Advent Reading for Christmas Eve

Tonight, we light the Christ Candle. The candle is at the center of our wreath because Christ is the center of our celebration. It is the Son of God who, before the foundation of the world, pledged Himself to be our Surety, sealing for us all the benefits of His ministry. 

As our Surety, He serves as our Mediator, the man in the middle, our High Priest. It was Christ who pledged that He would descend to earth and be born a man (so that He could fulfill our covenant responsibilities and atone for our sins), and then rise and ascend into heaven to apply His sacrifice to the mercy seat before God. 

As the Apostle says, 

After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high (Hebrews 1:3,4).

He continues, 

Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery…Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people (Hebrews 2:14-18).

Not only did Christ offer a sufficient, once-and-for-all sacrifice for our sin, but His ministry continues as He intercedes for us while seated at the Father’s right hand.

As the Apostle says,

But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God (Hebrews 10:12). 

Notice the posture and position of our Savior. He is not kneeling before the Father, begging Him to forgive and bless us. No, He is seated comfortably, having finished His work, confident in the sufficiency of all He has done, speaking to His Father about each of us.

This is why the Apostle says, 

He is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them (Hebrews 7:25).

Because we have this great High Priest, atoning and interceding for us, the Apostle says, 

Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need (Hebrews 4:14-16). 

How do we respond to our High Priest, Jesus Christ our Lord? We worship and celebrate Him!

We join with the Apostle Paul and say, 

            Thanks be to God for His inexpressible gift! (2 Corinthians 9:15)