Now the main point of what we are saying is this: We do have such a high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, and who serves in the sanctuary, the true tabernacle set up by the Lord, not by man (Hebrews 8:1-2 NIV).

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Do you ever get lost in a conversation or explanation of something? Perhaps your mind wanders or you’ve lost the thread? The same can happen even in the best of books. Perhaps it’s been a difficult portion to wade through, and you’re trying to make sense of it. Maybe it’s hard to keep all the characters straight. What happens when you’re just getting the thread, and suddenly you’re distracted by life around you – a child needing help with something, text alerts, or the dog barking?

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When a writer helps us out by actually calling out the main thing, it can be a tremendous relief! There’s no more guessing. The author is making it clear.  

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Now, the author wasn’t the one being distracted or struggling with the concept. More likely, this call out of the main point is the author taking a verbal highlighter to point out to the reader - “Hey! This is really important. Pay attention!”

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Hebrews chapter 8 starts with one of these moments. The author of Hebrews spent all of chapter 7 writing about Melchizedek. Comparing the priesthood as the people knew it – from an earthly perspective – with Jesus. The end of chapter 7 is beautiful and amazing!  

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The author then seems to pause for breath and sum it all up with a reminder – here's the main point. We have a high priest, as was being described in chapter 7. He’s all of what was just described, and He is seated at the right hand of God. His work is finished. He has offered a perfect sacrifice on our behalf – His body, His blood. Now He sits at the right hand of the Father in the perfect sanctuary in Heaven.

We may not be used to earthly priests unless we’ve come from a Catholic background, but the Jewish Christians that Hebrews was written to were very familiar with the priestly system. They were tied to a culture, heritage, and rhythm of offering sacrifices for the forgiveness of their sins. They had to go to the temple where a priest could offer these sacrifices on their behalf at certain times and in certain ways.  Priests held a special role – both in their ability to sacrifice in the temple, but also in their stature in society. They were set apart.

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Then came Jesus. Hebrews reminds us all how much better Jesus is! He is not bound by earthly constraints such as death. Priests serve for their lifetime – and then they die and someone else must take their place. Priests can only serve a certain number of people – they have human limits of time, location, capacity. Priests offer sacrifices and offerings that must be repeated, but Jesus completes and fulfills all these. He is eternal. He is seated at the right hand of God – with full access. He can meet all our needs. He made the one and only perfect sacrifice, offering His own body on the cross for our sins. He is the perfect High Priest.

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So today, spend some time thinking about Jesus as the seated High Priest and how that changes life for you. Are you still like the Jewish Hebrews in that you’re striving to offer your own sacrifices and offerings to earn what Jesus has already accomplished for you, or are you celebrating a High Priest that has finished all the work and has full access to God the Father – seated at His right hand? Thank Him for all that He has done for you and be confident that His work is enough for your salvation.