Paul W. Chilcote | Read Hebrews 7:23-28
The author of Hebrews refers to Jesus throughout this letter as a great high priest. The Old Testament portrait of the high priest, Melchizedek, foreshadows the perfect priesthood of Jesus Christ. Jesus perfects this holy office by his obedience and suffering (see Hebrews 5:8-10). As the pioneer of salvation, he...
Forgiving and restoring God, we are thankful for the way Jesus gave himself freely and once-for-all that we might all live, and live abundantly. Help us embrace our identity as a forgiven people. Amen.
Sometimes we can look back and see why challenging things happened to us, but this is not always the case. Job never fully understood his story but finally submitted his life to God in humility. In Job’s case, God restored with abundance. The psalmist also rejoices that although the righteous may suffer, God brings ultimate restoration. The reading from Hebrews continues celebrating Christ’s role as the compassionate high priest. Unlike human high priests, who serve only for a time, Christ remains our priest forever. A man without sight in Jericho knows of Jesus’ compassion and cries out for it, despite attempts to silence him. He asks Jesus for mercy and physical healing in his case, and Jesus grants his request because the man has displayed great faith.
Read Job 42:1-6, 10-17. What are your happy and unhappy endings? How do you acknowledge both?
Read Psalm 34:1-8, 19-22. How does God deliver you from your fears? Recall a recent experience of this.
Read Hebrews 7:23-28. What distinction do you draw between sacrifice and offering?
Read Mark 10:46-52. How do you respond to Jesus’ question, “What do you want me to do for you?”
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