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The Unchanging Saviour - Hebrews 7:11-25

By David Woods

For the past four years, one of my side interests has been that of PDAs (personal digital assistants - handheld computers). These gadgets are amazing. The first handheld I bought (four years ago) was almost equivalent in capability to the first computer I owned (bought for me seven years previous). Today, PDAs are almost able to compete with laptops in regards to their capabilities. A lot has changed in the PDA world in these past four years. The company that produced my first handheld has since been bought out by another company. Other companies have either come or gone. Numerous handhelds have been released - and discontinued.

Often, when PDAs are discontinued - or even when a new one is produced - handheld enthusiasts become very animated. A handheld does not become worthless simply because it is no longer being produced. But many, having purchased the gadget just a few months before, will look at the product as worthless. Yet at the same time, while the capabilities of PDAs are ever increasing, handheld enthusiasts are often dissatisfied. PDA manufacturers do not include all the features that are desired. In fact, the desired feature-set is often so conflicting that it really is impossible for PDA manufacturers to please everyone.

In similar fashion, the writer of Hebrews says that the Levitical priesthood established in the Old Testament was ultimately, continually, and consistently dissatisfactory. For one reason, a priest would only live for a few years. For another reason, priests were as human as the normal person. Some priests were incredibly wicked. Furthermore, the sacrifices for the people’s sin needed to be made again and again.

Therefore, God made a change in the priesthood. God sent his only begotten Son to become man. This God-man, Jesus, had an earthly mother who was from the tribe of Judah (not Levi). Regardless, God ordained Jesus Christ by His own Word to be a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.

Big Idea:An eternal Christ provides an unchanging priesthood.

Discussion: Considering Hebrews 7:24-27, why is Jesus better than all the previous Jewish priests?

  1. He lives forever, v. 24.
  2. He saves us to the “uttermost”, v. 25.
  3. He continues to make intercession for His people, v. 25.
  4. He is perfectly holy, untainted by any sin, v. 26.
  5. His one sacrifice of Himself is sufficient payment for redemption from all sins committed and for cleansing of inbred sin.

Accepting the fact that Jesus is our eternal Priest, let us consider three assumptions.

1. There is no one greater than Jesus.

Recently, an excellent movie, The Visitation, based a novel by Frank Peretti with the same title was released on DVD. Warning: this movie is very intense.

The movie and the book are similar, although I personally think the book is better. Unfortunately, it is almost impossible to cram as much stuff as Peretti has in the book into a movie, without it becoming incredibly long.

With that said - the main premise of the story is the question, “Has Jesus returned?” A figure looking very much like Jesus - even bearing scars on his wrists - and performing miracles comes into a small town in the state of Washington.

Before this “Jesus” appears, a number of miracles and “signs” occur. As the speculation grows, there are Christians who desperately want to experience a spiritual thrill.

They started looking at the clouds. First, they saw Jesus in the clouds looking at them. Then they saw a dove in Jesus’ hand. Then one of the children saw a rooster - on Jesus’ head. Then the figure of Jesus turned into a door and then into a flame. Clouds tend to change shape, you know. It is as funny as it sounds. (Get the book and read it!)

The point that I’m trying to make is that this story, while fiction, is believable because so many people - even Christians - have proved to be insatiable thrill-seekers. Somehow, serving the King of the Universe becomes boring to some after awhile.

Discussion: Why are some seemingly dissatisfied (i.e. cults, false religions who point to a later prophet than Christ or a new “revelation” of God’s Word) with Christ as our eternal priest?
(Answers may vary, but I would suggest the basic dissatisfaction comes from an unwillingness to accept Christ as Lord and Saviour of one’s life.)

Discussion: If there is no one greater than Jesus, how should that affect our relationship with Christ?

2. Jesus’ one sacrifice is sufficient to take care of the sin problem for all people for all time.

Discussion: What are ways that people, even Christians, display a disbelief concerning this basic truth? (The following list is not intended to be exhaustive.)

Discussion: What benefit(s) do we receive by accepting this truth?
(If we feel like simply asking Christ’s forgiveness for our sins is not sufficient enough, we will live anxiously, always trying to become more “spiritual”, often failing because we are living apart from the power of the Holy Spirit. There is, further, no need to make exclusionary distinctions between Christians. No need for worry or fear.)

3. Jesus is our Advocate before the Father.

Discussion: If you were being represented by someone in a dispute, what kind of relationship would you desire to have with your representative?

Discussion: What kind of relationship should we desire to have with Jesus?

In the past few years, there have been many crazes. There was the guardian angel craze. There has been craze for “worship” - a feel-good spiritual experience. End times speculation has run rampant. Spiritual self-help/psychology books seem to be in great demand. While these emphases may be a means of connecting with Christ, in some ways these emphases often seem to have become the end, rather than the means.

Discussion: Are many Christians dissatisfied with Jesus?

"The mission of the Church of God (Holiness) is to exalt Christ, equip the Church, and evangelize the world."

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