Who Meets Our Needs

“A high priest like (Jesus) meets our need. He is holy, pure and without blame. He isn’t like other people. He does not sin. He is lifted high above the heavens.” Hebrews 7:26

Jesus has been presented as an intercessor between God and man, a “go-between” if you will. But, it usually is taught that, because man is sinful and God is perfect, we need someone to represent us before God. Flammable humans simply cannot endure the Holy Flame. There is a certain truth to that; yet I believe it may be over-emphasized.

In the Old Testament God put together a complete calendar of worship filled with sacrifices, feasts and offerings. He instructed Moses to build a tabernacle, a worship-tent that would enable Israel to worship Him appropriately. Along with the tent, He appointed priests, one of whom was the High Priest.

The tabernacle was made of three parts. The large outer courtyard was open, about 150 feet long and 75 feet wide. The altar for sacrifices and a large copper vessel for washing would be the first things you notice. Within the courtyard was the Holy Place, where priests conducted their duties day by day. Set back within the Holy Place was the Holy of Holies (or the Holiest Place). This is where the Ark of the Covenant was placed.

The Holy of Holies was used only once per year. On the Day of Atonement the High Priest entered the Holy of Holies to sprinkle the blood of the sacrifice and offer incense on the Mercy Seat which sat upon the Holy of Holies. When the people saw him exit and come back out into the Holy Place, they knew God had once more forgiven their sins.

None of this was needed for God. It is a bit insane to think the Almighty needs the blood of bulls and goats to make Him happy. Indeed, God makes that point over and over through His prophets in the Old Testament saying, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice. I desire obedience, and not your offerings.” (my paraphrase).

So, now we come to Jesus, who the writer of Hebrews calls “a high priest who meets our needs.” When people say we need a go-between, they usually are saying that it is God who needs someone between Him and us; between the holy and the unholy. Yet, here we see that Jesus as our High Priest meets our needs! What do we need? The same thing the Jewish people did in the Old Testament; we need to know we are forgiven!

Jesus did not come so there would be enough insulation between humans and God to keep anyone from being harmed. He is not a zookeeper who makes sure the fences are strong enough to keep the lions from eating the people. In fact, it was Jesus Himself who said, “When you pray, pray like this: Our Father…” That doesn’t sound like a God who needs a go-between.

Sometimes people say that Jesus suffered everything so that He could experience our pain and better relate to mankind. I will not argue that there is some truth here. In fact, the writer of Hebrews says that because Jesus was “tempted in every way we are, and without sin”, so He is better able to empathize with our weaknesses.

Yet, isn’t God great and grand enough to “feel” what His creation feels without having to become like us? The more I think about this, the more I realize it had very little to do with Jesus having to “feel” what we feel. There is nothing that God cannot do.

No, he became one of us, suffered pain, and was tempted like each of us, so we would know more about God! A God who hops of His throne and decides to wander around earth a while to see how people feel sounds too much like the old Greek myths. But, what if Jesus, knowing our pain, wanted us to realize something about God?

Didn’t He say that when we see Him we’ve seen the Father? He is the Way, the Truth and the Life, and no one comes to the Father except through Him. Why? Partly, I think, because when we come to God apart from Jesus, we have no idea who we are dealing with. We either make Him into an eternal grouch who we have to placate constantly. Or, we make Him a buddy who puts His stamp of approval on anything our hearts desire.

Those are my thoughts today. Jesus is my great high priest, but not because I needed someone between God and myself. As High Priest, Jesus represents God to mankind. We look at Him, and we see a Father who heals, who spends times with the marginalized in society, who is willing to be misunderstood out of love for His creation. We see Him utter, from His own Holy of Holies, the cross, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And, upon hearing those words, we know we are forgiven, not just for one more year, but for all time.