“32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David. ”
“18 Melchizedek, king of Salem,[e] brought out bread and wine; he was a priest to God Most High. 19 He blessed him and said:
Abram is blessed by God Most High,
Creator[f] of heaven and earth,
20 and blessed be God Most High
who has handed over your enemies to you.
And Abram gave him a tenth of everything.”
“5 In the same way, Christ did not exalt himself to become a high priest, but God who said to him,
You are my Son;
today I have become your Father,[a][b]
6 also says in another place,
You are a priest forever
according to the order of Melchizedek.[c]
7 During his earthly life,[d] he offered prayers and appeals with loud cries and tears to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. 8 Although he was the Son, he learned obedience from what he suffered. 9 After he was perfected, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him, 10 and he was declared by God a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.”
“4 The Lord has sworn an oath and will not take it back:
“You are a priest forever
according to the pattern of Melchizedek.””
Monday, December 4
Son of the Most High
Scripture Reading: Luke 1:32; Gen 14:18-20; Heb 5:5-10; Psalms 110:4
Depending on your background, you may be unfamiliar with the idea of having to go through a priest to make peace with God. But ever since the fall, there has been a requirement for sin’s atonement. And in Scripture, we see that God has always provided the specific parameters for that atonement.
In the Old Testament, the Jewish people had high priests from the tribe of Levi who would offer sacrifices on behalf of themselves and the Jews. There was a routine structure in place and the stakes were very high.
Read Luke 1:32; Psalm 110:4; Gen 14:18-20
Many passages of Scripture refer to Melchizedek, a high priest from a different lineage whom Hebrews 7 describes as worthy of priesthood not because of heritage but by character. He serves as a precursor to Jesus Christ, our permanent high priest whose ultimate sacrifice on the cross does not need to be replenished or accompanied by additional sacrifices.
Take a moment to consider what it means that Jesus stands between us and the Father, interceding on our behalf.
Read Hebrews 5:5-10
Jesus, whom Hebrews describes as our forever high priest, has made the final, totally sufficient sacrifice in His body on the cross for all sins past, present, and future. For those who have trusted in the blood of Jesus for the atonement of their sins and have submitted their lives to Him, Scripture tells us He is always interceding for us before the Father. What an amazing thought!
Reflection Questions:
- Have you struggled to believe that Jesus is praying for you? How do you feel knowing that Jesus is interceding for you right now as you read this? (See Hebrews 7:25)
- That in Him, God is for you?
Take a moment today to pray and reflect on the reality that Jesus has reconciled us to the Father – forever and thank Him for constantly interceding for you to the Father in prayer.