CW 546 Since Our Great High Priest, Christ Jesus
The Bible helps us to understand who Jesus is and what Jesus accomplished by talking about the three offices Jesus holds as Prophet, High Priest, and King. This hymn meditates on Jesus’ High Priestly office.
No one can stand before God alone. In order to help the children of Israel understand that, God established the office of priest in Old Testament times. The priest served as the one who would represent the people before God. The priest was the one who would offer sacrifices on behalf of himself and the people.
Likewise, in his role as priest, Jesus goes between God and us. This hymn celebrates what he did and still does in that role.
Stanza 1: Since our great High Priest, Christ Jesus, bears the name above all names, reigning Son of God, surpassing other titles, pow’rs, and claims— since to heav’n our Lord has passed, let us hold our witness fast!
How do we know Jesus was successful in his work as High Priest? It is because of where he now resides. He is in heaven at the right hand of God. His successful work was approved by God the Father. The Apostle Paul wrote: “9 Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:9-11)
Since Jesus successfully carried out his office of High Priest while he lived among us, we are encouraged to hold our witness fast. At the end of the great resurrection chapter, 1 Corinthians 15 (verse 58), Paul concludes: “Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that our labor in the Lord is not in vain.”
Stanza 2: Since we have a priest who suffered, knowing weakness, tears, and pain, who like us was tried and tempted, unlike us, without a stain— since he shared our lowly place, let us boldly seek his grace.
As our High Priest, Jesus knows what we experience because he has been there. “We do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are, yet was without sin.” (Hebrews 4:15) He took our place experiencing everything that we do. Everything, that is, except sin.
The fact that Jesus did this means he is able to relate to us. It means that when we are burdened by sin and guilt, we can turn to our High Priest with confidence knowing that he treats us with his grace, his undeserved love for us. We can be bold as we plead for his mercy.
Stanza 3: Sacrifice and suff’ring over, now he sits at God’s right hand, crowned with praise, no more an outcast, his preeminence long-planned; such a great High Priest we have, strong to help, supreme to save.
While the Old Testament high priests would sacrifice animals, our great High Priest, Jesus, himself became the sacrifice. He became the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. He did it by becoming sin for us. This was all part of God’s eternal plan. Also part of God’s plan was Jesus being exalted once again back to where he came from in the first place. The fact that Jesus has been exalted proves that he has fulfilled his goal to save us.
Stanza 4: Love’s example, hope’s attraction, faith’s beginning and its end, pioneer of our salvation, mighty advocate and friend; Jesus, high in glory raised, our ascended Lord be praised!
Jesus has ascended to heaven, but that doesn’t mean he stopped working on our behalf. He continues to be the friend and advocate for sinners like you and me. He stands ready to hear our every prayer. “So let us approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16)
Jesus, our great High Priest, continues to intercede on our behalf. Luther’s small catechism states that “Jesus pleads for us by virtue of the sacrifice he made for us.” In other words, Jesus reminds God the Father that even though we are sinners who are unworthy to come before the Father’s throne, Jesus laid down his life for us so that we can freely approach our heavenly Father. We are reconciled to God and we have our great High Priest, Christ Jesus to thank and praise.