The Perfect Sacrifice
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Hebrews 4:14-16 says, "Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need."
It was the responsibility of the High Priest under the old law to offer sacrifices for the sins of the people. These High Priests would represent the people before God and would offer animal sacrifices to atone for the sins of the people. Under the new law, we have Jesus Christ as our High Priest. What a great comfort it is to know that Jesus, the son of God is the one who goes before God on our behalf and offers the sacrifices. What a great comfort it is to know that the sacrifice that He offers is not just a lamb, but rather He offered Himself as the sacrifice. He is the perfect High Priest, the perfect sacrifice, and the only one who is uniquely qualified to plead our case before God. Yet even though He is the High Priest and lived a perfect life, that does not mean that He doesn't understand the temptations and struggles that we face. He faced more temptations and struggles than most of us will ever know, yet He did not sin. Every single trial and struggle He faced was part of His sacrifice for our sins so that He could be the perfect High Priest and sacrifice for us. It is the perfect High Priest that we have that should give us confidence in approaching the throne of God. We can approach with boldness because even though we are not perfect, the sacrifice of Christ, our High Priest will make us perfect. We have boldness in knowing we are right with God when Christ is our High Priest.
