“pastor mike, pastor mike…” – three

i find it interesting that jesus is referred to as the high priest. speaking of jesus, the author of the book of hebrews says:

Such a high priest meets our need–one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens.  Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself.  For the law appoints as high priests men who are weak; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever.The point of what we are saying is this: We do have such a high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven,  and who serves in the sanctuary, the true tabernacle set up by the Lord, not by man.  Hebrews 7:26-8:2

the primary role of the priest was to mediate the relationship between people and god.  they were “go-betweens”. they made it possible for sinful mortals to approach a holy god.  they brokered forgiveness through a sacrificial system.  jesus put an end to that system by being the final sacrifice.  by offering himself, he became the great, once-for-all, high priest.

but was there still a need for priests…say, maybe low priests?  no doubt about it.  but it was nothing like what they expected.

#pastor #priests