Our Mediator Has an Indestructible Life
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A Strong Leader
People need and want strong leaders, well, most people. Sometimes strong leaders do well, but too often authority and power corrupt a person. Then, corruption breeds more corruption, and they become oppressors of those who desire and need strong leadership.
One enduring problem is that no human leader can be supremely benign and powerful in a way that is fair and beneficial to all. Every person is fallible and limited because of their human limitations.
Even the best leaders, those who are well-respected and loved, disappoint others for one reason or another. And every human leader eventually dies because they’re human. This creates a leadership vacuum in their absence.
Humanity isn’t able to fix all its woes and weaknesses. We may continue to find ways to make life better, but all these efforts have an endpoint or never realize their intended purpose.
This is one of many reasons the Lord Jesus needed to be sent. Not as a king or government leader, but as a Savior. Only He could resolve the needs of all people because of who He is and His eternal nature.
He led by example and connected with people at a very personal level, especially the poor and needy. His strength was not limited and fleeting, but enduring.
Even in what many saw as weakness—His death on the cross—He proved to have an indestructible life. He is the only reliable mediator and bridge between all humanity and God.
Scripture Text
The people established the Levitical priesthood based on instructions they received. If the work of the Levitical priests had been perfect, we wouldn’t need to speak about another kind of priest. However, we speak about another kind of priest, a priest like Melchizedek, not a Levitical priest like Aaron. [vs 11]
When a different kind of priesthood is established, the regulations for those priests are different. The priest whom we are talking about was a member of a different tribe. No one from that tribe ever served as a priest at the altar. Everyone knows that our Lord came from the tribe of Judah. Moses never said anything about priests coming from that tribe. The regulations were different. This became clear when a different priest who is like Melchizedek appeared. [vss 12-15]
That person is a priest, not because he met human requirements, but because he has power that comes from a life that cannot be destroyed. The Scriptures say the following about him: “You are a priest forever, in the way Melchizedek was a priest.” [vss 16-17] (Hebrews 7:11-17 GW)
[Context– Hebrews 7]
Key Phrase —
He [Jesus] has power that comes from a life that cannot be destroyed.
Dig Deeper Into the Text—
What are the two different priesthoods spoken of here and how are they different?
Why was a new and different priesthood needed? What change did this also require?
What set Jesus apart to be a priest, as Melchizedek was?
What do the Scriptures (Ps 110:4) say about Jesus as a priest?
Things to Consider—
The first priesthood God established under the Mosaic Law is called the Aaronic priesthood. Aaron was the brother of Moses and served as the first High Priest of the Mosaic (Old) Covenant. Being human, he died and a new high priest was required for each succeeding generation.
God established a New Covenant with a new priesthood based on His grace rather than people’s obedience to the Law. This broke the inescapable cycle of life and death of human high priests.
The role of a priest was to be a bridge and mediator between God and His people. Jesus became a mediator who was also a Savior for all people. There is now, and only will be, forever, one high priest under this New Covenant of grace. Jesus.
The priesthood of Jesus continues forever, unlike that of Aaron and his descendants. Jesus endures as a priest forever because He is the Son of God, both human and divine in nature.
His resurrection from the dead proved His indestructible life. Jesus continues as a mediator and the way to God for all humanity.
Believers can have full confidence in Jesus as our Mediator and Savior at all times because of His indestructible life. And He welcomes unbelievers to place their faith in Him as their faithful Savior and Mediator.
Answer These Questions to Apply God’s Word in Your Life—
Is your relationship with God dependent upon a human priest, pastor, or spiritual leader?
Do you understand how the eternal nature of Jesus as the Son of God makes Him an indestructible priest and mediator?
Have you learned to trust Jesus as the only bridge and mediator between us and God?
In what ways are you learning to trust in Jesus alone as your Mediator and Savior?
Here’s a link to a free study guide for the book of Hebrews— Study Guide and Study Questions for Hebrews
