Our High Priest. Hebrews 5.

For every high priest is taken from among the people and appointed to represent them before God, to offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins. (v.5:1 NET)

We learn quite a bit about the high priest in this chapter, and that helps if we're unfamiliar with their role.

• They are selected from the people and represent them before God.
• They are human, which has a twofold effect.
• They have compassion because they too are subject to weakness.
• They have to offer sacrifices for their own sin.
• They are called to this position by God.

At the end of chapter four, the author tells us that Jesus is our high priest. He was human, so he knows our sufferings. He was called by God. But... He is sinless. This makes Jesus a better high priest. So if you were reading this letter, why would you want to go back to the old high priest, instead of staying with the better one?

And what about us? We don't have that temptation. How does this apply to us? Well, we're going to learn more about Jesus as high priest in the next couple of chapters. But two thoughts jumped out from the end of yesterday's reading and the end of today's reading.

The first is a comforting word about what it means to have Jesus as a high priest. In v.4:16 it says, "Therefore let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and find grace whenever we need help." Treasure that thought, and act on it.

The second is a lesson that may help us as we go through difficulties. Jesus did too, and there was purpose in it. In v.5:8 it says, "Although he was a son, he learned obedience through the things he suffered." May it be said of us, too.