Amazed at My Great High Priest
The sermon emphasizes the incredible love and condescension of the Great High Priest, who intercedes for sinners like us, demonstrating God's matchless grace and love.
C.H. Spurgeon marvels at the profound grace of Jesus Christ, our Great High Priest, who intercedes for sinners from His exalted position at the right hand of God. He emphasizes the incredible love and condescension of Christ, who, despite His divine majesty, chooses to care for transgressors like us. Spurgeon paints a vivid picture of Jesus in the Holy of Holies, adorned in glory, bearing our names, and continually praying for us. This act of intercession is a testament to His unmatched grace and love, prompting a deep sense of worship and awe. The sermon invites believers to reflect on the significance of Christ's ongoing advocacy on our behalf.
Text
The Son of man on earth pleading for sinners is very gracious, but I am overwhelmed when I think of His interceding for sinners now that He reigns yonder, where harps unnumbered tune His praise and cherubim and seraphim count it their glory to be less than nothing at His feet, where all the glory of His Father is resplendent in Himself, and He sitteth at the right hand of God in divine favor and majesty unspeakable. How can we hear without amazement that the King of kings and Lord of lords occupies Himself with caring for transgressors - caring indeed for you and me. It is condescension that he should commune with the bloodwashed before His throne, and allow the perfect spirits to be His companions, but that His heart should steal away from all heaven's felicities to remember such poor creatures as we are and make incessant prayer on our behalf, this is like His own loving Self-it is Christlike, Godlike.
Methinks I see at this moment our great high Priest pleading before the throne, wearing His jeweled breastplate and His garments of glory and beauty, wearing our names upon His breast and His shoulders in the most holy place. What a vision of incomparable love! It is a fact, and no mere dream. He is within the Holy of Holies, presenting the one sacrifice. His prayers are always heard, and heard for us, but the marvel is that the Son of God should condescend to exercise such an office and make intercession for transgressors. This matchless grace well nigh seals my lips, but it opens the floodgates of my soul, and I would fain pause to worship Him whom my words fail to set forth.
From a sermon by Charles Haddon Spurgeon entitled "Jesus Interceding For Transgressors," delivered November 18, 1877.
Sermon Outline
- The Great High Priest's Intercession
- The High Priest's Ministry
- The Marvel of His Grace
- The Son of God's Condescension
- Interceding for Transgressors
Key Quotes
“How can we hear without amazement that the King of kings and Lord of lords occupies Himself with caring for transgressors - caring indeed for you and me.” — C.H. Spurgeon
“It is condescension that he should commune with the bloodwashed before His throne, and allow the perfect spirits to be His companions, but that His heart should steal away from all heaven's felicities to remember such poor creatures as we are and make incessant prayer on our behalf, this is like His own loving Self-it is Christlike, Godlike.” — C.H. Spurgeon
“It is a fact, and no mere dream. He is within the Holy of Holies, presenting the one sacrifice.” — C.H. Spurgeon
Application Points
- We should respond to the High Priest's intercession with worship and gratitude, acknowledging the matchless love and condescension of the High Priest towards us.
- We should recognize the significance of the High Priest's intercession as a demonstration of God's love and condescension towards sinners.
- We should be amazed and humbled by the fact that the Son of God should condescend to exercise such an office and make intercession for transgressors like us.