O, What a Savior!

"Let us then approach God's throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."  Hebrews 4:16

Let me first echo Holy Writ in proclaiming, “There is no God like unto our God!”

Someone taught me long ago that any time you see, “therefore,” in scripture (or any text, for that matter), you should find out what it is there for. In good writing that term always references something elsewhere in the context, usually preceding its use. So, to what does this instance refer?

It’s pretty clear, in this case. In many of Paul’s writings, you have to wind through a convoluted sentence to unwind to what he was referring. The author of the letter to the Hebrews is more direct here, referring to the immediate two prior sentences (verses, in our modern readings of the Bible).

In verse 14, Jesus is referred to as our, “great High Priest, who has passed through the heavens.” To a Jewish reader, this would clearly allude to the role of the earthly High Priest, who was the only one who could once a year pass into the Holy of Holies, past the outer and inner veils, into the Presence of the Lord God Almighty, making sacrificial offering on behalf of the nation of Israel. Jesus, having ascended into the heavens, is understood to stand in the Presence of the Father, interceding for us in the same manner that the High Priest of Israel would intercede for his people. This Jesus does in His role as the Son of God.

Next, verse 15 highlights Jesus’ role as the Son of Man. Though He could never have experienced each individual temptation that we might ever suffer, He can, “sympathize with our weaknesses,” having been, “in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.” His pre-ministry temptation in the wilderness tested His resolve and commitment in the three major areas – the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life – and He used God’s Word to withstand the tempting in all three areas. Then, the rest of His earthly life, more subtle temptations assaulted Him, including the temptation to despair in His last hours. ” ‘Let this cup pass from me; nertheless not as I will, but as You will.’ ” (Matthew 26:39) That Garden of Gethsemane moment was one of the most poignant examples of, “in all points.”

For these reasons (therefore), we may boldly approach the throne of grace. What might we expect? We will obtain mercy – forbearance of punishment due to our misdeeds. And we will find grace – blessing beyond anything we have earned, unmerited favor.

I say again, there is no God like unto our God! O, what a Savior!