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     The popular notion of a priest is largely formed by observation.  The pagans of the Old Testament record had such priests who offered sacrifices (e.g. 2 Kings 10:19; 11:18).  They had a hierarchy of priests with the high priest usually being the king of their nation who offered a sacrifice on a high feast day, e.g., celebrate the New Year.  The king saw himself as the god on earth.  Of course he exercised power as if he was a deity.

     Under the Mosaic covenant (OT) the priest represented God on earth as an intermediary between God and the people.  The Israelites stood before the priest, not God.  The high priest was responsible for the temple and its offerings, but only offered one sacrifice which was on only one day a year (Day of Atonement).  On that day he offered a sacrifice for the entire nation and took the blood into the Most Holy Place (God’s dwelling on earth) of the temple.  In effect, only the high priest was permitted to come before God, and then only once a year.

     Under the New Testament, there is no special priesthood apart from the individual Christian.  Each Christian is a priest offering himself in service to God (Romans 12:1-2; 2 Peter 2:5, 9).  Thus Christians stand before God.  How can this be?

     Like the OT high priest, Jesus is the High Priest of the NT who offered Himself as the sacrifice for the sins of all people (Hebrews 2:17; 3:1).  The difference is, Jesus offered Himself only once for all people’s sins and symbolically presented His blood before God in heaven (Hebrews 9:11-12, 25-28; 10:10).  When Jesus rose from the dead and ascended into heaven, He sat down on the throne at the right hand of God, having all authority (Hebrews 8:1; 10:12; Acts 2:30-33; Matthew 28:18).

     Because the Christian’s high priest is in heaven, he needs no intermediary, but rather can go directly to God.  “Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest (heaven, God’s dwelling JM) by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us....” (Hebrews 10:19-20).  Jesus is the source of forgiveness and eternal life.  How can one acceptably enter the holiest where Jesus sits?  The Hebrew write continues “let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water” (Hebrews 10:22).  The writer continues in the next chapter, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6).

     The access to Jesus throne of grace begins with trusting Jesus, to the extent of submitting to Him in baptism with the resolution to live for Him alone (Luke 13:3; Acts 2:38; 22:16; 1 Peter 3:21).

     Earlier the writer stated, “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).

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