Communion Message 
Jesus the Great High Priest
April 10, 2005
Pastor Leighton Sheley

The apostle John wrote in the beginning of his gospel, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning." "The Word became flesh and lived for a while among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth."

Why did the Son of God come? The writer to Hebrews gives us this insight: Since the children have flesh and blood, he (and that is Jesus) also shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death-that is, the devil- and free those who all of their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are- and yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we might receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

I'd like to propose to you that each and every one of us each and every day is in need, because each and every one of us each and every day in thought, word, or deed sins against God. Thanks be to God for His invitation, which says if you confess your sins to Him, He is faithful and just and will forgive you your sins and cleanse you from all unrighteousness.

I want to invite you, if you are physically able, to join with me now as we kneel in the presence of our Lord and Savior. The Scriptures say that at times like this we should examine our self.

Lord, we are forever thankful for Your great mercy and Your grace and love towards us. Thank you Lord for inviting and desiring us to come and confess our sin and ask You for forgiveness; and that being an open invitation day after day, week after week, month after month, year after year, decade after decade. Thank you Lord for Your promise, He who began a good work in us will be faithful to complete it. Thank you Lord for not giving up on us. Thank you Lord.

The elements that we hold remind us of the price that has been paid for our salvation and our sin. Thank you Lord for Calvary's cross. Let's partake of the bread, and also the cup.

Thank you Lord. Thank you Lord. Thank you Lord for inhabiting our praise, for hearing our prayer, for ministering in our midst, in Jesus' name we pray, and all God's people said, amen.