Channels, Spring 2018

Channels • 2018 • Volume 2 • Number 2 Page 7 priesthood, having been raised to life after his atoning sacrifice, he is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Furthermore, Hebrews 7:26 describes Jesus’ as “such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.” Because Christ’s priesthood was perfect and established by God, “[Jesus] is able to save completely those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.” 26 Through Christ’s self-sacrifice, atonement is given once and for all. He is able to continually mediate before God by the perfection of his priestly office on behalf of his people in the heavenly tabernacle. Thus, the author of Hebrews “sees in the mysterious figure of Melchizedek a foreshadowing of a priesthood higher than that of Aaron, and fulfilled in Jesus.” 27 The book of Hebrews uses the “two words, ‘shadow and likeness,’” 28 to contrast the types of priesthood, the priesthood of Aaron and Melchizedek. The priesthood of Aaron was merely a shadow 29 through mediation on behalf of the people while the priesthood of Melchizedek was the likeness 30 of Christ’s priestly mediation due to his holiness and eternality as priest of God Most High. Mediation of the Priesthood One of the priest’s primary roles was to mediate between God and the people. Under the Mosaic covenant, the law required purity and cleanliness from sin by the high priest in order for atonement to be made through the mediating of sacrifices on behalf of the people. The flaws of this covenant displayed the necessity of a new covenant that could bring atonement through a perfect sacrifice mediated by a perfect eternal priest. In the Mosaic covenant, the sacrificial system was the means by which this mediation was accomplished. On the Day of Atonement, there was a specific way by which the high priest would come into the Holy Place. It was necessary for the high priest to offer sacrifices first to atone for himself, then for the sin of the people. “Aaron shall offer a bull as a sin offering for himself and shall make atonement for himself and his house,” 31 and, similarly, offered on behalf of the people and objects of the tabernacle. “Once people and objects had been cleansed from impurity by the rite of atonement, they could safely come into God’s 26 Hebrews 7:25 27 P. Ellingworth, “Priests”, New Dictionary of Biblical Theology (Downers Grove: IVP, 2000) p. 700 28 L.D. Hurst, “Priest, High Priest” Dictionary of the Later New Testament and Its Developments (Downers Grove: IVP, 1997) p. 964 29 Hebrews 8:5, 10:1 30 Hebrews 7:15 31 Leviticus 16:6