The Lord Jesus Christ, who saved us through His finished work upon the cross, has not left us to travel to heaven on our own. He now supports and sustains us on the journey home. This is His present and ongoing work at God’s right hand.
When we stray, we need a shepherd; when we struggle, we need a priest; when we sin, we need an advocate; and when we sorrow, we need a friend. He is our Great Shepherd, our Great High Priest, our Righteous Advocate and our Faithful Friend. Truly, Christ is all of these and more.
The Priesthood of Aaron
Whereas the Old Testament prophet represented a holy God before man, the priest represented sinful man before God. Aaron was the first high priest appointed in Israel. As such, he typifies Christ as our Great High Priest with several significant differences and human limitations. Aaron at times revealed that he was carnal and he sinned (Exo 32:2-6,22-25); he was also mortal and died (Num 33:39). His term of office was temporary and another replaced him. In his service in the tabernacle, particularly on the annual Day of Atonement, Aaron acted exclusively on behalf of the nation of Israel. In broad terms, his duties showed a pattern of service and sacrifice as a way of approaching a holy God: fellowship was maintained by offerings of thanksgiving and praise; fellowship was restored by confession and the sacrificial shedding of blood to cover sin.
The sacrifice of Christ upon the cross was the once-for-all perfect answer to sin and sins (Heb 9:26-28), the root and the fruit of man’s disobedience before God. The Old Testament Levitical system foreshadowed that which was to come. In the Epistle to the Hebrews, it is made clear that the recurrent sacrifices and shedding of the blood of bulls and of goats could never take away sins, “but this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God” (Heb 10:12).1 Christ’s sacrifice completely satisfied God. He was both the sinless offerer and the perfect offering for a sinful world.
The Priesthood of Melchisedec
The writer to the Hebrews introduces his readers to another person of note called Melchisedec. (All Scripture references in this section are from the Hebrews epistle, unless stated otherwise.) Melchisedec is described historically in the book of Genesis, when he strengthened the battle-wearied patriarch, Abraham, at a time of need and vulnerability (Gen 14:17-24). He is also referred to prophetically in the Psalms as foreshadowing the future millennial reign of Christ (Psa 110:4). In Hebrews, however, the emphasis is on the doctrinal significance of the superior priesthood of Melchisedec, being an order of sympathy and succour.
Although Melchisedec was both a king and a priest, there was no record of his birth or death. Abraham acknowledged his superiority and was blessed by his ministry. These background observations support the writer’s conclusion that Christ’s priesthood has surpassed that of Aaron. Christ alone is referred to as “a great high priest” (4:14). He came not from the tribe of Levi but from the kingly line of Judah (7:14). His priesthood is described repeatedly in this way: “Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec” (5:6; 7:21-25). Now, following His resurrection, He continues in this ministry of support at “the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens” (8:1). He will never die again and so His priesthood is “unchangeable” (7:24), meaning that it will never need to be transferred to another.
The writer is pressing home this assertion to encourage the believers, formerly practising Jews, who were facing the pressure of persecution for their faith in Christ. Some might have been tempted to go back to the familiar rituals of Judaism they had once known. The writer shows that in Christ they had a perfect representative before God. Although He was perfectly sinless, our Lord faced the challenges and tests of being human. Similarly, for us today He knows and understands our frailty, and in His sympathy He is touched with the feeling of our infirmities. We can come boldly before Him, unto the throne of grace, to obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need (4:14-16). He is able to succour them that are tempted (2:17-18). He also gives us hope in that He has already entered heaven, “within the veil,” where He ever lives to make intercession for us (6:19; 7:25).
With all that Christ is doing on our behalf, we are exhorted to enter the holiest and go in boldly to find the help we need (10:19). Thus fortified, we can go on patiently in the race set before us (12:1). Finally, we are called to go forth bravely “unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach” (13:13). We are to take sides with Christ whom the world rejected when they gave Him the outside place and crucified Him.
Christ As Our Mediator (1Ti 2:5)
Although similar to priesthood, His specific ministry as Mediator means that as a go-between He understands our need as sinners while knowing the claims of a holy God. The absolute deity and perfect humanity of Christ were integral to His fitness in the matter of our salvation. Job in his day looked for such a one – a daysman – but found none (Job 9:33). We rejoice in that we have found the One, the only one, who could answer our every need. The great ransom price He paid involved the voluntary giving of Himself, holding nothing back. This is love’s prerogative – to give, and give, and give. Dying there at Calvary, He has given us life; bound to the cross, He has given us freedom; and forsaken there, He has given us a place in the family of God. The provision He made there was limitless – sufficient “for all.”
As mediator of the New Covenant (Heb 8:6; 9:15; 12:24), Christ has ratified it by His sacrificial death and guaranteed it by the shedding of His blood. The terms of the New Covenant point to a glorious future for Israel (Jer 31:31-34), but the blessings also flow out to us presently in the Church (Mat 26:28). We rejoice that the Lord has declared, “Their sins and iniquities will I remember no more” (Heb 8:12; 10:17). Yes, we are included!
Christ As Our Advocate (1Jn 2:1)
Christians cannot claim sinless perfection. They still sin but it is not their habit to do so; they must not regard sin lightly. Whereas the solid silver chain of redemption can never be severed – once saved, saved for ever – the slender golden chain of fellowship and communion with God is more fragile and can easily be broken by carelessness, selfishness and sin. However, there remains a wonderful answer to restore this fellowship. For us today, the abiding value of the shed blood of Christ covers all sins and goes on cleansing us, even after conversion (1Jn 1:7-9).
Two things are clear from these verses in their context. Firstly, there is what we must do when we become conscious of the sins we have committed: We are to confess them. Repentance is always implied in true confession. Secondly, we realise what Christ has done at Calvary: His perfect sacrifice (“for the whole world”) and the shedding of His blood have dealt with the sin question. Full and free forgiveness is ours. He answered every claim to the full satisfaction of a holy God, and this is what is meant by “propitiation” (1Jn 2:2). God raised Him from the dead and has highly exalted Him to His own right hand.
There are at least two views as to the significance of the word “advocate” in this passage. Some view this ongoing work of Christ in a legal or courtroom setting, in which He continues to plead the merits of His precious blood on behalf of believers who have erred. God is the righteous judge, we are the guilty, and Christ represents us. As our defense counsel, He appeals on our behalf “before the bar of God.” Our forgiveness is made possible because of His substitutionary death in bearing the penalty of our sins.
Others view John’s first epistle primarily in a family setting (contrasting with Paul’s forensic treatment of sin and justification when writing to the Romans). In 1 John, believers are described as “sons” who know fellowship with God as “Father” (1:3; 3:1-2). They also have fellowship with one another, individually as a “brother” and corporately as “the children of God” or “brethren” (3:10,16). Furthermore, the intimacy of John’s writing leads him to refer frequently to his recipients in a tender and affectionate way as “little children” (2:1,18,28).
The Lord Jesus is truly our Paraclete in coming to our side to help us in our need. When we have fallen in sin, as disobedient children we are estranged from our Father. Figuratively speaking, Christ draws near, encourages us to get back on our feet again, and leads us back to the Father in confession and repentance. Our acceptance, forgiveness and the subsequent restoration of family fellowship are based on Christ’s acceptance before the Father and our relationship to His Son.
How privileged we are to have our every need – past, present and future – met in Christ, our beloved Saviour. He alone is the worthy One.
Worthy of homage and of praise;
Worthy by all to be adored.2
1 Bible quotations in this article are from the KJV.
2 F.T. Wigram
