40 Days of Praise - Day 35

Day 35

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.
Hebrews 4:15

Yesterday I talked about how Jesus understands our small sins and struggles. Today I want to address the other side of the coin.

The high priest of Israel was the one who, on the Day of Atonement, carried the blood of the bull and the goat into the Holy of Holies and sprinkled it on the Mercy Seat. When Yahweh’s presence was with Israel, He came to the Holy of Holies, to the Mercy Seat. That was the focal point of His presence, even though God was not limited to being in that single location.

The Mercy Seat was the lid of the Ark of the Covenant. In the Ark were the two stone tablets of The Law, a jar of manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded. The people of Israel, like the rest of us, sinned. When God came down to the Mercy Seat, He would see that His law had been broken and would pour His righteous wrath on the people of Israel.

But when the high priest came into the Holy of Holies on the Day of Atonement and sprinkled the blood of the sacrifices on the Mercy Seat, God saw the blood and His wrath was turned away. The high priest had made atonement for their sin.

The high priest had his own sin, so he was sympathetic toward those for whom he was making atonement. Jesus had no sin of his own; He was morally perfect. But He was also fully human and knew the tug of temptation. The things that tempt us tempted Him, but He never yielded. That gives Him a unique empathy regarding the power of temptation and our need for an advocate and intercessor. He offered His blood once for all to atone for our sin, but He did so with compassion because He understood the intensity of the battle to remain holy.

My worst sin, your most heinous sin – these do not shock our High Priest and Savior. Because He understands, we need not run from Him when we sin; we do not need to hide from Him in our shame. In fact, it’s just the opposite: we run to Him because He understands our weaknesses, and He alone has the answer to our sin.

Man of sorrows what a name
For the Son of God who came
Ruined sinners to reclaim
Hallelujah! What a Savior

Bearing shame and scoffing rude
In my place condemned He stood
Sealed my pardon with His blood
Hallelujah! What a Savior

Guilty vile and helpless we
Spotless Lamb of God was He
Full atonement --  can it be?
Hallelujah! What a Savior

Lifted up was He to die
"It is finished" was His cry
Now in heaven exalted high
Hallelujah! What a Savior

When He comes, our glorious King
All His ransomed home to bring
Then anew this song we'll sing
Hallelujah! What a Savior

Charles M. Butler