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The Apostle and High Priest of Our Confession
“Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession, who was faithful to him who appointed him, just as Moses also was faithful in all God's house.” (Hebrews 3:1-2)
Faith is something that is so important for those who call themselves Christians. It’s what moves us through life and informs the decisions we make from day to day. Without faith, a Christian is a shell of his or her self. Have you ever experienced that feeling? That the faith you once held onto tightly is beginning to slip out of your grip? It’s a terrible thing when you feel the foundation of faith you have built your life on begin to crumble. Sometimes it comes because you have experienced a trauma that is difficult to process and seems inexplainable. Other times it is because you are wrestling with inner turmoil and emotion. Possibly it is because you have simply neglected your faith for so long that it begins to deteriorate. Whatever the reason, the writer of Hebrews has some advice for you to consider in that moment - Jesus.
The writer wants ‘you who share in the heavenly calling’ to spend some time thinking about Jesus. Specifically, the writer wants you to consider how Jesus is the apostle and high priest of our confession. What does that mean?
Well, firstly, Jesus is our apostle. Apostle simply means “one sent”. Just like Moses was the one sent by God to Egypt with a message of freedom from slavery, accompanied with signs, wonders and judgments, Jesus is the one sent by God to bring us a message. The message of good news that we who were once slaves to sin can now be slaves to righteousness (Romans 6:17-18). Jesus accompanied this message by so many signs and wonders that they couldn’t even all be recorded (John 21:25)! But Jesus did provide the greatest sign: His own willing sacrifice followed by His resurrection (Matthew 12:38-40). Jesus is the ultimate one sent by God.
Also highlighted is that Jesus is our high priest. High priests, among many other things, were responsible for making sacrifices on behalf of God’s people. Just like Moses made the sacrifice that made it possible for the Israelites to become priests and serve God and the nation righteously (Leviticus 8:15), Jesus makes the sacrifice that makes it possible for Christians to be priests of God and do good works here and now (1 Peter 2:4-10). Jesus completed the role of high priest in such a way that it never has to be done again (Hebrews 10:12). Jesus is the ultimate high priest.
Now that we have an understanding of what it means when the writer says that Jesus is the apostle and high priest, why does it matter? I believe this answer is two-fold.
The writer says that Jesus is the apostle and high priest of our confession. Do you remember what it felt like when you first believed and obeyed the Lord? That feeling of forgiveness and purity. I remember distinctly that I never wanted that feeling to leave me. That’s the confession of which the writer is speaking. Jesus is the one sent to minister to that confession. He offers the good news. He offers the necessary sacrifice to make the good news accessible and whenever I am tempted to doubt Jesus’ ability or motivation the writer tells me that He was absolutely faithful to the will of God the Father and by extension, us.
