A Study on the High Priest: Aaron and Christ

[asterisktom]

In order to understand better Christ as our High Priest it helps to note some characteristics of the high priest in the Old Testament. Several other things could be mentioned but for the purpose of this study I focus on just these seven. And these details all have to do with only the high priest and only on the annual Day of Atonement.

1.The High Priest shed blood. (1)

2.The High Priest was clothed in linen. Normally Aaron wore special garments that gave honor to his office (2), but on this one day he wore linen, just like the other priests. No gold-trimmed attire, no ephod, or miter. This is to show that he is one of them, also greatly in need of atonement.

3.The High Priest brought incense. The priest with "his hands full of incense"(3) and burning coals from the altar are brought before the Holy of Holies. He puts the incense in the brazen pan.

4.The High Priest was hidden at a certain time. When the high priest enters in the Holy Place the other priests cannot enter in. And when he throws the incense on the fire smoke arises, obscuring the view. This is "so that the cloud of incense might cover the atonement cover" Lev.16:13 (LEB)

5.The High Priest sprinkled blood. The blood of the bull is sprinkled seven times before the atonement cover. After killing the goat he does the same with its blood. Lev. 16:15

6.The High Priest left his linen. After this yearly ministration is done the high priest changes his garment again, leaving the linen behind. Lev.16:23.

No persons, priests or any other persons, are allowed in the tent of meeting when the high priest does this ministration.

7.The High Priest died. This goes without saying, but it is the last important detail I want to focus on in this study to compare with the High Priest that we have now.



What does this tell us about our eternal High Priest, Jesus Christ? Here are some interesting details.

1. Christ also shed blood. He did not bring the sacrifice. He was the sacrifice. 1 Peter 1:18-19

2. Christ also was clothed in linen. When He was buried it was in linen cloths.(4)

3. Christ also had incense, including - just like Aaron - myrrh. John 19:40

4. Christ was also hidden from view when He ascended. A “cloud hid Him from their sight”,. The latter, I believe, is a sign that He is entering into His ministry High Priest.

"And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight." Acts 1:9

5. Christ also, as High Priest, applies His blood for our cleansing. Heb. 9:14, 1 Pet. 1:2, 1 John 1:7 (5)

6. Christ also left his linen behind folded deliberately, neatly. Just like the high priest of old did. Luke 24:12, John 20:5-7

7. Christ, as we already know, never dies. He ever lives to make intercession for us.

"Also there were many priests, because they were prevented by death from continuing. But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them." Hebrews 9:23-25

The Gospel story did not end at Calvary or the empty tomb. Because our High Priest-King has the

power of an endless life He ever lies to make intercession for us. The Gospel story has no end because He has no end. As the angel in Revelation 14:6 declared, it is the everlasting Gospel.





--------------NOTES---------------

(1) He does this first for himself and his family, a young bull and a ram Lev. 16:3, entering the sanctuary with the blood of these two. Then he later takes from the congregation - and for the congregation - two goats for a sin offering (1) and a ram for a burnt offering. One of the goats is slain, the other (the scapegoat) is freed.

(2) Ex. 28:2 "And you shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother for glory and for beauty." The items are then described in verses 3 through 43.

(3) Ex.30:34 details the composition of the incense. Compare with Matt. 2:11, John 12:3, 7, and John 19:39.

(4) This was an important particular, mentioned by all Gospel writers: Matt.27:59, Mark 15:46, Luke 23:53, 24:12, John 19:40, 20:5-7 (three times).

(5) A study of these three verses shows that the blood, in each case, is applied to Christians, that is persons who have already been saved by the sacrificial blood of Christ at Calvary. This is a distinct application of the blood.

(6) Christ, His earthly humiliation being over (this may have been the last part of it) dispenses with the humble attire.




Here are some other books and web sites that might be helpful for further study.

-------------------------------

John Owen: Works, Vol. 18: Part 4, Concerning the Sacerdotal Office of Christ

Martin Luther: Christ Our Great High Priest
Christ Our Great High Priest

John Flavel: The Intercession of Christ our High-Priest
The Intercession of Christ our High-Priest | Monergism

Horatius Bonar: Christ our High Priest Bearing the Iniquity of our Holy Things
https://www.chapellibrary.org/pdf/books/cohp.pdf

Thomas Watson: Christ the High Priest
Christ the High Priest by Thomas Watson (1620-1686) | Reformed Theology at A Puritan's Mind

Henry Mahan: Two studies
The High Priest Intercedes
Henry Mahan - With New Testament Eyes: 19 - The High Priest Intercedes

The King-Priest: Psalm 110
Henry Mahan - With New Testament Eyes: 65 - The King-Priest

Frederick George Patterson: Christ as High Priest
Christ as High Priest - Frederick George Patterson (#58924) - Bible Truth Library

Brandon Crowe: Our Great High Priest
Our Great High Priest - Westminster Theological Seminary

Penny Noyes: Why Do We Need Jesus as Our High Priest?
Why Do We Need Jesus as Our High Priest?

J.C. Philpot:Jesus the Great High Priest
Jesus the Great High Priest

 

[Van]

asterisktom][/SIZE]

Christ also, as High Priest, applies His blood for our cleansing. Heb. 9:14, 1 Pet. 1:2, 1 John 1:7 (5)

(5) A study of these three verses shows that the blood, in each case, is applied to Christians, that is persons who have already been saved by the sacrificial blood of Christ at Calvary. This is a distinct application of the blood.

Lets consider these three verses:

Heb 9:14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our consciences from dead works to worship the living God​

Here we see that through Christ becoming our sin offering, giving His life by the shedding of His blood, He purifies or cleanses our "conscience" from "dead works" to worship the living God. "Conscience" refers to our core characteristic of seeking was is good in our eyes, and shunning what we see as bad. To have that aspect "purified" means some of what we saw as good is removed, and we see through the unblemished life of Christ, with a clear conscience, no longer accommodating dead works (recognizing our sinful activities). This seems to refer to the washing of regeneration which resulted in our new birth.

1 Peter 1:2
according to the foreknowledge of God the Father by being set apart by the Spirit to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood. May grace and peace be yours in full measure!​

According to the foreknowledge refers to our redemption according to God's per-determined plan formulated before creation. Being set apart by the spirit (the sanctifying work of the Spirit) refers to God transferring the chosen individual into Christ. Once spiritually in Christ, the individual undergoes the washing of regeneration, which includes the removal of our "body of flesh" referring to what God holds against us because of our sinful acts. Thus our justification by the blood of the Lamb!

1 John1:7
but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.​

Once "in (within) Christ, having undergone the washing of regeneration, being made alive together with Christ, we have fellowship with Christ and our siblings in Christ, and even though we fall short and miss the mark, we remain free the the consequence of those activities, as our High Priest one time sacrifice covers all sin, past, present and future.

 

[percho]

And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.
So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee. Heb 5:4,5

What does, "glorified not himself," mean here?

Is this relative to, one, who died?

Exactly when was, the Christ, made chief priest?

Is the glory mentioned above in the word glorified relative to John 17:5? And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.
What about John 7:39? and this he said of the Spirit, which those believing in him were about to receive; for not yet was the Holy Spirit, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

What took place less than twenty fours after Jesus prayed the prayer of John 17? When was he glorified?

 

[asterisktom]

Lets consider these three verses:

Heb 9:14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our consciences from dead works to worship the living God​

Here we see that through Christ becoming our sin offering, giving His life by the shedding of His blood, He purifies or cleanses our "conscience" from "dead works" to worship the living God. "Conscience" refers to our core characteristic of seeking was is good in our eyes, and shunning what we see as bad. To have that aspect "purified" means some of what we saw as good is removed, and we see through the unblemished life of Christ, with a clear conscience, no longer accommodating dead works (recognizing our sinful activities). This seems to refer to the washing of regeneration which resulted in our new birth.

1 Peter 1:2
according to the foreknowledge of God the Father by being set apart by the Spirit to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood. May grace and peace be yours in full measure!​

According to the foreknowledge refers to our redemption according to God's per-determined plan formulated before creation. Being set apart by the spirit (the sanctifying work of the Spirit) refers to God transferring the chosen individual into Christ. Once spiritually in Christ, the individual undergoes the washing of regeneration, which includes the removal of our "body of flesh" referring to what God holds against us because of our sinful acts. Thus our justification by the blood of the Lamb!

1 John1:7
but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.​

Once "in (within) Christ, having undergone the washing of regeneration, being made alive together with Christ, we have fellowship with Christ and our siblings in Christ, and even though we fall short and miss the mark, we remain free the the consequence of those activities, as our High Priest one time sacrifice covers all sin, past, present and future.

 

[asterisktom]

I agree with this, Van. But that is not the point of my OP, that we still have a High Priest today (unless you disagree?) and that He did not work Himself out of a job. The more foundational point is that Christians need to understand that we ought always to come to Him when we sin.

My main purpose was an encouragement that we "have such a High Priest" in these disturbing times.

 

[asterisktom]

Exactly when was, the Christ, made chief priest?

Is the glory mentioned above in the word glorified relative to John 17:5? And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.
What about John 7:39? and this he said of the Spirit, which those believing in him were about to receive; for not yet was the Holy Spirit, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

What took place less than twenty fours after Jesus prayed the prayer of John 17? When was he glorified?

Well, He was not glorified at John 17. That much is clear. Just because He said "And now" does not mean immediate change. He also said, a few verses later:

"And now I am no longer in the world..." 17:11

when He clearly was still in the world.

Without exactly pinpointing when He became High Priest I would say He was already when the cloud hid Him from the sight of the upward-gazing disciples in Acts 1. As I suggested in my OP that seems to link to actions of the High Priest in the Old Testament.

 

[percho]

Well, He was not glorified at John 17. That much is clear. Just because He said "And now" does not mean immediate change. He also said, a few verses later:

"And now I am no longer in the world..." 17:11

when He clearly was still in the world.

Without exactly pinpointing when He became High Priest I would say He was already when the cloud hid Him from the sight of the upward-gazing disciples in Acts 1. As I suggested in my OP that seems to link to actions of the High Priest in the Old Testament.

I like above and believe after three days, the moment he was;
because also Christ once for sin did suffer -- righteous for unrighteous -- that he might lead us to God, having been put to death indeed, in the flesh, and having been made alive in the spirit,

He was glorified and made chief priest.

And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest, Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life. For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

Compare to;

so also the Christ did not glorify himself to become chief priest, but He who spake unto him: 'My Son thou art, I to-day have begotten thee;' as also in another place He saith, 'Thou art a priest -- to the age, according to the order of Melchisedek;'

who in the days of his flesh both prayers and supplications unto Him who was able to save him from death -- with strong crying and tears -- having offered up, and having been heard in respect to that which he feared, through being a Son, did learn by the things which he suffered -- the obedience, ---------- unto death even the death of the cross.

and having been made perfect, he did become to all those obeying him a cause of salvation age-during, having been addressed by God a chief priest, according to the order of Melchisedek,