Christ Our Great High Priest
Come Boldly to the Throne of Grace
Main Scripture
Hebrews 4:14–16
“Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathise with our weaknesses, but we have One who has been tempted in every way, just as we are, yet He did not sin.
Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”
We Have a Great High Priest
Today we come to one of the most encouraging truths in Scripture.
Many people struggle with the question:
“Can I really come before God?”
Some feel unworthy because of their past.
Some feel too sinful.
Some believe they must first become better before approaching God.
But the message of Hebrews is clear:
We do not come before God because we are perfect.
We come because we have a perfect High Priest.
His name is Jesus Christ.
Jesus Is Our Great High Priest
The writer of Hebrews begins:
“We have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God.”
For the Jewish people, the role of the high priest was extremely important.
The high priest represented the people before God.
Once a year, on the Day of Atonement, the high priest entered the Most Holy Place and offered sacrifices for the sins of the people.
But those priests were temporary.
They were human.
They had their own weaknesses.
They had to offer sacrifices repeatedly.
Jesus is different.
He is the perfect and eternal High Priest.
He does not need to offer sacrifices for His own sins because He was without sin.
Instead, He offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for our sins.
Jesus Understands Our Weakness
One of the most beautiful truths in this passage is:
“We do not have a high priest who is unable to empathise with our weaknesses.”
Jesus is not distant from our struggles.
He knows what it means to experience suffering.
He knows temptation.
He knows rejection.
He knows sorrow.
During His earthly ministry, Jesus experienced hunger, exhaustion, betrayal, and pain.
He understands the human experience.
Yet there is one difference:
“He was tempted in every way, just as we are, yet He did not sin.”
Jesus understands our weakness without sharing our sin.
He can sympathise with us because He has walked through suffering, but He can also save us because He remained perfectly righteous.
The Perfect Mediator Between God and Humanity
The Bible teaches that sin separates humanity from God.
But God, in His mercy, provided a way of reconciliation.
Jesus Christ is the mediator between God and mankind.
Paul writes:
“For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus.” – (1 Timothy 2:5)
Jesus stands between us and the Father, not because the Father is unwilling to forgive, but because God Himself provided the way of forgiveness.
The Father sent the Son.
The Son gave His life.
The Spirit draws us to Christ.
Our salvation is the work of the Triune God.
Come Boldly to the Throne of Grace
Then Hebrews gives us an incredible invitation:
“Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence.”
Notice the words:
We are not coming before God trusting in our own righteousness.
We are coming to the throne of grace, where we receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Because of Jesus, believers can approach God with confidence.
This does not mean we come arrogantly.
We come humbly.
But we come with assurance because our acceptance is based on Christ, not our own performance.
Mercy and Grace in Time of Need
The passage ends with a wonderful promise:
“So that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”
Every person has moments of weakness.
Every believer faces struggles.
Every disciple needs God’s help.
The Christian life was never meant to be lived alone.
God invites us to come to Him.
When we fall, He offers mercy.
When we struggle, He offers grace.
When we are weak, He offers strength.
Jesus Continues to Intercede for Us
The cross was not the end of Christ’s ministry.
He died.
He rose again.
He ascended into heaven.
And He continues His priestly ministry.
This gives tremendous assurance to the believer.
We don’t have to wonder whether Jesus will continue to represent us.
He lives.
He reigns.
And He intercedes for His people.
The Invitation
Perhaps you have been carrying guilt from the past.
Perhaps you believe you are too far away from God.
Today, hear the invitation of Christ:
Come.
Not because you are worthy.
Come because He is worthy.
Come because His sacrifice is sufficient.
Come because His grace is greater than your sin.
The throne of God has become a throne of grace through Jesus Christ.
Return to the Shepherd
Jesus is our Great High Priest.
He understands our weaknesses.
He carries our burdens.
He represents us before the Father.
Because of Him, we can approach God with confidence.
The Shepherd does not stand far away from His sheep.
He came near.
He lived among us.
He gave His life for us.
And today He invites us to come to Him.
Reflect & Examine
The message of Hebrews 4:14–16 invites us to examine how we approach God.
Because Jesus is our Great High Priest, we do not have to hide from God when we are weak, struggling, or aware of our failures.
We can come to Him.
Take a moment to examine your heart honestly.
Ask yourself:
- Do I truly believe that I can approach God with confidence because of Jesus Christ?
- When I fail or fall into sin, do I run toward God for mercy, or do I hide from Him in shame?
- Am I relying on Christ and His righteousness, or am I trying to make myself worthy through my own performance?
- What weakness, fear, burden, or failure do I need to bring before the throne of grace today?
- Do I believe that Jesus understands my weaknesses and is able to help me when I am tempted?
- Is there an area of my life where I need to receive God’s mercy and grace rather than continue carrying guilt?
Today’s Step
Set aside some quiet time today to come honestly before the Lord.
Bring Him one weakness, one fear, one burden, and one area where you need His grace.
Do not hide.
Do not pretend that everything is fine.
Do not wait until you feel worthy enough to approach God.
Come because Jesus has opened the way.
Today, draw near to Christ and place your burdens in His hands, trusting that He understands your weakness and is able to help you in your time of need.
Closing Prayer
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for sending Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Great High Priest. Thank You that through Him we can approach Your presence with confidence and receive mercy and grace. Help us to remember that our hope is not found in our own strength, but in the finished work of Christ.
When we are weak, remind us that Jesus understands. When we fall, remind us that Your mercy is greater than our failures. Teach us to draw closer to You each day and to trust fully in Your grace. In the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour.
Amen.
“Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” — Hebrews 4:16