David Bahn – Reflections

Hebrews 5:1

For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins.

Recently a father was sharing his concern for his son who had been estranged from him for 16 years. He talked about his love, concern, and desire for a loving and respectful relationship with his son. His eyes betrayed the pain of the years of sleepless nights and worry-filled days. He spoke of his prayers for his son. He is a priest.

A woman shared her concern for her friend who was having an affair. She talked to her friend, warned her that her path was not good – that it would end with wrecked lives, broken hearts, and destroyed families. She prayed for her friend, asking God for wisdom to help her friend. She is a priest.

There are many others who are priests – many who pray for friends or family members. Some go the second and third mile to help someone get back to God. Some even go to foreign countries in search of opportunities to help people in their relationship with God. But you don’t have to go that far. Nor is every priesthood opportunity one that is so dramatic or difficult.

Whenever you give of yourself in service to others, offering God’s grace and pointing people toward Jesus’ sacrifice for our sins you are acting as a priest. Your priestly garb is the righteousness of Christ. Your authority comes because by faith you are a child of God (John 1:12). The power you have is the power of the Gospel (Romans 1:16-17). The truth that you share is Jesus himself who is the gift of God and the sacrifice for our sins.

Hebrews 5 [ESV]

For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. ²  He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness.³ Because of this he is obligated to offer sacrifice for his own sins just as he does for those of the people. ⁴ And no one takes this honor for himself, but only when called by God, just as Aaron was.

⁵ So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him,

⁶ as he says also in another place,

⁷ 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. ⁸ Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. ⁹ And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him,¹⁰ being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.

¹¹ About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. ¹² For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You needmilk, not solid food, ¹³ for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. ¹⁴ But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.