Starry Night: Christmas Advent Daily Devotional (Beginning Dec. 1)

December 15

Hebrews 7:11-13 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? 12 For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the law as well. 13 For the one of whom these things are spoken belonged to another tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar.

     The Levitical priesthood was mentioned yesterday, and I briefly explained that they served in the temple (in early days the tabernacle). Their job was to be mediators between God and man. They performed the animal sacrifices, as well as judged the people, and taught them. The priesthood was directed by God in Exodus 28:1-4 to Moses on Mount Sinai as part of the law of the covenant (sometimes referred to as the mosaic covenant) that God made with His people, the nation of Israel. A covenant was a binding agreement between between two parties.

Exodus 19:3-8 while Moses went up to God. The LORD called to him out of the mountain, saying, "Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the people of Israel: 4 'You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself. 5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; 6 and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel. 7 So Moses came and called the elders of the people and set before them all these words that the LORD had commanded him. 8 All the people answered together and said, "All that the LORD has spoken we will do." And Moses reported the words of the people to the LORD.

     As part of this covenant God gave the people the Ten Commandments, other laws, and the sacrificial system. The sacrificial system was centered around the people taking animals to the priests for them to sacrifice each time they sinned. All of this happened at the tabernacle. As mentioned before there was a high priest who was the head of the priests and on the day of atonement each year he would take the sacrificial blood into the holy of holies (where God's presence was over the ark of the covenant) to make atonement for himself and the people. It was a system that God set up to help the people recognize that they could never be good enough to earn salvation and redemption on their own. It showed them how holy and set apart God is, and how far they are from that. The ugliness of the continual killing of animals in the outer court of the tabernacle was a constant reminder of the ugliness of their sin. How could God's people ever please Him? How could they be good enough? The law and the sacrifices helped them see their inadequacies.

Hebrews 4:14-16 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

     Jesus was the answer that God had planned from the beginning. Everything God had taught His people, the need for a blood sacrifice to cover their sins, was to point the way to the ultimate blood sacrifice of Christ.

Leviticus 17:11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it for you on the altar to make atonement for your souls, for it is the blood that makes atonement by the life.

     Back to the point of Jesus being called a priest after the order of Melchizedek. A priest is intended as a mediator between man and God, but a human priest is limited.  Jesus is the ultimate mediator to bridge the relationship between sinful man and a holy God.  Jesus was the one who offered a sacrifice on our behalf. A better sacrifice than that of animals that have no power to save. He is serving as both the priest and the sacrifice. He is a better priest than the Levitical priests because they had their own sin to deal with, they had the task to offer many sacrifices daily, the animal sacrifices were of no lasting value, and not only that, their years as priest were limited from age 25 to 50 (Numbers 8:24-26). Jesus is perfect, only had to offer one sacrifice (Himself), his sacrifice has eternal value, and he is a priest forever. The Levitical priests belonged to the old covenant and law, and were never intended to be permanent but only to prepare God's people for Christ. (Read Hebrews 7 for more on Melchizedek's and Jesus' priesthood)

Hebrews 9:11-15 But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) 12 he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, 14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God. 15 Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.

Hebrews 10:1-7 For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near. 2 Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have any consciousness of sins? 3 But in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. 4 For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. 5 Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said, "Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body have you prepared for me; 6 in burnt offerings and sin offerings you have taken no pleasure. 7 Then I said, 'Behold, I have come to do your will, O God, as it is written of me in the scroll of the book.'"

Hebrews 10:12-18 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. 15 And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for after saying, 16 "This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws on their hearts, and write them on their minds," 17 then he adds, "I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more." 18 Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.

     Perfect priest, perfect sacrifice, new covenant. A covenant that God bears the burden for because we can never be perfect. That is why Jesus came just over 2000 years ago. His life for ours. Redemption! In light of what Christ has done, read Peter's message to believers below.

1 Peter 2:9-12 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 11 Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. 12 Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.

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