(From Hebrews and John 17-19)
We praise You today as our Great High Priest.
Unlike the Old Testament priests who offered the blood of bulls and goats and calves that could only cover, not take away, sin,
You offered Yourself—
both priest and sacrifice.
You are our merciful and faithful high priest
and our perfect Passover lamb.
You poured out Your own lifeblood on the cross
and declared, “It is finished.” Perfected. Completed.
You drank to the last drop the cup of wrath that we might drink the cup of blessing and redemption.
You bore our sins that we might wear Your righteousness.
You were forsaken, that those who trust You may never be.
On the third day You rose again, like the priests of old emerging from the tabernacle on the Day of Atonement, living proof that Your sacrifice was accepted and our debt paid in full.
For forty days You kept company with Your disciples, teaching them and revealing Yourself to them in all the Scriptures that had come before.
After that, You ascended in Your resurrection body
to the
heavenly realms, where You sit now,
“at the right hand of the throne of the
Majesty on high.”
You are still our high priest,
interceding for us with grace,
mercy, and sympathy,
having experienced for Yourself every sort of trial and
temptation we face.
You are our good and gentle High Priest.
Lord Jesus, we
approach the throne of grace with bold assurance
because of Your priestly work
on our behalf.
Give each one of us the mercy and help he or she needs.
Grant us
grace to hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering,
for He who
promised is faithful.
Fill us today with fresh awe and wonder as we behold Your
suffering
in this Your Word,
for Your glory, our good, and the growth of
Your church.
Amen.