Hebrews 5:1-10
Q.1. How does Jesus compare with the High Priests of Israel? What makes Him so vastly superior? – (Heb.5:1-6)
The priests came from the tribe of Levi, whereas Jesus came from the tribe of Judah. Then how is He a priest? – … “You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.” (Heb.5:6). As such, He has no beginning and no end. Generation after generation, a procession of priests had to offer up sacrifices for their own sin and for those of the nation. Jesus is so much more as the Son of God … the highest-ranking Son.
Q.2. What other reason did the writer give for the sufferings of Jesus? How great was His suffering? How great are the gains for us? – (Heb.5:7-10)
Q.2. What other reason did the writer give for the sufferings of Jesus? How great was His suffering? How great are the gains for us? – (Heb.5:7-10) = By contrast, Jesus paid for our sins. The writer shared a key insight, when he stated that the pleading of Jesus in Gethsemane, was heard by the One Who could save Him (Lk.22:39-43). Yet in line with Christ’s petition – ‘If there is no other way to save sinners, then not Mine, but Your will be done’. On the surface, Jesus prayed not to die. However, in truth, He prayed that He might fulfil His Father’s plan of eternal salvation. He knew that this required for Him to die. His sufferings were massive, as He grappled with this paradox: ‘I don’t want to die – yet I must die, in order to offer the way of salvation for a lost world’. The gains for sinners are out of this world. Jesus purchased salvation through His precious blood. He also ever lives in Heaven to make intercession for us (Heb.7:23-25). Our High Priest does this as our perfect representative – a faithful and merciful High Priest (Heb.4:14-16) i.e. He is therefore the perfectly qualified Advocate for us.