Hold Fast on Jesus During the Pandemic (Heb. 4:14-16)
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Once again, the world is shutting down. Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) has
caused anxiety and fear within us about our own health, jobs, and so on. People surrounding us have been suffering and
dying that most of us never expected. The new variant of Coronavirus (known as
the Second wave of Covid pandemic) has caused a devastating crisis in our country and most people are dying due to the shortage of sufficient facilities and equipment
i.e. liquid oxygen, ventilators, medicines, beds, etc. in the hospitals. Some experts believe that ‘the true number of deaths is two to five times what is being
reported.’ ([1]) In spite of launching the vaccine in January, the number of new
cases and deaths are continued to rise.
In this such circumstance, most of us may be struggling to see God
at work and began to think that God has left or ignored us. Some of us may be
grieving and mourning over dear ones who have passed away due to the pandemic. It
is not pleasant to feel pain and grief, however, these are the part of our lives
on this earth. In such an hour of
suffering, we all need to hold fast on Jesus who is the rock of faith and hope.
The Scripture provides us these three reasons to put our hope in Jesus.
JESUS IS OUR PERFECT PRIEST (vs. 14)
Even today some communities living in rural areas, whenever they
face a crisis in their lives or feel sickness, they go to the priest for
counseling, solution, and healing. They believe that priest is chosen ones by
their deities and have special wisdom and power given by deities to short out
the problems of devotees and heal their sickness. These priests play a vital
role in the lives of people as well as within the community.
Therefore, the Scripture speaks of the priesthood of Jesus Christ.
“Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.” (vs. 14) Here Jesus is
called ‘great high priest’. The Old Testament
describes two orders of priesthood. First, it speaks of the priesthood of
Melchizedek, to whom Abraham gave a tithe of everything (Gen. 14:17-20 cf. Heb.
7:1-10). Melchizedek was the king of Salem and was called the priest of God
Most High. The priesthood of Melchizedek existed before the Leviticus order came
into existence. Secondly, it speaks about the Levitical priesthood, which
established by Moses appointing Aaron as a priest, according to the Law (Exodus
28:1-3). Then afterward the descendants of Aaron began to serve as a priest to
the nation of Israel and minister in the tabernacle. The term ‘Levitical’ derived from the Israelite
tribe of Levi, to whom God
chose to be His priests.
In Leviticus 16, God
instructed Moses to observe a Day of Atonement once in a year, where Atonement
is to be made once for a year for all the sins of Israel (Levi 16:34). It is
called in Hebrew ‘Yom Kippur’. On this day, the high priests entered into the Most Holy place with
blood and sprinkled on alter, where he represented all people before God. He
was allowed to enter the Most Holy place once a year and he was also allowed
to stay in this place for a little time while he performs a ceremony there.
Before he entered into the tabernacle, he also needed to make atonement for himself
(Levi 16:11). Every year they needed to sacrifice animals in order to make
atonement for the whole nation. It never ended because the human priesthood was never
perfect as well as its sacrifice. Now Jesus has become the priest not in the
order of the Leviticus but in the order of Melchizedek (Heb. 7:16-17).
The phrase ‘… has passed through the heavens …’ speaks about the unique ministry of Jesus Christ. There were three
parts in the tabernacle or the temple, through which high priest passed to
enter into the Most Holy place. The first, part is called the outer court, where all
people could enter. The second part is called the inner court or holy place. In this
place, only the priests could enter to minister. The third part is called the Most Holy
place which is separated by a thick curtain, only high priest could enter there
once a year on the Day of Atonement with blood. But no priest could stay in the Most Holy
place of the tabernacle or the temple, he had to leave the place as soon as he
sprinkled the blood on the mercy seat, but our Lord Jesus didn’t only sacrifice HIS blood, even he entered into the presence of
God and seated down in the right hand of God (Heb. 8:1, 12:2; Acts 7:56). When
Jesus died on the cross, the curtain of the temple tore from top to bottom
(Mt.27:51; Mk. 15:38). It evidences that the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the
Cross has put an end to the Levitical priesthood and sacrifices, and now He
serves as a Great High Priest forever.
All priests descending from the linage of Aaron offered atonement only
for a nation Israel, but Jesus to all nations without any discrimination. Therefore,
let us hold fast on Jesus for He is our perfect priest; where we may receive
counseling and healing during this pandemic.
JESUS IS OUR PERFECT FRIEND
“For
we do not have a high priest who
is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has
been tempted as
we are, yet
without sin.” (vs. 15) Our Great high priest – Jesus Christ is God, but HIS deity can’t prevent him from our feelings, pain, and emotions. HE born and
brought up in a poor family. HE knows the pain of poverty. HE knows the agonies
of heart when a dear one dies within our family and relatives. Because Jesus
also lost his earthly father, Joseph in HIS younger age (it is not recorded in
the Bible, but scholars hold that he died early so he is not mentioned in the Gospels
as Jesus began HIS ministry). HE wept on the death of Lazarus (Jn. 11:35). HE
also experienced emotional stress while HE was praying in the mount of Olive
before being arrested (Lk. 22:39-44). HIS heart was broken, when HIS disciple
Judas betrayed HIM. HE was tempted by Satan (Mt. 4:1-11). HE experienced the
rejection and hate of people; and their false accusation. HE experienced all
kinds of suffering and pain. Finally, he tasted death for us. Even though HE
has gone through intensive temptation, HE never sinned against God. HE became a
perfect person.
No matter, how heavy is our sorrow but Jesus understands and sympathizes with you. Look at the life of Job. He lost what he had earned for years within a day, not only property but also his sons and daughters. But he looked at God and worshipped HIM. There are stories in the different mission fields around the world, where the missionaries saw their children and wife dying. There is no one to help them to dig the grave of their dead ones. No one was there to put their hands on their shoulders to comfort them, but they received their strength, comfort, and peace in Jesus. I have heard of widow missionaries testifying that Jesus has been a source of their comfort and strength. Here we have our Great High Priest, whose priesthood is perfect and HIS humanity is perfect sympathizes with us. He is our perfect friend. Even still HE is suffering and weeping with us as we are suffering due to the Pandemic. Therefore, let us hold fast on Jesus in the time of our suffering during this pandemic.
JESUS IS OUR PERFECT SAVIOUR
“Let us
then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive
mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
(vs. 16) Jesus turned the throne of Judgement into the throne of grace,
through HIS perfect priesthood and perfect sacrifice. A Jewish priest had been
entered into the Most Holy place in order to make atonement for Israel nation
for centuries by sprinkling the animal’s blood on the mercy seat,
but Jesus shed HIS own blood once and to forever for the sin of all. We all are sinner and deserve to die, but Jesus’ perfect sacrifice has
provided the perfect forgiveness for each one of us. The Scripture says, “Since therefore the children share in flesh and
blood, he himself likewise partook
of the same things, that through
death he might destroy the
one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through
fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.” (Heb.
2:14-15)
During this pandemic, Holy
Spirit urges each one of us to draw near this throne of grace with
confidence, where we may receive mercy and find grace not only for help in this
pandemic but comfort and strengthen to suffer together as the body of Christ
in the time of the pandemic. Let us hold fast on Jesus who is our perfect Saviour.
CONCLUSION
As we are facing the second wave of the pandemic, we all don’t know what will take place ahead. But we all can be assured
that we have our Great High Priest, perfect Friend, and Saviour – Jesus Christ
who understands our pain and sympathizes with us; and available HIS grace which
will help us in our needs. Are you ready to face the future with this
confidence? Let us come together and unite as the family of God, and face
together this new challenge. It is my prayer that the Lord may help us continue
to suffer and serve together during this pandemic as a conquer.
Romans 8:37-39 assures us – “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors
through him who
loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers,
nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor
height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate
us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
[1] Jeffrey
Gettleman, Sameer Yasir, Hari
Kumar and Suhasini Raj (The New York Times), As Covid-19 Devastates
India, Deaths Go Undercounted (Retrieved on May 8, 2021) https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/24/world/asia/india-coronavirus-deaths.html
[This message is delivered on 9th May, 2021 online Sunday service hosted by Believers’ Assembly, Katrain, Kullu (Himachal Pradesh)]
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