“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, being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.” (Hebrews 5:7-10)

Jesus is our High Priest. The greatest difference between Jesus and the Jewish High Priest under the Mosaic covenant is that the latter was a sinner. He had to offer a sacrifice for his sin before he could make the offering of atonement for the sins of the people. Jesus did not sin, so He needed no such offering. Yet the temptations Jesus faced were real. Because he did not have a sin nature, he could not be tempted to sin in the same ways that we are tempted. Yet He was tempted to abandon His mission, His commitment to the Father’s will.

Although such temptation was different in degree from any human temptation, it was quite similar to the ones that those in the speaker’s audience were enduring, the same to which some had already succumbed: to abandon their faith in Christ because of the pain, suffering and loss involved. We too suffer that temptation in the midst of a world filled with sinful allurements.

Therefore to know that Jesus is our High Priest is quite comforting. The High Priest was one of the people. He went before the Lord as the representative of the people in all spiritual matters. He could do this with mercy and compassion for he knew and experienced their struggles and temptations personally. Jesus was called by the Father to be the High Priest. Jesus is human so He knows how we feel and the temptations we face. He understands what we go through and He can help us to remain faithful no matter what. He is the perfect representative before God for us. As our mediator and intercessor He allows us to enter into the direct presence of God without fear. We can ask forgiveness for our sins and offer our petitions and know that He hears and answers with compassion and mercy for Jesus’ sake.