3rd-century fresco of Jesus Christ
from the Catacomb of Callixtus, Rome
“In the days of His flesh, He offered up both prayers and supplications with loud crying and tears to the One able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His piety. Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation, being designated by God as a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek” (Hebrews 5;7-10)
Lord God,
As I meditate upon what is written here under the direction of your Holy Spirit, I begin to perceive its gravity and grace. You described the Lord Jesus as having been given the High Priesthood after the order of Melchizedek. Melchizedek with his priesthood is presented in the Old Testament as everlasting and of eternal tenure, because You inspired to record neither a beginning of His life nor beginning of his office. Therefore, I offer overflowing praise to You for what was only symbolized, is now infinitely fulfilled in the Person and work of Your Son Jesus Christ, having no beginning as God the living Word and a ministry eternally established before the foundation of the World, all because He is One with You, the essential expression of the fullness of your divinity.
However, being “God wrapped in Flesh,” He still learned as a human disciple (Isaiah 50:4 NASB). His relationship to and with you as He obediently listened and obeyed your instructions as a man is marvelous. Three times He asked that another way to redeem the world might be arranged, so that He as a human need not suffer the flogging, humiliation, abandonment, and torture of crucifixion, but each time He yielded to your plan saying, “Not my will, but your will be done.” I thank You that even though You rejected His personal request, You, Lord, still heard his heart’s desire for the sake of man’s redemption and the defeat of Satan, that mankind be provided the way to eternal relationship with its Maker. Through this, I know that You receive us, even though our petitions may be contrary to Your will, so long as we accept your authority and your will. Like the Lord Jesus, I can be content knowing that You are “a rewarder of those who seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6).
Thank You that Jesus was and still is Emmanuel, God with us. This promises full confirmation that the salvation He offers in Himself can be eternal, for He is omnipotent and eternally God. Oh, Lord God, help me to learn and follow after His example (Hebrews 12:2, 3). Let me so walk and perceive You through the witness of your Holy Spirit through your Word in my life that always hear Your still small voice, “This is the way, walk in it” (Isaiah 30:21). Let me feel your constant companionship as your hand holding mine!
Related reading: Praying Hebrews 3: Jesus Our Great High Priest; Praying Hebrews 3:6-19; Praying Hebrews 4:1-3; Praying Hebrews 4:5-8; Praying Hebrews 4:4-16; Praying Hebrews 5:1-4; Praying Hebrews 5:5,6: The Disciples' Pattern; Praying Hebrews 6; Christ our Companion
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