Who is the greatest religious leader in the world today? In Ancient Israel they would have answered, “The High Priest.” Ever after Aaron, the high priests were the spiritual leaders of Israel. Some of them were great. Some of them were not so great. Regardless, they were responsible for the spiritual life of Israel. At Camp Tallowood, we have sometimes reenacted the worship of the people in the Tabernacle and the Temple. I have been privileged to inhabit that symbolic role, taking on the attire and the story of the High Priest. What would it be like to have a priest to offer you absolution when you sin? Wouldn’t it be great sometimes for someone to say, the sacrifice has been made, and you are forgiven?
Jesus is greater than the prophets, greater than the angels, greater than Moses. Jesus is greater than Aaron and all the High Priests. How? The writer of Hebrews knows his Old Testament well. He recalls the story of Abraham, patriarch of Israel making an offering to a non-Israelite priest named Melchizedek. What is his point? If Abraham made an offering to Melchizedek, then the priest must be greater than Abraham and his family. Otherwise why would he give him an offering. Melchizedek is the King of Salem in the Old Testament, and is mysterious to us. We don’t know where he came from or where he went, but he was greater than Abraham.
Jesus is the priest like Melchizedek. Unstained by sin, separated from sinners, exalted at the right hand of God, he does not have to make a daily offering like the Old Testament priests did. Why? He made one sacrifice which serves once and for all. And what sacrifice did Jesus offer? Himself. He gave himself on the cross for us so that once and for all we might be forgiven. This is why we do not need to sacrifice animals on an altar. Our Passover Lamb, Jesus Christ has already been slain, once and for all. As the hymn put it, “Once and for all oh brother and sister believe it. Once and for all, oh sinner receive it. Free from the law and free from the fall, Christ has redeemed us once and for all.” Today hear his voice and do not harden your hearts: “I sacrificed my life for you. You are forgiven. Believe it.”
