In the new covenant, God has provided tangible ways to experience His grace through His Word and the bread and cup of communion. We encounter Christ’s priestly work through the Word, bread, and blood.

Palm Sunday Sermon: Jesus, Our Great High Priest

Introduction: Jesus Enters Jerusalem as the Great High Priest

On Palm Sunday, we celebrate Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, where crowds waved palm branches and shouted, “Hosanna!” Yet, upon arriving, Jesus went straight to the temple—the heart of religious life, where high priests and leaders plotted against Him. They feared He would disrupt their authority, but their fear ran deeper: Jesus came as the Great High Priest, fulfilling and surpassing their role, standing between us and God to bring us near His throne of grace.

Let us pray: Lord God, open Your Word to us today. May we see marvelous things—how real You are, how we can touch and taste Your redemption through Jesus. Amen.

1. The Challenge: Experiencing an Invisible Priesthood

The book of Hebrews warns us not to fall away from Christ but to draw nearer to Him. It presents Jesus as greater than angels, Moses, or Joshua, and supremely as our Great High Priest. However, the original audience faced a temptation to return to the tangible rituals of the temple—sacrifices they could see, smell, and touch. For them, the physical act of atonement felt satisfying, while Jesus’ heavenly priesthood seemed distant.

We, too, can struggle to feel Christ’s forgiveness. When we hear, “Jesus forgives you,” it may feel abstract, disconnected from our hearts. This distance can lead to despair, sin, or even self-punishment, as we struggle to believe Christ has fully borne our sins. So, how do we tangibly experience the reality of Jesus’ priesthood when we cannot see Him?

2. The Solution: Word, Bread, and Blood

Hebrews reveals that Christ’s priestly work, though invisible, is accessible through three tangible means: His Word, the bread, and the blood.

• Word: Seeing Christ Through Scripture
  Hebrews 8:1-2 declares, “We have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, a minister in the holy places, in the true tent that the Lord set up, not man.” Though we lack a physical temple, God’s Word unveils Christ’s work in the heavenly sanctuary, where He intercedes for us. Like a note left by a loved one, Scripture tells us where Jesus is and what He is doing—assuring believers of His forgiveness while warning those who have not fully trusted Him. To experience Christ, we must read deeply in His Word, moving beyond snippets to embrace its full promises and warnings.
• Bread: Tasting Christ in Communion
  Hebrews 8:3 notes that every high priest offers gifts and sacrifices, and Jesus offers Himself. The Old Testament tabernacle, a shadow of heavenly realities, included bread between earth and heaven, symbolizing Christ, the “living bread that came down from heaven” (John 6:51). God knows our need for tangible signs, so He gave us communion. When we partake of the bread, we touch and taste Christ’s broken body, assuring us of His mediation and forgiveness. Communion anchors our faith, reminding us that Christ is present, bridging heaven and earth.
• Blood: Trusting Christ’s Atonement
  In the Old Testament, blood was central—sprinkled on altars as a visible sign of atonement. Hebrews 8:5 explains that these were shadows of Christ’s greater work in the heavenly tabernacle. When Jesus instituted the new covenant, He said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood” (1 Corinthians 11:25). In communion, we don’t merely see blood sprinkled; we take it into ourselves, symbolizing Christ’s indwelling presence. His blood assures us of a better covenant with eternal promises—forgiveness, salvation, and inheritance of all things.

3. Application: Drawing Near Through Word, Bread, and Blood

To live out the reality of Christ’s priesthood:

• Read Deeply in His Word. Don’t settle for shallow platitudes. Dive into Hebrews and other Scriptures to see the depth of Christ’s promises and warnings, letting them shape your faith.
• Partake of the Bread and Blood. Communion is a gift to experience Christ tangibly. Join the church regularly to taste and see His forgiveness, especially during Holy Week services like Good Friday, where we reflect on His passion and partake together.
• Trust His Atoning Work. When forgiveness feels distant, resist despair or self-punishment. By faith, embrace Christ’s Word, bread, and blood, knowing He intercedes for you in the heavenly sanctuary.

Conclusion: Christ, Our Mediator

Jesus, our Great High Priest, gives us His Word, bread, and blood to draw us near to God. These gifts assure us that our sins are forgiven—not just in our minds but in our hearts. As we journey through Holy Week, let’s read His Word, gather for communion, and trust His atonement, experiencing His presence in a new and deeper way.