Locations
Paul Priddy
God is holy, righteous, and perfect. That means that we, on our own, cannot enter into his presence. However, because God is ALSO gracious, his desire is for us to have fellowship and unity with him. In the Old Testament, God provided temporary mediators: Prophets, Priests, and Kings to make this a reality. The problem? These OT prophets, priests, and kings couldn’t unite us with God completely—they were flawed and temporary. In this series, we see how Jesus unites us with God finally and perfectly. Today, we see Jesus as our ultimate Priest and why that’s such a big deal.
The proof is in the prophecies.
Sin separates us from God.
Have Aaron your brother brought to you from among the Israelites, along with his sons Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, so they may serve me as priests
Exodus 28:1
27 If anyone of the common people sins unintentionally in doing any one of the things that by the LORD’s commandments ought not to be done, and realizes his guilt, 28 or the sin which he has committed is made known to him, he shall bring for his offering a goat, a female without blemish, for his sin which he has committed. 29 And he shall lay his hand on the head of the sin offering and kill the sin offering in the place of burnt offering. 30 And the priest shall take some of its blood with his finger and put it on the horns of the altar of burnt offering and pour out all the rest of its blood at the base of the altar. 31 And all its fat he shall remove, as the fat is removed from the peace offerings, and the priest shall burn it on the altar for a pleasing aroma to the LORD. And the priest shall make atonement for him, and he shall be forgiven.
Leviticus 4:27-31
A life must be taken for sin to be forgiven.
Forgiveness in the Old Testament required a scared priest and a flawless sacrifice.
17 After his (his being Abraham) return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley). 18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. (He was priest of God Most High.) 19 And he blessed him and said, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High,Possessor of heaven and earth; 20 and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand!” And Abram gave him a tenth of everything
Genesis 14:17-20
The Lord says to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand,
until I make your enemies your footstool.”
Psalm 110:1
The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind,
“You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.”
Psalm 110:4
11 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
“17 For it is witnessed of him,“You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.” 18 For on the one hand, a former commandment is set aside because of its weakness and uselessness 19 (for the law made nothing perfect); but on the other hand, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God.
Hebrews 7:17-19
22 This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant. 23 The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, 24 but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. 25 Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. 26 For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.
Hebrews 7:22-26
As our perfect high priest, Jesus brings Himself into the presence of God as the perfect sacrifice.
12 But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, 13 waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. 14 For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.”
Hebrews 10:12-14
