Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Wednesday, January 18th

Today's passage from the Chronological Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Genesis 19-21
Today's scripture focus is Hebrews 5:7-10

During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek. Hebrews 5:7-10

According to the first portion of chapter 5, the high priest had to be appointed by God, be human, be humanly sympathetic and offer sacrifices for men.  The Hebrews writer was showing the Jews that Jesus was the ultimate High Priest and that He fulfilled all these criteria.  In V6 we see evidence of God appointing Jesus as High Priest.  Jesus had to be incarnated in order to fulfill the human requirement.  And in our passage today we see that due to the suffering He experienced as a man, He is fully able to be sympathetic. Yet He was also perfect, which makes Him the only possible sacrifice for our sins.  He is both the Priest and the Sacrifice at the same time!

He learned obedience - this is not saying that He needed to conquer disobedience.  Rather it proves His humanity and that He experienced human suffering in the fullest. And it proves His righteousness and therefore worthiness as the perfect sacrifice.

All so that He could become our High Priest - so He could be the mediator between us and God - forever!

Tomorrow's scripture focus: Hebrews 5:11-14
Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage passage:  Genesis 22-24

1 comment:

Miriam said...

Loving these verses.