Forerunner

Where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.
Hebrews 6:20

The word “Forerunner” brings to mind images of the Ford Model-T or the Commodore computer. They were cutting edge innovations in their day, but gave rise to bigger and better things. That is certainly not the case in today’s title.

A better definition is the one who goes on before to prepare the way for others to follow. Christ has paved the way for His church in many ways. He is the Firstfruits, the Firstborn over all creation, and a Guide even to Death. In each case, the Lord Jesus has gone before His people to pioneer the way for them.

In the verse above, Christ became our Forerunner in His capacity of High Priest. Since we have both the nature and practice of sinners, we are in no way ready to come into the presence of a Holy God. He is a Consuming Fire (Hebrews 12:29), so we would not even come close to Him, much less have fellowship with the Almighty. As "Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek", He atones for our sins, makes the substitutionary offering, and intercedes for us. None of these things could we do for ourselves.

The Savior got everything ready for us to go to heaven. He gave us citizenship in heaven by taking our sinful nature and making us holy even as He is holy (1 Peter 1:16). He went to Mount Calvary and offered Himself as Propitiation, so our debt of sin could be paid (Hebrews 2:17). As Great High Priest, Jesus has passed through the heavens ahead of us to intercede for us, knowing full well our weaknesses, and then allows us to approach the throne of grace boldly to obtain mercy in time of need (Hebrews 4:14-16).

Alexander Pope was first to coin the phrase “fools rush in where angels fear to tread.” If that’s the case, then a wise man is one who follows Christ Jesus as his Forerunner.