Not very many people look at Jesus as High Priest and an Apostle but in fact this is what He is. Yes He is God as well. Hebrews 3:1 Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus. As High Priest, He sacrificed once and for all that sins are done away with. Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, 26 to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. The Book of Hebrews is known for Chapter 11, the faith chapter, but did you know that this book talks more about Jesus the High Priest than faith? The only Chapters that Jesus the High Priest is not mentioned is Chapters 1,11 and 12.
Now when we hear the High Priest, we think Aaron or the Levitical Priests. This is where the Old Covenant and New Covenant are changed . The Priesthood in the old covenant was given to the tribe of Levi. Aaron and his brother Moses were born in the tribe of Levi. They were Keepers of the law as the law came through Moses but Grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. When you look at the genealogy of Jesus in Matthew and Luke, Jesus came from the tribe of Judah not Levi. Hebrews 6:19This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil, 20 where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek. This new Priesthood that we belong to is in unity to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. Do you belong to this Priesthood?
As Jesus is our High Priest and Peter said 1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy let us follow Him as High Priest in the order of Melchizedek. Hebrews 7:1 For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, 2 to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all, first being translated “king of righteousness,” and then also king of Salem, meaning “king of peace,” 3 without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, remains a priest continually. If you are following Jesus, then you are following Righteousness as Jesus is the King of Righteousness and the King of Peace. What I find fascinating is that Jesus is the King of Righteousness and Peace and this is written in Romans 14:17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Also this in Hebrews 1:8 But to the Son He says: “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom. 9 You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of gladness more than Your companions.”
We are to live by righteousness as God love Righteousness. It’s not our Righteousness that we live by but His Righteousness. And we are One with Him. This is why it is written the righteous (just) will live by faith. This is what your faith is to be in. If you aren’t living the Righteousness of God then you aren’t living by faith.
Hebrews 8:7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second. 8 Because finding fault with them, He says: “Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah— 9 not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they did not continue in My covenant, and I disregarded them, says the Lord. 10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 11 None of them shall teach his neighbor, and none his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them. 12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” 13 In that He says, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.