Monday 19 January 2009
- Bible Book:
- Hebrews
"Every high priest chosen from among mortals is put in charge of things pertaining to God on their behalf, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He is able to deal gently with the ignorant and the wayward, since he himself is subject to weakness." (v.1-2)
Background
Methodism doesn't 'do' priests, let alone high priests. Just thevery mention of the term may set off all manner of negativethoughts that might affect our reading of this passage. But, ofcourse, the letter to the Hebrews was written to Jewish Christiansfor whom this term would be very familiar, understandable, and notin any way threatening. Indeed it was written precisely in theterms that they would understand so as not to be threatening.
'Priesthood' had evolved over the centuries from being a term todescribe those people who discerned the will of God, through tothose who gave instruction in the Law (the Torah) until in the timejust around the birth of Jesus, when the priests' main role wasconcerned with the sacrificial ritual in the Temple. Throughout allthat period priests had been intermediaries between humankind andGod. They had each done it in their own way. Some had done it for along time, others for a short time, some had done it well, othersnot so well. All of these priests were human and showed theirweaknesses in different ways.
Now, says our writer, God is fulfilling the ancient promise to sendto God's people a priest who will do forever and in a perfectmanner what the regular priesthood had symbolised, but could onlydo partially and imperfectly. And the good thing is that Jesus,God's high priest in perpetuity, is one of us - on 'our side'. Heknows what human life is all about and can represent us fully onGod's side.
The writer is saying, 'Just because Jesus has died and gone toheaven does not mean that he ceases to be human or forgets hisexperience of human life. Jesus can empathise with us fully. He isnot looking down upon us in a patronising manner. He has been hereand he knows exactly what life's like.'
To Ponder
The concept of Jesus as 'high priest' is notcommonly used in Protestant theological discussion. What does itadd to your understanding of Jesus and his role?
If Jesus is 'a high priest for ever', whatimplications do you think this has on the question of whetherChristians need human priests and ministers to sustain theChristian life?