MONDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2025

Our Compassionate Advocate: Approaching the Throne of Grace with Boldness

MESSAGE: JESUS THE PERFECT HIGH PRIEST

The central, enduring truth of the Christian faith is that we have direct, unhindered access to God. This access is not due to our own merit, our sacrifices, or the mediation of earthly rituals; it is entirely due to the finished work and ongoing ministry of one person: Jesus Christ, our Great High Priest.

The book of Hebrews was written to elevate Jesus above all ancient practices and personalities, establishing Him as the superior, perfect, and final authority in our relationship with God. In Hebrews 4:14 – 5:10, we are given an awe-inspiring vision of Christ’s role. He is not a distant deity, nor is He an aloof ruler. He is a compassionate, sinless High Priest who perfectly bridges the gap between a Holy God and a struggling humanity.

This passage urges believers to move beyond timidity and guilt. Because of who Jesus is, we are commanded to hold fast to our confession and to draw near to God’s throne of grace with confidence—a privilege that guarantees mercy and help in every time of need.

1. Superiority of the Priesthood: The Order of Melchizedek

To grasp Jesus’s superiority, we must understand the contrast with the old system. The old Levitical High Priests were fallible men who had to offer sacrifices daily, first for their own sins, and then for the sins of the people (Hebrews 5:1-3). Their work was temporary, repetitive, and ultimately limited by their own human weakness.

Jesus, however, operates in a different, higher order—the order of Melchizedek (Hebrews 5:6).

Superior Authority: Melchizedek, a figure who predates the Levitical law, was both a king and a priest. By being called a High Priest in this order, Jesus’ authority is superior and His ministry is eternal, without beginning or end (Hebrews 7:3).

Superior Position: Jesus surpasses the old Levitical High Priests because He is the Son of God Himself, the fulfillment of prophecy, and has ascended to heaven to present a single, perfect offering (Hebrews 4:14).

This means the foundation of our faith is not built on frail human tradition, but on the enduring, divine, and eternal authority of the Son of God. He is able to perfectly represent humanity before God because He is, simultaneously, perfectly God and perfectly man.

2. The Humanity of our High Priest: Compassion and Sympathy

Perhaps the most comforting revelation in this text is the humanity of our High Priest. His divine authority is coupled with genuine, relatable human experience.

He Understands Our Weaknesses: Jesus did not remain distant. He willingly entered our world and took on our flesh. The text explicitly states that He is able to sympathize with our weaknesses, a Greek term meaning “to suffer with.” He is not disconnected from our reality.

Tempted in Every Way: He understands our weaknesses and struggles because He was tempted in every way, just as we are, yet He never sinned. (Hebrews 4:15).

- He knows the struggle of hunger.
- He knows the pressure of temptation.
- He knows the pain of betrayal and abandonment.
- He knows the exhaustion of human effort.

Because of this profound human experience, Jesus possesses compassion that no earthly priest could ever have. When we come to Him, we are not approaching an uncaring judge, but an Advocate who has personally walked our path and successfully endured its darkest trials. His perfection is not a wall between us; it is a bridge built through His suffering.

3. The Call to Confidence: Approach the Throne of Grace

The reality of who Jesus is—the compassionate and sinless High Priest—produces a clear, dual mandate for the believer.

A. Hold Fast to Your Confession

Because Jesus is our great High Priest, believers are to hold firmly to the faith they confess—that Jesus is the Son of God and their High Priest (Hebrews 4:14).

In the face of adversity, doubt, or religious pressure to return to ritual, our stand must be unwavering. Our confession is our public declaration of faith in Christ’s finished work. Holding fast means consistency, perseverance, and an unshakeable belief that Christ’s single sacrifice is sufficient for all time.

B. Draw Near with Boldness

The most practical application of this truth is the command to draw near to God’s throne of grace with boldness (Hebrews 4:16).

The Throne of Grace: This is the seat of God’s rule, typically a place of judgment, but transformed by Jesus’ sacrifice into a throne of grace. We do not come expecting condemnation, but expecting mercy.

Boldness, Not Timidity: We are not invited to crawl or sneak in; we are commanded to approach with confidence and boldness. This boldness is not arrogance; it is the absolute confidence in the merit of Jesus’ blood, which has made us righteous and acceptable.

We draw near so that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. The mercy cancels the judgment we deserve, and the grace provides the power we need to overcome the struggles we face.

4. The Consequence of Obedience: Eternal Salvation

The ultimate achievement of Jesus’s priestly ministry is the gift of eternal salvation.

As a result of His suffering and obedience, Jesus was made perfect, becoming the source of eternal salvation for all who obey Him (Hebrews 5:8-9).

Perfection Through Suffering: Jesus, though the Son of God, learned obedience by the things which He suffered (Hebrews 5:8). His perfection was achieved not in a theoretical sense, but in the practical, rigorous completion of His mission, culminating in His death and resurrection.

Eternal Salvation: Because of this perfection, His work is not temporary; it is eternal. He provides a new, eternal salvation that is complete and final.

The Necessity of Obedience: This salvation is for all who obey Him. Obedience here is not a condition for earning salvation, but the necessary response to the salvation already given. It is the proof that we have accepted His Lordship. True faith in the High Priest always leads to active submission to the King.

CONCLUSION

Jesus Christ is our Perfect High Priest—divine in His origin, human in His experience, and eternal in His impact. He is the only one who can sympathize with your weaknesses and stand perfectly before God on your behalf.

Let the knowledge of His sacrifice and compassion compel you to hold fast to your confession and to draw near to the Throne of Grace daily. There, you will always find the mercy to cover your failings and the grace to sustain your life.

PRAYER

I thank you Lord Jesus Christ for being my perfect High Priest. Please lead me to the throne of grace daily that I may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Amen.