Podcasts about great high priest

You were designed for true freedom, limitless joy, radical living and genuine love. What would it look like if your 2026 were marked by these gifts from God? It's possible! At Braveheart, this is our heartbeat - to see God's people transformed in every way by His Gospel.2026 is going to be a watershed year. It will be a year of planting and simultaneous harvest.Gospel Training Schools - We are helping launch SIX Training Schools in 2026, all across the U.S.! Each one will take on its own unique expression. While the expressions vary, they all share the same mission: the pure gospel and the formation of Christ in His people.2026 Gospel Nights - Regional worship nights will build faith, gather God's people, celebrate the Holy One and position us together before the throne. Plan now to experience one near you - San Diego, California; Phoenix, Arizona; Winnipeg, Canada and more!Jesus The Great High Priest - The abundant life is our inheritance, enjoyed and experienced through considering Jesus, our Great High Priest who draws us near the Father's heart. Our latest series is live and FREE. Log-in today!Send us a textSupport the show

Our Great High Priest Hebrews 4:14-16 Pastoral Assistant Daniel Shim

Series: STANDALONE SERMON | Scripture: Isaiah 52:13-53:12 | Description: Behold, Jesus came to be the great high priest.

Dr. Stanley explains how God, our High Priest, sets us free to enjoy a fruitful relationship with Him.Donate: https://store.intouch.org/donate/generalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Matthew 2:1–12 reminds us that truly wise people keep seeking Jesus until they find Him, even when the path is long, surprising, or humble. The Magi likely came from Persia, guided first by Scripture (Daniel, Numbers 24:17) and then by a God-given “star” that behaved more like the Old Testament pillar of fire—personal, precise, and faithful. Herod's fear contrasts with their worship; when they finally meet the Child—not in a palace but in a simple house—they fall down before Him and offer treasures that preach: gold for the King, frankincense for our Great High Priest, and myrrh for the Prophet who would suffer and save. God still leads seekers this way—through His Word, by His Spirit, to His Son—and obedience always ends in joy. - Ed Rea - Sunday, December 21, 2025

Dr. Stanley explains how God, our High Priest, sets us free to enjoy a fruitful relationship with Him.Donate: https://store.intouch.org/donate/generalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr. Stanley explains how God, our High Priest, sets us free to enjoy a fruitful relationship with Him.Donate: https://store.intouch.org/donate/generalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jesus Christ has ascended into heaven, where He is seated at the right hand of God as our Great High Priest and Mediator. As we go through this journey of life, we can also celebrate every day that Jesus Christ is our Shepherd.Imagine being sentenced to appear in court and stand before a judge for violations that you know that you have committed and are without a doubt guilty as charged with no hope of an appeal or being spared imprisonment. That is about as hopeless of a situation that anyone can be in. Scripture tells us that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Rom 3:23). There is none righteous, no not one (Rom 3:10). Hopeless. But praise be unto God, My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:1,2). Thus, because of the grace of God, we have a High Priest and Mediator in heaven, Jesus Christ, Who declares to God The Judge the verdict NOT GUILTY to those who repent of their sin and trust in Him for their salvation. That is something to CELEBRATE.For the follower of Jesus, heaven is our home, and earth is our temporary mission field. The Bible calls the people of God, sheep. Life on earth for all sheep is filled with strange twists and turns, trials, temptations, seasons of joy and gladness, and times of uncertainty. Thankfully, we can CELEBRATE the fact that in our journey here on earth, we have a Great Shepherd, Jesus Christ, Who is always there to lead us, guide us and comfort us in times of sorrow and pain. We trust that singing about and studying some of the various aspects of the Incarnation of Jesus Christ will inspire you to CELEBRATE Him, not just for a season, but for all eternity! SELAHKoinonia FellowshipSundays at 8:30a and 10:30a500 Main St. East Rochester, NY 14445koinoniafellowship.com

This Advent season we are studying John 1, where the Apostle John provides an intricately beautiful description of who Jesus truly was. Join Pastor Ben as he leads us through this next week of our study!Support the show

In this message from The Golden Christmas series, we explore the powerful truth of Jesus as our Great High Priest through Hebrews 4 and beyond. Unlike flawed human priests, Jesus is perfect, compassionate, and personal. He doesn't stand distant from our pain—He understands our weakness, carries our burdens, and acts on our behalf.

This message explores the gift of frankincense brought by the Wise Men and how it reveals Jesus as our Great High Priest. Just as certain scents mark special moments, frankincense in Scripture symbolized holiness, prayer, and access to God. It declared that Jesus came not only to rule as King, but to reconcile humanity to God through His priestly role. From the very beginning, His identity and mission were recognized as One who would bring heaven and earth together.Drawing from Hebrews, the sermon highlights Jesus as the High Priest we have always needed—sinless, compassionate, and fully able to sympathize with our weaknesses. Unlike earthly priests, His work was finished once for all, yet His intercession continues even now. Jesus still speaks on our behalf, extends mercy in our need, and opens confident access to the throne of grace. The gift of frankincense ultimately calls us to worship fully, pray boldly, and live with assurance, knowing our High Priest is alive and actively working for us.

This week, Pastor Alex dives deep into the profound theme of Jesus as our Great High Priest. We trace humanity's ancient problem—the universal separation caused by sin—and contrast it with the temporary covering offered by the Old Testament sacrificial system. Discover why Jesus's perfect and final sacrifice secured eternal redemption for all of us. This essential spiritual guidance explains the new covenant that cleanses our consciences, restores us to the presence of God, and shapes the way we approach life and faith. Learn how to stop settling for simply knowing of God and start being with Him.In this message, you will learn:- Understand Humanity's Deepest Need: Grasp why sin is a fundamental problem that separates us from God's presence, impacting every relationship in our lives.- Grasp the Perfection of Jesus's Sacrifice: Discover why the Old Testament system was a temporary stop-gap and how Jesus, as our Great High Priest, made the once-for-all sacrifice for eternal redemption.- Experience Cleansed Conscience: Move beyond a temporary "covering" of sin to the complete "cleansing" of your conscience, allowing you to approach God boldly and receive His mercy and grace.- Live in the New Covenant: Explore what it means to be united with Christ in His death and resurrection, resulting in a new life that is both started and sustained by the gospel.- Reclaim God's Presence: Find out how Jesus's life, death, and resurrection means you don't have to settle for just being around God, but can be with Him and know Him fully.Scripture References: Hebrews 1:1-3, Psalm 23:3-6, Romans 3, James 2:10, Hebrews 9, 1 Peter 3:18, Galatians 2:20, Romans 6, Hebrews 4:14-16, 1 Corinthians 11.

Hebrews 4:14-16 --- The Purpose of the Priesthood - The Great High Priest: Jesus Christ - The Royal Priesthood of Believers

Dr Thurman Hayes Jr. Preaching on Genesis 14:1-24. Sunday December 14, 2025 at First Baptist Church of Suffolk, VA.

If you've ever wondered why God works the way He does—this message is for you. In Miracle of the Method, we discover how God's ways may surprise us, but are always purposeful, personal, and powerful. Through the story of the wise men and the meaning behind their gifts, we see Jesus revealed as our King, our Sacrifice, and our Great High Priest—one who understands us, intercedes for us, and invites us to come boldly into God's presence.This Christmas message will deepen your faith, reshape how you see Jesus, and remind you that God's method is not a mistake—it's the miracle.Use the links below to stay connected. Our Website: https://gladtidings.org/leanderConnect with us: https://gladtidings.org/connectRequest Prayer: https://gladtidings.org/prayer Give Online: https://gladtidings.org/give

Title: Jesus as Priest who Gives Us Salvation   Text: Hebrews 7:23-25 Chris Hefner As Priest Jesus gives the gift of Salvation. Four Questions about Jesus and his priestly office:What does a priest do?A priest represents people to God and God to people.What does Jesus uniquely do as the Great High Priest?Jesus saves through his priestly ministry.Jesus intercedes through his priestly ministry.What gifts does Jesus, our Priest, give us?Gift of salvation—receive by faith.Gift of access—practice it by prayer.How are these gifts possible?Please reach out to us via email at info@wilkesborobaptist.org

“Our Great High Priest” • Hebrews 4:14-5:10 – Elder Bryce Lowrance.    The way to God is guarded from us because of our sin. Therefore, we need a high priest to make intercession for us with a Holy God. Jesus Christ is our Great High Priest. He perfectly fills the role of priest in that He offered Himself once for our sins and is compassionately giving us aide in times of need.  This message was preached on Sunday, June 9, 2024.

Texts: Hebrews 4:14-16; 7:1-28; 10:19-25   Jesus is the Sympathetic Priest Who We Can Approach Confidently (Heb. 4:14-16) In Jesus we have a compassionate priest who perfectly understands our condition. In Jesus we have an effective priest who has given us complete access to God. Through Jesus, we can hold fast to our confession of faith.   Jesus is the Eternal Priest Who Saves Us Completely (Heb. 7:1-28) In Genesis, Melchizedek foreshadows Jesus' character, ministry, and supremacy. Jesus is the greater and eternal Priest-King who intercedes for and saves sinners to the uttermost by His once-for-all death on the cross.   Jesus is the Great High Priest Who Calls Us to Live Righteously (Heb. 10:19-25) Because of what Jesus accomplished as our Great High Priest, we are live holy lives with unwavering confidence in His faithfulness. Because of what Jesus accomplished as our Great High Priest, we are to motivate one another to love and good works.

"We don't stand outside the palace, but we've been invited right into God's throne room." - Pastor Steve Dow The High Priesthood and Healing Power of Frankincense The Christmas gift of frankincense profoundly declares that Jesus is our Great High Priest for all eternity, the one who is our access to the throne room of God. Pastor Steve Dow explores how frankincense, in its Old Testament connection to the altar of incense, represents worship, prayer, and the very presence of God. This message reveals that through Christ, we can boldly approach God's throne and experience the healing power of the High Priest in three key areas: shame, broken relationships/bitterness, and anxiety/fear. Discover how bringing your frankincense—your worship, prayer, and surrender—brings down God's peace and healing presence into your broken life. +++++++ You can find our service times on our website: https://www.anctally.com/ You can find sermon highlights on Twitter here: https://x.com/allnationstally

Sermon Outline Christ Our Priest: The Word Incarnate December 7, 2025 Hebrews 4:14-16 Pastor Tony Felich Sermon Application [file] ----more---- Hebrews 4:14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. [15] For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. [16] Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Since Christ is our merciful and mighty High Priest, we can persevere by coming confidently to His throne of grace. I. The role of priests II. How Jesus compares III. Two exhortations in light of Jesus our Great High Priest: a. Hold fast to our confession (in Christ) b. Draw near to the throne of grace

Ever feel the tug to retreat to what feels safe and familiar when life gets hard? We sit with a community that knew that pull well—Jewish believers near Jerusalem, pressured to trade the risk of following Jesus for the predictability of rituals and rules. Hebrews chapter 4 offers a bracing alternative: not more striving, but a living Word that cuts through our defenses and a Great High Priest who turns exposure into healing.We start with the scalpel. “The word of God is living and active,” sharper than any two-edged sword. When Scripture lays us bare, it separates what we can't—thoughts from intentions, appearances from motives—so God can remove what harms and restore what's healthy. Then comes the pivot that changes everything: the One who sees everything is the same One who welcomes us. Jesus has “passed through the heavens” as our Great High Priest, not standing in endless effort like the priests of old, but seated because the sacrifice is complete.From there we explore how Jesus's sympathy becomes our courage. Tempted in every way we are, yet without sin, He knows the weight we carry and the cracks where we break. That sympathy is strong enough to help us in real time. We also unpack the role of priest versus prophet and why it matters that Jesus, from the tribe of Judah and not Levi, represents us before the Father according to a higher order Hebrews will soon reveal. The takeaway is practical and personal: hold fast your confession because Jesus is better—better than angels, Moses, and any system that promises peace through performance.The invitation lands with urgency and comfort: draw near with confidence to the throne of grace to receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. If striving to please yourself or some religious organization has left you tired, come close to Jesus. If hidden motives keep sabotaging your peace, let the Word do its careful work. And if you're tempted to go back to what once felt safe, look again at the One who knows you, stands for you, and never stops interceding. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs rest, and leave a review to help others find a better way forward.Support the showThank you for listening!! Please give us a five-star rating to help your podcast provider's algorithm spread RTTB among their listeners. You can find free study and leader resources at the following link - Resource Page - Reasoning Through the Bible Please prayerfully consider supporting RTTB to help us to continue providing content and free resources. You can do that at this link - Support RTTB - Reasoning Through the Bible May God Bless you!! - Glenn and Steve

Mike McCoy 11-19-2025 They questioned God's choice of a High Priest and He answered with judgement, not only that but as Brother Mike explains He also gave a sign that would point to our Great High Priest. Crossville First Free Will Baptist Church www.crossvillechurch.com

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Is your sin REALLY that serious? And why does the Old Testament talk so much about animal sacrifices—were they really necessary? In our Jesse Tree Advent series, where we uncover how every story points to Jesus, we're digging into one of the most important (and strangest) holidays in the Bible: Yom Kippur, or the Day of Atonement. We'll unpack the raw reality of sin and death, and then reveal the incredible, world-changing good news: Jesus isn't just a covering for sin; He is the perfect, once-for-all sacrifice. Discover how His work on the cross tears the veil, gives you direct access to God, and means you can finally stop striving and rest in His finished work. In this message we discover: Why God's presence was both good and dangerous Why sacrifices were necessary—and what they taught God's people The powerful symbolism of the two goats What is a scapegoat? How Jesus became both our Great High Priest and our perfect sacrifice Why the tearing of the temple curtain changes everything for you today Why you can stop striving… and rest in Christ's finished work If you've wrestled with guilt, shame, or feeling distant from God, if you've ever worried you're ‘not enough'this message will breathe fresh hope into your soul. Jesus is enough. His sacrifice is enough. And through Him, you have full access to the very presence of God. Let that truth sink deep and set you free today. If this message encouraged you, hit Like, Share it with someone who needs hope today, and Subscribe to stay connected with the Orchard Hills family. Scripture List: Leviticus 16.1-22 Genesis 3.24 Exodus 40.35 Romans 3.23 Matthew 27.51 Hebrews 9.11-26

Jesus is our Great High Priest who has passed through the heavens—but not before He walked upon and suffered through this earth, this life.  Therefore, our Great High Priest can sympathize with our weaknesses.  He's walked the path we walk and can show us the better way.  Jesus is the priest we need, and, a

Because we have a Great High Priest, the throne of God is a throne of grace.

Roy Fruits November 16, 2025 Awesome Jesus, Awesome Faith Christ, Our Great High Priest Forever Hebrews 4:14-5:10

The High Priest will minister to the people, but only if He is first a minister to God. It's only until Jesus comes, our Great High Priest, will this ministry be fulfilled and the people of God receive that gracious judgement once and for all: Forgiven!

Pastor John will be drawing our attention to the traits and qualifications of the High Priest. It's interesting to note that Jesus meets each and every one of them… perfectly! And so He is uniquely qualified to be our Great High Priest. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1368/29?v=20251111

As you read your Old Testament you discover Israel had many high priests and they would serve an important role. But as we'll learn today on a Daily Walk, Jesus is far superior to the Levitical Priesthood! We'll give you several reasons why as we get back into our new study of Hebrews with pastor John Randall. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1368/29?v=20251111

The high priesthood in the Old Testament was designed in part to give us a sense that God is concerned with us having representation. But the best they could do is point us to the Lord. You and I have a sin problem and because of that we need representation before God. Everything about the priesthood, as we'll see today, symbolized the solution God had in mind all along. Today our teacher pastor John Randall shows us why Jesus is superior to the levitical priesthood, and what makes Him our great high priest! To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1368/29?v=20251111

How the mysterious Melchizedek wonderfully foreshadows the coming of Jesus, our Great High Priest. Tom Rubino | November 9th, 2025 _________________________________________ We're Incarnation Tallahassee! Visit our website! www.incarnationtlh.org/
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In this passage, the author encourages us to have courage as we enter the presence of God because we have a Great High Priest in Christ Jesus.

In a world constantly challenging your faith, Hebrews 4 urges believers to hold fast because of who Jesus is. As our Great High Priest, He sympathizes with our weakness and gives us bold access to God's throne of grace. When you're tempted to waver, remember: Christ has given you everything you need to stand firm.

A Great High Priest, higher than the order of Melchizedek! A deeper dive into Hebrews always does the soul good!

Hebrews 7:23-25 - Trevor Love - Guest SpeakerWant to learn more about Eastwood? Visit https://eastwood.church

Many modern Christians insist, “We don't have priests — only pastors.” But both Scripture and the early Church tell a different story. In this episode, Dr. Stephen Boyce of The FACTS Podcast uncovers how the Bible and the earliest Christian writings describe bishops, presbyters, and deacons as the new Temple order — high priests, priests, and Levites serving Christ, our Great High Priest.From the Book of Hebrews to 1 Peter, Revelation, the Didache, and 1 Clement, we see a consistent pattern: the Church understood her ministers as participating in Christ's priesthood, not replacing it. Discover how the first Christians viewed the Eucharist as a true offering, how bishops inherited the role of high priest, and why denying the priesthood of pastors ignores both biblical typology and apostolic history.If you've ever heard someone say “we don't have priests,” this episode will show why Scripture and history disagree — and why reclaiming the language of priesthood restores the Church's true identity as a kingdom of priests.If you'd like to donate to our ministry or be a monthly partner that receives newsletters and one on one discussions with Dr. Stephen Boyce, here's a link: https://give.tithe.ly/?formId=6381a2ee-b82f-42a7-809e-6b733cec05a7 #StephenBoyce  #FACTSPodcast  #ChristianHistory  #BiblicalPriesthood  #EarlyChurch  #Hebrews  #1Peter  #Revelation  #Didache  #1Clement  #KingdomOfPriests  #ApostolicSuccession  #Catholic  #Anglican  #Patristics  #ChurchFathers

Preached on October 26, 2025 from Hebrews 4:14-5:10. For more information about Columbia Christian Church, please visit our website: www.columbiachristian.org

The Bible never hides the mess that happens when sinful people collide. It doesnt take much to recognize that since Adam and Eve were promised a descendant who would crush the head of the serpent, the story of Gods people is one of dysfunction. All who make up Jesus family tree include broken and messy people. When we come to Genesis 29, we meet Jacoba deceiverand Leah, the woman no one wanted. But their story began long before this moment. God had promised Abraham that through his descendants would come a child who would bless all nations. That promise passed to Isaac, and before his twins were born, God declared,The older shall serve the younger (Gen. 25:23). Jacob deceived his aging father, stole his brothers blessing, and fled for his life. Alone in the wilderness, with only a stone for a pillow, God met him in a dream.I am the LORD, the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac. The land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed. Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go (Gen. 28:1315). God didnt appear to Jacob because he finally got his act togetherHe showed up in Jacobs mess. Thats the beauty of grace: God steps into our brokenness, keeps His promises, and accomplishes His plan through imperfect people. Later, God gave him the name Israel, but for the purpose of this sermon, we will continue to refer to him as Jacob (Gen. 35:9-21). Outside of Eden We Want Rachel (Gen. 29:1-20) When Laban heard his nephew had arrived, heran to meet him, and embraced him and kissed him, and brought him to his house(Gen. 29:13). Jacob stayed with his uncle for a month, and during that time he fell in love with Labans younger daughter, Rachel (v. 18). Why did Jacob love Rachel? The text tells us:Now Laban had two daughters; the name of the older was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. And Leahs eyes were weak, but Rachel was beautiful in figure and appearance(vv. 1617). Were not told exactly what it means that Leahs eyes were weak. Some think she was cross-eyed or simply lacked the beauty that her younger sister possessed. Whatever the case, the contrast is clearLeah was plain, but Rachel was striking. Even their names hint at the difference:Leahmay mean wild cow or gazelle, whileRachelmeans ewe or lamba softer, more affectionate name. Rachel was beautiful, and Jacob was captivated. When Laban offered to pay Jacob for his work, Jacob didnt ask for wageshe offered seven years of labor for Rachels hand. Laban agreed.So Jacob worked seven years to pay for Rachel. But his love for her was so strong that it seemed to him but a few days(Gen. 29:20, NLT). Rachel was the apple of his eyethe treasure of his heart. To Jacob, life with Rachel promised the happiness he had always longed for. And isnt that what we all want? On this side of Eden, every heart searches for a Rachelsomeone or something we believe will complete us. We might not call it Rachel, but we chase it in our stories, our dreams, and our longings. We dont want Leah. We want Rachel. If the Bible repeats something, we need to pay attention to it. But, if the Bible repeats something three times, it elevates it to the superlative degree as something super important. Three times we are told of Jacobs love for Rachel: Now Jacob loved Rachel, so he said, I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel. (Gen. 29:18) So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed to him like only a few days because of his love for her. (Gen. 29:20) So Jacob had relations with Rachel also, and indeed he loved Rachel more than Leah, and he served with Laban for another seven years. (Gen. 29:30) Guess how many times we are told that Jacob loved Leah. Zero. In fact, when it comes to love, here is what we are told: Now the Lord saw that Leah was unloved, and He opened her womb, but Rachel was unable to have children (v. 31). Outside of Eden We Get Leah (Gen. 29:21-30) After Jacob completed the seven years he had promised his uncle, he was ready to receive what his heart had longed for.Then Jacob said to Laban, Give me my wife, for my time is completed, that I may have relations with her. So Laban gathered all the people of the place and held a feast(Gen. 29:2122). Finally, Jacob believed life was about to become sweet. The wedding celebration began, the food was served, and the wine flowed freely. When the bride was brought to himveiled and under cover of nightJacob, likely feeling content and confident, welcomed her.Now in the evening he took his daughter Leah and brought her to him; and Jacob had relations with her.... So it came about in the morning that, behold, it was Leah!(Gen. 29:23, 25a). Morning light brought a brutal truth. The woman beside him was not Rachelthe love of his lifebut Leah, the weak-eyed daughter whose very name meant wild cow. Jacob was furious. He had been deceivedjust as he had once deceived his brother Esau. His dream of happiness, shattered.And he said to Laban, What is this that you have done to me? Was it not for Rachel that I served you? Why then have you deceived me?(v. 25). But Laban, the master manipulator, calmly replied,It is not the practice in our place to marry off the younger before the firstborn. Complete the week of this one, and we will give you the other also for the service which you shall serve with me for another seven years(vv. 2627). Jacob was trappedused for free labor once again. He was tricked into taking the daughter he hadnt chosen, and bartered into another seven years for the one he loved. Unfortunately for Leah, she was stuck in the middle of all the drama. Outside of Eden There is Still Hope The marriage that Jacob was tricked into began with a week-long celebration. Laban insisted Jacob complete the festivities with Leah, giving enough time for her to become pregnant. Yet Jacob was eager for the days to end, and as soon as the week was over, he immediately married Rachel. Driven by the selfish motives of both Jacob and Laban, Leah found herself trappedcaught between their desires and loved by no one. Leah was rejected, while Rachel was cherished. The striking irony in Leahs story is that, while she was overlooked by everyone else, God loved her: Now the Lord saw that Leah was unloved, and He opened her womb, but Rachel was unable to have children (v. 31). Despite Gods blessings with each child, Leahs deepest longing, which was for her husbands love, remained out of reach. After every birth, Leah hoped that her husband would finally love her, yet that hope was continually unfulfilled. Consider how Leah responded after each of her first four child were born: Leah conceived and gave birth to a son, and named him Reuben, for she said, Because the Lord has seen my affliction; surely now my husband will love me. (v. 32) Then she conceived again and gave birth to a son, and said, Because the Lord has heard that I am unloved, He has therefore given me this son also. So she named him Simeon. (v. 33) And she conceived again and gave birth to a son, and said, Now this time my husband will become attached to me, because I have borne him three sons. Therefore he was named Levi. (v. 34) And she conceived again and gave birth to a son, and said, This time I will praise the Lord. Therefore she named him Judah. Then she stopped having children. (v. 35) I wish Leahs story ended with her praising theLORD, but it didnt. She continued to seek Jacobs affection by giving him what Rachel could notchildren. Just as Sarah gave Hagar to Jacob, Rachel followed the same pattern when she could not conceive, unwilling to trust Gods timing. What followed was a rivalry between Leah and Rachel, each striving to win Jacobs love by giving him more sons. Both even gave their servants to Jacob, and through them, four more sons were born. In time, God blessed Leah with two additional sons and a daughter, yet her longing for her husbands love was never fulfilled (seeGen. 30:1921). Rachel, meanwhile, bore only two sonsJosephand, finally,Benjamin, the only son Jacob named. Then they journeyed on from Bethel; but when there was still some distance to go to Ephrath, Rachel began to give birth and she suffered severe difficulties in her labor. And when she was suffering severe difficulties in her labor, the midwife said to her, Do not fear, for you have another son! And it came about, as her soul was departing (for she died), that she named him Ben-oni; but his father called him Benjamin(Gen. 35:1618). Application The irony in Leahs story is striking: although she was overlooked by her father, unloved by her husband, and scorned by her younger sister, she was shown favor by God. Leah became the mother of seven children, including Levi and Judah. Through Levi, the priestly lineage was established, and through Judah, the royal line was formeda line that ultimately led to the birth of Jesus Christ! The promise God made to Adam and Eve, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob... was Leahs promise. Listen to the prophetic blessing pronounced upon Judah by Jacob in Genesis 49:8-10, As for you, Judah, your brothers shall praise you;your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies;your fathers sons shall bow down to you. Judah is a lions cub;from the prey, my son, you have gone up.He crouches, he lies down as a lion,and as a lion, who dares to stir him up? The scepter will not depart from Judah,nor the rulers staff from between his feet,until Shiloh comes;and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples. The ugly wife was loved by God! Leah couldnt have seen it then, but the beauty God would bring through her lineage is staggering. Her name may meanweary,exhausted,gazelle, or evenwild cowyet through her would come the Deliverer promised to Adam and Eve, to Noah, to Abraham and Sarah, to Isaac, and now to Jacob. She was the wife no one loved or treasured, except God Himself. From Leahs sons came the tribe ofLevi, the tribe set apart to oversee the worship and sacrificial life of Israel. From the Levites, God appointed theHigh Priest, chosen from Aarons line, to mediate between God and His people. Upon his chest he wore a sacred breastplate adorned with twelve precious stones, each set in gold and engraved with the name of one of Israels tribes. Thefirst stone,sardiusa deep red rubyrepresentedReuben, whose name meansBehold, a son!Thelast stone,jasper, representedBenjamin, meaningson of my right hand. Leahs legacy was not measured by Jacobs affection but by Gods covenantal love. Through the unloved wife, God brought forth the priesthood that pointed to the Great High PriestJesus Christ. Conclusion Now, permit me to show you something from Revelation 4-5. In Revelation 4, John is invited to see the heavenly throne room of God. Notice what it is that John sees: After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven, and the first voice which I had heard, like the sound of a trumpet speaking with me, said, Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after these things. Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne was standing in heaven, and someone was sitting on the throne. And He who was sitting was like a jasper stone and a sardius in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, like an emerald in appearance. John is ushered into heavens throne room, and what captures his attention is that the One seated on the throne radiates with the colors of jasper and sardiusthe first and last stones on the High Priests breastplate. This is not accidental imagery. It is intentional revelation. What shines from the throne is He who is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. When you pair the meanings of those names Behold, a Son and Son of My right handyou hear the gospel proclaimed from the very throne of God. Who is this Son at the right hand of the Father? Revelation 1:1718 gives the answer: Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and Hades. The One radiant like sardius and jasper is none other than Jesus Christ. And how do we know He sits at the right hand of the Father? Because Paul who himself was from the tribe represented by the jasper stonedeclares in Romans 8:3134: What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? Who will bring charges against Gods elect? God is the one who justifies; who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, but rather, was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. This is the One who is worthy to open the scroll in the Fathers hand. Revelation 5:5 tells us, ...behold, the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so as to be able to open the scroll and its seven seals. The elder tells John to look at the Lion of Judah. But when John turns, he doesnt see a lion. He sees a Lamb. A Lamb standing, as if slaughtered... (Rev. 5:6). Jacob chased after a beautiful woman whose name meant sheep, but through Leahthe unloved, weary wifewould come the Lamb of God. The Lamb who stands before the throne as the triumphant Redeemer. And all of heaven erupts in worship: Worthy is the Lamb that was slaughtered to receive power, wealth, wisdom, might, honor, glory, and blessing (Rev. 5:12). What is the point of Leahs story? God redeems what is ugly, weary, and rejected. He takes what the world despises and uses it to accomplish His glorious plan of redemption. This is why the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders sing a new song to Leahs descendant: Worthy are You to take the scroll and to break its seals; for You were slaughtered, and You purchased people for God with Your blood from every tribe, language, people, and nation (Rev. 5:9). And here is where the story turns deeply personal. We are Leah. We are the unlovely bride. We are the weary, broken, and undeserving. But instead of being repulsed by us, Jesus loves us. He makes us His Bride. Paul writes, For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Rom. 8:3839). Leahs story ends not in sorrow, but in the songs of heaven. The woman who was unloved became the vessel through whom the Lamb of God would come. The tribe she bore would point to the Great High Priest, and the Son of her bodys lineage would one day stand at the right hand of the Father. Worthy is the Lamb who was slain. That is our story too. If you belong to Christ, then your shame, your weariness, and your rejection are not the end of the story. The throne is. The Lamb is. His love is.

The Bible never hides the mess that happens when sinful people collide. It doesnt take much to recognize that since Adam and Eve were promised a descendant who would crush the head of the serpent, the story of Gods people is one of dysfunction. All who make up Jesus family tree include broken and messy people. When we come to Genesis 29, we meet Jacoba deceiverand Leah, the woman no one wanted. But their story began long before this moment. God had promised Abraham that through his descendants would come a child who would bless all nations. That promise passed to Isaac, and before his twins were born, God declared,The older shall serve the younger (Gen. 25:23). Jacob deceived his aging father, stole his brothers blessing, and fled for his life. Alone in the wilderness, with only a stone for a pillow, God met him in a dream.I am the LORD, the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac. The land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed. Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go (Gen. 28:1315). God didnt appear to Jacob because he finally got his act togetherHe showed up in Jacobs mess. Thats the beauty of grace: God steps into our brokenness, keeps His promises, and accomplishes His plan through imperfect people. Later, God gave him the name Israel, but for the purpose of this sermon, we will continue to refer to him as Jacob (Gen. 35:9-21). Outside of Eden We Want Rachel (Gen. 29:1-20) When Laban heard his nephew had arrived, heran to meet him, and embraced him and kissed him, and brought him to his house(Gen. 29:13). Jacob stayed with his uncle for a month, and during that time he fell in love with Labans younger daughter, Rachel (v. 18). Why did Jacob love Rachel? The text tells us:Now Laban had two daughters; the name of the older was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. And Leahs eyes were weak, but Rachel was beautiful in figure and appearance(vv. 1617). Were not told exactly what it means that Leahs eyes were weak. Some think she was cross-eyed or simply lacked the beauty that her younger sister possessed. Whatever the case, the contrast is clearLeah was plain, but Rachel was striking. Even their names hint at the difference:Leahmay mean wild cow or gazelle, whileRachelmeans ewe or lamba softer, more affectionate name. Rachel was beautiful, and Jacob was captivated. When Laban offered to pay Jacob for his work, Jacob didnt ask for wageshe offered seven years of labor for Rachels hand. Laban agreed.So Jacob worked seven years to pay for Rachel. But his love for her was so strong that it seemed to him but a few days(Gen. 29:20, NLT). Rachel was the apple of his eyethe treasure of his heart. To Jacob, life with Rachel promised the happiness he had always longed for. And isnt that what we all want? On this side of Eden, every heart searches for a Rachelsomeone or something we believe will complete us. We might not call it Rachel, but we chase it in our stories, our dreams, and our longings. We dont want Leah. We want Rachel. If the Bible repeats something, we need to pay attention to it. But, if the Bible repeats something three times, it elevates it to the superlative degree as something super important. Three times we are told of Jacobs love for Rachel: Now Jacob loved Rachel, so he said, I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel. (Gen. 29:18) So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed to him like only a few days because of his love for her. (Gen. 29:20) So Jacob had relations with Rachel also, and indeed he loved Rachel more than Leah, and he served with Laban for another seven years. (Gen. 29:30) Guess how many times we are told that Jacob loved Leah. Zero. In fact, when it comes to love, here is what we are told: Now the Lord saw that Leah was unloved, and He opened her womb, but Rachel was unable to have children (v. 31). Outside of Eden We Get Leah (Gen. 29:21-30) After Jacob completed the seven years he had promised his uncle, he was ready to receive what his heart had longed for.Then Jacob said to Laban, Give me my wife, for my time is completed, that I may have relations with her. So Laban gathered all the people of the place and held a feast(Gen. 29:2122). Finally, Jacob believed life was about to become sweet. The wedding celebration began, the food was served, and the wine flowed freely. When the bride was brought to himveiled and under cover of nightJacob, likely feeling content and confident, welcomed her.Now in the evening he took his daughter Leah and brought her to him; and Jacob had relations with her.... So it came about in the morning that, behold, it was Leah!(Gen. 29:23, 25a). Morning light brought a brutal truth. The woman beside him was not Rachelthe love of his lifebut Leah, the weak-eyed daughter whose very name meant wild cow. Jacob was furious. He had been deceivedjust as he had once deceived his brother Esau. His dream of happiness, shattered.And he said to Laban, What is this that you have done to me? Was it not for Rachel that I served you? Why then have you deceived me?(v. 25). But Laban, the master manipulator, calmly replied,It is not the practice in our place to marry off the younger before the firstborn. Complete the week of this one, and we will give you the other also for the service which you shall serve with me for another seven years(vv. 2627). Jacob was trappedused for free labor once again. He was tricked into taking the daughter he hadnt chosen, and bartered into another seven years for the one he loved. Unfortunately for Leah, she was stuck in the middle of all the drama. Outside of Eden There is Still Hope The marriage that Jacob was tricked into began with a week-long celebration. Laban insisted Jacob complete the festivities with Leah, giving enough time for her to become pregnant. Yet Jacob was eager for the days to end, and as soon as the week was over, he immediately married Rachel. Driven by the selfish motives of both Jacob and Laban, Leah found herself trappedcaught between their desires and loved by no one. Leah was rejected, while Rachel was cherished. The striking irony in Leahs story is that, while she was overlooked by everyone else, God loved her: Now the Lord saw that Leah was unloved, and He opened her womb, but Rachel was unable to have children (v. 31). Despite Gods blessings with each child, Leahs deepest longing, which was for her husbands love, remained out of reach. After every birth, Leah hoped that her husband would finally love her, yet that hope was continually unfulfilled. Consider how Leah responded after each of her first four child were born: Leah conceived and gave birth to a son, and named him Reuben, for she said, Because the Lord has seen my affliction; surely now my husband will love me. (v. 32) Then she conceived again and gave birth to a son, and said, Because the Lord has heard that I am unloved, He has therefore given me this son also. So she named him Simeon. (v. 33) And she conceived again and gave birth to a son, and said, Now this time my husband will become attached to me, because I have borne him three sons. Therefore he was named Levi. (v. 34) And she conceived again and gave birth to a son, and said, This time I will praise the Lord. Therefore she named him Judah. Then she stopped having children. (v. 35) I wish Leahs story ended with her praising theLORD, but it didnt. She continued to seek Jacobs affection by giving him what Rachel could notchildren. Just as Sarah gave Hagar to Jacob, Rachel followed the same pattern when she could not conceive, unwilling to trust Gods timing. What followed was a rivalry between Leah and Rachel, each striving to win Jacobs love by giving him more sons. Both even gave their servants to Jacob, and through them, four more sons were born. In time, God blessed Leah with two additional sons and a daughter, yet her longing for her husbands love was never fulfilled (seeGen. 30:1921). Rachel, meanwhile, bore only two sonsJosephand, finally,Benjamin, the only son Jacob named. Then they journeyed on from Bethel; but when there was still some distance to go to Ephrath, Rachel began to give birth and she suffered severe difficulties in her labor. And when she was suffering severe difficulties in her labor, the midwife said to her, Do not fear, for you have another son! And it came about, as her soul was departing (for she died), that she named him Ben-oni; but his father called him Benjamin(Gen. 35:1618). Application The irony in Leahs story is striking: although she was overlooked by her father, unloved by her husband, and scorned by her younger sister, she was shown favor by God. Leah became the mother of seven children, including Levi and Judah. Through Levi, the priestly lineage was established, and through Judah, the royal line was formeda line that ultimately led to the birth of Jesus Christ! The promise God made to Adam and Eve, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob... was Leahs promise. Listen to the prophetic blessing pronounced upon Judah by Jacob in Genesis 49:8-10, As for you, Judah, your brothers shall praise you;your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies;your fathers sons shall bow down to you. Judah is a lions cub;from the prey, my son, you have gone up.He crouches, he lies down as a lion,and as a lion, who dares to stir him up? The scepter will not depart from Judah,nor the rulers staff from between his feet,until Shiloh comes;and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples. The ugly wife was loved by God! Leah couldnt have seen it then, but the beauty God would bring through her lineage is staggering. Her name may meanweary,exhausted,gazelle, or evenwild cowyet through her would come the Deliverer promised to Adam and Eve, to Noah, to Abraham and Sarah, to Isaac, and now to Jacob. She was the wife no one loved or treasured, except God Himself. From Leahs sons came the tribe ofLevi, the tribe set apart to oversee the worship and sacrificial life of Israel. From the Levites, God appointed theHigh Priest, chosen from Aarons line, to mediate between God and His people. Upon his chest he wore a sacred breastplate adorned with twelve precious stones, each set in gold and engraved with the name of one of Israels tribes. Thefirst stone,sardiusa deep red rubyrepresentedReuben, whose name meansBehold, a son!Thelast stone,jasper, representedBenjamin, meaningson of my right hand. Leahs legacy was not measured by Jacobs affection but by Gods covenantal love. Through the unloved wife, God brought forth the priesthood that pointed to the Great High PriestJesus Christ. Conclusion Now, permit me to show you something from Revelation 4-5. In Revelation 4, John is invited to see the heavenly throne room of God. Notice what it is that John sees: After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven, and the first voice which I had heard, like the sound of a trumpet speaking with me, said, Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after these things. Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne was standing in heaven, and someone was sitting on the throne. And He who was sitting was like a jasper stone and a sardius in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, like an emerald in appearance. John is ushered into heavens throne room, and what captures his attention is that the One seated on the throne radiates with the colors of jasper and sardiusthe first and last stones on the High Priests breastplate. This is not accidental imagery. It is intentional revelation. What shines from the throne is He who is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. When you pair the meanings of those names Behold, a Son and Son of My right handyou hear the gospel proclaimed from the very throne of God. Who is this Son at the right hand of the Father? Revelation 1:1718 gives the answer: Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and Hades. The One radiant like sardius and jasper is none other than Jesus Christ. And how do we know He sits at the right hand of the Father? Because Paul who himself was from the tribe represented by the jasper stonedeclares in Romans 8:3134: What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? Who will bring charges against Gods elect? God is the one who justifies; who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, but rather, was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. This is the One who is worthy to open the scroll in the Fathers hand. Revelation 5:5 tells us, ...behold, the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so as to be able to open the scroll and its seven seals. The elder tells John to look at the Lion of Judah. But when John turns, he doesnt see a lion. He sees a Lamb. A Lamb standing, as if slaughtered... (Rev. 5:6). Jacob chased after a beautiful woman whose name meant sheep, but through Leahthe unloved, weary wifewould come the Lamb of God. The Lamb who stands before the throne as the triumphant Redeemer. And all of heaven erupts in worship: Worthy is the Lamb that was slaughtered to receive power, wealth, wisdom, might, honor, glory, and blessing (Rev. 5:12). What is the point of Leahs story? God redeems what is ugly, weary, and rejected. He takes what the world despises and uses it to accomplish His glorious plan of redemption. This is why the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders sing a new song to Leahs descendant: Worthy are You to take the scroll and to break its seals; for You were slaughtered, and You purchased people for God with Your blood from every tribe, language, people, and nation (Rev. 5:9). And here is where the story turns deeply personal. We are Leah. We are the unlovely bride. We are the weary, broken, and undeserving. But instead of being repulsed by us, Jesus loves us. He makes us His Bride. Paul writes, For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Rom. 8:3839). Leahs story ends not in sorrow, but in the songs of heaven. The woman who was unloved became the vessel through whom the Lamb of God would come. The tribe she bore would point to the Great High Priest, and the Son of her bodys lineage would one day stand at the right hand of the Father. Worthy is the Lamb who was slain. That is our story too. If you belong to Christ, then your shame, your weariness, and your rejection are not the end of the story. The throne is. The Lamb is. His love is.

Do you know that feeling you get when you've been planning a great vacation and there are only a few more days before you go? Your heart begins to fill with excitement at the thought of what it will be like. The rest, the comfort, the joy, the peace. In much the same way, the author of Hebrews wants us to anticipate and experience three incredible benefits Jesus makes possible for us because he is our "Great High Priest".  

Join Greg & Nathan as they continue their discussion in their series the Imago Dei. What if bearing God's image isn't just about who we are—but also about what we're called to do? In this third episode of The Imago Dei series, Greg and Nathan dive into the priestly role of humanity, asking: What does it mean that part of bearing God's image is being a priest? Drawing from key Scriptures like 1 Peter 2:9, Genesis 2:15, and Exodus 19:5–6, they explore how every believer is invited to draw near to God—and to help others do the same. From Eden to the cross, from sacred temples to ordinary lives, the priestly calling runs deep: to intercede, to steward sacred space, and to carry God's presence into a broken world. In this episode, they discuss: The surprising priestly parallels in the Garden of Eden How Old Testament priests shape our understanding of spiritual life today Why prayer is more than a quiet moment—it's priestly work What it means to be part of a royal priesthood in Christ How Jesus, our Great High Priest, redefines our identity and mission And how living as priests impacts everything from our parenting to our pain Whether you're in ministry or the marketplace, a seasoned believer or exploring faith, this conversation will challenge and encourage you to see your life as sacred—and your presence as a vessel of God's mercy.