365 Days of the Great Names of God, Day 254: Great High Priest

Great High Priest

"Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." (Hebrews 4:14-16 NIV)

Sweet friends, I've saved this name of God for a long time. I've waited on it partly because it's one of my favorites and partly because I was looking for a way to describe it that would help me—and, I hope, some of you—get a handle on it. Now I'm going to ask you to take a little mental trip...

You are at the airport. You are not a passenger on any flight...you do not have a ticket. But you need the help of someone who's at the departure gate. And not just any someone but someone in a high position of power who's awaiting his flight in a VIP area to which you, of course, do not have access. You cannot even get past security. If you try, you will be reprimanded...or worse. You write down your request for assistance and put it in a box along with a gift...an offering to show your humility and gratitude. You give it to a messenger, an agent who will deliver your offering and your request to the person in high position. But the messenger still has to go through security himself. He has no real power or authority of his own. The box he carries, bearing your gift and your request for assistance, must be screened. If the agent or the box do not meet certain standards, they will be pulled aside...or worse. 

And even if they make it through, you have no idea if the official will grant your request for help. You have no standing, no status. The messenger delivering your plea is indifferent to your problem. He has never been in your situation. He is just doing a job, but he does not understand your need. Waiting on the outside, you can do nothing more than hope your request will be delivered, received, and granted...and that help will be yours.

But this is not our present reality. On this side of Calvary, we have an Agent who does understand our need. He is not above it; indeed, He lowered Himself to enter into it. He has been in our situation, though through no fault of His own. He does not know what it's like to give in to temptation, because He never did, but He does know what it's like to be tempted, because He was.

When we have a request we want to present to God, Jesus our Great High Priest walks with us right past security, right past all the former barricades that would have denied us access to the Holy One in the Holy of Holies. Christ Himself is our clearance. Unlike the priests—the messengers—of old, this Priest has power of His own, equal to God's because He is God. 

Jesus ushers us directly into the VIP throne room of grace and presents us, clothed in His righteousness, to El Elyon...God Most High. Our Priest stands next to us and waits while we make our request. We are hesitant at first, but this Priest urges us gently on. "Don't be afraid," He tells us. "Ask for what you need."

So we speak with holy confidence—boldly and freely—to Jesus' Abba and ours. When words fail us, our Great High Priest speaks for us. He asks on our behalf for what we do not even know we need. 

Our request is delivered, received, and granted. Mercy and grace are ours.

"Before the throne of God above
I have a strong, a perfect plea,
A great High Priest whose name is 'Love,'
Who ever lives and pleads for me.
My name is graven on His hands,
My name is written on His heart;
I know that while in heav'n He stands
No tongue can bid me thence depart, 
No tongue can bid me thence depart."

(From "Before the Throne of God Above;" words by Charitie L. Bancroft and Vikki Cook; music by Vikki Cook.)