Jesus knows what it is like to be a weak human being. He suffered pain and hunger, slander and insults from men and women, and temptation from Satan. Although He was the Creator God, He was rejected by human beings He had made and forsaken by Father God. Yet, in all His weakness He did not sin (Hebrews 4:15). He was both the substitute-sacrifice for our sins, and the Great High Priest who presented His own blood to the Father as evidence that our sins had been paid for and we could be forgiven (Hebrews 9:12).

The priesthood of Israel, although established by God and affirmed by the people, was also weak. Priests offered repeated sacrifices which could never take away sins (Hebrews 10:11), interceding with God on behalf of the people, but their weakness led to their own sin. So, they had to make sacrifices for themselves (Numbers 8:5-11). Without sacrifices for their own sins, they were not fit to serve God (Numbers 8:21-22).

That daily reminder of their own weakness and moral fragility, even though they were priests, had the effect of humbling them. It enabled them to be caring and compassionate towards the sinners who came with their own sacrifices. They sympathised with the weaknesses of the people because they also sinned when they were tempted. But Jesus' priesthood was different. He fully sympathised with the weakness of the people, and suffered intensely when He was tempted (Matthew 4:11): but He did not sin. (Hebrews 2:18).

It is wrong to think that God's servants are never tempted and never sin. They are and they do. Every encounter with a sin-stained person should remind pastors of their own weakness and failure. Those who seek to teach God's people are painfully aware that they are as flawed as any in the Bible – "We all stumble in many ways" (James 3:1-2). That is why we need Jesus. Evangelists, pastors and teachers are only God's servants. They must never be worshipped: they will always be imperfect. Preacher-olatry or pastor-olatry is as vain as any other idolatry. We need a Great High Priest who has suffered in resisting temptation and bearing our sin; rather than suffering after sinfully falling to temptation. Thank God for His servants, honour them, obey them, pray for them (Hebrews 13:17) – but worship Jesus (Acts 14:15) because your forgiveness only comes through faith in Him (Ephesians 3:12). No human spiritual leader can make us fit for heaven, only Jesus can do that through His own blood (Hebrews 13:12).