#DailyDevotion The Lord Has Anointed A New Priesthood
4th Sunday of Easter
Read Lev 8:1–13, 30–36
Lev 8:30 Then Moses took some of the anointing oil and of the blood that was on the altar and sprinkled it on Aaron and his garments, and also on his sons and his sons’ garments. So he consecrated Aaron and his garments, and his sons and his sons’ garments with him…33 And you shall not go outside the entrance of the tent of meeting for seven days, until the days of your ordination are completed, for it will take seven days to ordain you. (34) As has been done today, the LORD has commanded to be done to make atonement for you.
Aaron and his sons had to be consecrated, set apart from all Israel as they were going to serve the Lord. Had they not been consecrated with blood, the Lord would see their sins and put them to death if they came in to serve him. Atonement had to be made for them and for all priests who would serve the Lord in the sanctuary. Seven days they had to undergo this ordination. It is as if they were being recreated, i.e. going through the seven days of creation, for the old creation cannot stand before the Lord of Creation.
Jesus entered into the Holy of Holies in the Heavens above, the throne room of the Father, not with the blood of bulls and goats but with his own precious blood and poured it not upon himself but upon the mercy seat of God. Now he stands for us our high priest before the Father in heaven interceding for us and our salvation.
But not only that, but at the right hand of God, our Lord Jesus Christ sprinkles us with his blood in baptism, in the Lord’s Supper, through the proclamation of salvation in his name. In doing this, he has made us a new creation. We are not the same. We are being renewed into his image and likeness in holiness, righteousness and knowledge.
More than that, through the sprinkling of his blood upon us, he has made all of us royal priests in the household of God. We are called to be living sacrifices like our Lord Jesus Christ devoting our lives unto his service. It is a service of serving others with sacrificial love, i.e. at times looking more into the interest of others more than our own. It is a priest hood of extolling the excellencies of him, Jesus, who sacrificed himself for us and it now risen from the dead. For more detail on what it means to be a living sacrifice read Romans 12-15.
Heavenly Father, you have by the blood of Jesus made him our high priest whose glory is greater than that of Aaron. You have also by his blood made priest of Christ. Grant us such faith, grace and the Holy Spirit, that we may indeed live our lives as living sacrifices. In Jesus’ name. Amen.