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
We continue to look at the genealogy of Jesus. This genealogy was crucial for claiming property as we saw yesterday but also in determining your role.
God specifically selected a tribe (Levi) and gave them the role of being priests and acting for the people. They were to be set apart exclusively The law specified that the priests must come from the tribe of Levi. Genealogy also helped determine the line of heirship to the throne.
Jesus has that role too for in the book of Hebrews chapter 4 it tells us that Jesus is our High priest set apart for you and me. This could not have happened had Jesus not come down to that stable in Bethlehem.
Jesus did come down and I can celebrate Christmas not only as I have a Saviour but also, a great High Priest who has ascended into heaven. Notice the word great! Why is He great? Hebrews tells me 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. That’s right did not sin.
I have never met anyone who does not have some flaw yet Jesus has none. Not only did Jesus suffer like me and was tempted like me yet never messed up. When I ponder that I am truly amazed at that fact and confess I just cannot work it out, but the great thing is I am not meant to work it out. I am meant to accept and believe it is true and I do. Therefore I know I can do what the writer says in the book of Hebrews 4:16. 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.
The Bethlehem story is real. Christ came into our world and community John1 10-14 The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us. The verb translated “dwelt” (Gr skeµnooµ) means to tabernacle or live in a tent.
Our human bodies are merely little tents in which we live. The apostle Paul used the same imagery: “… we know that if … this tabernacle were dissolved …” (2 Cor. 5:1). This house in which we live is a tabernacle, a tent, that can be blown over in a night; it can be snuffed out in an instant. Because you and I live in these little tents, the God of eternity took upon Himself a human body and thus pitched His tent down here among us.
We continue tomorrow so stay Safe and Blessed