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23 Furthermore, the former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office; 24 but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. 25 Consequently he is able for all time to save those who approach God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. 26 For it was fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, blameless, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. 27 Unlike the other high priests, he has no need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for those of the people; this he did once for all when he offered himself. 28 For the law appoints as high priests those who are subject to weakness, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever. (Hebrews 7:23-28 NRSV)
I remember sitting in a mass and thinking that I loved what the priest was doing and I could see myself doing it. All except the waving around the incense thingy because that made my stomach ache. Yet, the pomp and circumstance of the mass called to me; not completely understanding it, but knowing that God was there and the priest was doing something about that, and I wanted in on it. Then my Mom said that changed my mind immediately; "Priests cannot marry." Okay!
The word priest comes the Latin pontifex, which literally means bridge, thus the role of the priest is the one who bridges us with God. In the Old Testament as this passage shares, the priests served but only until their death. The people probably had their favorite priests and enjoyed his leadership and service but only until their death. In a previous part of her life, my bride was a Catholic and she shared how each priest helped in her faith development which included her thinking beyond Catholicism and towards Protestantism and eventually into Methodism. Nellie went so far as to challenge one priest asking for him to share Bibles with them and leading them in Bible study; something not encouraged in Pre-Vatican II days. The writer of Hebrews loves the priesthood role of our High Priest, Jesus, and writes about that in this passage.
In this passage, the author of Hebrews illuminates the profound difference between the Levitical priests of the Old Testament and Jesus, our eternal High Priest. The former priests served in a cycle marked by their mortality, each one unable to maintain their office indefinitely due to death. Yet Jesus, the Son of God, holds a priesthood that is permanent, eternal, and unchanging.
Why does this matter? Because it means that our access to God is secure and everlasting. Jesus intercedes for us continually, which is a powerful assurance. The scripture emphasizes that He “always lives to make intercession for them.” Picture this: every time you approach God in prayer, Jesus stands as your advocate, bridging the gap between humanity and divinity, fully aware of our struggles and weaknesses.
Moreover, Jesus is described as “holy, blameless, undefiled.” Unlike the priests who needed to make sacrifices for their own sins, He offered Himself once and for all. This single, perfect sacrifice means that we are not only forgiven but also covered in His righteousness. In Christ, our identity is transformed; we are no longer defined by our past failures but by His perfect sacrifice.
PRAYER: Loving God, thank You for the gift of Your Son, Jesus, our eternal High Priest. We are grateful that He intercedes for us and that His sacrifice covers our sins once and for all. Help us to understand the depth of this truth, so we may live in the freedom and grace that You offer. Lord, remind us daily of our identity in Christ, and help us to share this message of hope and redemption with those around us. Strengthen us to approach You boldly, knowing we are welcomed in Your presence. This we pray in Christ Jesus' strong name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! YOUR CALL TO ACTION: Spend a few moments contemplating the depth of Christ’s sacrifice. How does it impact your view of your relationship with God? Consider the ways you might be holding on to guilt or shame that Jesus has already forgiven. Approach God with your concerns and burdens in prayer, knowing that Jesus is interceding for you. Allow yourself to feel the weight of His love and grace in your life. Find a way to share this message of Jesus’ eternal intercession with someone else. Whether through a conversation, a text, or a social media post, encourage someone else with the truth of their identity in Christ.
I love you and I thank God for you!
Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.
