Hebrews 2:9, 17 — But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. Wherefore in all things it behooved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.

It was a long trip. Nine days, ten thousand miles, ten flights, four hotels, a few trains and taxis and shuttles … I’m not complaining. But I thought maybe the tiredness was kicking in, which might be why I couldn’t grasp the theme of today’s devotion. I was having these thoughts. They seemed random. And then it all came together in my mind, around the theme of the letter to the Hebrews. Jesus is better.
I was struck by the verse from Exodus — “And thou shalt put in the breastplate of judgment the Urim and the Thummim; and they shall be upon Aaron’s heart, when he goeth in before the Lord : and Aaron shall bear the judgment of the children of Israel upon his heart before the Lord continually. ” (Exodus 28:30). What’s that all about? The children of Israel are justified, because of the sacrifices. That justification is the judgment that Aaron carries before The Lord. But Jesus is a greater High Priest, who can access the Father at any time and needs no sign but Himself to show the justification of all believers.
Moses was a great leader, and judged a lot of people — but he soon ran out of the endurance to manage them all. Jesus is so much greater. His endurance extends to judging all the sheep, and all the goats!
Then there’s that business with the woman at the well. I never really got what was going on with “The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water? Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle?” (John 4:11-12) I got it today. “Living” water is, to the literal-minded Samaritan woman, running water. Now the water that Jacob brought up from the well was still water. If Jesus had been talking of simple drinking water it would have been better water — but of course the refreshment He has is better than anything Jacob could ever find.
Again, and again, and again. All through scripture you will find the evidence. Jesus is just better. In fact, He’s the best of the best!