Great High Priest

We attended a great presentation by Green Valley Baptist Church of a
life-size representation of the Old Testament Tabernacle as it was during the time of Moses. It was built to exact specification and included all of the elements of the tabernacle (or reasonable facsimiles... no actual gold or seal-skin.) It was really a neat way to get an idea of the mindset of the Jewish people in that time as they went to worship. This is a rare picture of the inside of the "Holy of Holies" where only the high priest was allowed to enter once a year. In real life, it was totally dark, only illuminated by the power of God himself.
In my daily Bible study, I have been reading in the book of Hebrews and the passage for today was about Jesus as the high priest. (God seems to work out these "coincidences" in our lives, doesn't he?) Hebrews 4:14-5:10
In the time of the tabernacle, there were Levites who were the tribe of priests, and God would call out one man to be the "Great High Priest." He was appointed to represent man in matters related to God. We was a man, with all of the weaknesses and temptations of human life. He, therefore, could relate to those whom he represented. He also became submissive and obedient to God through his life and through cleansing rituals, and appropriate sacrifices and because of that, was allowed into God's presence to petition God for His mercy concerning the sins of the people.
As they told us at the tabernacle presentation, everything in the old testament tabernacle pointed toward the new testament covenant through Jesus. In this case, God called Jesus to be the Great High Priest, forever. He was appointed to represent man in matters related to God. He was a man, with all of the weaknesses and temptations of human life. He, therefore, could relate to those whom he represented. He also became submissive and obedient to God through his life and through appropriate sacrifices and was able to petition God for His mercy concerning the sins of the people.
God is so great at giving us understanding through examples. The sacrifice has been made by the Great High Priest. Come to Him so that He may represent you before God in the "Holy of Holies."