Now we are returning to our main point. How fortunate we are to have a High Priest who sits on the throne of God, offering us better promises than ever before. There is nothing wrong with all the High Priests who have gone before. They are simply limited to what they can offer. How do we respond to that? Take some time to reflect on that.
All that is said about Jesus’ identity as High Priest and the new covenant can only serve to comfort us with hopeful expectation. Our response should be to remain faithful, unlike those given the old covenant. They turned their back on God, despite God’s grand provision for them. In turn, God turned his back on them.
God says the day will come when “I will put my laws in their minds, and I will write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.” That day has not yet been fulfilled, but as followers of Jesus, we know we have a place among God’s people. He will put his laws in our minds, writing them on our hearts. He intends for us to be obedient, and his laws and decrees are for our own good.
Can you imagine how wonderful that day will be when “everyone, from the least to the greatest,” will know the Lord? It seems too good to be true, but if God promises it, I know the day will come.
God also promises that he will forgive their wickedness and never again remember their sins. It’s hard for us to wrap our minds around that because we tend to hold on to hurts and bad circumstances, our sinfulness, way too long. God won’t do that, he promises not to remember.
If God can forgive us, we should also forgive ourselves and others. Forgiving others is a central theme in the Bible, and a petition we regularly say if we use the Lord’s Prayer during worship or our own quiet time. Ephesians 4:32 gives us good advice. “Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.”
With Jesus as our High Priest, we can be confident that his sacrifice has paid the price for our sinfulness. Jesus pleads our case and offers forgiveness because of his own shed blood. The sacrifice Jesus made as our High Priest was the greatest sacrifice imaginable and will last forever. How do you respond to that?
Let’s pray. Lord Jesus, thank you for your great love and sacrifice for me. I never want to take you for granted or forget what you have done for the world you love so much. I look forward to the day when all will know you. Until that day, help me keep my eyes focused on you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
