"14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need."
Hebrews 4:14-16
The picture the Apostle gives us in 12 of the Christian life is one in which 'we expose our whole existence at every point to the cutting edge, the trenchant judgment of the Word of God'. This is the whole point of attending upon the ministry of the Word - it is in order to allow its discipline to do its gracious work in us, fashioning us, moulding us, renewing us. And lest we should be too disturbed by this picture - and at times it can be very challenging and frightening! - we are given this wonderful assurance in 14-16 about our great High Priest. The paradoxical thing about the Christian life is that the more we dare to expose ourselves to the discipline of the Word of God, the more we come into contact with this merciful and faithful High Priest. The sharpness of the Word may indeed break our hearts, but it is then that we meet with Him Who heals the broken in heart and binds up their wounds. That is the wonderful thing about God's dealing with us - although often sharp and painful, it is also exquisitely tender and loving. Indeed, His tender grace often comes to us in stern garb, dressed as the Word that is quick and powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword, and when in faithless fear we shrink from that cutting sword we are in fact closing our hearts to His tender grace. This may explain why some lives seem so devoid of that blessed experience - they have refused the healing hurt of the disciplines of God. We may take comfort and encouragement from these verses, in the realisation that our great High Priest is never very far behind the cutting edge of the Word. This should help, more than most things, to allay our fear of the Word and encourage us the more boldly to submit to its ever deepening work in our lives.