Tag Archives: high priest

FROM AND FOR THE PEOPLE

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FROM AND FOR THE PEOPLE

Every high priest is selected from among the people and is appointed to represent the people in matters related to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and going astray, since he himself is subject to weakness. This is why he has to offer sacrifices for his own sin, as well as for the sins of the people. And no one takes this honour on himself, but he receives it when called by God just as Aaron was. (Heb. 5:1-4)

What makes the difference between a high priest and the rest of the people and what gives him the right to carry the office of high priest?

He is ‘called by God’. He is set apart by divine appointment to stand between God and the people and to offer sacrifices on their behalf – sacrifices acceptable to God because He prescribed what was to be done and how it was to be done in order to forgive their sin and to bring His people near to Him.

What qualified him to be a high priest? He was chosen from among the people. That meant that he had to be one of them. He had to be human, subject to the same sins and weaknesses as they were so that he would not consider himself a cut above the rest. Why was this? He needed to be gentle with his fellow sinners because he walked in their shoes. He needed to approach God with his people on his heart, not as a judge but as one of them.

He was also chosen to represent the people to God. He was the go-between, standing between his sinful compatriots and a holy God to bring blood to atone for their sin. Before he could atone for the sin of anyone else, however, he had to remember that he was also guilty before God. He also needed blood to cleanse him from the guilt and pollution of his own imperfections before he could represent the nation to God.

The high priestly office was ongoing because death brought an end to the ministry of one man, and the office had to be handed on to the next and to the next as each succeeding generation passed on. It was, therefore, an interrupted function. No one was able to carry on standing before God indefinitely for his people.

How frustrating for God’s people when a kindly and sympathetic high priest died and was replaced by a man who did not carry the weaknesses of his people on his heart! The people were at the mercy of those who represented then, good or bad. This office was both a blessing and a curse for them, depending on the qualities of each man who mediated for them before God.

In the same way, Christ did not take on Himself the glory of becoming a high priest. But God said to Him, ‘You are my Son; today I have become your Father.’ And He says in another place, ‘You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.’ (Heb. 5: 5-6)

What was the writer trying to prove? Jesus was fully qualified to take on the office and function of high priest for His people. He was one of them – born and raised as a Jew. He was appointed by God to be high priest, not of the tribe of Levi who had to pass the office on because of death. He was of the order of Melchizedek – a mysterious figure who appeared on the scene briefly during the time of Abraham. We shall learn more of him as the letter proceeds.

Why Melchizedek? He was both king of Jerusalem and priest of the Most High God, and Jesus was to be both king and high priest, both offices to be fulfilled in one man which was forbidden of the Levitical priests. Jesus was both the Son of God, making Him eligible to be a priest and a descendant of David, putting Him in line for the throne of David.

Why was this so important to these Jewish readers? As true Jews, they had to be sure that Jesus was no usurper. He had to have the qualifications laid down in God’s word to fulfil the offices of king and priest, of which Melchizedek was the forerunner. Did He qualify? Yes. Was He eligible? Yes. In every way Jesus was superior to the Levitical priesthood, and fully qualified and competent to represent God to His people and His people to God.

Scripture taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

All Hell Let Loose!

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ALL HELL LET LOOSE!

Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, ‘Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?’ But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer. Again the high priest asked Him, ‘Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?’ ‘I am,’ said Jesus, ‘and you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.’

The high priest tore his clothes. ‘Why do we need any more testimonies?’ he asked. ‘You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?’ They all condemned Him as worthy of death. Then some began to spit at Him; they blindfolded Him, struck Him with their fists, and said, ‘Prophesy!’ And the guards took Him and beat Him. (Mark 14: 60-65)

That did it! Jesus used two loaded titles in response to the high priest’s taunt. In his glaringly illegal question – an accused person could not be found guilty on his own testimony – the high priest bated Him to indict Himself.

“Here is what the Jewish scholar Maimonides wrote in his book: “We have it as a fundamental principle of our jurisprudence, that no one can bring an accusation against himself. Should a man make confession of guilt before a legally constituted tribunal, such confession is not to be used against him unless properly attested by two other witnesses” (“Sanhedrin” IV, 2)”   

http://www.lesiecleavenir.fr/pdf/Twelve%20Reasons%20Why%20Jesus%20Trial%20Was%20Illegal.pdf (retrieved on 05/09/2015).

Look at the titles Jesus used of Himself: “I am” and “Son of Man”. No Jew would miss the implications. “Are you crazy, Jesus? Why did you have to use those words?” That really set the cat among the pigeons!

Jesus identified Himself to the Sanhedrin as the same God whom Moses met at the burning bush, the “I AM”. Moses, the man they revered more than any other of their Old Testament heroes! The debates Jesus had with the religious leaders often raged around what Moses said versus what Jesus, as a rabbi with authority said, which held more weight than what Moses said because He spoke with the authority of God, which they refused to recognise.

“The Son of Man”! They could not miss the implications of that title either. It was an outright and unmistakeable use of a Messianic title according to Daniel 7:13.

In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into His presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will never pass away, and His kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.

This is the moment when the true colours of the Sanhedrin were revealed. How could a dignified court of law, under the authority of the high priest who was God’s representative on earth, permit such unruly and barbaric behaviour? This was not about the guilt or innocence of an accused man. This was about the venomous hatred these men had towards Jesus because everything He said and did was an accusation against them. He was already guilty long before they arrested Him, guilty not of being a wrongdoer but guilty of being everything He said He was and, at the same time, showing them up for who they were. There was nothing anyone could say that could prove Him otherwise.

Their charge against Him was blasphemy but it would not hold water in the eyes of Rome. From a Jewish point of view, as far as the Sanhedrin was concerned, He was guilty, regardless of the evidence. And for that He must die. But they had to get Rome on their side by accusing Him of something serious enough to be punishable by execution. Blasphemy was not on their books.  All Rome was interested in was anything that became a threat to their rule in their vassal states.

Having satisfied their phoney justice, it was time to take their case to Pilate to ratify their sentence of death and leave the Romans to carry it out their way. . .

Scripture taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Have you read my new book, Learning to be a Son – The Way to the Father’s Heart (Copyright © 2015, Partridge Publishing)? You’ll love it!

Available on www.amazon.com in paperback, e-book or kindle version or order directly from the publisher at www.partridgepublishing.com.

Watch this space. My second book, Learning to be a Disciple – The Way of the Master (Copyright © 2015, Partridge Publishing), companion volume to Learning to be a Disciple – The Way of the Master, will soon be on the bookshelves.

Check out my Blog site – www.learningtobeason.wordpress.com

 

God Guilty Of Being God!

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GOD GUILTY OF BEING GOD!

A young man, wearing nothing but a linen garment, was following Jesus. When they seized him, he fled naked, leaving his garment behind.

They took Jesus to the high priest, and all the chief priests, the elders and the teachers of the law came together. Peter followed Him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. There he sat with the guards and warmed himself at the fire. The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for evidence against Jesus so that they could put Him to death, but they did not find any. (Mark 14: 51-55).

What a formidable bunch – high priest, chief priests, elders and teachers of the law – the whole shooting match! The most powerful civil and religious authority in the land. They knew they had Rome behind them because they were hand in glove with the Roman authorities, if they could just convince Pilate of His guilt. And Jesus. One man against a ruthless mob but, as we read on we will soon find out who was actually in charge.

The writer of this gospel put his signature to his work in two short sentences. Who was the young man who was sneaking around in the dark, watching and following the crowd to see what was happening. Why was he out in his underwear in the pre-dawn chill? Whoever he was, when he wrote the story he must have been speaking about himself. Who else would have been aware of an insignificant detail like this and included it in his gospel as if to say, ‘I was there’?

Once again Peter was out front. He was brazen enough to shed his fear and follow Jesus to see where they were taking Him. Of course, their first port of call would be the high priest’s residence – and he was waiting for them. The rest of the religious hierarchy quickly assembled.

Jesus and the might of Israel – face to face at last, and they thought they had Him. They had subdued their enemy, and now they had to find a charge that would stick, and one that would put Him away for good. What sort of a justice system was that? Arrest a man because they wanted Him out of the way, and then cook up a plausible accusation to make Him look guilty. How many governments, even the most corrupt in the world, apply justice like that?

They had a difficult situation to contend with – first a charge, then the evidence to convict a man who had dared to challenge His accusers, “Can any of you prove me guilty of sin?” Not a single person came forward with an accusation, not even His avowed enemies. O, they had lots to say about Him but they could make none of it stick.

Many testified falsely against Him, but their statements did not agree. Then some stood up and gave this false testimony against Him, ‘We heard Him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made with human hands and in three days will build another, not made with hands.’ Yet even their testimony did not agree. Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, ‘Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are brining against you?’ But Jesus remained silent and gave not answer. (Mark 14: 56-61)

Is that really what Jesus had said? A few words changed the whole picture. He said, to quote Him accurately, ‘Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.’ (John 2:19) John added, ‘But the temple He had spoken of was His body.’ In a play on words, Jesus was speaking prophetically of what they would do to Him – destroy His body – and His resurrection. Of course they would not understand. But how could a statement like that make Him worthy of death?

To them it did not matter whether the accusations agreed and whether they were false or not. They had their “proof” of His guilt and they could go ahead and sentence Him. In their eagerness to get rid of Him, they overlooked an important detail of their justice system. Anyone who bore a false witness against the accused was subject to the same sentence as the accused. These false witnesses should have been crucified along with Jesus!

What a mess – created by the very ones who were entrusted with the sacred task of exercising justice in the name of their God. God condemned to death for being God, at the hands of men!

Scripture taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Have you read my new book, Learning to be a Son – The Way to the Father’s Heart (copyright 2015, Partridge Publishing)? You’ll love it!

Available on www.amazon.com in paperback, e-book or kindle version or order directly from the publisher at www.partridgepublishing.com.

Check out my Blog site – www.learningtobeason.wordpress.com

 

How Much More!

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HOW MUCH MORE!

But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that are now already here, He went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands, that is to say, is not   part of this creation. He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves, but He entered the Most Holy Place once for all by His own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption.

The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. How much more, then, will the blood of Christ who, through the eternal Spirit offered Himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God! (Heb. 9: 11-14).

“How much more” is a rabbinic teaching method. If the lesser is true, then the greater has even more weight than the lesser.

If the earthly high priests went into the Most Holy Place to offer animal blood on the Mercy Seat in the earthly tabernacle which made the worshippers ceremonially clean, but was not able to cleanse the conscience, how much more did the blood of Christ which He offered in the heavenly tabernacle, make the worshipper spiritually pure before God!

The Levitical high priests ministered in a sanctuary which was nothing more than a copy of the true sanctuary in heaven. Everything they did was only a copy of what was done in heaven. From God’s perspective, Jesus was “the Lamb who was slain from the creation of the world” (Rev. 13: 8). Before the earth and its bounty came into being, God’s plan was already in place to redeem mankind through the blood of His Son. Although His death took place at a specific time in history, its effects covered the whole span of time.

The religious leaders were offended with Jesus because He claimed to have the right to forgive sins without a sacrifice. In their book, no sacrifice meant no forgiveness because they did not realise that every sacrifice offered on the altar in the temple was merely a picture of what had taken place before the creation of the world. If they were trusting in the blood of animals for forgiveness, their faith was misplaced. Only Jesus is “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1: 29). John the Baptist recognised His sacrifice long before He was crucified.

If the blood of animals was able to make the offerers ceremonially clean, how much more then, is the blood of Christ able to make the sinner clean by removing his sin forever. It is not just covered – it is removed, as the Azazel – the scapegoat, was driven into the wilderness after the sins of the nation were symbolically pressed on him. The prophet Isaiah recognised the significance of Jesus’s sacrifice in his vision of the suffering Servant.

We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way, and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all (Isa. 53: 6).

Once again, as we gaze on the sacrifice of Jesus, we see the Trinity at work, fully involved in the redemption of mankind. God the Father was there – His plan in action through the Son and through the Spirit whose anointing on Jesus enabled Him to offer Himself without flinching as a perfect sacrifice of atonement to God.

The Holy Spirit was God’s agent through whom Jesus was conceived, anointed for His ministry, ministered the works of God, died, and rose again. He was given to us to live in us as the perfect representative of Jesus, giving us the same power that Jesus had to live in harmony with the Father as His beloved children. How foolish of the readers to think that they could go back to the old system to save themselves from persecution and experience the same benefits they had from the death of Jesus! It would not work for them and it will not work for us.

Even if we are not Jewish and do not fully understand the significance of their priesthood and sacrificial system, the fact remains that it is only through Jesus that we can enjoy the benefits of complete forgiveness, cleansing from our sin, a clear conscience before God and full acceptance with Him through the ministry of our great high priest.

Scripture taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

 

A Never-ending Story

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A NEVER-ENDING STORY

When everything had been arranged like this, the priests entered regularly into the outer room to carry out their ministry. But only the high priest entered the inner room, and that only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people committed in ignorance. The Holy Spirit was showing by this that the way into the Most Holy Place had not yet been disclosed as long as the first tabernacle was still functioning, This is an illustration for the present time, indicating that the gifts and sacrifices being offered were not able to clear the conscience of the worshipper (Heb. 9: 6-9).

Imagine having to live one’s whole life with the burden of sin on one’s conscience!

The gifts and sacrifices of the old covenant could not clear the guilty conscience because there was no assurance of forgiveness. Animal blood can never remove sin, nor can rituals or even washing in the water of a sacred bath or river. The prophet, Micah, asked the question that nothing outside of the blood of Jesus can answer:

With what shall I come before the Lord and bow down before the exalted God? Shall come before Him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will God be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of olive oil? Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?  (Micah 6: 6-7).

Men of old who had insight into the things of God knew that animal sacrifices were only symbolic. In their experience of life they knew that God required much more than an endless river of blood. Both Micah and King David had grasped the truth that it was not outward acts but an inner attitude of the heart that God was seeking, which would alter the ways in which His people would treat both Him and His people.

He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God (Micah 6: 8).

The perpetual offering of animal blood in the old covenant were a reminder, not a remover of sin. Something far more effective was needed to remove sin and assure the sinner of God’s mercy and forgiveness.

David understood the truth that God was far more concerned about heart attitude than He was about animal blood.

You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise (Psa. 51: 16-17).

Through the prophet Isaiah, God spoke for Himself.

Hear the word of the Lord, you rulers of Sodom; listen to the instruction of God, you people of Gomorrah! ‘The multitude of your sacrifices – what are they to me?’ says the Lord. ‘I have more than enough of burnt offerings, of rams and the fat of fattened animals; I have no pleasure in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats.’ (Isa. 1: 10-11).

But I thought that that was what God wanted? Did He not command the people to offer sacrifices? Sure He did, but for what purpose? So that they had an excuse to carry on living in sin, with their bad attitudes and evil behaviour? No way!

It was God’s gracious provision and a reminder that the cost of sin was death. Innocent animals had to die by the thousands to keep them aware of the terrible penalty of sin. Every time the blood ran, they should have remembered and mourned their corrupt nature that cost the animal its life. Every pang of guilt for what they had been and what they had done should have motivated them to follow God’s instructions because His way was a way of peace.

But for the people who lived under the old system, the massive curtain that shut them out of God’s presence and restricted the high priest to only one entrance a year, was to remind them that sin separated them from a holy God. The smoke of the perpetual burning animal on the sacrificial altar was intended to keep their hearts and their conscience tender before God. Their sin was covered but their guilt remained.

It was all a never-ending story until . . .

Scripture taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.