The Throne of Grace

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. 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. 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.

Hebrews 4:14-16

Hebrews 4:14-16 begins with the phrase “since then.” The word “since” indicates that we should know what comes before this passage and following, the word “then” tells us that the writer is about to draw a conclusion based on the previous passage. Hebrews 1-3 and 4:1-13 explain that God made Jesus lower than the angels (although He is greater than even great men like Moses, who was only a servant) for a time so that Jesus could come to save us, “that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death” (Hebrews 2:14b). “The promise of entering his rest still stands” (Hebrews 4:1a).

In the New Testament and beyond, all the way to us, the role of great high priest belongs to Jesus. He brings us rest. In the Old Testament, the high priest, a man from the tribe of Levi, entered the Most Holy Place–the most hidden part of the tabernacle–once a year to offer a sacrifice. This was a very special place, containing the ark of the covenant covered by the mercy seat (among other important items from Israel’s history). [1]

God has always existed, exists now, and will always exist. This means that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit have existed together as three persons in one God and will exist that way forever. Before the creation of the world, Jesus was God’s Son. God made all things through Him (John 1). Now, He sits as our risen Savior at God’s right hand interceding for His chosen people. Jesus “passed through the heavens” when he came to earth as a baby. He left his heavenly home, full of beauty and majesty, and came here, to us, on earth, to a broken, dingy world–a mere shadow of how He created things to be.

Today my son caught a butterfly with his bare hands. (How? I have no idea.) The butterfly flapped its yellow-black wings in a desperate attempt to escape the fast reflexes of a very excited six-year-old. Samuel held onto his new butterfly friend tightly even though his new friend struggled for freedom. The phrase “let us hold fast our confession” reminds me of Samuel holding on to his butterfly. We know our confession–we believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, and Jesus Christ, his only son, our Lord [2]–and we hold fast to that confession no matter what struggles in this life threaten to dislodge our hope.

In my own definition, the word “sympathize” means to understand another person’s unique situation and to come alongside him or her to lovingly provide relief and assistance. Jesus understands our weakness, and He provides the remedy for our separation from God.

Not only that, but Jesus was tempted the same as we are. He doesn’t come in on a high and mighty horse to save us in our distress. He runs alongside us as we race for the finish line, with an upward focus on the prize He already won for us. [3] What a blessing to have such a companion, who came as a baby instead of a mighty king, in humble human form instead of arrayed in brilliance too marvelous to behold. He knows you, and He knows me, and He doesn’t shrink from the challenge of helping us step a little lighter and sprint a little faster. He’s been there, in the race, before.

And He did not give up. In Matthew 26:39b, Jesus prays: “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” Jesus continued to run the race even though He knew He would face unbearable pain and agonizing separation from God in His death on the cross. The Bible describes Jesus’ temptation in Matthew 4, Mark 1, and Luke 4. Jesus did not give in to temptation, not for food, protection, or kingdoms. Jesus lived a perfect life here on earth. He can sympathize with our weakness, but He, the son of God and the son of man, did not sin.

I hope this doesn’t make you despair! Jesus came to heal the sick. That’s you, that’s me, and that’s every other person throughout all of history. He knows we’re sick, and He knows our great need. He came to save us in all our brokenness and sorrow.

So, we can draw near to the throne of God with confidence. Confidence means that we know what we are about. We know who we are (sinners saved by grace), and we know who God is (wise, powerful, holy, just, good, true [3]). We also know what we are not–righteous. But when we trust Jesus as our Lord and Savior, God sees us as righteous. Because of Jesus we can approach God with confidence, as His children, saved by the sacrifice of His only Son.

My favorite description in this verse is the “throne of grace.” According to Revelation 4, the writer of Hebrews could have called God’s throne the “throne of thunder and lightning” or “the throne by the crystal sea.” My daughter is absolutely terrified of thunder and lightning, and in Bible times people knew the sea as something mysterious and awful. “The throne of grace” doesn’t sound nearly as intimidating as thunder, lightning, and seas of glass. “The throne of grace” sounds gentle, inviting, and accessible. We can come before God to His “throne of grace” because of Jesus.

This brings us back to the very beginning of Hebrews 4:14-16. We have a great high priest in Jesus. Like the mercy seat in the Old Testament, the throne of grace signifies God’s care for us and His desire to meet with His people. In the Old Testament the high priest offered a sacrifice in the Most Holy Place. In the New Testament, Jesus acts as our sacrifice so we can bring our concerns to God as His chosen people, His beloved children, and fellow heirs with Christ. We need not be afraid if we trust in Jesus.

I urge you, dear reader, especially during this time of turmoil, to draw near to the throne of grace. Bring your fears, your uncertainty, and your sorrow to God, and through Jesus, He will give you rest!

[1] Exodus 26:34
[2] From the Apostles Creed
[3] Philippians 3:14
[4] Westminster Shorter Catechism Q&A 4