Hebrews 5 (Listen)

5:1 For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness. Because of this he is obligated to offer sacrifice for his own sins just as he does for those of the people. And no one takes this honor for himself, but only when called by God, just as Aaron was.

So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him,

  “You are my Son,
    today I have begotten you”;

as he says also in another place,

  “You are a priest forever,
    after the order of Melchizedek.”

In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, 10 being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.

11 About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. 12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, 13 for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. 14 But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.




Devotional:

During his earthly life, he offered prayers and appeals with loud cries and tears to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. (Hebrews 5:7)

Jesus is our perfect high priest. There are a few qualifications to fill that role, and Jesus met them all.  Perhaps most heartbreaking, He suffered through tears and the unbearable weight of our sin in Gethsemane, but He wasn’t alone. God heard Him in His pain, and it is precisely because of that pain that He hears us as well. Jesus suffered so that we wouldn’t have to. It doesn’t mean life will be easy; on the contrary, it is incredibly hard at times. But we’re not alone. When you feel alone and weighed down by the gravity of life, cry out to the God who hears you, knows you and is waiting to rescue you.

Pray It: Jesus, thank you for suffering for me and for saving me through your suffering. Help me to remember your suffering for me in the midst of my pain and to cry out to God as you did as well, knowing that I am heard by my Father just like you. Amen.

Share it: Who is someone you can share a verse or thought from this passage with today?