The longer I go on and the more I learn, the more convinced I become that one of the great holes in contemporary Western Protestant theology, of all stripes, is the absence of any real understanding, let alone doctrine, of the priesthood of Christ. It’s one of the reasons Ascension is pretty much forgotten even in most churches that otherwise observe the liturgical year. This is not good for our spiritual health.
He Was Heard
(Hebrews 5:7)In the days of old, the priest would come
With a lifeless sacrifice,
While the crowd in anxious silence would wait outside.
As he entered in the Temple,
They only hoped he would be heard,
God would give them a tomorrow,
And the priest would stay alive.Their only chance, their only hope:
Would he be heard?
The only way they might be saved—
Would he be heard?In the fullness of the promised time,
The final priest did come,
And he offered up a living sacrifice.
Now we his children wait for him
With hope and joyful praise,
For we know that God has heard him,
For we know that he was raised!He offered tearful prayers
And he was heard;
He offered up his life
And he was heard.So let us fix our eyes upon
The priest whom God did hear;
For the joy that was before him,
He overcame the fear.
For once and all he paid the cost,
Enduring all the shame,
Taking up the cruel cross,
Ignoring all the pain.Words: Michael Card
Music: Michael Card and Randy Scruggs
© 1984 Whole Armour Publishing
From the album Known By the Scars, by Michael Card