Priests in Christ
3 min read
5 “You are to be responsible for the care of the sanctuary and the altar, so that my wrath will not fall on the Israelites again. 6 I myself have selected your fellow Levites from among the Israelites as a gift to you, dedicated to the LORD to do the work at the tent of meeting. 7 But only you and your sons may serve as priests in connection with everything at the altar and inside the curtain. I am giving you the service of the priesthood as a gift. Anyone else who comes near the sanctuary is to be put to death.”
Numbers 18:5-7
The Levites, and the priesthood in particular, held the lives of the Israelites in their hands. If they did not properly conduct themselves for the atonement of sins, then people could literally die. What an incredibly heavy burden to carry for any man.
But Jesus came and became obedient unto death to offer atonement for all sins for all people across all time—an atonement given by grace and received through faith. And by His obedience, Christ ascended to the heavenly sanctuary to serve as our Great High Priest forever. He took upon Himself the burden that no person can carry.
And yet, because Jesus took that burden upon Himself, in Christ, we participate with Him as a “royal priesthood” (1 Peter 2:9) … “as a gift” together with Him through faith. That gift is for all believers.
In Christ, we can offer the atonement of sins to anyone who would believe in Him. What an incredible gift. And none of the burden!
Father, Your holiness is beyond our comprehension. And yet, You have revealed the fullness of Yourself to us in Christ Jesus. What a great mystery it is that we are united with Him and united with You in all Your glory and holiness. Help me, and help us, to not take that gift lightly but to share it freely and with joy. In Jesus’s name. Amen.
