Galaxy Three: Why What Is Happening a Billion Light Years Away Right Now Matters to You

“Galaxy Three: Magnificence in the Middle”

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□ Job 16:19-21

• “Even now my witness is in heaven; my advocate is on high. My is my

as my eyes pour out tears to God; on behalf of a man he pleads with God as a man

pleads for his .” (NIV)

• I.e., He is my —just as I am His .

□ Hebrews 3:1/2:17-18; 4:14-16; 7:25

• Four adjectives about the High Priest in Hebrews:

o (3:1)

 William Johnsson: “Because we have such a high priest, the doors of heaven’s temple swing

open wide to welcome us. The command center of the universe no longer holds fear and

uncertainty for us—we there.” (The Abundant Life Bible Amplifier: Hebrews 105)

o (2:17)

 Peter O’Brien: “Nowhere else in the Greek Bible are priests or high priests explicitly said to be

. But again and again the Old Testament asserts that Yahweh is

[Exodus 34:6—the first word of His self-revelation]. . . . The Gospels picture Jesus perfectly

reflecting the character of Yahweh, the one. Jesus is often entreated to

have ‘mercy’ (Matt. 9:27; 15:22; 17:15, and parallels), while this theme turns up in his teaching

(Matt. 5:7; 18:33; Luke 16:24).” (Hebrews 119-120)

o (2:17)

 F. F. Bruce: “He is merciful because through his own sufferings and trials he can sympathize

with [ours]; he is because he endured to the end without faltering.” (Hebrews

87-88)

o (4:14)

 William Johnsson: “Our faith rests on something solid, on Someone. . . . We have a great high

priest in heaven, and He guarantees that what we profess isn’t a matter of feeling or

philosophy, of speculation or possibility. At the heart of our religions stands a Man, and His

name is Jesus—a Man, but much more, for He is God’s Son!” (Hebrews 103)

• Two adverbs about the High Priest’s actions in Hebrews:

o Saves

 Desire of Ages: “The Lord would be so bountiful to His human family that it could not be said

of Him that He could do more. In the gift of Jesus, God gave all heaven. . . . The atonement

for a lost world was to be full, abundant, and complete. Christ’s offering was exceedingly

abundant to reach every soul that God had created. . . . There must be enough and to spare.”

(565)

o Intercedes

 Amazing Grace: “As our Intercessor, His office work is to introduce us to God as His sons and

daughters. Christ intercedes in behalf of those who have received Him. . . . And the Father

demonstrates His infinite love for Christ, who paid our ransom with His blood, by receiving and

welcoming Christ’s friends as His friends.” (68)

• Our merciful, faithful and great High Priest is interceding for us in order that He might save

us forever. Therefore, “my is my .”

□ “Magnificence in the Middle”

• At Calvary: John 19:18—“There they crucified Him, and with him two others—one on each side and

Jesus in the .”

• In Heaven: Hebrews 7:25

o John 16:26, 27—“The Father Himself you.” (John 3:16; Romans 8:32, 38-39)

o Zechariah 3:1-4—We do need an Intercessor to convince God on our behalf—we need an

Intercessor to silence on our behalf.

o 1 John 2:1,2—“My dear children, if anybody does sin, we have an advocate [ ] with

the Father—Jesus Christ, the atoning sacrifice for our sins and the sins of the whole world.”

“My Intercessor and My Friend”