Four Splendid Typologies of Christ - High Priest - Part II

Through the sacrificial offering of our High Priest, we have been reconciled with our Creator and can now freely approach His throne (see Hebrews 2:17). Christ empathizes with our plight in life: “Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.” (Hebrews 2:18). The Greek word used here for tempted is peirazo (pi-rad’- zo), which means “to test,” i.e., endeavor, scrutinize, entice, or discipline. To endeavor is to make a conscientious or concerted effort toward an end. Jesus endeavors in His priestly duties, interceding with the Father on our behalf, and teaching us the truth about God and His plan for humanity. Clearly, Jesus was scrutinized. His every move was critically examined by the religious leaders of His day. Christ was enticed by Satan, and He was brutally disciplined for false accusations leveled against Him. But the criticisms did not stop there. Jesus continues to this very day to be criticized; yet He remains unthwarted in His priestly duties. In this lifetime, we cannot escape our flesh, the side of our nature that is full of our own will. For this reason, we are in continual need of Jesus to make intercession with the Father. We need the atoning work of His priestly duties to cover our continuing violations of the Father’s will.

In all of this, our High Priest seeks to bless us. Consider the words of the apostle Peter: “When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways.” (Acts 3:26). While Peter was addressing a Jewish audience, it can be seen that God not only sought to bless the Israelites, but all of humanity as well. (see Romans 3:29, 30). The word used here for bless is eulogeo (yoo-log-eh’-o), which means “to speak well of.” Indeed, our High Priest does speak well of us to the Father, and His words are a literal blessing upon us. Coffman put it this way: “The great blessing Jesus came to deliver was not a re-establishment of the old Solomonic empire, but a spiritual blessing marked by the forgiveness of sins, the reception of God’s Spirit, and a turning of the people away from their wickedness.” (Coffman, J. Commentary of the New Testament).

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