Hebrews 4:16 says “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” We are invited to come into the very presence of God like a child approaching their parent with outspokenness, unreserved utterance, frankness, candor, and cheerful courage, totally expressing our heart before Him! How can this be? The word therefore leads us to the previous verses which give us the reason of how we can come so boldly; it is because “we have a great High Priest” verse 14, one made like us, 2:17, so He can “sympathize with our weaknesses” having been “in all points tempted as we are yet without sin, 4:15. And now because He is our great High Priest, our intercessor, the “one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus” 1 Timothy 2:5, we have the privilege to come boldly into God’s presence! Notice the emphasis on “the Man” He is fully God, yet He is a man, He is one of us, “made like His brethren” Hebrews 2:17; yes He is still a man (and I believe will remain a man through all eternity) one who is touched or sympathizes with our weaknesses, having lived in a body of flesh just like us! Remember Isaiah prophesied of Him saying, “For unto us a child is born, Unto us a Son is given…” Isaiah 9:6. I think undoubtedly the Jewish people are the primary addressees here, but while this Son (Jesus) was born of Jewish lineage through His mother Mary, we also need to note that this child was begotten of God (see John 3:16), born into the human race as a whole, and “the gospel of Christ is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek” (Gentile) Romans 1:16. He was given and born into the entire human race to redeem us to God, He is our High Priest, and therefore we can come boldly unto God’s throne of grace!
Uniquely privileged
By Rose Hill
What a great privilege to approach God’s throne,
For we are uniquely one of His own.
To help us in our weakness He is willing,
For He understands how we are feeling.
Scripture quotations are from the New King James Version copyright …1982 by Thomas Nelson Co. used by permission.