OUR HIGH PRIEST by Augusta W. Heald

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Feb 27, 1901

OUR HIGH PRIEST.

By Augusta W. Heald

The death and resurrection of our Lord were indeed indispensable to the great scheme of man’s redemption; yet these alone did not complete the grand work. The divine plan is still going forward in the heavenly courts on high, for Jesus has now become unto us a “high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; a minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.” Heb. 8:1, 2.

Having made, once for all, the offering of Himself as the sacrificial Lamb, He now, as our advocate, pleads the merits of His dying blood in the sinner’s behalf. But does not the Father Himself love us? Why, then, the need of this constant intercession?

The great controversy between Christ and Satan is not yet ended, nor will it end while this earth remains. Satan is called “the accuser” of the brethren, “which accused them before our God day and night.” Rev. 12:10. As instance of “the accuser’s” enmity, the prophet Zechariah saw in vision “Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him” (Zech. 3:1, 2)—to be his adversary. Joshua was the representative of God’s people, and as he thus stood before “the angel Jehovah,”—Christ,—Satan, pointing to his filthy garments of sin, attempted to show cause for his condemnation; but Christ, the Advocate, said, “The Lord rebuke thee, O Satan; even the Lord that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee; is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?”

Joshua and his associates were delivered from the midst of idolatrous Babylon, not to be again cast away and consumed, but to be saved with an everlasting salvation. Christ then commanded attending angels to remove from Joshua his filthy garments, and said, “Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment.” Zech. 3:4.

Thus does Jesus as our high priest remove the foul stains of sin, and clothe repentant ones in the fair white robes of His own righteousness. He also will enable them to keep their garments undefiled, and will appoint them places in the heavenly courts above, where “they shall walk with” Him “in white;” “for they are worthy.” Rev. 3:4.

Jesus, our High Priest, has met the temptations of the world, the flesh, and Satan in our behalf; He has vanquished all the powers of darkness. Now, at His Father’s right hand, He looks down with compassionate tenderness upon “His brethren,” as He lovingly called them when on earth. He sees them wrestling not only with inward sin, “but against principalities, against powers, . . . against wicked spirits in heavenly places.” Eph. 6:12, margin. He is “touched with the feeling of our infirmities;” for He “was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” Heb. 4:15. “Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them.” Heb. 7:25.

The Gospel preached by Peter on the day of Pentecost makes known the conditions by which all may have a part in the heavenly ministration; for God is no respecter of persons. “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” Acts 2:38.

The ordinance of baptism is a memorial of the death and resurrection of our Saviour. “It is the outward form by which believers show their faith in Christ.” As Jesus died and was buried in the tomb, so is the believer dead to sin, buried beneath the baptismal wave, that, being “planted together in the likeness of His death, we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection.” Rom. 6:5.

Thru faith in the Saviour’s cleansing blood, the old sinful nature is left in the watery grave, and they who come forth to “newness of life” are in figure “risen with Christ.” Henceforth they are enjoined to “seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.” Col. 3:1–3. “Ye are bought with a price” (1 Cor. 6:20), even the precious blood of the Son of God. Says the apostle, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” Rom. 12:1.

Now is this a hardship?—Nay, rather, it is a blessed privilege. Jesus died for us, a death of bitterest anguish, but He bids us live for Him, and it is His will that we serve Him joyfully all the days of our allotted existence. And here is presented ample scope for the highest aspirations.

The grandest earthly success is but a failure; there will come to every man an hour when the proudest honors, the richest gains, of earth can afford no further satisfaction.

The relentless destroyer knows no distinction; he cuts down all alike; the king in his royal palace is no more secure than the poorest mendicant; and he who passes from earth leaves all behind. But the lowly follower of the cross, who labors with Christ and holy angels, ever keeping in view the hope of eternal life, is laying up treasures in heaven, where moth can not corrupt or thief destroy.

While the atonement for sin is going on in the sanctuary on high, God’s children on earth are striving thru faith to perfect Christlike characters, and to bring others to the great Source of light and love. Angels also are permitted to assist in this great work; thus all may become co-workers with the Father and Son, “partakers of the heavenly calling.” Heb. 3:1. “Seeing then that we have a great High Priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God” (Heb. 4:14), “let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering (for He is faithful that promised)” (chap. 10:23). “Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.” Verses 35, 36. “For yet a very little while, He that cometh shall come, and shall not tarry.” Verse 37. R.V.

“Where high the heavenly temple stands, The house of God not made with hands, A great High Priest our nature wears, The Guardian of mankind appears.”

AUGUSTA W. HEALD.