Saturday 17 October 2026

Psalm 147

Background
Throughout this week we’ve been thinking about how the author of the letter to Hebrews wants to stress how Jesus is truly a high priest. He does so in order to reassure his community that, in choosing to follow Christ, they have chosen a path that will bring them directly into God’s presence. He spends time addressing the question of how Jesus can be a high priest since he did not belong to the priestly tribe. His answer to this is to affirm that Jesus is high priest in the order of Melchizedek, an older and therefore superior order which hints of heavenly origins.

But two more issues need to be addressed and we meet them both in today’s reading. First is the question of sacrifice. The high priest offered sacrificial animals for the people on a regular basis. The purity of the animal was accepted on behalf of an impure people. What sacrifice did Jesus offer? The clear answer is that Jesus offered himself as a sacrifice. Jesus was pure, holy and blameless. Unlike animal sacrifices Jesus’ offering was wholly effective and accepted by God and thus did not, and could not, be repeated. He has been accepted on our behalf.

The second issue is the question of where the high priest intercedes for the people. Here the response is that Jesus, our high priest, intercedes for us in heaven. This is far superior to any earthly place of intercession, since the Temple in Jerusalem, or any other holy place on earth, is but a pale reflection of God’s heavenly throne.

Even though the practice of animal sacrifice is far distant from our way of worship today we can still appreciate that, in Jesus Christ, we have one who has given himself for us and advocates for us in God’s very presence.

To Ponder:

• Spend some time reflecting on the thought that Jesus, in God the Father’s presence, is praying for you.
• St Paul, in Romans 12, urges us to present our bodies to God as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable. What might this mean for you?

Prayer
“Jesus, confirm my heart’s desire to work, and speak, and think for thee
Still let me guard the holy fire and still stir up thy gift in me.” (Charles Wesley)

Bible notes author: The Revd Dr Donald Ker
Donald Ker is a supernumerary minister, originally from Ireland where he served in a number of different appointments. He now lives in Solihull on the Birmingham Circuit.