Jesus Came as Approachable Holiness (Advent 8, 2024)

To fully understand the reasons why Jesus came, we must begin
by appreciating the role of the priest in Jewish life.
A holy God simply cannot be approached by sinful people
as if there is no distinction between us.
The Jewish people of Jesus’ day dating back to Abraham took that as a given.

Modern man has a habit of diminishing our own sin, treating God as a mere equal (if not a totally absent and irrelevant being). The Jewish people knew better than that. They had a system of priests including a high priest whose role was to mediate (by way of sacrifice) between a sinful people and a holy God.

They formed a pattern of what to expect as a priest. But Jesus didn’t come from that line of priests (descendants of Levi, the third son of Abraham’s son Jacob, also known as Israel). Rather Jesus came from the tribe of Judah (the royal line to fulfill Scripture). And yet the author of Hebrews reminds us,

Hebrews 2:17 For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people.

When Jesus came as our high priest, He also came as a fully human and perfect one. He came as approachable holiness in His perfect humanity.

Questions for further thought:

Why did Jesus come solely from the royal line (Judah) and not the INHERITED priestly line (Levi)?

Why was it more important that Jesus inherited the royalty instead of the priesthood? Which role continues to eternity for Jesus?

Read John 19:30 and Hebrews 10:11-12. What did Jesus finish?

What role do believers in Jesus Christ have in heaven? Read Revelation 5:5-10.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, during this Advent season we praise You that You are the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. We thank You that You are our merciful high priest, having made a sacrifice wholly pleasing to God our Father. We love You; We praise You; and we give You glory. Amen.

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Acknowledging inquiries about an entire season’s devotionals for your study group’s planning purposes, Seminary Gal’s prior seasons’ Advent devotionals can be accessed via the archives to the right and are as follows:

“From the Jews for the World” was the theme of last Advent’s devotional series. It is archived beginning December 3, 2023, and explored how Jesus’ Jewish heritage was necessary for the salvation of Gentiles, too.
“Awaken Remnant” was the devotional topic for 2022. It began November 27, 2022, and highlighted the remnant found throughout Scripture as evident in Jesus’ lineage.
The multi-faceted Interlude between the promise of a Deliverer and the birth of our Messiah and King was the theme of 2021’s devotional series. It is archived beginning November 28, 2021.
2020’s Devotional Series Divine Intervention began on November 29, 2020 and explored God’s activity on behalf of a hurting world and nations in tumult– Intervention for you and for me when our status as sinners required nothing short of a miracle.
God’s Christmas list explored what might be on God’s Christmas list, learning what He wants from us. It began December 1, 2019.
Storyteller began December 2, 2018 and entered into the Christmas story through its telling.
The 2017 series Still Christmas, began December 3, 2017 and was the Advent complement to the Lenten series, Be Still and Know that I AM God.
The 2016 season devotionals were called “Timeless: The Message of Christmas for All Ages” and explored how the message of Christmas is timeless truth, for all ages of people, and for all ages at all times. Timeless hope, encouragement, grace, peace, and love as we looked into the Word, saw the face of our Lord Jesus, and experienced restoration in His presence. His goodness and His Gospel are truly Timeless. The 2016 devotionals began November 27, 2016.
The 2015 season devotionals were titled Incarnation and involved digging deep–and yes, I mean deep– in this important mystery of Christian theology. They began November 29, 2015.
Carol Me, Christmas! remains one of my most popular offerings and tells the Christmas story through our most beloved Christmas hymns and carols. You can access all of the numbered devotionals from 2014 via the archives. They began November 30, 2014.
The 2013 series was Emmanuel: When LOVE Showed Up in Person and examined the Prologue to the Gospel of John. It began December 1, 2013.
The 2012 series focused on Expecting the Unexpected…the unexpected, unlikely, and uniquely divine qualities of God’s perfect plan outlined in Luke’s account of the Christmas story. It began December 1, 2012.