We Have a High Priest in Heaven

The sermon text will be Hebrews 8:1-6.

The inspired author of Hebrews continues to describe the superiority of Jesus’ priestly ministry by explaining Jesus’ current place and posture. His place is now “in heaven” which means that he ministers in the True Tabernacle, the holy place of which the earthly tabernacle was merely a copy and shadow. And there in heaven the posture he adopts is that of being seated. The New Testament regularly describes Jesus as sitting at God’s right hand to show his enthronement and authority. The Westminster Larger Catechism Q/A 54 clearly explains the significance of Christ’s posture in heaven: “Christ is exalted in his sitting at the right hand of God, in that as God-man he is advanced to the highest favor with God the Father (Phil. 2:9), with all fullness of joy (Acts 2:28; Psalm 16:11), glory (John 17:5), and power over all things in heaven and earth (Eph. 1:22; 1 Peter 3:22); and does gather and defend his church, and subdue their enemies; furnishes his ministers and people with gifts and graces (Eph. 4:10-12; Psalm 110), and makes intercession for them (Rom. 8:34).”