Connections: John 1:1-18 and Hebrews 7:23-28

I love to see the connections in God's Word--the passages in the New Testament that fulfill or complement passages in the Old Testament.

As I read Zechariah 1-3, I thought of John 1 and Hebrews 7.

I really enjoyed reading the scripture passages in the NLT version. (Look it up at Biblegateway.com)

In John 1, I loved verse 14:

So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness.And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son. (John 1:18)

A few days ago, I read Zechariah 1, and I thought of the Lord as The Word Who Speaks. The book of John refers to Jesus as the Word. Jesus came to earth as God's Message to us, wrapped in a human body.

Hebrews 7 really brought Zechariah 3 alive for me. Hebrews shows me that Jesus came to be the perfect High Priest--the one who could completely forgive us. Joshua was just a man (wearing dirty clothes!), and though he could follow the rituals to offer the sacrifices, he could not forgive anyone. Only the Lord can do that.

There were many priests under the old system, for death prevented them from remaining in office. 24 But because Jesus lives forever, his priesthood lasts forever. 25 Therefore he is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through him. He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf. 26 He is the kind of high priest we need because he is holy and blameless, unstained by sin. He has been set apart from sinners and has been given the highest place of honor in heaven. 27 Unlike those other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices every day. They did this for their own sins first and then for the sins of the people. But Jesus did this once for all when he offered himself as the sacrifice for the people’s sins. 28 The law appointed high priests who were limited by human weakness. But after the law was given, God appointed his Son with an oath, and his Son has been made the perfect High Priest forever. (Hebrews 7:23-28)

One of the questions I like to ask when I read the New Testament is "what is the main truth of this passage, and do I see this truth today?" As I thought about the readings in John, I thought, "The main truth is that Jesus came to show us God's love and faithfulness. I see women at Bible study showing God's love and faithfulness, because Jesus lives within them!" And as I read Hebrews, I thought, "The main truth is God's forgiveness. I see and experience this truth when I remember that my sins are forgiven and I live with a lighter heart."