The Throne of Grace

Hebrews 4:14-16

　
　
How do you respond to temptation or sin in your life? When God set up the sacrificial system for the Jewish people he designated Aaron as the priest. Only the High Priest was allowed to go into the Holy of Holies to sacrifice for the forgiveness of the sins of the people.

In this passage of Hebrews, the author expounds on this reality of the Jewish religious life. In the verses before this he writes that the word of God is sharper than a two edged sword; that nothing is hidden from God’s sight in all creation; that everything is laid bare before the eyes of Him who is going to judge us. That’s the bad news for you and me because we are sinners.

The Good news is that He makes it possible for us to come into His presence without fear and without shame. Jesus, the High Priest, the Son of God is able to empathize with us. It turns out that he has been tempted in every way just as we have. He can sympathize with our weaknesses. As a result, the writer encourages us to "approach God’s throne of grace with confidence so that we can receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need".

In fact, Hebrews 2:18 says, "Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted". That’s pretty much every body right? Think about who Jesus ministered to while he was here on earth. It was the poor, the down trodden, the victims of the world, those who realized that they were sinners, those who recognized their need.

One of my favorite stories about Jesus is when he is at a dinner with the Pharisees. During the meal a woman comes in who is a sinner, probably a prostitute, and she begins to weep at his feet. She knew that she was a sinner and she knew that everyone else knew too. She dried Jesus’ feet with her hair and poured perfume on them. Jesus used the opportunity to teach them that "whoever has been forgiven little loves little". Then he does an amazing thing. He forgives her sins.

She knew her sin but approached the "throne of grace" with confidence. I don’t know how you are, but when I sin and even when I’m tempted, I don’t really feel like approaching the throne of grace. But that is what Hebrews is telling us to do because Jesus wants us to come to him and has made it possible, and that’s exactly what we need to do.



http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=hebrews%204:14-16&version=NIV;MSG
http://www.biblegateway.com/audio/mclean/niv/Heb.4.14-Heb.4.16