The comparison of Christ’s priesthood to that of Melchizedek was to emphasize that it was superior to the Levitical priesthood. This priestly role of Christ is crucial to all apostolic doctrine. It was as high priest he offered his own body as a sacrifice for the sin of mankind. By his death and ascension, believers are saved completely by Christ’s once-for-all sacrifice and ongoing ministry. Furthermore, believers are established as a new royal priesthood under the direction of Christ as high priest. A close examination of the priesthood of Christ is in order.
This present priesthood began in the upper room the night before his crucifixion. The narrative recorded in John chapters 13-17 introduces this new ministry. The teaching began with a demonstration. Jesus washed the disciples feet and instructed them to follow that example. He noted that they would not understand what this meant until a later time. It was not about literal foot washing, or merely serving others with humility. It would be related to the cleansing of sin from believers. He noted that their bodies were clean and only their feet needed washing. This illustration was intended as a metaphor. The metaphor was describing someone who had placed his or her faith in Christ and were cleansed eternally, or positionally sanctified. Such a person has no fear of eternal condemnation because they have been justified. However, such a person does continue to sin during the course of their earthly life. The associated guilt of that sin can bring a person down to the depths of depression. The results are harmful and may range from ineffectiveness to indifference, and in extreme cases, suicide. The role of the disciples would be to encourage these sinning believers to confess their sin, repent, and be restored. They would, metaphorically, wash the dirt away in much the same way as Christ did when washing the feet of his disciples. The blood of Christ would remove the guilt, but the water would remove the uncleanness associated with sin. This combination of blood and water would become a pillar in apostolic teachings. It is the basis for the confession of sin even though Christ died for the forgiveness of all sin. This cleansing is a core role of the believer-priest. The risen Christ serves as a mediator and advocate for the sinning believer. He answers all claims of the accuser, Satan, regarding the sin of believers. He proclaims that his own shed blood is sufficient for forgiveness of any and all sin. The role of believers, now a part of the royal priesthood, would be to restore the sinner back into the fold; to continually purify and sanctify our bodies for holy service; to love in the same way as Christ loved. In fact, Christ would explicitly state his desire for his followers saying, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another” (John 13:34).
The new command was supported by a new hope. The disciples were all Jews and all Jews had focused only on earthly blessings. Here, Jesus raised their line of sight from the promised land on earth, up to heaven. The Jews had always thought of the temple as the dwelling place of God on earth. God would descend behind the curtain, in the inner chamber. Only the high priest was allowed to enter and that only once a year on the day of atonement. He was required to enter with the blood of an appropriate sacrifice and offered prayers of confession and supplication for himself and those he represented. Jesus offered them a new hope when he said, “My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am” (John 14:2-3).
Under the Levitical priesthood, the way to God involved a path through the one and only gate to the tabernacle, or later, to the temple. The first stage inside the gate was the altar where the animals were sacrificed. Next was a basin for cleansing. These two outer stages of the way represented the removal of guilt and uncleanness, or blood and water. Moving along the way, the next stage would bring the priest inside the outer room where there were loaves of bread, a lampstand, and incense used for prayer. These stages spoke of communion, especially regarding sustenance, enlightenment, and communication. The inner room, behind the curtain, was the place where God would descend upon the Ark of the Covenant. The point of all this is that the priests were very careful to follow all the rituals connected to this way; otherwise they would be struck dead. The lessons were many, but basically taught that sinful man could only approach a Holy God on God’s terms. It’s the same lesson we learned back with Abel, but more detailed. Jesus was now explaining to his disciples that He was the way. He said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” They would learn later that Jesus himself was replacing the stages of the old way. He was the gate; the sacrifice; the cleansing; the bread of life; the light of the world; the incense; the high priest. When Jesus said he was the way, it was to emphasize that the old way via the Levitical priesthood would soon be history. It should be noted that the next day, at the time of Christ’s death, the temple curtain was miraculously torn from top to bottom, which confirmed this teaching of Christ. The temple was totally destroyed in AD 70. The path that Christ established led to the True Tabernacle of God in heaven where he entered with his own blood.
This new path would not be possible for the disciples unless they had divine assistance. For that reason, Christ promised to dispatch the Holy Spirit to be in them. Through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit, this priesthood is empowered to serve both God and man. Christ, as high priest in heaven, bestows various spiritual gifts via the Holy Spirit to accomplish this service. The priesthood of believers on earth includes apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ (Ephesians 4:7-13). Believer-priests are taught and trained by these spirit-filled servants to offer their own bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God (Romans 12:1). The writer of Hebrews encourages them saying, “Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased” (Hebrews 13:15-16). The Apostle Peter confirms this special calling saying, “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy” (1 Peter 2:9-10). The Priesthood of Christ includes all believers and in no way refers to an elite group. If you are a believer, you are part of this priesthood.
So Christ continues to bless all families on earth. As high priest, he oversees the ministry of believers who serve both God and man. Through the means of this priesthood, God is honored, praised, thanked and worshipped. Sinful mankind receives intercessory prayer, enlightenment, encouragement and restoration. The post-resurrection ministry of Christ is just as vital to fulfilling the Abrahamic covenant as was the sacrifice he made on the cross. Though he is king, Christ is presently serving as high priest.
The time will come when Christ will assume his role as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. At that time, he will return to the earth and reign with an iron scepter from David’s throne in Jerusalem. The descendants of Israel will return to inherit the land from the Nile to the Euphrates. During the Millennial Kingdom, the ultimate fulfillment of the Abrahamic covenant will be completed. Righteousness, peace and knowledge of the Lord will fill the earth as the waters covers the sea. In the meantime, we will exercise faith in God’s plan as we focus on the hope revealed by the Risen Christ, and serve one another with love.
Because of the progressive revelation of God to mankind, we are able to clearly understand God’s plan. The sin of the world has been paid for by the sacrifice of Christ. The decision to reject God’s salvation is the choice that will precede each person’s eternal destiny. Every person has the opportunity to believe, and belief is well within the reach of anyone. Jesus is the way–the one way that does not coexist with any other. All other ways lead to condemnation.
Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law [his natural descendants] but also to those who have the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all.
Romans 4:16
Next Section: The Formula of Faith + Hope = Love
Table of Contents: Faith, Hope and Love
Text for this post has been borrowed from my Kindle eBook Faith, Hope and Love (Book 2 of the Grace and Knowledge Series), by Brother Woody Brohm. Copyright 2013.
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