It is common to think we’ve reached the apex of all time. We have an inbred presumption of supremacy, a hubris to think we are the zenith of all thought and culture. As we face a new millennium, looking back at our past we see this arrogance repeating itself again and again. I recently ran across a collection of quotes which point out our egotistical nature when we think we know what’s best. -"Everything that can be invented has been invented." --Charles H. Duell, Office of Patents, 1899 - “There will never be a bigger plane built." --A Boeing engineer, after the first flight of the 247, a twin engine plane that carried ten people. -"There is not the slightest indication that nuclear energy will ever be obtainable. It would mean that the atom would have to be shattered at will." -- Albert Einstein, 1932 -"We don't like their sound. Groups of guitars are on the way out." --Decca executive, 1962, after turning down the Beatles. -"Radio has no future. Heavier-than-air flying machines are impossible. X-rays will prove to be a hoax." --William Thomson, Lord Kelvin English scientist, 1899 We laugh when we hear of those who thought they attained perfection, that what they had was permanent and nothing more could be added to their time. But then we stop and wonder how might we do any better, what will life be like for the next generation. We live in an age of flux and change. We laugh at the narrow-mindedness of those in the past who could not see far enough into the future to see that change is part of our life. A sense of change and a lack of permanence characterized the Old Testament sacrificial system. The ancient rites seem so permanent and enduring, but were by their very nature transitory. They constantly looked forward to that which would replace them. They existed on the premise that something far greater would soon come. That something, of course, is Jesus Christ. While Albert Einstein could not see just a decade ahead, the Old Testament points forward to the time in which the transitional nature of the Old Testament sacrificial system would be displaced by the final work of Christ. Let’s take a look at Leviticus 9 and see how that changing nature of the Old Testament sacrifice is made more real in the New Testament with Christ. The Old Testament sacrifices are made obsolete not because they are worthless, but because that which is of greater worth comes. There is much in these archaic details that instruct us, but the benefit only comes as we look to Christ.
Up to this point we looked at the various sacrifices that were commanded of the people. Here in chapter 9 Aaron, Moses’s brother, is commissioned as the High Priest. His sons and soon-successors are part of this new priestly clan called the Levites. Up to this point, for seven days they are in preparation, but then on the eighth day, the consecration begins. It begins with a series of sacrifices. THE HIGH PRIEST POINTS TO CHRIST THE HIGH PRIEST Let’s quickly look at some of the positive lessons we can learn from Aaron as High Priest. As he pointed to the change that was to come, there is much here that can help us as we seek to understand what God has done for us in Christ. The sacrifices point to God’s removal of our sin. In past weeks we’ve seen how each of the sacrifices specifically addressed some aspect of our relationship with God. Of the five listed in the opening chapters of Leviticus, four are mentioned here. The burnt offering points to the need for God to be propitiated, for His wrath to be appeased in order that justice be served. The sin offering looked toward the need for constant renewal and cleansing, that even though our sinfulness may be removed and we are declared righteous, we are still sinners. We are, as Luther said: “simultaneously sinful and righteous." There is also the fellowship offering. This celebrates the peace that we have with God as our sins have been taken from us and God’s righteousness imputed to us. Then there is the grain offering which is a response toward God, giving of our self and our substance. Notice the sacrifices are in two categories There are sacrifices for Aaron. A sin and burnt offering are what he is to give. The offering here is the first and is to be a bull calf, the same kind of animal he constructed for the Israelites at the foot of Sinai to be worshipped. There most likely is some irony here, a reminder that God’s demands in worship are very particular. This is followed by a burnt offering of a ram. Once Aaron has sacrificed for himself, then and only then can he function for the people as their High Priest. As he made these sacrifices, verse 7 says that he was able to make atonement for himself and the people. All this is done so that (verses 4,6) "the glory of the Lord may appear to you." God’s presence required that sin be removed. The blessing points to God’s acceptance of us (verse 22). We can easily miss the visual image of this. We think of a blessing as a sterile formality, meaningless words spoken in a ceremony. But remember what Aaron has just done. He’s slaughtered six animals, drained their blood, dipped his fingers in the blood and spread it on the corners of the altar for himself and sprinkled some of it on the altar for the people. He then gutted the animals, washed them out and then burned the animals on the altar. Once he has done all that, then he lifts his hands to bless the people. Those blood stained hands, still dripping wet with animal blood, his apron soaked through - standing before the people, the blessing he gave would not only have been heard, but seen, the smell of burning flesh in their nostrils. The words he spoke may well have been those recorded for us and often used in benedictions from Numbers 6:26. Peace could be given because God was well-pleased, not with the work they had done, but with what only God could provide for them. Despite their sinfulness, God would provide a means by which they could be certain that God was no longer angry, that He had taken care of their deepest need: forgiveness. The glory points to God’s presence with us. How were they to be convinced of that? The pronouncement helped, but there was more: fire comes down and consumes the offerings. In one of the few instances recorded of such power, the people witness that God’s wrath is poured out on the sacrifices instead of the people. The image of fire in the Bible is one of judgment, and here rather than consuming the people as they rightly deserved, it burns up the offerings. For that reason the people give a great two-pronged response: They shout for joy and they fall face down. They did not stand passively by and contemplate the theological significance. They yelled - no doubt in a not so very Presbyterian-like fashion. The shout was a sign of triumph and joy. They were excited. But that excitement and realization of what just transpired lead to the second part of the response: They fell face down. In their zeal they did not forget God’s majesty and holiness, in their electrified state they did not forget worship is both joyful and solemn at the same time. In this first sacrifice by Aaron as High Priest, as the mediator for his people, there is a great reminder of what God has done for us in providing the sacrifice so that our sins may be forgiven and we can with enthusiasm and joy respond to His grace. But what happens in Levitcus 9 is not the end of the story. There is more. This sacrifice was destined to be replaced. THE HIGH PRIEST IS REPLACED BY CHRIST THE HIGH PRIEST The Old Testament High Priests sinned and died As wonderful as this time of celebration was, as great as it was to see that God’s presence was with His people, we see the seeds of change already beginning. It is seen in that even before Aaron can get to work as High Priest, he needed to sacrifice for himself. What kind of priest is that? How trustworthy can he be? He needed to sacrifice for himself for he was a sinner. That is someone we can all identify with, but how much help can he really be? Would you trust a CPA who’s pled guilty to tax evasion? Would you trust a plumber who doesn’t have indoor plumbing? Why trust a guilty priest? There is a hefty dose of reality here. No matter how good and glorious the Old Testament system was, it couldn’t go very far; it could only picture a perfect reality that was to come later. But this reminds us that Aaron, like us, can only do what God has commanded us to do on the basis of Christ’s death for us. On that basis, though, we can come boldly to do what He has commanded. But we cannot until we are honest enough to admit our own sin and our need for another to be our High Priest. In a newsletter I recently received, there was printed just such an honest prayer. Its one you may find useful in your life. "Dear Lord, So far today I’ve done all right. I haven’t gossiped, lusted, lost my temper, haven’t been greedy, grumpy, nasty, selfish, or over indulgent. I’m very thankful for that. But in a few minutes, Lord, I’m going to get out of bed. From then on I’m probably going to need of lot of help. Amen." The Old Testament High Priest was a lot like you and me, in desperate need of sacrifice, and for that reason he knew that there was something better coming around the bend. Not only did they sin, but they died too. That should not come as a surprise, but think what it must’ve been like when for years you were served by a High Priest whom you knew to be faithful. Then one day the word came that he died. Who would be next? Is the new fellow someone you can trust? Will he be faithful in discharging his duties? The Great High Priest is permanent and perfect. Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. Such a high priest meets our need--one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself. For the law appoints as high priests men who are weak; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever. Hebrews 7:23-28 Verse 23 notes that the only way the high priests of old could claim to be a continuing intervening presence for the people was through the normal cycles of successive generations. According to Jewish historian Josephus, by the time of the fall of the Second Temple in A.D. 70, there had been 83 high priests since Aaron. On the other hand, "forever" is accomplished in the one, eternally saving act of Jesus and by His eternal heavenly rule that has come about as a result of that sacrifice. What we see pictured in the Old Testament is fulfilled by Christ as the final High Priest, as the complete, the ultimate One who will never be replaced. The permanent nature of Christ’s work is realized in that His death was done “once for all” (verse 27). Aaron and those after him had to continually offer sacrifices. There was no end to the work they had to do for themselves even before they could think of others. Christ’s death is the final voice; nothing more is to be added. In the midst of the cancerous evil that was Finkenwalde concentration camp, Dietrich Bonhoeffer ran his small seminary. On the communion table where the faithful gathered for worship every day, there was engraved a single word, hapax, meaning "once." That single word focused the hearts and minds of those caught in the middle of one of history's worst nightmares on Christ's sacrifice that was the single means by which we might have our sins forgiven. Jesus is our High Priest because of His once-and-for-all sacrifice. It was that sacrifice which breathed faith and hope into the gray walls of Finkenwalde. It still does today for all who find themselves in prisons of their own making or imprisoned by forces beyond their control. (taken from A 24-7-365 God, Homiletics, Summer 1997) Christ is not only permanent, but perfect (verse 26). Christ is one who meets our need. The greatest need we have is for acceptance by the God who made us. Other, secondary needs may exist, but none is more critical to our life and health than knowing that we are in a right relationship with the Lord of this universe. Notice how Christ meets our need. He is what we are not so that we might be what God demands. He is holy, flawless as God demands. He is blameless, not only internally pure, but externally adhering to God’s Law. He is pure; having been tempted like we are, He is still without sin. Unlike the doctor who out of love treats the infectious patient but soon succumbs to the disease and dies, Christ is immune to the epidemic of sin. He is set apart from sinners. He shares our humanity but never giving into sin. He is exalted above the heavens, seated at the right hand of God. Holiness, blamelessness, purity are what we need and it is that very righteousness which He gives to us, declares to be ours. All that is applied to us as He constantly intercedes for us. Like Aaron, He holds up His hands to bless us, His hands still scared with the imprint of the nails, showing that He is both the Priest who offers the sacrifice and the victim who was sacrificed. His position as High Priest is not one which came by dictate of the Law, but was given by the promise of God. The Law is repealed when the promise takes effect. The weakness of the High Priests of the Old Testament is set aside for the permanence and perfection of Christ as our High Priest today. He was appointed not on the basis of the Law, but by God’s promise to His Son and even now He prays for you, cares for you. There is never a moment in which Christ is not at work for you. There is never a point in time when He is not concerned for you and praying for you. He can save you completely, guarantee your eternal life because His work is now to see that what He has promised will be realized in you. God’s glory is now being revealed, not with a fire that consumes an animal sacrifice, but with Christ’s death on the Cross God’s fire fell on Him and now the Father’s glory is being revealed in you, working out in you eternal life. Not matter how distant Jesus the High Priest may seem, no matter how hard it is to pray, no matter how you do not feel His closeness, if you are in Christ, if you believe His perfect and permanent sacrifice was for you, then He is even now applying that, no matter what struggle you are enduring, no matter how hard life may seem or how distant God may feel. In football, the quarterback calls out a series of numbers before the ball is hiked. Sometimes these numbers are random. Other times they themselves are signals, letting the other players know what play the quarterback wants to run. Christians can also designate a series of numbers that represent how God's presence will be played out in their lives: 24-7-365. It's not a very complex code to crack. The God revealed through Christ's sacrifice is a 24-hour-a-day, 7-day-a-week, 365-day-a-year God. No timeouts, no halftime breaks. God is present for us and with us every moment of every day of our lives. God can be a 24-7-365 God because Jesus was a 1-time Savior. Jesus's sacrifice was once and for all. Through Christ's one act of complete obedience, He became the one intercessory "priest" we need. The sacrifice Jesus made once need not be endlessly repeated, as in the old sacrificial system. Sometimes life and society seem more liked a warped football game in which the end zone seems to move further from you as you approach and the refs change the rules with every play, where the opposing team hides the ball and your own team refuses to get in the game, nothing seems consistent. We live in a time of flux and change. No sooner do we learn the rules of our culture than they are changed on us. That is what life is like in our time. Probably the only thing that will not change in our lives is change itself. We make a terrible mistake to think, though, that the change which occurs around us is a change which occurs in the God we serve. We are always wrong to apply what we experience in a fallen world to our God. The one thing that is certain, permanent and unchanging is Christ’s work for us now. |
