The Rev. Paul J Cain, Jr.
Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9
A Great High Priest FOR YOU
Good Friday, 29 March 2013
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Sheridan, Wyoming
In the Name of Jesus. Amen.
Quoted and adapted from LSB
Altar Book: Good Friday is not observed as a funeral for Christ. It is a
day for repentance over sin and restrained joy and praise for the redemption
Christ accomplished for us on the cross. In keeping with this character, music
is kept to a minimum, though not silenced. Tonight’s service contains a number
of ancient elements, particularly the full reading of the Passion according to
St. John, the Bidding Prayer, the cross procession and the reproaches, and the
Responsory. It is a continuation of the service begun last night, and will
conclude Sunday morning.
Jesus’ threefold office was that of prophet, priest, and
king. We are quite familiar with His teaching, Jesus as prophet. On a crucifix
we can see Him enthroned as Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews. The witness to
the Hebrews speaks of Jesus as our great High Priest—Your great High Priest. A
great High Priest for you—the royal priesthood of all the baptized.
Annas and Caiaphas—these names we know. These men were High
Priests of the Jews. Several of Annas’ sons became High Priest. Caiaphas
married a daughter of Annas. These men conspired with Judas. Along with the
Sanhedrin, they condemned Jesus and led Him to Pilate. These leaders went after
the disciples. They martyred Stephen and James the brother of John.
Jesus is a very different High Priest. He has passed through
the heavens! He came down from heaven and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of
the Virgin Mary and was made man. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right
hand of the Father. He is what He claimed to be, the Son of God, the very thing
for which the Chief Priests, elders, and teachers of the law condemned Him.
It’s not blasphemy if it is a true confession!
Therefore, let us hold fast to our confession. Let us
continue to confess one Lord Jesus Christ, crucified for us under Pontius
Pilate. Let our confession of faith remain clear and strong in our hearts,
minds, and on our lips. No wonder Dr. Luther recommended confessing the
Apostles’ Creed at least twice a day, in the morning when you get up, and in
the evening when you go to bed. Not only does the day start out properly, but
comforted by Christ, we can go to sleep at once in good cheer and in peace.
Why do we have such confidence? 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. Jesus was incarnate. He was made
man. He suffered. He knows what it is like to live and work among sinful human
beings. He knows what it is like to grow up in a sinful world, encounter
stress, trouble, temptation, disease, tragedy, and death.
Jesus is the only one who in every respect has been tempted
as we are, yet without sin. Christ was sinless, the spotless, unblemished,
whiter-than-snow-wool Lamb of God. In Old Testament times, an animal with any
kind of imperfection would be an unacceptable offering. So too, with the
once-for-all sacrifice for sin, Jesus. Only a male, sinless lamb would be an
acceptable sacrifice of atonement, propitiation for our sins!
Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of
grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Pray
in full faith, confident that your Father in heaven hears you. Pray
persistently, knowing that He loves you and cares for you. Pray in harmony with
His revealed will in His Word. Pray that His will would be done, and that your
will would be brought into conformity with His. Pray confidently in the name of
Jesus, your mediator and High Priest.
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. Jesus prayed regularly in the
gospel accounts, going off to a solitary place. He prayed in Gethsemane,
knowing that it would only be a matter of time before Judas came with the
soldiers. Jesus prayed upon the cross, “Father, forgive them…” And the Father
heard Him and forgives us.
Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he
suffered. I’m not here to tell you that suffering is fun. I can’t pretend that
suffering is pleasant. It’s called suffering after all! It hurts!
It hurts to see someone else suffering, but Jesus’ suffering
has purpose! It is far from meaningless pain. Jesus’ Passion—His suffering,
crucifixion, and death, had the purpose of atoning for your sin. It is not
simply unjust punishment given to an innocent Jewish Rabbi. The Father sent
Him. The Son willingly went to the cross. There forgiveness was won. Here,
today, the Spirit delivers the benefit to you and all who believe.
Yet, you suffer, too. Know that you are not alone. In our
times of trial, it is easy to fall prey to the temptation to despair. Hymns
provide hope and comfort in such a time. “Be Still, My Soul” may not be a
typical Lenten or Good Friday hymn, but consider the text: “Be still, my soul;
the Lord is on your side; Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain; Leave to
your God to order and provide; In every change He faithful will remain. Be
still, my soul; your best, your heav’nly Friend through thorny ways leads to a
joyful end.” (LSB 752:1) We can
imagine praying beside our Lord in the Garden, preparing for the cross to come.
He is with us!
Christ is with you every step of your journey, when you pick
up your cross to follow Him. We cannot choose our crosses, how we suffer for
the faith in this world. As another hymn (LW
version of LSB 756) says, “You
designed the cross you gave me; Thus You know All my woe And how best to save
me.” Faith sees through the gloom to the Lord’s defending hand and the noble
graces our Lord shares with His heirs in the heavenly places.
And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal
salvation to all who obey him…Christ was perfectly sinless. Having accomplished
all that His Father had given Him to do, He ascended into heaven and will come
again with glory to judge both the living and the dead. His kingdom will have
no end.
And (LSB 555) so
we sing: “Salvation unto us has come By God’s free grace and favor;…Faith looks
to Jesus Christ alone, Who did for all the world atone…” Christ is the source
of eternal salvation—by grace alone, through faith alone, in Him alone, as
recorded in the Old and New Testaments alone.
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. Jesus was descended from Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Judah,
and David. Being from the tribe of Judah, He was not also from the tribe of Levi—the priestly
tribe. So God designated Him a priest of a higher order, that of Melchizedek,
the priest to whom Abraham gave a tithe.
Jesus is our priest forever. You have no need for any other
high priest, or any other so-called Aaronic or Melchizedek priest! Jesus did
not have to offer sacrifices for His own sin, since He was sinless. He enters
the most holy place in heaven and intercedes for you directly with the
Father. His Good Friday sacrifice was good enough once for all to forgive all
your sins. Jesus is your great High Priest. “Offered was He for greatest and
for least, Himself the victim and Himself the priest” (LSB 637). Amen.
In the Name of Jesus. Amen.
