Day 7: “I will raise up for myself a faithful priest, who will do according to what is in my heart and mind. I will firmly establish his priestly house, and they will minister before my anointed one always” (1 Samuel 2:35).
Jesus is our Prophet, Priest, and King. So far this week, I have written about Jesus as King and Prophet. Today our topic is his role as Priest. The job of a priest in the Old Testament was to be a mediator between God and the people. Mostly, he would do this by offering sacrifices on behalf of the people. On the Day of Atonement, the High Priest would enter the holiest place in the tabernacle to sprinkle the blood on the Ark of the Covenant.
“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 a 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.” (Hebrews 9:11-12)
When Jesus sacrificed Himself for us, the veil in the temple was torn in two. The way to the Most Holy Place was opened. We no longer have to make sacrifices in order to approach our Father in heaven. We need only ask in Jesus’ name.
Now God says of us, “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)
So what does it mean that we are priests? It does not mean that all of us are pastors. However, it does mean that all Christians have a calling from God to minister to others. It means that we are to carry God’s love to people by serving them, meeting their needs, and encouraging them with the words of Jesus. It also means that we are to carry the needs of people to God by praying for them.
And so we pray with the Psalmist, “May the favor[a] of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us — yes, establish the work of our hands.”
Bible Readings: Hebrews 4:9-16, Hebrews 9
Immanuel Lutheran Church 