The Great Salvation of Our High Priest

The Epistle to the Hebrews repeatedly directs our attention to one thing alone: Jesus Christ. Today, more than ever, our attention is constantly being diverted to other things. The present age is designed to maximise distraction.

That is why the letter exhorts us:

“... how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, …” (Hebrews 2:3)

Our salvation is great. It encompasses more than just the forgiveness of sins. It encompasses God’s entire plan for us. This great salvation began with the proclamation of the Lord Himself and will also be brought to completion by the Lord. He is the Captain our Salvation, who leads many sons to glory. The goal of this salvation is the world to come, in which we shall reign with Christ (Heb. 2:5). This great salvation spans from fallen sinners all the way to glory with Christ. How great is this salvation!

That is why the Epistle to the Hebrews calls on us:

“Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus” (Heb. 3:1)

Problems automatically draw our attention to themselves. Yet the Letter to the Hebrews directs our sight away from ourselves and towards Christ. When we see his greatness – the Son through whom God created the universe, who is the radiance of his glory and now sits at the right hand of God (Heb. 1:2–3) – our difficulties, too, are put into their proper perspective.

Just as Elijah stood before the Lord (1 Kings 17:1), so too does the Lord call us to stand before Him. This gives rise to boldness. We must not cast away this boldness, but hold fast to it until the end.

We sometimes think we won’t be able to make it. Yet our hope does not lie in our own strength. We have a High Priest. He knows what temptation means, and can help those who are tempted:

“For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.” (Heb. 2:18)

Not even the devil can stop God’s work of salvation. Christ has destroyed him who held the power of death. Our great salvation began with the Lord – and it will also be completed by the Lord.

“For indeed He does not give aid to angels, but He does give aid to the seed of Abraham.” (Heb. 2:16)

It is explicitly stated here that the Lord gives aid to the seed of Abraham, not simply Christians in general. This shows that, if we have the faith of Abraham, the Lord is able to bring His great work of salvation to completion in us.

So let us eat Hebrews 2 this week. Let us see the greatness of our High Priest and experience his marvellous salvation.