Langley Presbyterian Church

Prayer for Illumination:

Lord, we know that Your thoughts aren’t like ours, and Your ways are beyond our ways. As we listen to Your Word, guide us by Your Spirit so that our thoughts and ways can grow to reflect Yours more deeply. We pray this in Jesus’ precious name. Amen.

In the Catholic Church, the Pope is the Bishop of Rome and is the visible head of the global Catholic community. The word "pope" comes from the ancient Greek word páppas, meaning "father."

The Pope is also known as the supreme or sovereign pontiff—a term derived from the Latin pontifex, which means "bridge builder." Interestingly, in the New Testament, pontifex also refers to the High Priest.

There have been 266 popes since the time of the Apostle Peter, with Pope Francis holding the position since March 13, 2013.

Historically, a papacy lasts, on average, between 7 and 8 years, though this varies widely. Some popes served only a few days or months due to health issues, while others, like Pope John Paul II, led for over 26 years.

Over the centuries, certain popes have had a powerful, positive impact — promoting peace, fostering interfaith dialogue, and taking strong stances against political oppression, violence, and materialism.

However, there have also been times when some popes misused their authority, reminding us of their humanity.

Despite the reverence and respect they command, popes are ultimately human like us, subject to faults and frailties.

In Exodus 28:1, God instructs Moses to set apart Aaron, from the tribe of Levi, and his sons to serve as priests. God held the priests to the most stringent standards of behavior and ritual purity.

While the entire tribe of Levi took on a priestly role, only Aaron’s descendants held the office of the priest.

Among these priests, the High Priest held an exclusive and sacred position as the head of the priesthood. Aaron, Moses’ older brother, was the first to hold this office, chosen directly by God.

Unlike other priests, the High Priest had additional laws to follow, wore distinct garments, and performed certain ceremonies that no other priest could.

One of the High Priest’s most significant responsibilities was entering the Holy of Holies—the innermost part of the Tabernacle, where the presence of God - Shekhinah - appeared.

Only the High Priest could enter this sacred space, and even then, only once a year on the Day of Atonement.

On this day, he performed a solemn ritual of atonement for the sins of the entire nation, sprinkling the blood of a sin offering on the mercy seat and offering incense.

In this role, the High Priest acted as a ‘bridge builder’—a mediator between God and the people. He offered sacrifices on behalf of the people, standing before God to represent them and seeking forgiveness for their sins.

This role of mediator foreshadows the ultimate High Priest described in Hebrews, who would not only serve as a bridge between humanity and God but would do so perfectly and eternally.

The Book of Hebrews emphasizes the unique and profound role of Jesus Christ as our High Priest, unlike any other. Not by genealogy or human appointment but by God’s oath, Jesus serves as the ultimate High Priest in the heavenly sanctuary, offering not earthly sacrifices but an eternal one.

Though the author of Hebrews is unknown, it was written to a Jewish-Christian congregation and its leaders who had come to believe that Jesus was the Messiah.

However, facing severe and increasing persecution, they were tempted to return to Judaism.

In the Roman Empire, Judaism was a legally recognized religion, offering protection from persecution, while Christianity was not.

What this meant was that if you converted to Christianity and professed faith in Jesus, you became the target of hostility and persecution from both Roman authorities and their Jewish community.

The Book of Hebrews was written to encourage these weary believers to hold onto their faith and to persevere. The author urges them to stay firm in their hope, showing that Jesus is the fulfillment of Old Testament promises and the ultimate mediator.

Jesus is shown as superior to the prophets, Moses, the priesthood, and the entire Old Testament system.

He is the new and perfect High Priest, offering a once-for-all sacrifice that establishes a new covenant between God and His people.

V 23 starts, “The former priests were many in number because they were prevented by death from continuing in office.”

Think of the high priests mentioned in the Bible: Aaron, for instance. In Numbers Ch 20, God instructs Moses, “Get Aaron and his son Eleazar and take them up Mount Hor. Remove Aaron’s garments and put them on his son Eleazar, for Aaron will be gathered to his people; he will die there.”

Moses follows God’s command, and in the sight of the whole community, he removes Aaron’s garments, and clothes Eleazar, and Aaron dies on the mountain. Aaron’s son Eleazar then takes on the high priestly role.

What other high priests do you remember besides Aaron and Eleazar? Maybe Eli during Samuel’s youth, Zadok in King David’s time, and, in the New Testament, Caiaphas during Jesus’ day.

It’s estimated that there were around 83 high priests from Aaron (around 1657 B.C.) to Phannias ben Samuel, who died when the Romans destroyed the Temple and Jerusalem in A.D. 70.

Why so many priests and high priests? Simply because they were human; each one eventually died, and so none could hold the priesthood permanently.

Vs 24 - 25 say, “But because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.” Completely, for all time, forever.

Unlike the priests who came before, Jesus possesses an “indestructible” life; He is eternal and will never leave or need a replacement. Jesus is always available to intercede for us, so we will never be abandoned or left without a mediator.

The old priesthood system was, therefore, limited and flawed not only because death would stop the priests from continuing in their roles, but also because they had to offer sacrifices day after day.

According to the Book of Leviticus, there were five main offerings — burnt, sin, guilt, fellowship, and grain offerings—plus additional sacrifices for festivals and the Day of Atonement.

These sacrifices reminded the people of their need for forgiveness and a close relationship with God.

Additionally, every year on the Day of Atonement, the High Priest was required to make two specific sacrifices: one for his own sins, using a bull, and another for the sins of the people, using a goat.

Under the law of Moses, sacrifices and the priesthood, couldn’t save us completely. No matter how righteous the high priest or how carefully a sacrifice was offered, it could never fully save us.

However, as verse 27 explains, “Unlike the other high priests, [Jesus] does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for those of the people; he sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself.”

Being sinless, Jesus didn’t need to make an offering for Himself. He is the perfect and complete fulfillment of God’s promise of a High Priest and the true realization of salvation.

Where human efforts and sacrifices fall short, Jesus' death on the cross and His resurrection “utterly” save us—once and for all.

Today is Reformation Sunday. At the heart of the Protestant Reformation in the 16th century (Oct 31st, 1517) was a CALL back to the biblical truth that salvation and a relationship with God come by faith alone (sola fide) and grace alone (sola gratia) through Christ.

The Reformers emphasized five key principles:

Scripture Alone: The Bible is the supreme authority for faith and practice.

Faith Alone: We are made right with God by faith alone, not by our works.

Grace Alone: Salvation is a free gift of God’s grace, not something we can earn.

Christ Alone: Jesus is the only mediator between God and humanity, and His sacrifice is fully sufficient for salvation.

Glory to God Alone: All of life, including salvation, is for God’s glory alone.

The Reformers rejected the idea that popes, priests, or rituals were required to access God or receive forgiveness.

Instead, they affirmed that Jesus, our Great High Priest, is our only mediator. Through His perfect sacrifice, we have direct access to God.

The other day, I was sitting in the quiet of the sanctuary, meditating on the Scripture. I began to count my sins, imagining the guilt offerings and sin offerings that would have been required if Jesus hadn’t come.

I quickly realized it was an impossible task—countless.

As I sat there, it was as though the Holy Spirit gently lifted a mirror to my soul. In that reflection, I saw my thoughts, some I had hidden even from myself; my attitudes, often prideful or impatient; my words, sometimes careless or unkind; the things I had done that were wrong, and even those things I had left undone. Layer upon layer, my heart felt the weight of each one.

If Jesus weren’t there to intercede for me, to mediate between me and God, I can’t imagine the endless sacrifices I would need, the rivers of blood it would take, and yet none of it would ever be enough.

Even with every animal and offering, I’d still fall short, never fully atoned, never truly at peace.

But in that stillness, the truth hit me powerfully: because of Jesus, the endless striving for forgiveness ends. His sacrifice on the Cross is final, complete, and forever sufficient.

With His word, “It is finished”, we find rest, freedom from guilt, and the assurance that no further sacrifice is needed.

It is this assurance we lean on, knowing we are fully and forever covered by His love.

On this Reformation Sunday, we remember that we need no human intermediary—no pope, saint, or pastor—and no sacrifices to approach God. Jesus has already done everything necessary, creating an unbreakable bridge between us and God.

Because of Him, we can draw near to God with confidence, no matter our struggles, failures, or doubts. So, come to God with boldness, trusting in Christ, who continually intercedes for us and invites us into God’s presence.

Let us pray.

Gracious God, thank You for sending Jesus Christ to be our Great High Priest.

We don’t need to bring countless sacrificial animals; we come to You in His name. Through Jesus, all our sins are forgiven. We are grateful for His death and resurrection.

We pray in the name of our holy, innocent, and unstained Great High Priest, Jesus. Amen.