Hebrews 5:5-10

So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you”; as he says also in another place, “You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.”  In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence.  Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered.  And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.

The previous passage described the work of the high priests that represented the nation of Israel before God.  This passage describes the work of Jesus as he represents all people before God.  Jesus is superior to the high priests in every way.  He is the only reason that anyone can be saved.

JESUS WAS APPOINTED BY GOD: The relations and functions within the Trinity are rather difficult to comprehend, as we should expect because God is so much higher than we are.  The Trinity is one God in three distinct persons.  So the Father appointing the Son as high priest requires some hard thinking on our part but is simply what we are called to believe.  However, different from the priests in Israel, Jesus is the Son of God and He is after the order of Melchizedek as opposed to being from Aaron.  This refers to the priest to who Abraham gave a tithe after rescuing Lot.  This is stated to demonstrate that Jesus is of a higher rank than any other high priest ever to exist.  Only Jesus is the Son of God and a “priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.” 

JESUS AGONIZED BEFORE GOD: When Jesus was on earth, He took on human flesh and became a man.  He continues as a man but has a glorified body like we will have in the future.  However, when He was in His earthly body, he agonized before the Father about the pain of the cross and taking on the wrath of the Father on our behalf.  Though He was fully God he was also fully man and as a man He learned, grew, suffered, and practiced a perfect obedience.  As a man Jesus prayed to the Father, made intersession on behalf of the people around Him and even for Himself.  Even today He continues and a man in glorified body at the right hand of the Father making intersession on our behalf.

JESUS ATONED FOR SIN AGAINST GOD: Because Jesus obeyed perfectly having withstood all temptation to sin but did not sin, He was able to make atonement for our sin.  It is through His sacrifice that the price of our sin could be paid.  He is the source of our eternal salvation and He is our only hope of forgiveness.  He made atonement for our sin before God and He became our representative before the Father forever.  His life on earth was our perfect example and His death on the cross was what will make us perfect in our eternal salvation. 

APPLICATION: Give praise to the Father for appointing Jesus as our high priest.  Call out to the Lord for His help in our distress knowing that He understands our grief and struggles against sin.  Obey the Lord just as He demonstrated obedience throughout His life.  Trust in the sacrifice of Jesus as our only hope for eternal life.

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