Hebrews 7:25 Why he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come to God by him, seeing he ever lives to make intercession for them. The knowledge of Christ as the Mediator is essential to the spiritual life. There is no truth within the range of the Christian system of richer interest and of higher worth. Like the orb of day, it is the source of the light, life, and joy of religion.. It is the one foundation on which rest man's acceptance with the Judge, and his dearest hopes of the future. It is a treasure of mercy to the guilty, and of consolation to the believer. It proves the perfection of Christianity as the system of salvation, and establishes its claim to be the religion of the world. I. ITS NATURE. A priest resembles one who seeks to reconcile parties at variance, and has the probability of success from being their mutual friend. In the Bible it is generally understood to denote a holy person, presenting sacrifices to God, as a propitiation for sin in the behalf of others. The priestly dignity of the Lord Jesus is not to be considered as a mere figurative expression. His is a true and real priesthood. He was called of God, in those ineffably mysterious transactions of the Godhead in the pre-distant eternity, when the Son was designated and "made an high priest"; by the impressive solemnity of an oath, when "the Lord sware, Thou art a priest for ever"; and by His sublime consecration, when being "obedient ante death, even the death of the Cross"; He was baptized with blood, as was Aaron, and was made "perfect through suffering." Will He not then be heard in your behalf? Will the Father ever reject Him? Should not this banish your fear and doubt, and minister "strong consolation" when you flee to Him as your refuge? 1. To make oblation and satisfaction for the sins of the people was the first act of the priesthood. "Beneath our curse He bowed His head"; this was the true and perfect atonement making full reconciliation; this was the only plea God could accept, and it is the basis of the whole mediation of Christ, giving to it its efficacy and prevalence. It is the all-sufficient reason and motive for the exercise of His mercy in restoring holiness and happiness to man's guilty race; possessing such fulness of merit as to entitle the believer to a salvation replete with blessings; and retaining an everlasting efficacy, amidst the changes of time, until the consummation of all things. 2. Intercession was a necessary duty of the priesthood. Aaron fulfilled it. by signs upon the annual day of expiation, passing through the courts of the sanctuary, and appearing before the awful symbols of Jehovah's presence, he sprinkled the mercy-seat with the sacrificial blood, and presented the fragrant incense. The sprinkling of the blood was the perpetuation and completion of its being shed as a sacrifice. There was the same necessity that the Victim of Calvary should appear in the highest heavens for us. Had He remained in the sepulchre, you could not participate in the benefits of His death, its everlasting efficacy as an atonement would cease. Why should He reappear in glory with His crucified body, bearing the symbols of its humiliation unto death? Might He not have left it in the sepulchre, and clothed Himself with a new body, pure as the firmament? This would be easy, but it would destroy His purposes of grace. The Jewish priest came before the God of Israel with the same blood which the victim had shed, thus appealing to it as "the atonement." So likewise does the Mediator present Himself to God in the same nature which bore the curse, and whose precious blood was the ransom price. Thus "His presence in heaven" is virtually a continuation of His bodily passion, and a continued presentation of the sacrifice; it is a testimony to its fulness and perfection, to its permanent validity and efficacy. 3. To bless the people was another prominent duty of the high priest. This was the sequel to the intercession. To give full exhibition of this glory of the Lord Jesus, the illustrious Melchisedec was chosen as a type, and special notice is taken of his blessing Abraham, by virtue of his authority as "Priest of the Most High God." This was the "joy" desired by Jesus when He endured His Cross the reward that was set before Him. Even the right to confer the infinite and everlasting blessings of redemption on a world of sinful and lost beings. II. THE TEXT SUGGESTS SOME OF THE EMINENT PECULIARITIES OF THE PRIESTHOOD OF CHRIST. 1. It is unchangeable. This is its excellence, its perfection. It is Jesus still, and will be always so. The office cannot be transferred. He is the great High Priest, supreme in dignity and power, without an equal, rival, or successor. There needs no change. "Death hath no more dominion over Him." "I am He that liveth and was dead, and behold, I am alive for evermore." 2. His priesthood is eternal. He" is consecrated for evermore." It is not " endless " absolutely, but only while the mediatorial dispensation abides. The period will come when the Son shall deliver up the kingdom to God; no more shall the cry of blood be heard, inter. cession shall cease, and the Triune God in His glory and felicity shall "be all in all" to the myriads of pure spirits. Then the triumphant church can no more need a Mediator. 3. The priesthood of Jesus possesses a peculiar perpetuity. "He ever lives," or He lives to be ever interceding. The infirmities of earth cannot exist in glory to mar the beauty and perfection of His mediatorial work. His love is not subject to the uncertain fluctuation of human passions. His mediation is not formal or official, it is the labour of His heart. His intercessions too are uninterrupted by external causes. Though the care of the universe reposes on Him, yet His mind is never absorbed with its anxieties, nor withdrawn from the high purposes of His intercession. III. THE BENEFITS DERIVED THROUGH THE INTERCESSIONS OF CHRIST. "He ever liveth to make intercession for them." For whom? The angels need it not; the devils are "reserved m everlasting chains under darkness," and no purgatory has received the lost of mankind, from which masses or intercession can release them; the shadows of eternal night settle over their doom. Nor, on the other hand, are the benefits of the intercession limited to believers only, though they share most largely His affections. He prays for all who believe in His name. Yea, He intercedes for the world, for sinners of every age, every country, every shade of guilt. A right to the Tree of Life is the boon of every sinner. Who needs despair of mercy? Why will ye perish? The list of blessings descending to you through Him is infinite. Thence come all the mercies of "the tile that now is," riches, honour, and length of days. You little consider how it affects the choice of your inheritance, your trade, your fields, your life, your health, your family, your "all things"! The range of spiritual blessings is still more extensive. There is your preservation from a merited punishment. Review the follies of youth, the sins and backslidings of riper years, and you will confess "Tis just, the sentence should take place." But what an impressive consideration, that you are now kept from "the everlasting burnings," only through His merciful intercessions! Here also is the pledge of pardon to the penitent. Would a guilty creature dare to utter cry for mercy before a throne of "justice and judgment," clothed with majesty and terror, and guarded by the flaming sword of wrath? Trembling soul! that flaming sword of the cherubim is gone, that throne is a mercy-seat through " the blood of sprinkling," bending over it is the covenant sign of peace, the radiant bow of mercy. The presence of the Intercessor there is the testimony that "God is reconciled," and it proclaims to you a free salvation through faith in His name. Here is your hope of the universal spread of the gospel. It is for this He ever tires in glory, that He may secure the consummation of His own plans of love, and rejoice over a recovered world, prostrate at His feet, glorifying Him in endless praise. (George F. White.) Parallel Verses KJV: Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. |
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