David Bahn – Reflections

Hebrews 5 [ESV]

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,

“You are my Son,
today I have begotten you”;

⁶ as he says also in another place,

“You are a priest forever,
after the order of Melchizedek.”

Jesus is the Son of God. He is the creator of the universe. Everything that came into being came into being through him. Yet Christ did not exalt himself. This is a mystery of the divine nature of Christ and the triune Godhead that defies explanation. It simply does not make sense.

But we are called to believe in not to understand God! And if we believe in God in regard to the divine nature of Christ, and his exaltation as high priest there comes another truth. We must take on a humility as followers of Christ and those who believe in the God who exalted him.

This is impossible to do at all times. Even before God we are tempted to become proud, demanding an explanation from him, as though we can call God into account! That is not to mention how we treat others. When I am challenged, or when someone (wrongly even) lectures me, or becomes haughty with me, I do not easily remain humble. In fact I assert my proper place.

If Jesus entrusted himself to God and waited for the Father to exalt him, so should we. True greatness is conferred by God – never is it asserted by man.

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,

“You are my Son,
today I have begotten you”;

⁶ as he says also in another place,

“You are a priest forever,
after the order of Melchizedek.”

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 need milk, 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.