04/10/2008
26For this is the kind of high priest we need: holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. 27He doesn’t need to offer sacrifices every day, as high priests do—first for their own sins, then for those of the people. He did this once for all when He offered Himself. 28For the law appoints as high priests men who are weak, but the promise of the oath, which came after the law, [appoints] a Son, who has been perfected forever.
Today, we are so far separated – culturally and chronologically – from the Temple that we forget what the Judaic law required. Let me review. Of the 12 tribes of Israel, one entire tribe, the Levites, were appointed as the priestly tribe. Of these, certain men would serve as priests. And of these, one would serve as High Priest for a period. When the people would bring their sacrifices to the Temple, a priest would assist them in the offering and with the requirements for proper cleansing and so forth.
But the priest, himself, needed to be ritually clean before he could act in this role. Likewise, only the High Priest could enter the Holy of Holies to offer sacrifice for all the people. He could not do this until he had completely and correctly performed the sacrifices for his own sin.
Therefore, with this knowledge, the verses above take on more meaning. Jesus became our High Priest, replacing forever, the need for a human intercessor. Since He lived a sinless life, He does not need to offer sacrifices for himself. Yet He offered Himself as a sacrifice for us. And since He was the perfect sacrifice, given for us, He became the final sacrifice, once and for all.
It is easy for us to forget that we owe a blood debt for our sin. Adam and Eve were expelled from the Garden of Eden, that is, they became mortal; death was required because of their sin. God then sacrificed sheep for them and the clothing He made for Adam and Eve of the skins is a reminder that the shedding of blood was required to cover our sin. As we see this practice of sacrifice continued with Able, blood sacrifices were required as temporary payment for our sin. Yet a greater sacrifice was still required.
Jesus was that perfect sacrifice. And now, since we have been given the perfect sacrifice, let us not forget what burden has been lifted from us. The Mosaic Law has been fulfilled. We are free from the burden of the law and its many requirements for atonement. May I suggest you read Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy for a better understanding of the Law.
Take time today, to remember Jesus, the perfect and final sacrifice for our sins. He remains forever, our High Priest, who intercedes for us at the right hand of God.
Jeff Justus
Cleff Publishing
www.cleffpublishing.com
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