For a hundred years, a mural of Christ held a prominent place on a wall in the Sanctuary of Mercy Church in Borja, Spain.
But in August of 2012, Cecilia Gimenez, an 80-year-old church member, took it upon herself to touch up the painting. After decades of moisture buildup, the painting had started to deteriorate, and the colors had started to fade. So Cecilia initiated her do-it-yourself restoration project.
Despite her good intentions, it didn’t turn out well. The town council brought in experts to try to repair her work, but they faced a nearly impossible task. The New York Times said that it was “probably the worst art restoration project of all time.” A Spanish blog called it “the restoration that turned into destruction.” And a BBC article said, “The once-dignified portrait now resembles a crayon sketch of a very hairy monkey in an ill-fitting tunic.”
In interviews, Ms. Gimenez defended her decision. At some point, she took responsibility for her attempt to fix the painting. “We’ve always fixed everything ourselves in this church,” she said. (Raphael Minder, “Despite Good Intentions, a Fresco in Spain Is Ruined,” The New York Times, 8-23-12; www.PreachingToday.com)
A “mess” is what happens when we try to make things work on our own. Believers are to trust in the Eternal Expert to do the impossible and accomplish the role of the High Priest for our journey to spiritual maturity.
The key to growing spiritually is trusting Jesus, whom the Bible describes as “a forerunner on our behalf.” That is to say: He goes before us with the expectation that we would follow, that we would become just like Him. In Hebrews 6:20 the Bible describes Jesus as “a forerunner on our behalf.”
Hebrews 6:20 where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.
The readers of the book of Hebrews are reminded that Jesus was unlike any high priest, with whom they were familiar, those in the Levitical order. The Levitical high priests were NOT forerunners. It is important to note that during the old covenant, the Levitical priesthood failed to give the believer direct access to God. In fact the law and the priesthood failed to bring maturity into the life of the believer. Yet under the New Covenant Jesus is successful to bring us unhindered access to God (4:14-16) and cause growth and spiritual maturity (12:1-2). In order for this to happen…
We must DEPEND ON JESUS, THE greatest PERMANENT high PRIEST.
We must realize that Jesus became the High Priest of a different order – a priest “after the order of Melchizedek.” In Hebrews chapter 7 there is a description of Melchizedek and why He is necessary for us to go on to spiritual maturity.
Recall that this discussion began in Hebrews 6:1. “Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God.”
As a review, remember that the writer to the Hebrews knew that the Hebrew people understood the role of a High Priest very well. He used ways of thinking and Scripture that are foreign to non-Jewish readers. So, we are at a disadvantage, but we are not unable to understand. He states in…
Hebrews 7:1-3 For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all, first being translated “king of righteousness,” and then also king of Salem, meaning “king of peace,” without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, remains a priest continually.
We can unpack the critical information about Melchizedek, he was a high priest for righteousness and the king of peace. The verses also mean that nothing is said in the Old Testament about Melchizedek’s parents, his ancestors, his birth, or his death. He just appears in the Bible and since his death is not recorded. Melchizedek is “a priest forever”. The priests from the Levitical order died, all of them and passed on the role of priest to the next generation.
Importantly for us and the Hebrew people, we need to understand what is at stake; What Melchizedek was in the narrative of verses 1-3, Jesus is in nature. The argument is that Jesus is Priest and King, righteousness and peace incarnate, eternal in His deity, and for this purpose Jesus is able to serve as High Priest in heaven. Jesus as the High Priest is able to ensure that we get to heaven, both in terms of our spiritual maturity on earth and our eternal security forever.
As Hebrew people, they also understand the role of a High Priest. A High Priest’s role was to offer mercy and grace for the people. The High Priest is one who cares for you and goes to God on our behalf. But unlike the high priest of the Levitical order, Jesus does this, not just once a year but every moment, every day.
The point is believers are to rely on Jesus, because He is the best minister there ever was and is. Trust Jesus Christ, the GREATEST High Priest of all time.
Every believer must rely on Christ, the eternal minister. Trust Jesus Christ, the High Priest OF ALL TIME and…
We must DEPEND ON JESUS, THE most SUPERIOR high PRIEST.
Hebrews 7:4-5 Now consider how great this man was, to whom even the patriarch Abraham gave a tenth of the spoils. And indeed those who are of the sons of Levi, who receive the priesthood, have a commandment to receive tithes from the people according to the law, that is, from their brethren, though they have come from the loins of Abraham;
The author of Hebrews is demonstrating the superiority of Christ as the fulfillment of the Old Testament. The priests in Bible days were all from the tribe of Levi, a descendant of Abraham. However, Jesus is greater than any priest from the tribe of Levi. The evidence is because Melchizedek as a priest, blessed Abraham and Melchizedek received tithes from Levi through Abraham. In the next few verses the author demonstrates the superiority of Christ over any priest.
The Old Testament Law commanded all the people of Israel to give a tenth of their income to the priests (Numbers 18:26). However, because Abraham was the ancient ancestor of the Levites, when Abraham paid his tithe to Melchizedek centuries earlier the Levitical priest were in the loins of Abraham, yet unborn.
Hebrews 7:6-7 but he whose genealogy is not derived from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. Now beyond all contradiction the lesser is blessed by the better.
This is the main idea. When Abraham gave Melchizedek a tenth of the spoils of the battle he had just won to rescue his nephew Lot, Abraham displayed that the priestly order of Melchizedek is superior to the Levitical order.
Melchizedek then gave a blessing. In Hebrew culture a biblical principle is found here. The one who blesses is greater than the one (Abraham) who receives it. That is also true of the one who receives the tithe. He is greater than the one who gives it. (Acts 20:30 ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.”)
Hebrews 7:8-10 Here mortal men receive tithes, but there he receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives. Even Levi, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, so to speak, for he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him.
Through Abraham, Levi paid tithes to Melchizedek; therefore, Melchizedek is greater than Levi! The point, Jesus is the high priest in the order of Melchizedek, and is greater than any of the priests from the tribe of Levi.
However, Jesus is the Greatest High Priest of all time, so depend on Him to intercede for you while you live on this earth.
A baseball story might help us understand this better.
Tony Lucadello was one of baseball’s greatest scouts, demonstrated by the fact that the number of his signees making it to the big leagues ranks was higher than any other scout. During his career, he signed 52 young men (including two Hall of Famers) who would rise through the minor league ranks and eventually play Major League Baseball.
Amazingly, Lucadello’s success came even though he covered the territory of Ohio, Indiana, and Michigan. In California, Florida, or Texas, the weather allows for year-round play and thus better players with more opportunities to observe them. Lucadello, however, found and trained the best players in the least likely places.
He did it in places and ways that were unique. Mark Winegardner in his book Prophet of the Sandlots, said Lucadello spurned the typical tools of his trade, the radar gun and stopwatch. He did his job roaming the perimeter of baseball fields instead of sitting behind home plate like most other scouts.
How did he accomplish his success? According to Lucadello, there are four kinds of scouts: Five percent are poor scouts (who seldom plan); five percent are pickers (who just spot weaknesses); eighty-five percent are performance scouts (who look solely based on how players do—against amateur competition); but Lucadello was a rare scout. He looked for how coachable a kid was, when they had a hitch in a swing or a throwing quirk needed to be corrected. The difference is that He saw years “down the road” to envision, under the tutelage of better coaching and against stiffer competition, how a player would play. He saw the potential in talent, rather than just the current-state. (Jim Gilmore, Look, Greenleaf Book Group Press, 2016, page 100; www.PreachingToday.com)
That’s the kind of scout and coach that helps a ball player succeed. We don’t need someone who sees us as we are. We need a “forerunner” who can see down the road and help us to get there. That someone is Jesus, the ultimate “scout”, THE most SUPERIOR high PRIEST of all time.
We need to depend on Jesus, who is the permanent high priest; and the superior High priest; and finally, …
We must DEPEND ON JESUS, THE most POWERFUL High PRIEST.
We must rely on Christ, the effective minister. Trust Jesus Christ, the greatest and STRONGEST High Priest of all time.
There are plenty of people who have a position of authority but are ineffective. Even some of the Levitical priests were not what they should have been. It’s important to believe that Jesus not only has the position; He has the power to change lives.
Hebrews 7:11 Therefore, if perfection were through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need was there that another priest should rise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be called according to the order of Aaron?
Aaron was the first priest and the beginning. Yet theOld Testament priests were ineffective. This is the problem of the old covenant, it could not make people righteous and justified. Neither could the priest of the old covenant make people perfect through the law. i.e., they could not help God’s people become spiritually mature.
It was a battle. A wrestling match. A test of wills. Every day, at exactly the same time, Margaret would go to the bathroom cabinet, open it, and take out a huge bottle of castor oil. Then she would head to the kitchen to get a tablespoon. At the sound of the drawer opening and the silverware rattling, Patches, her Yorkshire terrier, would run and hide—sometimes under the bed, at other times in the bathtub or behind Margaret’s recliner. Patches knew what was coming.
Someone had convinced Margaret that her beloved dog would have strong teeth, a beautiful coat, and a long life if she gave him a spoonful of castor oil every day. So, as an act of love every 24 hours, she cornered Patches, pinned him down, pried open his mouth, and—as he whimpered, squirmed, and fought her with all his strength—poured a tablespoon of castor oil down his little doggie throat. Neither Patches nor Margaret enjoyed their daily wrestling match.
Then one day, in the middle of their battle royal, with one sideways kick, Patches sent the dreaded bottle of castor oil flying across the kitchen floor. It was a momentary victory for the canine, as Margaret let him go so she could run to the pantry and grab a towel to clean up the mess.
When Margaret got back, she was utterly shocked. There was Patches licking up the spilled castor oil with a look of satisfaction only a dog can make. Margaret began to laugh uncontrollably. In one moment, it all made sense. Patches liked castor oil. He just hated being pinned down and having it poured down his throat. (Kevin G. Harney, Seismic Shifts, Zondervan, 2005, p. 23-24; www.PreachingToday.com)
That’s the law and those priests that tried to administer the law. They pin you down and try to pour morality down your throat, but it never worked. It doesn’t make anyone a better person. It was to show you the awfulness of sin. The law often encouraged people to rebel because it was about rules and consequences.
The Old Testament priests were ineffective. However God made a new covenant apart from the Levitical priesthood and the law to His grace.
Hebrews 7:12-14 For when the priesthood is changed, of necessity there takes place a change of law also. For the one concerning whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no one has officiated at the altar. For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, a tribe with reference to which Moses spoke nothing concerning priests. NASB
The law required that all priests come from the tribe of Levi. Yet, Jesus came from the tribe of Judah, so under the Mosaic law He shouldn’t be a priest. But before the Mosaic Law there was the priesthood of Melchizedek! The law changed the priesthood but, God never changed the priesthood of Melchizedek.
Hebrews 7:15-17 And it is yet far more evident if, in the likeness of Melchizedek, there arises another priest who has come, not according to the law of a fleshly commandment, but according to the power of an endless life. For He testifies: “You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek.”
One major reference exist, the law in Psalm 110 declared that the Messiah would be “a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.” Unlike the legal lineage for a priest under the old covenant Law, the priesthood of Melchizedek was based on “an indestructible life.” This means our high priest Jesus, who rose from the grave has the power to change lives forever!
The point is the Old Testament priests were ineffective, but Jesus has the power of an indestructible life! Jesus has the power to make you perfect and complete. He has the power to make you fully mature so depend on Him.
An unknown author wrote: “Greatest man in history, named Jesus. Had no servants, yet they called Him Master. Had no degree, yet they called Him Teacher. Had no medicines, yet they called Him Healer. He had no army, yet kings feared Him. He won no military battles, yet He conquered the world. He committed no crime. Yet they crucified Him. He was buried in a tomb, yet He lives today (unknown).
Unlike the Old Testament Priests, Jesus not only has the position of authority; He has the power to make a difference in our lives. He has the power to change our lives. Jesus saves us now and for eternity, strengthens us in our every need, and has the power that requires us to trust and obey Him! Apart from Him we can do nothing (John 15:4-5)
George Wright began a life of crime that started in 1962. One fateful night, George and a buddy walked into Walter Patterson’s gas station and demanded money. When he objected they beat the older man, until Walter finally gave up all the cash he had: seventy dollars in crumpled bills. George’s buddy shot Walter at point-blank range. After the robbery and shooting, George ate two cheeseburgers and played shuffleboard.
George Wright was arrested and eventually sentenced to 15 to 30 years in prison. That was too long for this angry young man, so he connected with a few other cons and broke out, hotwiring the warden’s car as the means of escape. He stayed under the radar until July 31, 1972, when he hijacked a plane heading from Detroit to Miami, eventually escaping to Algeria.
From there, he began a worldwide fugitive odyssey that took him to Germany, France, Guinea-Bissau, and finally Portugal. Along the way, George changed his name to Jorge, and by the grace of God became a different man. He committed his life to Christ and says now of his criminal past, “I’ve asked God to forgive me, and I think God has forgiven me. But the law—the law says other things.” Jorge married, had children, joined a church, and was baptized.
He turned from crime to working with his hands, so he could provide for his family. He cleaned graffiti in Lisbon and helped to renovate an outreach center for HIV-positive children. He served dinners for homeless people. He planted public flower gardens. He raised two healthy, happy kids. He grew into a senior citizen, and in the forty years of his hiding, he didn’t do anything to add to his crimes—not even a parking violation.
On September 26, 2011, the law finally caught up with George Wright in the form of six Portuguese policemen acting on an Interpol warrant issued by the United States. They found George Wright, but they arrested José Luis Jorge dos Santos. Portugal eventually denied the United States’ attempt to have Jorge extradited, but during the hearings the central issue was not whether they’d arrested the right man but whether they’d arrested the same man. (Make Nappa, God in Slow Motion, Thomas Nelson, 2013, pp. 35-37; www.PreachingToday.com)
George Wright is a different man because of the work of Christ in His life, and Christ has the power to change your life, as well. Stop trying to change yourself. We must trust, obey and follow Jesus Christ, the greatest and strongest High Priest of all time.
Jesus is faithful since He is a permanent priest, the superior priest; and finally, the most powerful priest ever known.
Ruth Bell Graham (1920–2007) once said, “I saw a sign on a strip of highway once that I would like to have copied on my gravestone. It said, “End of construction. Thank you for your patience.” (Ruth Bell Graham, A Hearing Heart; www.Preaching Today.com)
Someday, Jesus will finish His construction work on you, but for now just keep trusting, obeying and following Him.
Hebrews 2:6-11 “What is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? You made him a little lower than the angels; you crowned him with glory and honor and put everything under his feet.” In putting everything under him, God left nothing that is not subject to him. Yet at present we do not see everything subject to him. But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering. Both the one who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers.