And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God… – Hebrews 10:11,12
The twelfth verse says, “this Man.” The word “man” is not in the original; it is “this,” “this Priest,” if you will; “this Man,” if you please; but its vagueness may make us think that the apostle scarcely knew what to say. You see the stars and the moon in their brightness, but suddenly they are all eclipsed and lost in a superior light. What can this glory be which has paled their fires? It is the sun rising in his strength. So, while we are beholding the priesthood of Aaron with all its excellence, it suddenly ceases to shine, because of the glory which excelleth, the radiant presence of One, for whom, like heaven’s manna, it is not easy to find one fully descriptive name. Shall we call Him “man?” Blessed be His name; He is so, our near kinsman, the “Son of Man.” Shall we call him “priest?” He is so. Blessed be His name; He is the true Melchisedec. Shall we call him “God?” Well may we do so, for He counts it not robbery to be equal with God. But this one divinely mysterious person—this unique and solitary High-priest, accomplishes what the many priests of Aaron’s race could not compass. They were weak, but He is all sufficient. He has wrought out eternal redemption and made an end of sin.
Note well, that none stand with Him at the altar; none is appointed to aid Him, neither before Him nor after Him is there one to share His office. He is without father, without mother, without predecessor, and without successor. He stands alone and by Himself, this glorious One who looked and there was no man, and therefore His own arm brought salvation; He trod the wine-press alone, and of the people there was none with Him. Jesus, the sole sacrificing priest of our profession, has completed what the long line of the Levitical priesthood must have left for ever incomplete.
