Our High Priest
Were you aware that the New Covenant is a better covenant and one of the main reasons for it is due to who our High Priest is now?
Hebrews 7:11 Therefore, if perfection were through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need was there that another priest should rise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be called according to the order of Aaron? 12 For the priesthood being changed, of necessity there is also a change of the law. 13 For He of whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no man has officiated at the altar. 14 For it is evident that our Lord arose from Judah, of which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood. 15 And it is yet far more evident if, in the likeness of Melchizedek, there arises another priest 16 who has come, not according to the law of a fleshly commandment, but according to the power of an endless life. 17 For He testifies: “You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.” 18 For on the one hand there is an annulling of the former commandment because of its weakness and unprofitableness, 19 for the law made nothing perfect; on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God. 20 And inasmuch as He was not made priest without an oath 21 (for they have become priests without an oath, but He with an oath by Him who said to Him: “The LORD has sworn and will not relent, ‘You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek’ ”), 22 by so much more Jesus has become a surety of a better covenant.
Aaron, Moses’ brother, was the first priest of the Old Covenant. He died and was buried. So it was with every priest that followed after him. That was called the Leviticus priesthood because Aaron was of the tribe of Levi. That is the change being talked about in the passage. Jesus was of the tribe of Judah. Jesus died and was raised again to life eternal. He will never die again. His priesthood is forever.
Hebrews 7:23 Also there were many priests, because they were prevented by death from continuing. 24 But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. 25 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. 26 For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens; 27 who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people’s, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself. 28 For the law appoints as high priests men who have weakness, but the word of the oath, which came after the law, appoints the Son who has been perfected forever.
Jesus is not merely a continuance of the Levitical priesthood under the Law. He is a complete replacement priesthood of a New Covenant. He is the Mediator of a better covenant with better promises! There will never be another covenant or another priest of the covenant. Jesus has the final say, His is the final ministry and His promises are sure and He offers a sure hope to those who truly put their trust in Him. Jesus is not an earthly priesthood overseeing shadows and types He is the heavenly priesthood who went in once for all time to in the real holy place of heaven and sprinkled His own blood on the real mercy seat in heaven and then sat down at the right hand of the majesty on high! He does not need to keep offering sacrifices year after year. His being seated at the right of the Majesty is a testament to the fact that His sacrifice was more than enough and His blood more than sufficient. All praise and honor and glory be to Jesus the Lamb who was slain and the High Priest of our confession who now not only our Savior but our Lord!
