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by Kevin Pauley
Long ago God spoke to the fathers by the prophets at different times and in different ways. In these last days, He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things and through whom He made the universe. He is the radiance of His glory, the exact expression of His nature, and He sustains all things by His powerful word. After making purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high. – Hebrews 1:1-3 HCSB
Thousands of years ago, God told Moses to set aside his brother, Aaron, to be the first appointed kohen.[1] In fact, he was the first Kohen Gidol, or High Priest. Receiving this title did not automatically make him a tzaddik, for Aaron acquiesced to the people’s desire to worship false gods.[2] Two of his sons (who were also appointed as kohen) were killed outright by Adonai for ministering in the tabernacle while under the influence of alcohol![3]
Generation after generation passed until we come to the time of the Messiah when Annas and Caiaphas were both considered to be the High Priests.[4] They both acted against the law by arresting someone at night, using false witnesses, beating and torturing in order to gain a false confession and killing an innocent man.
We are told that after the death burial and resurrection of Yeshua ben Adonai, there is now no more “Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free”[5] nor even “male or female.”[6] Equality reigns in a kingdom where the leaders consider themselves the slaves of all.[7] Now it is possible for all of Yeshua’s disciples, the tzaddikim, to be royal priests.[8]
I don’t know about you, but I’m not a particularly great priest either. I often sin. I lack faith. I have at times had to go back to my people and say, “You know what I taught you years ago? Well, I’ve discovered that I was wrong. Please forgive me.”
Fortunately, though we are all kohen, we have one perfect[9]El Gadol Gibor Yare[10]. For a person like me who has a great respect for the contributions made by our Jewish predecessors, it is important to keep in mind that this Kohen Gidol is superior to Moses.[11] In an age when people are fascinated by the occult and by angels, it is important to note that our Kohen Gidol surpasses all angels.[12] Kohen Gidol – Jesus Christ the Son of
Anything we bring to the altar will be tainted by our own sinfulness and our tendency toward foolish pride.[13] Yeshua, however, offered the perfect sacrifice – His own sinless blood. Then the Bible tells us that He sat down.[14] It was done, finished, completed. Nothing else was required.
This is not to say that we should not continue to work at being better kohen[15][1] Exodus 28-29 and Leviticus 8-9
[2] Exodus 32; Deuteronomy 9:7-21; Acts 7:40-41
[3] Leviticus 10:1-2; Numbers 3:4; 26:61
[7] Matthew 18:1-4; 19:30; 20:25-28; 23:11-12; John 13:5,12-17
, but we can rest in the knowledge that our perfect Kohen Gidol is there for us.Kevin Pauley is a pastor and writer. He lives in Illinois with his wife, Lynn, their five children and two dogs. His internet address is Berea.
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