From our earliest years we experience changes. Can you remember the anxiety of starting at a new school – or with a new teacher? More recently – have you lost job or started a new one? Or changed your doctor or dentist? It can make a difference to life, can’t it?!

We prefer continuity, don’t we? It must have been the same in Israel, when a man or woman went to a priest to confess their sins and offer sacrifice to God. Would you meet the same priest as the last time you went? Very probably not. Would the new one take the same attitude as the last one? Would he show the same compassion and understanding of your daily circumstances, and continuing temptations?

You laid your hand on the head of the lamb or goat, confessed over it your sins – and the beast was killed. But did you come away feeling truly forgiven, and at peace with God? Each time a fresh sacrifice – a different priest . No sense of finality. No assurance that, even when you died, you would be right with God.

No wonder, then, that the writer of this Letter to the Hebrews – in the light of what Jesus has done for us – is quite sure that the whole Old Testament system of priests and animal sacrifices was only a temporary arrangement – only a picture – pointing to Jesus Christ.

So, he tells some Christian Jews tempted to go back to believing the old ways were better – or to believing in Jesus plus something else – that going back means you don’t recognise what blessings you have in Christ! That makes your faith weaker – and takes away from his glory! That’s the thrust of this letter.

What Jesus has done for us

Have you realised that the death of Jesus on the Cross has fully paid for your sins (if you’ve committed your life to him)? Then you’ll not be living in fear of God’s judgement. You’ll not be on a treadmill of finding ways to compensate for your faults, to keep

God satisfied with you. Instead we shall know that God loves us, cares for us – even when we forget him and turn aside. (2 Tim 2:13) We’ll know that he’s hurt when we do that. (Eph 4:30) But he reminds us of his love and draws us back to himself.

For Jesus has made a way back to God – through his death on the cross – once and for ever. The moment he died the curtain in the temple was torn from top to bottom. That curtain had barred the way into the place where the mercy-seat had once stood. Here God had met with Moses, and here God’s glory had been present. (Exod 25:22; Lev 16:2) Now God indicated that, through Jesus’ death, the way into his holy presence in heaven was made available to all.

Now the previously inaccessible, holy throne of God has become the throne of grace – and we are invited to approach him. Not in fear and trembling – as at Mt Sinai, when God spoke his commandments in the hearing of all his people (Heb 12:18-21) – but in confidence, trusting in his love and mercy. He welcomes us!

It is still the throne of God’s majestic sovereignty, and we should always approach reverently (Exod 3:5). But now Jesus has offered for all time one sacrifice for sins (Heb 10:12,14) – even himself (9:26) – so there is now a new and living way, through Jesus, into God’s presence.(10:19-22)

And that sacrifice has been accepted, because God raised Jesus from the dead and seated him on his throne, at his own right hand. (Heb 1:3; 2:9; 10:12; 12:2) That may be picture-language, but it corresponds to Jesus’ own words, All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. (Matt 28:18)

There is no other religion, is there, that gives sinners boldness to present themselves before God?! Can you say, Jesus died for me, and by him, and him alone (for I have no goodness of my own) I come to God in full assurance of faith (Heb 10:22) ?

When we come to the throne of grace we find – at the Father’s right hand – the Man who died for us. At the place of supreme power

and glory, there sits a man glorified and honoured. A real man, who walked the roads of Palestine – who knows the temptations you and I know. He experienced the love, and the hatred of men – and their apathy and indifference, too. He experienced misunderstanding and sorrow – hunger and thirst – torture and the loneliness of death – because he loves you and me.

What Jesus is doing for us now

Do you think he will now let you down – or forget you? No, his love lasts forever. He has promised to stay with us – and to bring us to be with him forever. He is there at all times, and in all places. You can’t always contact your friends immediately, even on your mobile phone – can you? But you can contact Jesus. He will never fail you, nor forsake you. (Heb 13:5; Deut 31:6)

Jesus is the perfect priest – and he never changes. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and for ever. (Heb 13:8) Because he lives forever, his priesthood is permanent – the word used means untransferable. (7:24) We have no need of any other priest, but him alone. He alone is able to save us completely and forever, if we come to God through him. (7:25)

I dare say the word priest may not convey to us all that Jesus is able to be to us – but there are other words that may mean more to us, and touch us closer. Words such as friend, older brother, shepherd, guide, leader...

The passage we heard read tells us that Jesus intercedes for us. (Heb 7:25; Rom 8:34) In other words, he prays for us.
My witness is in heaven,
my advocate is on high.
My intercessor is my friend...
On behalf of a man he pleads with God
as a man pleads for his friend.
(Job 16:18-21)

I think I’ve said enough for you to know that he isn’t standing in front of his Father’s throne pleading still for our acceptance! Away with the thought that God’s Son needs to go on pleading for us – in

case his Father changes his mind! No, as soon as we’ve trusted in what God has done for us at the cross, and committed our lives to Jesus as our Saviour and Lord – from that moment we are united with Jesus, received into God’s family – and he becomes our Father for ever. (John 1:12; Rom 8:1,15-16; Eph 2:4,8)

Yes, we still fall into sin – and that grieves our Father and ruins our fellowship with him. But, if we confess our sins, he will forgive us our sins, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. (1 John 1:7,9) It is the very presence of Jesus at God’s right hand that guarantees our forgiveness, when we turn again to him in faith and repentance.

Jesus prays for us in the same way that he prayed for Peter, Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you all as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. (Luke 22:31- 32) He knows us by name, and our weaknesses, and prays for our strengthening. And he has given us his own Spirit. (John 14:17,26)

Jesus is a friend that loves and understands us – but he is not indulgent. He is there at all times, to give us help to overcome temptation, to strengthen our resolve. But he is intent on making us holy, to be like himself. Be holy, because I am holy. (Lev 19:2; 20:8) He calls us to be his friends, but on his terms, You are my friends if you do what I command. (John 15:14)

The book of Proverbs has some striking advice about how to be a friend. They all apply to Jesus. A friend loves at all times. There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. Wounds from a friend can be trusted. (Prov 17:17; 18:24; 27:6) Like a good friend Jesus takes an active part in our lives. He teaches us through his word – but he’s not just giving us advice.

If our doctor just gave us his opinion, we’d soon be disappointed. If we were in a football team, we’d not expect the team coach just to give us occasional advice on the tactics we had to follow in order to win. We’d expect him to train us on the field, see we got the exercise and experience we needed. And we’d expect him to move the players about.

And that’s what Jesus does with us.
He overrules our circumstances. Like a good shepherd he leads us to places of feeding, refreshment and safety.(Psa 23:1-4) He provides us with human companionship and help. He warns us when we’ve gone astray, Your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”(Isa 30:21) He strengthens and guides us to follow him.

The very words I used earlier to describe Jesus – friend, older brother, shepherd, guide, leader... also tell us how we are to respond to his leadership and his loving care for us.

How should you treat a good older brother? You love, admire, and respect him, don’t you? And how do you treat a friend you love? Don’t you want to spend time with him or her? Show your interest in their concerns – become involved in them – be there for your friend when they ask for you?

If you are serious about Jesus being your Lord and Saviour – then you will take time every day to be with him. You will seek to know him better, to find out what he wants for your life. You will talk to him at all times, not just when you particularly need his help. You will ask him to guide you, help you make choices that affect your life and your future. And you will want him to share your friendships with other people, so he can be their friend too.

How would you treat a team manager or coach? Wouldn’t you respect them, give them your whole-hearted obedience, put in your best effort? Shouldn’t you avoid being self-important, but rather advance the interest of others, and give them encouragement?

How would you behave with an experienced mountain guide? You are trusting to his expertise and knowledge, aren’t you? So you won’t go off, doing what you think is better, will you? You’ve entrusted your safety, your life, into his hands – as you would a surgeon – so you will go with him, and do as he instructs!

May we take these things to heart!