Our Incarnate High Priest

As I think about the incarnation of the Son of God, I am filled with wonder and awe at the gracious love of God to send his Son (1 John 4:9-10) along with the humility of the Son to obey (Phil 2:5-11). Because of the incarnation, we have a Savior who is 100% God and 100% man. It is absolutely essential that he is God and man. He must be God in order to satisfy completely God's righteous requirements and provide that right standing that we must have credited to our account. He must also be man, or else he could not die in our place.
In Hebrews 4:15, we find both of these blessings in one verse. "For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin." As the writer of Hebrews continues to extol the superiority of Christ, he shows that there is no contest--- Jesus Christ is infinitely better than the Levitical priests. While a human priest can "deal gently with the ignorant and wayward" (Heb 5:2) because he is made of the same flesh, our Great High Priest can also sympathize with our weaknesses--- because he became a man and "shared in our flesh and blood" (Heb 2:14).
However, there is a difference: Jesus Christ was tested like we are, but he had no sin. Of course, he never sinned, but he didn't have anything on which sin could lay hold, that sin nature with which we all struggle. He was free from sin in the act and the principle.
Because of the fact that he is a human, he knows our struggles and our difficulties. I remember reading a story (if I knew to whom I ought to give credit, I would) about a blind boy. This boy was walking alone, outside, when a low-hanging branch knocked him off his feet. As he sat on the ground, his head pounding, he cursed God for allowing him to be blind. God had no idea what it was like to be hit in the face without knowing it was coming. In a flash, his mind ran to Luke 22:63-64. "And the men that held Jesus mocked him, and smote him. And when they had blindfolded him, they struck him on the face, and asked him, saying, 'Prophesy, who is it that smote thee?'" Jesus did know what it was like.
Because we have a sympathetic high priest, we can come to him with complete confidence.
"Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need" (Heb 4:16).

Dead and Raised With Christ

In this busy season of the year, it's easy to get caught up in all the things around us. There are things we want to buy for family and friends and of course, there are things we hope to get as presents under the tree. Is it bad to get excited about gifts and giving?
It is most important that we remember the place of things in our lives as Christians. These things are temporary and far behind in importance when compared to the eternal riches we have in Christ.
Colossians 3:1-2 puts some of these things in focus for us. "If ye then be risen with Christ, 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." In this passage, Paul tells the believers at Colossae that they have died and been raised up with Christ (2:11-12).
Because of our identification with Jesus Christ in his death and resurrection, we are dead to this world. The world's materialism and fascination with things should have no allure to Christians. They are dead to all of this. They have died with Christ to this world.
Along with Christ, they have risen with him to a new life: a life of spiritual reality. Their thinking is taken up with thoughts of spiritual reality, not just physical and material things. Their desires and affections are consumed with thoughts of Christ and his glory. They desire the rewards that he will give them when he comes, rather than the things this world has to offer.
As we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem this year, let's remember the death of Jesus Christ as well. Because he died, the world's things have no hold over us. We are to live in light of spiritual reality. Our focus as Christians during this time of year should be on thanking God for the incarnation of his Son, Jesus Christ, to be our Savior.