The Great Priest
Now if perfection had been attainable through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need would there have been for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek, rather than one named after the order of Aaron?
(Hebrews 7:11 ESV)
where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. (Hebrews 6:20 ESV)
Before you go any further, if you haven't read the post from yesterday, go back and read that first. It gives awesome background and context for today. Plus the author is super cute.
Now that we have cleared that up...What do you think of when you hear the word priest? Do you think of a catholic priest? Somebody that you have to go to and confess your sin to, and they tell you to say a certain number of prayers to get right again? Do you think of Mola Ram? The dude from Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom who's trying to get the 5 Sankara Stones so he can setup the reign of Kali, the goddess of death?
Do you think of Jesus?
It feels kind of funny to even think of Jesus as a priest until you realize what Old Testament priests duties and calling were. Here are some of the roles of the OT priest:
- To serve as mediator between God and His people
- To make a blood sacrifice for people, so that their sins would be atoned for
- To preach and lead worship services
- To communicate the law
- To serve people in rites of ritual purification
- To maintain a level of extreme ritual purity, not required of other people, due to their close contact to God
The crazy thing is that Jesus is said to come from the order of Melchizedek, a rather obscure character from the OT instead of from the line of Levitical priests. Why though?
There are several reasons why, but I want to just focus on a simple one. The one that it says in verse 11. If perfection was possible through Aaron's line, it would have happened already. In other words, Jesus is a far greater priest than any priest could be from the line of Aaron. He is perfect. He is without sin. He accomplished once and for all the list of all the priestly duties. He made us ritually pure once and for all. He leads us as a church. He is constantly serving as our mediator before God. He accomplished all that the law required. His blood made atonement a reality for all believers. He is our Great High Priest, and He accomplished what no priest ever could.
Challenge:
Where have you not believed that Jesus has accomplished being our Great High Priest? Here's a good test. Do yo find yourself feeling guilty for not "doing enough for God"? Do you feel like you need to be perfect? STOP! It's done! It's all done. What you need to do is look to Jesus. Follow Him. Thank Him for not crushing you under the weight of the Law, but giving you grace and love. He loves being your Great High Priest. It's time to let Him.
- Charlie
where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. (Hebrews 6:20 ESV)
Before you go any further, if you haven't read the post from yesterday, go back and read that first. It gives awesome background and context for today. Plus the author is super cute.
Now that we have cleared that up...What do you think of when you hear the word priest? Do you think of a catholic priest? Somebody that you have to go to and confess your sin to, and they tell you to say a certain number of prayers to get right again? Do you think of Mola Ram? The dude from Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom who's trying to get the 5 Sankara Stones so he can setup the reign of Kali, the goddess of death?
Do you think of Jesus?
It feels kind of funny to even think of Jesus as a priest until you realize what Old Testament priests duties and calling were. Here are some of the roles of the OT priest:
- To serve as mediator between God and His people
- To make a blood sacrifice for people, so that their sins would be atoned for
- To preach and lead worship services
- To communicate the law
- To serve people in rites of ritual purification
- To maintain a level of extreme ritual purity, not required of other people, due to their close contact to God
The crazy thing is that Jesus is said to come from the order of Melchizedek, a rather obscure character from the OT instead of from the line of Levitical priests. Why though?
There are several reasons why, but I want to just focus on a simple one. The one that it says in verse 11. If perfection was possible through Aaron's line, it would have happened already. In other words, Jesus is a far greater priest than any priest could be from the line of Aaron. He is perfect. He is without sin. He accomplished once and for all the list of all the priestly duties. He made us ritually pure once and for all. He leads us as a church. He is constantly serving as our mediator before God. He accomplished all that the law required. His blood made atonement a reality for all believers. He is our Great High Priest, and He accomplished what no priest ever could.
Challenge:
Where have you not believed that Jesus has accomplished being our Great High Priest? Here's a good test. Do yo find yourself feeling guilty for not "doing enough for God"? Do you feel like you need to be perfect? STOP! It's done! It's all done. What you need to do is look to Jesus. Follow Him. Thank Him for not crushing you under the weight of the Law, but giving you grace and love. He loves being your Great High Priest. It's time to let Him.
- Charlie
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