Pulled by a Rope or Covered by the Blood?
- Bishop Keith Butler
- Jun 19
- 2 min read
Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the Heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. (Hebrews 4:14-15)
When difficulty arises and life hits hard, the writer of Hebrews offers us a powerful revelation to remember. We don’t serve a distant deity who is far removed from us and does not care about our lives. He is a great High Priest who cares and understands everything we face. The High Priest had a very important yet hazardous job in the Old Testament.
Once a year, on the Day of Atonement, he would step behind the veil into the Most Holy Place and offer a blood sacrifice for the nation's sins. However, if he had any sin in his life, he would drop dead. That’s why they tied a rope around his ankle with bells on his robe—so if the bells stopped ringing, the people would pull his body out. However, Hebrews points out that Jesus didn’t just enter into the holy place; He entered into the very presence of Heaven itself and sat down at the Father's right hand using His own blood as the sacrifice. No rope needed. No fear of falling down accidentally.
Jesus loved us enough to lay down His life and was close enough to us to know what we are going through. The phrase “be touched with the feeling” is one word in the Greek - sumpatheó—it means “to feel the same emotion, to co-suffer.” Jesus isn’t untouched by your struggle. He feels it. He lived it. He didn’t just read your story—He walked it. Betrayal, pride, pressure, grief, temptation—He experienced the temptation of them all, yet He didn’t sin. You don’t have to explain why you feel the way you do to Him. He understands. The word profession in Greek means homologia, which means same word or agreement. You must agree to say what God has said about you and Himself.
Practical Application
Hold fast to the confession that Jesus is enough, the Word of God is faithful, and the Holy Spirit lives in you. Articulate faith and keep voicing it even when your feelings disagree.
