Jesus: Priest

     One of the most important roles under the Law of Moses was that of the priest.  It was through the service of the priests that the people sought atonement for their sins.  And it was through the priests that the people had access to God.
     When it was time to select a Latin name for this position, the word "pontifex" was chosen.  This word means, "bridge builder."
     Under the Old Law, the priesthood was limited to the tribe of Levi.  And the office of high priest could be held only by descendants of Aaron.
     "Bring the tribe of Levi near and set them before Aaron the priest, that they may serve him," God instructs in Numbers 3:6-7.  "And they shall perform the duties for him and for the whole congregation before the tent of the meeting, to do the service of the tabernacle."
     "So you shall appoint Aaron and his sons that they may keep their priesthood," God explains in verse 10, "but the layman who comes near shall be put to death."
     "Now," God continues in verse 12, "behold, I have taken the Levites from among the sons of Israel instead of every first-born, the first issue of the womb among the sons of Israel.  So the Levites shall be mine."
     We learn in passages such as Exodus 29 and Leviticus eight and nine that the first concern of a priest was to purify and consecrate himself.  Then he could focus on his primary responsibility: offering daily and annual sacrifices.  Sometimes this required that he enter an earthly sanctuary, either the tabernacle or the temple.
     With the arrival of Jesus, however, all of this was destined to change.
     "Now if perfection was through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the people received the Law)," we read in Hebrews 7:11, "what further need was there for another priest to arise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be designated according to the order of Aaron?"
     This rhetorical question is presented to make the point that perfection was not attainable through the Levitical priesthood.  Therefore, there was the need for a different kind of priest.
     "For when the priesthood is changed," the next verse adds, "of necessity there takes place a change of law also."
     Unlike the priest of the Old Testament, Jesus is from the tribe of Judah and not the tribe of Levi.  So the New Testament, in passages such as Hebrews 6:20, calls Him a priest according to the order of Melchizedek.  This Melchizedek, whose priesthood was actually from the time of Abraham and therefore pre-dated the Levitical system, did not receive his position simply because he happened to be born into a certain family.  It appears that his priesthood was the result of his own character.  In Hebrews 7:2 he is identified as "King of Righteousness" and "King of Peace."
     So, unlike the Old Testament priest, Christ is not from the tribe of Levi.
     While the first act of the Old Testament priest was to purify himself, Jesus is already sinless.
     "For it was fitting that we should have such a high priest," Hebrews 7:26-28 asserts, "holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens; who does not need daily, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins, and then for the sins of the people, because this He did once for all when He offered up Himself.  For the Law appoints men as high priests who are weak, but the word of the oath, which came after the Law, appoints a Son, made perfect forever."
     Another difference between the Levitical priesthood and that of Jesus is that the latter is not required to continually offer up daily and yearly sacrifices.
     "By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all," we find in Hebrews 10:10-12.
     "And every priest stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins; but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God."
     Still another difference between the two priesthoods is seen in the sanctuaries involved.  While the Levitical priests entered an earthly sanctuary, Jesus went into an entirely different kind of place.
     "For Christ did not enter a holy place made with hands, a mere copy of the true one," Hebrews 9:24 states, "but to heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us."

     Christ's commission as high priest is explained in Hebrews 5:4-5.
     "And no one takes the honor to himself," this passage states, "but receives  it when he is called by God, even as Aaron was.  So also Christ did not glorify Himself so as to become a high priest, but He who said to Him, 'Thou art My Son, today I have begotten Thee.'"
     But Jesus is not the only one who is commissioned as a priest under the new system.  While He is unquestionably the great high priest, all Christians are expected to fulfill their roles as priests.
     "But you will be called the priests of the Lord;" Isaiah 61:6 prophesies, "you will be spoken of as ministers of our God."
     "But you are a chosen race," 1 Peter 2:9 says, "a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light."
     "And He has made us to be a kingdom," we read in Revelation 1:6, "priests to His God and Father; to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever."
     How are we prepared for service as priests?  In other words, how can we be sanctified or purified?  The answer to this question is found in Hebrews 9:13-14.
     "For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled, sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh," this passage says of those who were purified under the old system, "how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?"
     "And corresponding to that, baptism now saves you," 1 Peter 3:21 explains, "-not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience - through the resurrection of Jesus Christ."
     We are prepared as priests when we are cleansed, purified and sanctified by the blood of Jesus.  This takes place when we are immersed in baptism.
     What sacrifices are we expected to offer as priests?
     "You also, as living stones," 1 Peter 2:5 instructs, "are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ."
     "I urge you therefore, brethren," Paul advises in Romans 12:1-2, "by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.  And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect."
     So part of our spiritual sacrifice involves dedicating our lives to God.  Paul adds in Philippians 4:18 that the financial contribution given him by the church in Philippi is, "a fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God."
     And Hebrews 13:15-16 mentions still another element of our sacrifice to God.
     "Through Him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God," this Scripture states, "that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name.  And do not neglect doing good and sharing; for with such sacrifices God is pleased."
     So our sacrifices include our giving, our worship, our helping of others and our very selves.
     "Since therefore, brethren," Hebrews 10:19-22 encourages, "we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our body washed with pure water."
     Jesus has set the perfect example for us as our great High Priest.  He has even provided the way for us through the sacrifice of His own life at Calvary.  All that is expected of us is that we obey what He has said.  Then we can be cleansed.  Then we can serve God as priests.  Then we can be set free.

Unless otherwise noted, "Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE(R), (C) Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission." (www.lockman.org)