’ here is not just modifying the noun “high priest” but is directly tied with its subordinate clause. It tells us that Christ is greater because he has passed through the heavens. He does not intercede for us in an earthly tabernacle but in a heavenly one. He had ascended into the very presence of God and had bridged the gap between man and God. His priesthood is not bound by time and space, and he is therefore able to continuously and effectively, and is available to mediate on our behalf.

In our institution, is it difficult to pass on to something? Perhaps not as difficult as passing through the gate. But in other schools, it is quite strict. You need an ID to enter the premises of the school. Sometimes, releasing your credentials takes a whole day to process. And it is even worse when you try to have a transaction or request with our government agencies—it takes weeks, if not—months! But if you know someone inside, whether in a government agency or a private one, it will only take you a brief moment.

Well, speaking of passing through something, our Lord, Jesus Christ did not just pass unto any earthly government, private organizations, or in any earthly kingdom—but through the heavens itself! Should we not approach the heavens for we know someone personally inside? Should not our Lord, who promised us, open the gates of heaven and receive us? My point is: if He cannot help you amidst your needs, then I do not know who can!

He is the Son of God

Let us see the third description. Jesus here is consequently identified as the Great High Priest with the title “Son of God.” It points to Jesus’ divine nature. Jesus Christ is omnipotent—he cast out demons, healed the sick, performed a lot of miracles, and even raised the dead. His power is a manifestation of His divine nature. He is omniscient—Jesus displayed a profound understanding of human hearts and thoughts. He can read the minds and hearts of men. He also predicted future events. Jesus is also eternal—He is the pre-existent Son of God. And, after His ascension, Jesus became omnipresent again in His divine nature. Though He is no longer physically present on earth, His presence is made available to all believers through the Holy Spirit.

Can we not then, find our perpetual help in the son of God knowing that he is all-powerful, all-knowing, eternal, and ever-present? Is your situation so helpless, that our God who can do the impossible, cannot meet what you need—a perpetual kind of help?

A Sympathetic High Priest

To continue, the last description in verse 15, Christ is described as someone who can sympathize with our weakness. It is noticeable here that he is described negatively. Instead of saying “we have,” it is phrased as “we do not have.” This phrasing is a sharp contrast between Christ and the high priests. Indeed, it is true that the high priests in the OT were capable of sympathizing with the people, but it is limited due to their human understanding and they were subject to their own sins as well. Jesus Christ, however, is described as one who can sympathize with our weaknesses fully and without any limitations. How so? The continuing passage answers this—because He is tempted just like we are, yet without sin.

The Greek word for “having been tempted” is πεπειρασμένον which came from the root word πειράζω which means tempt. Now, the word “tempt” here is not just about a specific instance like the devil’s temptation when Jesus fasted for 40 days; instead, it is about Christ being in a world full of sin where he resisted temptations throughout. It is about the whole experience of his life. It talks about Christ’s humanity as one who had walked this earth being tempted just like us. Well, how did he live? He was born in this world from a virgin. He grew up like a normal human being. He was baptized. He taught. He was hated for speaking the truth. He was rejected. He was betrayed. He was falsely accused. He was abused. He was crucified. He was shamed. He was mocked. And then He died. But He died sinless. His sympathy, therefore, is perfect because He lived among men, experiencing the full range of human temptation and suffering, yet remained without sin.

So, how is Christ able to provide perpetual help? Because of who He is—and He is our great and sympathetic High Priest, who has passed through the heavens—the son of God.

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