Psalm 110:1-4. 1The Lord says to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.” 2The Lord sends forth from Zion your mighty scepter. Rule in the midst of your enemies! 3Your people will offer themselves freely on the day of your power, in holy garments; from the womb of the morning, the dew of your youth will be yours. 4The Lord has sword and will not change his mind, “You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.”
The ascension didn’t just enthrone Jesus as king forever, it also placed Jesus in the Heavenly temple as a priest forever. Like the mysterious Melchizedek of old, Jesus is both a king and priest, our great High Priest of Heaven. It is by the ascension that all the blessings of the crucifixion and resurrection are being put into effect in our lives. This is most clearly and completely described in the New Testament book of Hebrews.
Hebrews 4:14-16. 14Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15For 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. 16Let 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.
The Christ who passed through the heavens (the skies) at his ascension is the man Jesus. The one who is able to sympathize with us in our weakness and temptation.
There is no greater spiritual blessing shared with us in our union with Christ than this, that we can with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Because of our union with Christ, we have unrestricted access to the glorious God of grace and mercy. ALL. THE. TIME. No time limits. No scheduling. No waiting. No delays. No prerequisite confessions. No offering required. No gifts to bring. And absolutely no chance of rejection.
Hebrews 9:12. [Christ] entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption.
Christ’s ascension took him into the Holy of Holies of Heaven, to the Mercy Seat of God. Just as the priests of old sprinkled the blood of the atonement lamb on that throne, there Jesus sprinkled his own blood, offering his own life for our eternal redemption.
Redemption. To be purchased out of our slavery to sin. To be bought back from death, the penalty of sin and the master of our destiny. This is the grace of the cross and the glory of the ascension – eternal redemption. All who are in Christ will live every day, forever, in the glory of Christ’s freeing sacrifice for sins. Every debt paid. Every crime exonerated. Every sin atoned for. Both now and forevermore.
Hebrews 10:14. For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.
The ascended Christ is our sanctifying High Priest. Yes, the cross perfects us for all time, but there is also an ongoing work occurring, a sanctifying work. We are BEING sanctified.
How many of us, having trusted in Christ’s cross and resurrection for our justification, have turned to trusting in ourselves for our sanctification, rather than trusting the ongoing work of our ascended priest? How many of us fail to trust that we have been perfected for all time, instead trusting in our own contrition or confession to cover our guilt? How many of us are trusting in repeated “disciplines” or “best practices” to produce spiritual growth? Or how many of us are relying on re-dedicating our life to the Lord in an attempt to be more holy.
Hebrews 10:21-22. 21and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
Now, because we have a great ascended priest over the house of God, Jesus Christ, who has sprinkled our hearts clean and washed our bodies pure, we can draw near to God.
Notice here how we have become the priests. We are the ones drawing near to God. We are washed with water and sprinkled with blood, two of the requirements for the priests before entering the Holiest Place. The High Priesthood of Jesus has made us, his offspring, priests unto God too.
So let us assemble with one another.
Let us pray for one another.
Let us confess to one another.
Let us worship together.
Let us serve together.
Let us love as Christ, the great High Priest whose name is love.
You: What are some ways you try to make yourself right with God? Have they worked?
You in Christ: How might your perspective change if you trusted that you are perfected in Christ.
Christ in you: What might priestly living look like in your day to day life?
Prayer: Father, even in this moment I draw near to you only by the work of Jesus. I want to live in your presence, and I want to be a priest of grace, truth, and love to all I meet. Amen.
To Live is Christ 