Jesus Meets Our Every Need – Family Devotion – May 21, 2021

Read: Hebrews 7:11-27

Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself.
Hebrews 7:27

Jesus Meets Our Every Need

 

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Have you ever wondered why the Bible is so big and so long? There’s a reason for that. The Bible is a treasure hunt.

The first portion of the Bible—the Old Testament—is like a giant treasure map, with Jesus as the object of our hunt. Almost everything that happens or is described in the Old Testament points to clues about Jesus. The second portion of the Bible—the New Testament—tells how Jesus came into the world. To find Jesus is like finding treasure!

God uses picture language as clues to help us understand how much he loves us and his plan to save us—like the picture of Jesus in our reading for today. A long time ago, God’s people had priests instead of pastors. They offered sacrifices for the people’s sins. God told them to do this to keep their hearts repentant and their minds on God while they waited for their Savior to come. Every sacrifice was a picture of what Jesus would someday do on behalf of all people. Jesus would sacrifice himself—not because he had to but because he loves us. He wanted to pay for all our sins at one special time so we can be with him for all time.

But do you know the best part about Jesus’ sacrifice? It was for real! And it really worked! Why would anyone go back to a picture when Jesus is the real thing? That would be like saying, “Mom and Dad, I only want a picture of a bicycle for my birthday. I don’t need a real one.”

Jesus is the real treasure because he rose from the dead. All those priests in the Old Testament did valuable work as they pointed us to Jesus. But like all people, they died. Jesus can protect us because he is indestructible (v. 16). Jesus is our priest who lives forever. That is more than a picture. That is real!

The more we study the Bible, the more we see these beautiful pictures. The Bible is a treasure hunt that keeps us focused on Jesus. May it keep us close to him until we see him face-to-face.

Closing Prayer:

Jesus, you are our treasure. Help us see you in the pages of the Bible. Help us want to continue searching for you in its pages, and strengthen our faith as we do it. We trust you will do this because you are our risen and indestructible Savior. Amen.

The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.

Questions for Younger Children

• What’s a “sacrifice”? Why did Jesus sacrifice himself for you?
• After he died, what did Jesus do that no one else is able to do? Why is that important?

Questions for Elementary Age Children

• Why were the Old Testament priests so important to the religious life of God’s people in the Old Testament?
• In what ways are those priests a picture of what Jesus would do? How is Jesus different from those priests?

Questions for Middle School and Above

• When you think about our world today, why is it important that Jesus’ saving work for us is powered by “an indestructible life” (v. 16)?
• How is Jesus different from any of the world’s other religious leaders? How do those differences give you confidence in your daily living?

Hymn: CW 349:1,3 – Jesus, Priceless Treasure

Jesus, priceless treasure,
Fount of purest pleasure,
Truest friend to me.
Ah, how long in anguish
Shall my spirit languish,
Yearning, Lord, for thee?
Thou art mine, O Lamb divine!
I will suffer naught to hide thee,
Naught I ask beside thee.

Satan I defy thee;
Death, I now decry thee;
Fear, I bid thee cease.
World thou shalt not harm me
Nor thy threats alarm me
While I sing of peace.
God’s great pow’r Guards ev’ry hour;
Earth and all its depths adore him,
Silent bow before him.