Notes on the ministry of High Priest

 Notes on the High Priest                                                                             November 10, 2024

 

Three main parts of HP job description:

1. Redeeming power of HP death (Number 35:28)

2. Anointment of a king (1 King 1:38-46)

3. Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16)

  

Let’s go in reversed order [chiastic structure :)]

3. Day of Atonement

Any priest could serve a sacrifice – Ascension (Lev. 1), Tribute (Lev. 2), Peace (Lev. 3) or sin offering (Lev. 4)

Only High Priest could do a rite of Day of Atonement – two parts: (1) sacrifice for the “clergy” and then (2) sacrifice for the whole congregation of Israel. That’s where the phrase “scape goat” comes from.

No wonder that John 17 is called High Priestly prayer of Jesus: (1) He prays for His disciples, (2) He prays for people that would join the Church as a result of their ministry.

 

2. Anointment of a king

Who was the first king of Israel? Who anointed him?

Who anointed Solomon? Zadok – high priest of the day, come and listen to Hendel’s Messiah in December to PAC.

How is it reflected in the ministry of Jesus?

His kingly status was “certified” by the Jordan river baptism made by John the Baptizer – Samuel-type figure of the New Testament times.

His high priestly status comes under “rubric” of Melchizedek (Heb. 5:5-6).

Did Jesus – as the High Priest – anointed anybody to the kingship? (cp. Acts 2 and 1 Pet. 2:9)

 

1. Redeeming power of High Priest’ death (Number 35:28)

Cities of refuge – 10 cities where people who made an unintended murder can hide from “vengeance”

Death of a High Priest redeems them – they can go back to their normal life. So do we… in Christ, the High Priest Who died to set us free.