[Sermon Archive]

This Week's Sermon THE FIFTH MIDWEEK IN LENT 01 April 2009 "The Only Competent High Priest" Hebrews 5:1-10 LSB Series B Vicar Gerald D. Heinecke Soli Deo Gloria!

A crisis occurs in the church today. Both extremes of the church, from the so-called conservative as well as liberal wings of the church fall into the danger that external forms are necessary for the proper attitude towards God. It includes the Christian in general and also specifically Lutheran. Whether it be those who follow traditions for the sake of tradition, saying, "this is the way it has always been done." Or others who go to the opposite extreme and follows the "pop culture" style of worship for the sake of change, saying "because the world is changing so must the church." If either of these occur there is the danger that the doctrine of faith and salvation will be relegated to the background, if not dismissed altogether. (Kretzmann, Paul, Popular Commentary of the Bible, Vol II, pg. 452)

Here at Immanuel we label ourselves not as liberal or conservative but as confessional. It is why you are taught over and over again why we do what we do within the divine service. It is done so that you know it is not just for the sake of following tradition. Everything in the divine service has purpose: from the words of our ancient, glorious liturgy to the words of institution, to why we kneel, sit, bow, say amen, or make the sign of the cross. It is why we are always students of the Word and why one can rarely call himself a doctor of the Word.

In the letter to the Hebrews we see the church of the New Testament, especially the Jewish Christians, becoming guilty of over-emphasizing the laws of the Old Testament. They were placing unneeded pressure on new, gentile Christians to follow the Law given at Sinai. The author's point is simple.

We are in the final midweek service of this lenten season. This upcoming Sunday begins Holy week in which we see Jesus fulfill all his purposes for coming to this earth. What are those purposes? You know them simply as his need to die for the sins of the whole world. Why should we care about a high priest today? Jesus died for us. It is simple as that, all done, no more need of the High Priest, right?

The purpose of Christ's coming, though, is intimately wrapped around the need for him to be a High Priest. Actually he is the High Priest, the final, the one and only. The high priest was the most important individual in Jewish culture and religion. The high priest was selected by God himself as a mediator between himself and man. No one chose to make this office his own. Rather, he was called by God just as Melchizedek was and later on as the High Priest would be chosen from the tribe of Levi just as Aaron was. This allowed him to sympathize and deal gently with ignorant, erring individuals. While still being conscious of his own weakness and sin, he might adopt the proper attitude of gentleness in dealing with the congregation offering sacrifices for their sins and reconciling them to God. This is not an office designed to gratify one's own ambition, but rather to truly serve God by caring for his people.

(Kretzman, 452-3) Interestingly enough this Lenten season began with this concept of "being chosen" in Mark 1. Jesus was chosen by God in his baptism and then our sins our thrown like a weight around his shoulders allowing him to sympathize with his people. He then goes into the wilderness to be tempted. Here we see how Christ is able to sympathize and deal with us, his church, having been attacked by the Devil himself. Taking on this office he goes forth to declare, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe the gospel." He truly cares for his people and he is not motivated by his own ambition. Instead he desires that we would repent and be his people.

Why should we care about a high priest today? We still need a high priest to intervene for us. We are sinners-horrid, wretched sinners. For those sins a sacrifice must be given, a perfect sacrifice without any blemish or sin. Hence the name Jesus Christ is very applicable for him in his work done for us. The title Christ means Anointed One, and his name Jesus means the Lord saves. The Anointed One saves us from our sin by dying on the cross once for all time.

With his death on the cross he does not cease to be the Anointed One. Jesus did not end his service as high priest at his resurrection but continues to be a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. This is what makes him the only competent high priest. Melchizedek means righteous king. How can one be a righteous king? He must be a perfect, holy king. Luther believed that Melchizedek was none other than Shem, Noah's son. He was one of the righteous eight who was saved from the flood, who continued to teach people of the true God. In light of this, to be declared a priest of Melchizedek rather than of Aaron is significant in three ways.

First, it shows Jesus to be what he truly is, a righteous king and priest. He sit on his throne at the right hand of God the Father. When Pilate asked, "Are you a king?" Jesus said, "Yes, but my kingdom is not of this world." Secondly, we can now read the text from Genesis 14 in a new light. For we see Melchizedek, as a type of what is to come. Abraham believed that Melchizedek was truly a righteous king, but he foreshadows the true righteous king. The one who brings that title to its completion, that is, Jesus Christ.

Third, and most importantly, because Jesus is the great high priest the work of the Levites and the temple priests is now abolished. This brings us back to the beginning of the sermon. The Jewish Christians were still insisting it was important that they follow the Jewish laws, all the sacrifices, the circumcision, and the eating of only clean meat. But Jesus' earthly work had freed them of the temple law. They are given a new temple to worship. It is as Pastor said a couple weeks ago in his sermon on John 2, "Jesus' body is the real temple."

The author of Hebrews wanted the early Christians to know that they did not need all those laws given at Sinai. They were freed from the burden of the ceremonial law. Instead they were given a much greater temple to go to. He wanted them to not look at their own heart and actions but to look to the means that were instituted by the great high priest. He wanted them to turn to the means of grace where forgiveness is offered without obeying the numerous demands of the law.

This problem even plagues Christianity today. Many still want to look at themselves for salvation rather than trust the gift that God gladly gives, the gift of salvation that cost so much. We come to his sanctuary not to say look at me, but to repent. We come to confess our sins and receive the absolution. We come to hear his Word, and to receive the forgiveness of sins won for us. We come to eat and drink of his body and blood to receive the forgiveness of sins offered freely to those who believe that he has the power to save.

Jesus came among all men and offered the greatest sacrifice for sins. He can and does deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, that is us, since he himself is beset with weakness taking all our sins upon himself. Because of this Jesus offered himself as the sacrifice and he also offered up prayers and supplications on our behalf. And because Jesus is perfect he is heard and is always interceding before God on our behalf. It is a rich blessing to know that we have an advocate for us.

Jesus knows no sin. He is not part of the Levitical priesthood that is imperfect. Jesus is the only competent high priest we will ever have because he knew how to give the greatest sacrifice. It is a sacrifice found in the blood of his life that makes us right with the Father both now and in eternity. We can be confident that our sins are forgiven, not by looking in our own hearts, but because our high priest has given us means to know that we are forgiven. For Jesus says to the Father, "Look at my blood. It covers over their sin." We can be confident that he is the competent high priest because he did not stay dead but now lives and reigns to all eternity as the righteous king after the order of Melchizedek.