For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is
holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners,
and has become higher than the heavens…
Hebrews 7:26
After reading verses like, “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10:31), or “Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb!” (Revelation 6:16), and then coming across a description of Christ as Harmless, I want to stop and wonder, “Where did that come from?”
It all has to do with perspective. The feeling of standing before an M-1 Abrams Tank that is coming at you at full speed is very different than if you were sitting in the passenger seat of the same tank. Likewise, there is a huge difference between standing before the great white throne and standing beside it.
Titles such as “The Judge of the living and the dead” (2 Timothy 4:1), “Mighty God” (Isaiah 9:6), and “Lion of Judah” (Revelation 5:5) demonstrate that the Lord of lords is to be feared. He will come and execute judgment on this speck of a universe that crucified the King of Glory. Christ-rejecters be warned!
But Christ has many roles to fill and as High Priest, He intercedes for the saints. To believers who have been justified and sanctified by His blood, there is nothing to be afraid of; He is Harmless.
Human beings crucified Jesus, so collectively, we all have blood on our hands. But the blood that condemns also saves. The difference is faith. God’s grace is either received or rejected. A sinful life is either transformed or it isn’t. The Savior is either loved or despised. And on Judgment Day, Christ will either be terrifying or Harmless.
January 11
