Our High Priest
David Wilkerson emphasizes the significance of Jesus as our eternal High Priest who offers reconciliation and forgiveness through His own blood.
David Wilkerson emphasizes the significance of Jesus as our eternal High Priest, drawing parallels between the Old Testament high priest's annual atonement ritual and Christ's ultimate sacrifice. He explains how the high priest entered the Holy of Holies with incense and blood to reconcile the people with God, symbolizing the prayers and intercession of Christ. Wilkerson highlights that Jesus, through His own blood, entered the true Holy of Holies, securing eternal redemption for believers. This act of sprinkling His blood represents the forgiveness of sins and the assurance of God's acceptance. The sermon reassures that just as the Israelites had confidence in their high priest, we too can have faith in Jesus' redemptive work.
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In the Old Testament, once each year the high priest went into the Holy of Holies to make atonement, which means "reconcilation." This act was meant to wipe away the people's sins so they could be reconciled and have communion again with the heavenly Father.
The priest carried into the Holy of Holies a handful of incense, a censer of burning coals of fire from the altar, and a container of blood from a slain ox. Within the Holy of Holies was an ark that had the mercy seat on top of it where God "sat" -- it was His very presence.
After cleansing himself in an elaborate ceremony, the priest went inside the Holy of Holies with great reverence and fear. He dropped the incense into the fire, causing an aroma and smoke to ascend. This represented the prayers of Christ interceding for His people. Then the priest dipped his finger into the blood and sprinkled it seven times on the mercy seat.
"And he shall take of the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it with his finger upon the mercy seat eastward; and before the mercy seat shall he sprinkle of the blood with his finger seven times" (Leviticus 16:14).
When the blood was sprinkled on God's seat, forgiveness of all sins was accomplished and all past sins were covered. When the high priest came out, the people knew God had accepted the sacrifice and their sins were pardoned. Israel never doubted it!
Beloved, we too have a High Priest -- Jesus, our Lord, our High Priest for all time. Jesus took His own blood to the true mercy seat -- into God's presence, the Holy of Holies -- and presented it for the remission of all sins, of all believers, for all time.
Scriptures says of this act: "Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us" (Hebrews 9:12).
Jesus took His own blood into heaven for us and it is not reserved there simply as a memorial. It is to be sprinkled on all who come to Him by faith.
Sermon Outline
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I
- The role of the high priest in the Old Testament
- The significance of atonement and reconciliation
- The elements used in the atonement ceremony
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II
- The process of entering the Holy of Holies
- The symbolism of incense and prayers
- The act of sprinkling blood on the mercy seat
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III
- The assurance of forgiveness through the high priest
- The acceptance of the sacrifice by God
- The historical faith of Israel in their high priest
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IV
- Jesus as our eternal High Priest
- The significance of His blood in the heavenly Holy of Holies
- The invitation to come to Him by faith
Key Quotes
“And he shall take of the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it with his finger upon the mercy seat eastward.” — David Wilkerson
“Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.” — David Wilkerson
“It is to be sprinkled on all who come to Him by faith.” — David Wilkerson
Application Points
- Recognize the importance of Jesus' sacrifice in your daily life.
- Approach God with confidence, knowing that your sins are forgiven through Christ.
- Encourage others to come to Jesus by faith for redemption.