WE HAVE A GREAT HIGH PRIEST

The Foundation of His Throne—The Book of Revelation

Week 11, 2017

Rick Joyner

         Before proceeding to Revelation 5, we will conclude this part on the throne of God with a related truth from Hebrews 4:14-16:

         Therefore, since we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.

         For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.

         Therefore, let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

         As awesome as the throne of God is, we have a High Priest who sympathizes with our weaknesses, even though He Himself is without sin. He did not go to the cross and pay the price for our sin to then condemn us for them—He went so that we could be reconciled to God. Therefore, we are told that we can come boldly before His awesome throne anytime that we have a need, and we can be assured that there we will find the grace that we need.

         If there is any flaw with the Gospel it would be that it seems too good to be true. How can such an awesome, Almighty God be so kind, gentle, and loving? He is so good and wonderful that it is hard for us to comprehend and accept—it usually takes a while for us to do so. It is hard for us to accept that forgiveness is that easy and that we cannot do anything to earn it. Our total forgiveness has been purchased for us, and for us to think that we still have to pay something is to imply that Jesus’ sacrifice was not enough.

         Many claim that they want the mercy of God and not justice. However, the mercy of God is established by the justice of God. God’s justice established that the consequence of sin is death, and Jesus, who did not deserve to die, died in our place to pay for our sin. If we then still had to pay a price for our sin, then it would be unjust, implying that the Father did not accept Jesus’ sacrifice of Jesus as being enough.

         So we can come boldly before the throne of God just as much when we have transgressed as we can when we have walked uprightly. We do not enter based on our own righteousness, but on the blood of Jesus and the price that He paid. When we come before the throne clothed in the righteousness of Jesus, the Father only sees the righteousness of Jesus—we are deemed completely pure in His eyes, regardless of whether we had a good or bad day.

         The power to enter before the Lord is never based on how well we have done, but on simple faith in the cross of Jesus to be enough to cover our sin and failures. Our boldness is because of what Jesus accomplished, not from anything we have done, or not done. We do not have to wait until we are perfect to enter His presence, but we are perfected by His presence.

         When Peter saw the Lord walking on the water and got out of the boat to walk on the water with Him, he could only do this as long as he kept his eyes on Jesus. As soon as he looked at the waves, he began to sink. We do the same in relation to the constant turmoil that is our old, sinful nature—all of the consequences of this sinful world. 

As long as we keep our eyes on Jesus, as our Righteousness, our Way, our Truth, and our Life, we can walk above the turmoil of our old nature and the trials of this life. If we start to focus on the turmoil, we will sink.

         So we don’t charge into the throne room arrogantly, but thankfully. We “enter His gates with thanksgiving” (see Psalm 100:4). How can we not be thankful for such great mercy and great grace? Bold humility is bold in the Lord and what He has done. The boldness we have is a reflection of the faith that we have in Him.