Podcasts about great high priest

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

Ola Dosunmu on Hebrews 4:14 -16 and 5:1-10 – how Jesus is our great high priest. Ola emphasises that Jesus is not just a saviour, but bridges the gap between humanity and God. Through Jesus' life, death, and resurrection, we have direct access to God's presence, mercy and grace. Ola encourages us to: • Approach God with confidence — not self-doubt — because Jesus has made a way. • Live in the assurance of forgiveness and identity in Christ, rather than striving for approval through works. • Trust that Jesus' priesthood covers you fully — you don't need to earn acceptance. • In times of weakness or need, lean on Christ's intercession — He stands between you and God. The post Ola Dosunmu: Jesus, our great high priest first appeared on Jubilee Church Wirral.

In this stirring and deeply encouraging Advent message, Pastor Karl launches the new series The King Has Come with a powerful exploration of the first great gift Jesus brings: hope.Turning to Luke 2 and the quiet, largely forgotten figures of Simeon and Anna, Pastor Karl paints a vivid picture of two elderly saints who spent decades waiting in faithful obscurity—praying unanswered prayers, worshiping through silence, and serving without recognition. Yet the moment a 40-day-old baby was carried into the temple, their Spirit-illuminated eyes saw what the crowds missed: the long-promised Messiah, the Consolation of Israel, the Redemption of Jerusalem.Through their story, Pastor Karl reveals that biblical hope is not wishful thinking; it is the confident, unshakable expectation of future good rooted in the unchanging character and faithfulness of God. Hope grows in the hidden soil of daily faithfulness, thrives when God chooses to work in silence, and celebrates the tiny seed because it already trusts the coming harvest. Simeon and Anna never saw Jesus preach, heal, or rise from the dead—yet they held the infant King and departed in peace, because they knew who He was long before they saw what He would do.A tender yet convicting word for everyone who has waited a long time and is still waiting, prayed a long time and is still praying, and hoped a long time and is still hoping. In a season that can feel rushed and noisy, this message calls us to slow down, stay faithful, and train our eyes to recognize the presence of the King—even when He shows up wrapped in the ordinary, the small, and the seemingly insignificant.Because the King has come, hope is not dead. It is alive, resilient, and bubbling up in every heart that keeps showing up and keeps looking for Jesus. Essential listening for anyone who needs fresh hope this Christmas.Watch all our sermons on our youtube channel "Flipside Christian Church"Join us in person 9:00am & 10:30am every Sunday morning.37193 Ave 12 #3h, Madera, CA 93636For more visit us at flipside.churchFor more podcasts visit flipsidepodcasts.transistor.fm

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/
 Watch the Livestream youtube.com/live/ZSeuKYY3J2w

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.

Scripture: Hebrews 4:16-5:10Speaker: Brandon EggarSeries: Hebrews

Rev Sam Bostock considers the four steps to our perfection through Jesus Christ.  Leviticus 8 vs 1 - 13, 22 - 36; Colossians 3 vs 1 - 11

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".  

We are a gospel community making Christ Known in the valley. You can visit us at our website: vbcradford.comFill out a connect card!Our hope at Valley Bible Church is to be a place for you to come, ask hard questions, and see what life with Jesus looks like. We are not merely a Sunday meeting or an organization, but a community of people formed in and by Christ. We think of ourselves as a family on mission together.

Dave Bindewald, founder of the Center for Play and Exploration, continues our series through Hebrews. Dave highlights the role of the priest, to intercede between us and God, and how Jesus not only was that intercession, but was God brought near to us. Passages: Hebrews 4:14-5:10

Hebrews 4:14-16 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.

In this sermon on Leviticus 16: The Day of Atonement, Pastor Matt Looloian reveals God's answer to our greatest dilemma: how sinful people can be in relationship with a holy God. He unpacks the ancient ritual's three phases—purification, the scapegoat, and burnt offerings—which gave the Israelites complete assurance of atonement. Then, he shows how this ritual is perfectly fulfilled in the Final Day of Atonement: Good Friday. Jesus Christ, our Great High Priest, secured eternal redemption by His own blood, serving as both the sacrifice and the scapegoat. The result for us? Full assurance of faith. Pastor Matt encourages listeners to embrace this confidence by learning to repent boldly and pray boldly.

This message reminds us that we serve a God who hears. Once, access to God's presence was restricted to priests—but through Jesus, our Great High Priest, the veil is torn, and we now have direct access to the throne of grace. Because of His sacrifice, we can approach God with confidence, not fear.He understands our struggles, sympathizes with our weaknesses, and welcomes our honesty. When words fail, the Holy Spirit intercedes for us. In every season, we find mercy for our failures and grace for our need. No credentials, no clearance—just Jesus.

One of the beautiful pictures in the Bible is that of the Lord Jesus Christ as our great High Priest. Priests represent people before God – they stand in the place of the people. Did you know that Christ does that? Because He is sinless, He can come before God and plead for us. He does not need a sacrifice for His own sins. He had none. Instead, He has become a great sacrifice himself. He presented himself to God in our place and became a substitute for us, dying in our place on Calvary's cross. We don't need an earthly priest to bring us to God – we just need Christ! 

In Genesis 14, Abraham encountered Melchizedek, the king of righteousness and peace, who blessed him in the name of God Most High. In gratitude, Abraham gave a tithe of all. This moment foreshadows Jesus, our Great High Priest, who blesses us so we can bless others. As we receive and give, God's love and provision flow through us, spreading His goodness to the nations. In this sharing, Pastor Kong Hee presents a “report card” of how God has been using the church to bless nations in South Asia and even the Middle East.

The High Priest pictured Jesus in his current heavenly ministry as a our Great High Priest. This is often the office of Jesus that we give the least attention to. We think of Him as Savior and King, but we often fail to emphasize and partake in His ministry as our Great High Priest. He is our representative before God the Father, and Jesus represents the Father before us. Because He lived life as man He is sympathetic to our needs. Because He arose from the dead He has the power to meet any and every need. Therefore, we can come to Him and find grace and mercy to help in time of need.

The High Priest pictured Jesus in his current heavenly ministry as a our Great High Priest. This is often the office of Jesus that we give the least attention to. We think of Him as Savior and King, but we often fail to emphasize and partake in His ministry as our Great High Priest. He is our representative before God the Father, and Jesus represents the Father before us. Because He lived life as man He is sympathetic to our needs. Because He arose from the dead He has the power to meet any and every need. Therefore, we can come to Him and find grace and mercy to help in time of need.

In week 4 of our Hebrews series, Pastor Mike shows that Jesus is our Great High Priest who fully sympathizes with our weakness. He knows hunger, thirst, betrayal, rejection, grief, and temptation—yet without sin. Because of this, we can confidently approach the throne of grace for mercy and help in our time of need. Pastor Mike walks us through the role of the high priest and the temple—from the altar and laver to the showbread, lampstand, and incense—culminating in the torn veil and the mercy seat. Jesus is the Gate, the Lamb of God, the Bread of Life, the Light of the World, and our Intercessor who declares, “It is finished.” His perfect sacrifice ends the old system and gives us full access to God. Now we are called priests who study the Word, share the good news, and keep our temples holy. ____ Partner with New Tribe: Give | https://newtribe.church/give/ ____ Connect with New Tribe: Website | https://newtribe.church/comeexperience/ Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/newtribechurch Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/newtribechurch YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/newtribechurch

Pastor Justin Karl preaches on Leviticus 8-15

The Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) is the holiest day in the biblicalcalendar, a time of fasting, repentance, and seeking God's mercy. In thisteaching, Dr. Kenny Russell reveals how every detail of Yom Kippur points toYeshua the Messiah as our Great High Priest and perfect sacrifice.Discover:· The High Priest's role inLeviticus and how Yeshua fulfills it once for all (Hebrews 9).· The prophetic meaning ofthe two goats, one sacrificed, one carrying sins away, and how Messiah embodiesboth (John 1:29, Isaiah 53).· Why Yeshua's blood doesn'tjust cover sin but removes it, giving us direct access to the Father (Hebrews10:10, Hebrews 4:16).· How believers today canapproach Yom Kippur with humility, repentance, and joy, knowing our redemptionis complete in Him.You'll also learn how to intercede for the lostsheep of the house of Israel:· Standing in the gap inprayer (Ezekiel 22:30).· Asking for eyes to beopened and the veil lifted (2 Corinthians 3:14-16).· Declaring God's covenantpromises (Jeremiah 31, Ezekiel 36, Romans 11).· Praying for repentance,protection from deception, and bold laborers for the harvest (Hosea 14, 2Thessalonians 2, Matthew 9:37-38).Romans 11 reminds us: “You do not support the root, but the root supports you.” Theroot of the olive tree is God's covenant with the patriarchs, fulfilled inYeshua, the life-giving source for Judea and Israel, and all who are graftedinto the commonwealth of Israel.Be encouraged: On Yom Kippur, we don't fear judgment - we rejoice in forgiveness throughthe finished work of Messiah!

Hebrews: The True and Better - Hebrews 10.19-22Jobey McGintyThe finished work of the Great High Priest has inaugurated a new and living way, granting us the audacious confidence to draw near to the Holy of Holies—not through our own fragile righteousness, but solely "by the blood of Jesus." This assurance is full and unwavering, a covenant sworn by God to Himself, securing our perseverance against every tribulation, persecution, and doubt.Our salvation is revealed to be imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, an inheritance so precious that the Father has Himself sealed it with the Holy Spirit as our eternal guarantee. Therefore, we are called to fan into flame the gift of God, dying to the self-preserving fear of the world and embracing a life of self-sacrificial love, for nothing—neither the darkness of the age nor the condemnation of our own heart—can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.

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.

How do you become such an amazing priesthood holder that they decide to name the priesthood after you?

This passage from Matthew 22:34–40 shows the Pharisees again attempting to trap Jesus, this time with a theological test: which commandment is greatest? Rather than diminishing the law, Jesus distills its essence into two inseparable commands—love God fully with heart, soul, and mind, and love your neighbor as yourself. These sum up all of Scripture and reveal that true obedience flows not from rigid rule-keeping but from love. The sermon explains how centuries of added traditions had shifted the law from devotion to ritual, while Jesus, as the Great High Priest, gives the ultimate interpretation and fulfillment of the law. His life and sacrifice embody perfect love for God and others, accomplishing what human effort never could. The Pharisees complicated faith, but Jesus simplified it, pointing to a relational, willful, and active love that transforms how we live. Through His finished work on the cross, believers are freed from striving under the law and invited into God's presence, empowered to love both Him and others sincerely.

It's time we become more aware of the priesthood that God set up - not man- which is maintained and operated by Jesus, our Great High Priest, who is in intercession for us but is also seated, meaning He has completed and accomplished everything it takes to purify our conscience and bring us back to our Father. He is in full time ministry, applying His own blood to the Mercy Seat in Heaven and also to your heart. This changes how we interact with God: Instead of cowering in fear of punishment or working hard to maintain our own righteousness, we approach the Living God with the confidence that Jesus has truly saved us to the uttermost because He constantly lives to make intercession for us. THE BRAVEHEART SUMMIT REGISTRATION IS LIVE! SECURE YOUR SPOT TODAY! The Summit is a rallying point for Bravehearts. If you're hungry for God, eager for true connection with others, and ready to grow deep in the faith of the gospel, this Summit is for you. The Summit is not an end point, it's a launching point. We purpose to gather, to magnify Jesus, to uplift the body of Christ and to return home on mission refreshed, radiant and ready to run.Details - November 6th-8th in San Antonio, Texas Click here to register Click here to pay it forward Send us a textSupport the show