HEBREWS 7:23-28 “And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death: But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people’s: for this he did once, when he offered up himself. For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.”
In the old Batman television program, Commissioner Gordon had a red “Bat-phone” he could use which would provide him direct access to Batman. He did not need to dial the same bat-number on the phone or tune his CB radio to the same bat-channel each time. All he had to do was pick up that red phone.
The purpose of the priests in the Old Testament was to serve as intermediaries between the people and God. Access to God was limited to the Holy Temple and there was a series of steps which had to be performed to do this. This was the standard set by God.
When Jesus came to Earth and died upon the cross, He became the sacrificial Lamb which supersedes all other sacrifices. With this and the presence of the Holy Spirit which came down on the Day of Pentecost we no longer need a priest or the rituals which came with one. Jesus, our resurrected Savior, is now our High Priest forever.
Many churches today are still teaching people they need an intermediary to pray for them – that the prayers of an average Christian does not carry as much weight as an ordained minister. Anyone who teaches this either does not know what the Bible teaches or has ignored what it has said in order to make a profit off the naïve Christians who do not know any better. This reminds me of Jesus’ words in Luke 19:46, “My house is the house of prayer: but ye have made it a den of thieves.”
As born again Christians with the Holy Spirit residing within us, we do not need anyone else to do our praying for us or to hold our hand and lead us. We have a direct line to Jesus and can use it any time. Now it certainly does not hurt for others to pray in addition to your prayers, because there is certainly strength in numbers. As Jesus said in Matthew 18:20 “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”
You should never feel like you need a representative to petition God on your behalf. We have a direct connection just like the Bat-phone. Jesus is the only mediator we need.
Mount Nebo Baptist Church - Fred, Texas 