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希伯来书：5:1-5：1凡从人间挑选的大祭司，是奉派替人办理属神的事，为要献上礼物和赎罪祭（或作“要为罪献上礼物和祭物”）。2他能体谅那愚蒙的和失迷的人，因为他自己也是被软弱所困。3故此，他理当为百姓和自己献祭赎罪。4这大祭司的尊荣，没有人自取，惟要蒙神所召，像亚伦一样。5如此，基督也不是自取荣耀作大祭司，乃是在乎向他说：“你是我的儿子，我今日生你。”的那一位．
《希伯来书》的作者提醒我们为什么有耶稣在上帝面前做大祭司对于我们是如此令人安慰的事。大祭司是从百姓中挑选的，这个事实意味着大祭司能够温柔的对待上帝的百姓。从这个意义上说，大祭司的职位很像牧师。我作为牧师服事了40年，我知道体恤大家面临的问题不难，因为我自己会面对同样的软弱。
但是令人惊奇的是，上帝竟然道成肉身并住在我们中间，他同样面对了我们所经历的软弱和试探。印度教有几百万个神，但没有一个走下神坛成为百姓中的一员。上帝的儿子经历了痛苦、失落和饥饿。撒旦一次又一次地攻击他，他的百姓离弃他。他被误解、欺辱和嘲笑。为了我们，他在上帝的面前做我们的大祭司，是因为他能体恤我们的软弱。
他以如此温柔的方式服事我们。圣经用这样的句子来描述他的服事。“压伤的芦苇他不折断，将残的灯火他不吹灭。”当我们的信心软弱、被攻击的时候，当我们的信心如火花般快熄灭的时候，耶稣会来到我们身边帮助我们，恢复我们的信心。也许我们无法很好的理解耶稣做我们的大祭司到底意味着什么。但我想象耶稣就是我的牧师，我遇到的最温柔、最良善、最忠信的牧师。
祷告：主耶稣，你是你羊群的温柔牧者，有你在我身边我很安慰。当我偏离正路，你引导我归家。当我软弱，你给我力量。当我顽固悖逆时，你让我谦卑下来。你比我更了解我自己。你是我的牧者，我祈求我在你的羊群中永远感到满足。阿们。
Hebrews 5: Every high priest is selected from among the people and is appointed to represent the people in matters related to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2 He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he himself is subject to weakness. 3 This is why he has to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people. 4 And no one takes this honor on himself, but he receives it when called by God, just as Aaron was. 5 In the same way, Christ did not take on himself the glory of becoming a high priest. But God said to him, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father.”
The writer to the Hebrews reminds us why it is so comforting to have Jesus was our High Priest before God. The fact that the high priest was chosen from among the people meant that the high priest was able to deal gently with God’s people. In that sense, the position of the high priest was a lot like being a pastor. After serving forty years as a pastor, I know that it is easy to empathise with the problems people faced, because I faced those same weaknesses.
But oh, that God should take on human flesh and become one of us and face the same weaknesses and temptations that we have experienced! Among all the millions of gods in the Hindu religion, none of them stepped down from their throne to become one with their people! The Son of God experienced pain and loss and hunger. He experienced Satan’s repeated attacks and rejection by his people. He was misunderstood and bullied and mocked. He serves as a great High Priest before God for us, because he can empathise with us in our weaknesses.
And he ministers to us in such a gentle way. The Bible describes his ministry with these words. “A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoking wick he will not snuff out.” When our faith is crushed and weak, when our faith is nothing less than a spark, Jesus will come to us and help us and restore us. May we can’t appreciate the picture of Jesus being our high priest so well. But I imagine that Jesus is my pastor, the gentlest and kindest and most faithful pastor I will ever have.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, gentle Shepherd of your sheep, I am comforted to have you at my side. When I wander, you guide me home. When I am weak, you carry me. When I am strong-willed and stubborn, you humble me. You know me better than I know myself. You are my shepherd, and I pray that I will always be content in your flock. Amen.