Rev Jide Interviewed In New York

Saturday 10 April 2010

We Have A Great High Priest


We have a Great High Priest


Hebrew 4:14-16 “Since, then, we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. 15For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin. 16Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

This is an announcement of hope, anticipation, optimism, and expectation for many people who may have lost hope or dissipated on the notion that Jesus died for all our weaknesses. A failure to acknowledge that from the beginning of creation God’s love for humankind never shifted.

Whatever we may be going through in our daily lives and uphill struggles, Jesus has been through it or it is safe to say that Jesus is going through the difficult times with us, shares our pains and burdens, our joys and triumphs. Our confession, that Jesus is Lord of all requires renewal with clarity of our faith in the divine intervention of the almighty God.

Let me take more time to analyse this passage for a better understanding;
a) Since, then, we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God; There is no misunderstanding on the superiority of Jesus, there is no confusion about his Excellency, the son of God, he has passed through heaven and earth, so there is nothing we are going to pass through that he has not experienced.
b) Let us hold fast to our confession; Our confession in God and Jesus is the confession of our faith and honour of the creator. “For without faith it is impossible to please God for whoever comes to God must believe that God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek God”. Hebrew 11:6
c) For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses; Jesus sympathises with all of humanity, where there are pains and calamities, where there are aches and perils, Jesus is there. Jesus is the only high priest who is capable of transcending our turmoil to serenity, our mourning to dancing and sorrow to joy.
d) But we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin; Christ stood the test for our victory, Jesus paid the price for our liberation, redemption, and freedom, Jesus is the child of God without blemish nor sin, there are no tests under the sun and or on earth that Jesus had not passed for our sake, with this in mind we must find a place in our heart for celebration of the sanctity of our souls.
e) Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness; We should therefore come with boldness and not fear, with rejoicing and not sadness, courage and not cowardice, when we come with boldness and faith we are guaranteed a higher measure of success, testimony and victory.
f) So that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need; When we fulfil all of the proscribed notions in these verses, we are rewarded with mercy and grace, which meets our help in time of need, including grace to help ourselves and each other.

I am encouraged by the verses shared in this reflection and it is my hope and prayer that an extension of this love and grace of God will be given to all regardless of race, age, gender, sexual orientation, abilities, disabilities, wealth and so on.

More love more power
Rowland Jide Macaulay

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