Jesus the Great High Priest

¹⁴ Therefore, since we have a great high priest^(A) who has ascended into heaven,^[a](B) Jesus the Son of God,^(C) let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.^{(D) 15} For we do not have a high priest^(E) who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are^(F)—yet he did not sin.^{(G) 16} Let us then approach^(H) God’s throne of grace with confidence,^(I) so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

¹⁵ I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.^{(A) 16} You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you^(B) so that you might go and bear fruit^(C)—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.^{(D) 17} This is my command: Love each other.^(E)

⁸ Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.^{(A) 9} But he said to me, “My grace^(B) is sufficient for you, for my power^(C) is made perfect in weakness.^(D)”^(E) Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. ¹⁰ That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight^(F) in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships,^(G) in persecutions,^(H) in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.^(I)