Every high priest is selected from among men and is appointed to represent them in matters related to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. (NIV) Hebrews 5:1
The word, priest, communicates the idea of standing up for another (Deuteronomy 10:8) or spiritually speaking, being the mediator between God and man (Hebrews 5:1). Christ is the mediator for all believers (Hebrews 9:15, 12:24). Ideally, a mediator should share in the natures of both of the parties that are involved. In Christ’s case, He needed to have both divine and human natures; thus, the importance of Christ’s humanity. If Christ had not become an actual man, He could not have sincerely represented mankind.
The Divinity of Christ
- The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. (NIV) Hebrews 1:3
- In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (NIV) John 1:1
The Humanity of Christ
- Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death– that is, the devil– (NIV) Hebrews 2:14
- The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. (NIV) John 1:14
Jesus Christ is the perfect mediator of the new covenant. . . perfectly representing God and man.
