Bible Lesson 16

What is Jesus doing now?

He is interceding for his people

An intercessor is someone who pleads on behalf of another person, a bit like a defense attorney pleads on behalf of the defendant. Except that Jesus is not trying to convince God we are innocent; he does not bend the truth or stretch the facts. Instead, he pleads his own merits for us.

He points to his death that absorbed the wrath of God against our sins.

And he points to his own righteousness that covers us if we trust in him.

Thank God for this high priest, who does what no other priest could ever do!

from Triptych of the Redemption, by Rogier van der Weyden, 1459.

Hebreos 7 y 8

(23) Ahora bien, los otros sacerdotes fueron muchos porque la muerte les impedía continuar; (24) pero Jesús tiene un sacerdocio inmutable porque permanece para siempre. (25) Por eso, también puede salvar para siempre a los que por medio de él se acercan a Dios, ya que vive siempre para interceder por ellos.

(26) Jesús es el sumo sacerdote que necesitábamos tener: santo, inocente, sin mancha, apartado de los pecadores, y exaltado por encima de los cielos. (27) No es como los otros sumos sacerdotes, que diariamente tienen que ofrecer sacrificios, primero por sus propios pecados y luego por los del pueblo. Jesús hizo esto una sola vez y para siempre, cuando se ofreció a sí mismo. (28) La ley nombra sumos sacerdotes a hombres débiles; pero el juramento, que es posterior a la ley, nombra sumo sacerdote al Hijo, quien ha sido hecho perfecto para siempre.

(8:1) Ahora bien, el punto principal de lo que venimos diciendo es que el sumo sacerdote que tenemos es tal que se sentó a la derecha del trono de la Majestad en los cielos.

Traducción: RVC

Hebrews 7 and 8

Now, the other priests were many because death prevented them from continuing; but Jesus has an unchanging priesthood because he remains forever. Therefore, he can also save forever those who by means of him approach God, since he lives forever to intercede for them.

Jesus is the high priest that we needed to have: holy, innocent, stainless, separate from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. He is not like other high priests, that daily have to offer sacrifices, first for their own sins and then for those of the people. Jesus did this only one time and forever, when he offered himself. The law names as high priests weak men; but the judgment which is after the law, names as high priest the Son, who has been made perfect forever.

Now, the main point of what we have been saying is that the high priest that we have is such that he sat down at the right hand of the throne of Majesty in the heavens.

How to Use This Page:

1. Listen to the audio as you read along with the Spanish on the left.

2. Open the English translation, and read the two side-by-side, making sure you understand the Spanish.

3. Close the English, and listen to the audio again, reading along in Spanish.

4. Close the Spanish, and listen once more. Maybe shut your eyes, and just try to understand as much as you can.