DYNAMIS!
A publication of St. George Orthodox Christian Cathedral
Wichita, KS
Hebrews 7:27-8:2
(01/27-02/09)
Translation of the Relics of Saint John Chrysostom
The True High Priest: Hebrews 7:26-8:2, especially vss.
8:1, 2: “We have such a High
Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the
heavens, a Minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle which the Lord
erected, and not man.” In the Epistle to the Hebrew Christians, Saint Paul
carefully compares and contrasts the ancient worship of the People of God in
the Temple at Jerusalem with the worship of God’s People who are disciples of Christ the Lord. The Apostle assumes that, in every
generation, God’s People accept that they are sinners (vss. 26,27) who need to be saved from eternal separation from
God. Implicitly, they admit a
yearning to “...obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of
need” (Heb. 4:16).
Anciently, the People of God relied upon a high priest to
“...offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the
people’s...” (Heb. 7:27).
Our greater advantage as Christians is that “...we have such a
High Priest Who is seated at the right hand of the
throne of the Majesty in the heavens...” (Heb. 8:1). Though a man, Christ is not ‘like
all others,’ including the high priests of old, with sin’s
fatal ‘weakness’ (vs. 7:28).
When we sin, we ask our spouse, child, or friend to forgive us, relying
on the bonds of love as a ground of hope that we will gain relief from our
offense. We know they are sinners
like we are and hope they will understand and extend forgiveness.
However, the People of God, ancient and Christian, always
have recognized that when it comes to God, the issue of sin presents an
apparently ‘insurmountable’ problem. Like the whole defiled human race ,we live under the judgment of God Almighty that
“...in whatever day you eat from [the tree of the knowledge of good and
evil], you shall die by death” (Gn. 2:17). The ubiquity of death in human experience
directly connects to the universality of sin among us. How then do we face the all-Holy God and
seek His forgiveness? After all, He
still stands by His charge against sin and its effect on us. God remains undefiled, without sin. On what common ground can we expect
forgiveness from the infinitely good God and perfect Creator?
However, in Christ a new dimension is introduced: a
“...great salvation which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord,
and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him...” (Heb. 2:3). “...the gospel was preached to
us...who have believed...” (Heb. 4:2, 3). Yes, a message of good news (the literal
meaning of ‘gospel’) came from Christ and was put into effect by
Him for us: that we may “...come boldly to the throne of grace, that we
may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Heb.
4:16). In comparing and contrasting
the situation of the ancient People of God and that of Christians, the Apostle
turns us toward the Lord Jesus as ‘High Priest.’
In Christ there is a qualitative leap away from the high
priests of old. Our High Priest is
“...holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become
higher than the heavens...” (Heb. 7:26). Our “...High Priest...is seated at
the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens...” (vs. 8:1). Our
High Priest partakes of Divinity Himself, being “...of one essence with
the Father...,” Who is the very Word of God “...by Whom all things were made.” Thus, He is one of us. In addition, for our salvation from
death and separation from God, the Son of God “...was incarnate of the
Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and was made man.” He lived in the sinful world as a man,
fully demonstrating the love and willingness of God to embrace even death
“...to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him...”
(Heb 7:25).
Are you a sinner?
Aren't we all? Well, we have
a “...Minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle which [Jesus
Christ] the Lord erected...” (Heb. 8:2). As our ultimate High Priest, He
“...is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the
heavens...” (vs. 8:1) to save us.
O Lord, grant me pardon and forgiveness of my sins and
sanctify my soul.
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