HOW JESUS CHRIST CAN HELP US

WHAT Jesus Christ did to help people when he was on earth was marvelous.   This was so true that after recounting numerous events of Jesus' life, one eyewitness said:  "There are, in fact, many other things also which Jesus did, which,if ever they were written in full detail, I suppose, the world itself could not contain the scrolls  written."  (John 21:25) Since Jesus did so much on the earth, we might ask:  'How can he be  our helper in heaven?  Can we benefit from Jesus' tender compassion now?"

The answer is most heartwarming and reassuring.  The Bible tells  us that Christ entered "into heaven itself, now to appear before the person of God for  us."  (Hebrews 9:24) What did he do for us?   The apostle Paul explains: "[Christ] entered, no, not with the blood of goats and of young bulls, but with his own blood, once for all time into the holy place ["heaven itself"] and obtained an everlasting deliverance for us." -Hebrews 9:12;  1 John 2:2.

What good news that is!  Rather than ending Jesus' wonderful work in behalf of people, his ascensions to heaven enabled him to do even more for mankind.  That is because God, in his great undeserved kindness, appointed Jesus to serve as "a public servant"-a high priest -"at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in  the heavens." -Hebrews 8:1, 2.

Next time: "A Public Servant"

Watchtower, 2000

WHY MANKIND NEEDS A HELPER

Why a Helper Is Needed

Jesus came to the earth "to give his soul as a ransom in exchange for many." (Matthew 20:28) A ransom is the price paid to buy back, or to bring about the release of, someone or something.  The verb form of the Hebrew word rendered "ransom" conveys the idea of covering, or atoning, for sins.  (Psalm 78:28), was used particularly to refer to the price paid to ransom prisoners of war or to release slaves.  To satisfy the demands of justice, one thing is given in exchange for another of corresponding value.

Mankind came into slavery because of the first man's rebellion against God. As shown in Genesis chapter 3, that perfect man-Adam-chose to pursue a course of disobedience to Jehovah God.  By doing so, he sold himself and his unborn descendants into slavery to sin and and death.  For himself and all his offspring, Adam thus forfeited the gift of perfect human life. -Romans 5:12, 18, 19; 7:14.

In ancient Israel, God arranged for animal sacrifices to atone for, or cover,the sins of the people.  (Leviticus 1:4; 14:20, 35) In effect, the life of the sacrificial animal was given in place of that of the sinner.  (Leviticus 17:11) Consequently,  "the day of atonement" could also be spoken of as the "day of the ransoms." -Leviticus 23:26-28.

Next time: Conclusion of Why a Helper Is Needed

Watchtower, 2000