Haggai 2, Hebrews 7

(Haggai 2)

Check out Matthew Henry’s thoughts on verses 10-17, how profound:

“Those who are hearty in the Lord's service shall receive encouragement to proceed. But they could not build such a temple then, as Solomon built. Though our gracious God is pleased if we do as well as we can in his service, yet our proud hearts will scarcely let us be pleased, unless we do as well as others, whose abilities are far beyond ours. Encouragement is given the Jews to go on in the work notwithstanding. They have God with them, his Spirit and his special presence. Though he chastens their transgressions, his faithfulness does not fail. The Spirit still remained among them. And they shall have the Messiah among them shortly; to He that should come. Convulsions and changes would take place in the Jewish church and state, but first should come great revolutions and commotions among the nations. He shall come, as the Desire of all nations; desirable to all nations, for in him shall all the earth be blessed with the best of blessings; long expected and desired by all believers. The house they were building should be filled with glory, very far beyond Solomon's temple. This house shall be filled with glory of another nature. If we have silver and gold, we must serve and honour God with it, for the property is his. If we have not silver and gold, we must honour him with such as we have, and he will accept us. Let them be comforted that the glory of this latter house shall be greater than that of the former, in what would be beyond all the glories of the first house, the presence of the Messiah, the Son of God, the Lord of glory, personally, and in human nature. Nothing but the presence of the Son of God, in human form and nature, could fulfil this. Jesus is the Christ, is He that should come, and we are to look for no other. This prophecy alone is enough to silence the Jews, and condemn their obstinate rejection of Him, concerning whom all their prophets spake. If God be with us, peace is with us. But the Jews under the latter temple had much trouble; but this promise is fulfilled in that spiritual peace which Jesus Christ has by his blood purchased for all believers. All changes shall make way for Christ to be desired and valued by all nations. And the Jews shall have their eyes opened to behold how precious He is, whom they have hitherto rejected. (Hag 2:10-19)

(Hebrews 7)

The author of Hebrews is very specific in communicating Jesus as the NEW High Priest (as well as forever high priest). He reminded us that things were different and fresh in Christ through Moses’ teaching. He reminded us in verse 13 that no one from Judah had served at the alter, this was a new thing. But the change only begins there. vs 16 reminds us that Jesus is the “one who has become a priest not on the basis of a regulation as to his ancestry but on the basis of the power (ability and abundance) of an indestructible life. (permanently endless).

Let’s bask in that for a moment. Although Jesus was without sin, He became priest not on the basis of a law or physical commandment. In fact, the Greek words used to describe the “basis of regulation” were “carnal/flesh” and “temporary”. Jesus’ new priesthood was based on the “power of an indestructible life.” His ability and abundance came from His permanently endlessness that was NOT carnal, it was NOT of the law of the flesh, it was born of the Spirit. It was of God. This was a new level of priesthood opening up a new level of relationship with God. I often fall guilty of thinking Jesus was our High Priest only because he lived a perfect life. Let us never forget that He is our High Priest because He, and He alone, is the Son of God. Holy and Divine. While he suffered the world as a man (like us), the fact that He was God, and chose to walk this earth, is a staggering fact that should shed some amazing light on the love of God. This is why one day, every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.

When I read this, pondering the significant difference between Christ and other priests or prophets of different religions, I thought about my children when they were younger. I remember clearly the days when they thought in terms of the concrete only. Their understanding was concrete. We spoke to them literally. Our communication was very simple, because their understanding was simple. Honestly, their world was simple, naïve, and sheltered. They had no grasp of the reality of life or the struggles that are ahead. But neither could they comprehend the inevitable joy that was ahead of being a parent or the rush of life that comes through complex experiences.

I remember the day my oldest son made a comment that seemed out of place in responding to something I said. By his reaction, I assumed he didn’t comprehend what I was saying. I looked at him and began to correct him when I noticed a grin beginning to appear on his face. He was joking. And he got the reaction he was looking for. We had a good laugh. It was really funny… and he really got me.

Then it sunk in that he made a joke that was abstract. It was really clever. I was proud for a moment, but then was sad some when I realized my son’s understanding had reached another level, in essence, it was an indictor of him growing up. Geeze. The reality is, when we move beyond concrete thinking into the abstract, the whole world opens up. It’s as if someone turns on a light switch in our minds to another level of communication and processing. And that’s exactly what happens.
This is just a small hint to beginning to understand what Jesus brought to the title of High Priest. He broke through the physical (Concrete/Temporary) level of penance into the Spiritual realm (Abstract/Eternal). It was a new day for us. It was a new life for us. It was a new faith for us. And the whole world opened up for us. Forever.

Father, I am thankful for the new covenant bought and brought through the blood of Jesus Christ. How humbling to realize through His power we can stand before you and it has absolutely nothing to do with our ability or greatness. God, help us to remember that as we seek to please you. Help us to be aware of the true areas that bring you joy and honor. May we seek your greatness and fight the desire to impress you with our abilities. Instead Father, may we seek to impress you only with our loyalty and love for the ways of Christ and our appreciation for His sacrifice.