Hebrews 2:17 “Therefore, it was necessary for him to be made in every respect like us, his brothers and sisters, so that he could be our merciful and faithful High Priest before God. Then he could offer a sacrifice that would take away the sins of the people.”

Romans 5:19 “For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.”

Many Jews still wait for the Messiah. Knowing the Messiah will be a King of Kings and a Lord of Lords and that he will ensure the house of David rules forever, they failed to recognize that he came first as a priest for his people. A king represents God to the people. But Israel (and the Gentiles as well) were first in need of a true High Priest. Without the atonement for the sin of Adam, there could be no kingdom. All the lamb’s blood in the world could not atone for the betrayal in the Garden. Authority and son-ship had to be restored. As High Priest, Jesus could represent us to the Father. No animal’s death could pay the penalty for a life created in God’s own image that had fallen into sin. The people already had a high priest on earth who could offer the atoning goat ‘to Jehovah’ and release the ‘scapegoat’ into the wilderness, bearing away the sins of the people. What was needed was a High Priest who could enter the holy tabernacle in heaven, walk to the altar in the Holy of Holies and offer the perfect sacrifice necessary to satisfy the perfect justice of a perfect God.

Pray: “Father, I spend so much time thinking about my Lord Jesus coming again in power and glory to put an end to the suffering and pain of this world that I sometimes fail to remember that he first came to do what only the true High Priest could do…enter the holy place in heaven and pay the price for my sins. No mortal man could do it. An imperfect life would not have paid the debt. Jesus came to be not only the sacrifice, but also the High Priest who offered it to you. He was the only one who could. All glory to you, Father God, and to our High Priest and future King in whose name I humbly thank you – Amen.”