Long Expected Devotional – Week 3
Sunday, December 17th
THE PRIEST OF JOY | HEBREWS 7:11-28
One of the most important roles in ancient Israel was the office of priest. The priest represented the people of Israel before God in ceremonial acts of worship. The ministry of the Old Testament priest continually reminded the people that they served a holy God, who could not be approached by sinful people except on His own terms (cf., Numbers 16-18).
While the Israelite priests were significant, their effectiveness was limited. As the author of Hebrews puts it, “If perfection had been attainable through the Levitical priesthood…what further need would there have been for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek?” (Heb 7:11). Who is this Melchizedek and what does he have to do with anything? In Genesis 14, this man served a priestlike function in the life of Abraham (Gen 14:17-24). It was believed that Melchizedek represented an eternal pattern on which Israel’s priests based their own ministry. In the future, God promised to re-establish this priesthood to serve for all eternity (Ps 110:1-4).
The book of Hebrews teaches that Jesus has come fulfill this long-anticipated expectation. He is not only a “merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God” (Hebrews 2:17) but also a priest “in the likeness of Melchizedek” (Heb 7:15) who is “holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above heavens” (Heb 7:26).
By serving in this ancient line of priests, Jesus demonstrates His own ministry to be superior to what the Israelites knew in their day. He is the True Priest who sacrificed himself once for all (Heb 7:27), in order that we “may draw near to God through Him” (Heb 7:25).
This Advent season may be filled with joy that we have such a Great High Priest standing between us and God! He is our Mediator and He intercedes on our behalf.
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DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
- What is the significance of thinking Jesus as our priest?
- What did the Old Testament prophets do? How did the work of Christ compare?
- What did the Old Testament prophets represent? How did the identity of Christ compare?
- Why is it important that Jesus is our priest forever?
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DAILY READINGS
Monday: Matthew 2:1-12
Tuesday: Matthew 2:13-18
Wednesday: Matthew 2:19-23
Thursday: Luke 1:5-25
Friday: Luke 1:26-38
Saturday: Luke 1:39-45
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