By the New Testament period, the position of priests in the nation of Israel had changed considerably. The Temple functions were taken over by the chief priests. The chief priests were the holders of the priestly offices of higher rank in the Temple and along with the high priest, were leaders in the Sanhedrin. That they had administrative authority in the Temple. Ranks and file priests were also overshadowed by the Scribes and Pharisees, two special groups that arose to present the Law and interpret its meaning for the people. But in spite of the diminished role of priests, Jesus respected the office and called upon the priests to witness His healing of lepers in keeping with the Law of Moses.
A leper came to him and pleaded on his knees: "If you want to" he said, "you can cure me." Feeling sorry for him. Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him. "Of course I want to!" he said. "Be cured!" And the leprosy left him at once and he was cured. Jesus immediately sent him away and sternly ordered him, 'Mind you say nothing to anyone, but go and show yourself to the priest, and make offering for your healing prescribed by Moses as evidence of your recovery.' - Mark - 1:40-44 -
Above all, the high priest and his fellow priests were threatened by the presence of Jesus in His Father's house, for they had changed it from a "house of prayer for all nations" to a place of merchandise, a "den of thieves."
So he reached Jerusalem and he went into the Temple and began driving out those who were selling and buying there; he upset the tables of the money changers and the chairs of those who were selling pigeons. Nor would he allow anyone to carry anything through the Temple. And he taught them and said, "Does not scripture say: My house will be called a house of prayer for all the peoples? But you have turned it into a robbers' den." This came to the ears of the chief priests and the scribes, and they tried to find some way of doing away with him. - Mark 11:15-18 - Matt. 21:12-14 - Luke 19:45-48 - John 2:13-17 -
The New Testament's most important references to the high priest are found profoundly in the Epistle to the Hebrews, referring to Jesus. Qualifying Himself to be a merciful and faithful high priest by becoming a man of the seed of Abraham , Jesus is sympathetic with our weaknesses. He did not assume the office for power or glory, and not of the order of Aaron, but of Melchizedek. - Heb. 5:10 - He had no need, as the sons of Aaron, to offer sacrifices for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people; Jesus Christ had no sin. - Heb. 7:27-28 -
They offered animal blood that could never take sin away, - Heb. 10:1-4 - Jesus Christ offered His own blood, once for all. - Heb. 9:26, 10:10-12 - They were many priests and they died, but Jesus is an eternal priesthood because He lives for ever. - Heb. 7:23-25 - Their priesthood was performed in an earthly model of the real sanctuary. Jesus Christ performs His ministry in heaven itself, and He is seated at the right of God. - Heb. 4:14, 8:5, 9:11, 10:12 -
What is more, this was not done without the taking of an oath. The others indeed, were made priests without any oath; but he with an oath sworn by the one who declared to him: The Lord has sworn an oath which he will never retract: you are a priest, and for ever! And it follows that it is a greater covenant for which Jesus has become our guarantee. Then there used to be a great number of those priests because death put an end to each one of them: but this one, because he remains for ever, can never lose his priesthood. It follows, then, that his power to save is utterly certain, since he is living for ever to intercede for all who come to God through him.
To suit us, the ideal high priest would have to be holy, innocent and uncontaminated, beyond the influence of sinners, and raised up above the heavens; one who would not need to offer sacrifices everyday, as the other high priests do for their own sins and then for those of the people, because he has done this once and for all by offering himself. The Law appoints priests who are men subject to weakness; but the promise on oath, which came after the Law, appointed the Son who is made perfect for ever. - Heb. 7:20-28 -
The office of priest was fulfilled in Jesus Christ. The Son of God became a man - Heb. 2:9-14 - so that He might offer Himself as sacrifice "once to bear the sins of many." Hence, there is no longer a need for priests to offer sacrifice to atone for man's sin. A permanent sacrifice has been made by Jesus Christ through His death on the Cross.
Instead of that, he has made his appearance once and for all, now at the end of the last age, to do away with sin by sacrificing himself. Since men only die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ, too, offers himself only once to take the faults of many on himself, and when he appears a second time, it will not be to deal with sin but to reward with salvation those who are waiting for him. - Heb. 9:27-28 -
Priesthood and holiness were meant to be inseparable. But the sinful nature of the priests allow corruption to enter the God-ordained office. However, the priesthood to which the nation of Israel was called at Mount Sinai continues today in the Church.
So they reached Jerusalem and Jesus went into the Temple and began driving out those who were selling and buying there; he upsets the tables of the money changers and the chairs of those who were selling pigeons. Nor would he allow anyone to carry anything through the Temple. And Jesus taught then and said, 'Does not scripture say: My house will be called a house of prayer for all the peoples? But you have turned it into a robbers' den.' This came to the ears of the chief priests and the scribes, and they tried to find way of doing away with him. - Mark 11:15-18 - Matt. 21:12-13; Luke 19:45-46 -
So before the Jewish Passover Jesus went up to Jerusalem, and in the Temple he found people selling cattle and sheep and pigeons, and the money changers sitting at their counters there. Making a whip out of some cord, he drove them all out of the Temple, cattle and sheep as well, scattered the money changers' coins, knocked their tables over and said to the pigeon-sellers, 'Take all this out of here and stop turning mt Father's house into a market.'
Then his disciples remembered the words of scripture: Zeal for your house will devour me. The Jews intervened and said, 'What sign can you show us to justify what you have done? Jesus answered, 'Destroy this sanctuary, and in three days I will raise it up.' The Jews replied, 'It has taken forty-six years to build this sanctuary: are you going to raise it up in three days?' But he was speaking of the sanctuary that was his body, and when Jesus rose from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the scripture and the words he had said. - John 2:13-22 -
When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi he put this question to his disciples, 'Who do people say the Son of Man is?' And they said, 'Some say he is John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.' 'But you', he said 'who do you say I am?' Then Simon Peter spoke up, 'You are the Christ,' he said 'the Son of the living God.' Jesus replied, 'Simon son of Jonah, you are a happy man! Because it was not flesh and blood that revealed this to you but my Father in heaven. So I now say to you: You are Peter and on this rock I will build my Church. And the gates of the underworld can never hold out against it. - Matt. 16:13-18 -
And as they were eating Jesus took some bread, and when he had said the blessing he broke it and gave it to them. 'Take it' he said 'this is my body.' Then he took a cup, and when he had returned thanks he gave it to them, and all drank from it, and he said to them, 'This is my blood, the blood of the covenant, which is to be poured out for many. I tell you solemnly, I shall not drink anymore wine until the day I drink the new wine in the kingdom of God.' - Mark 14:22-25 - Matt. 26:26-29; Luke 22:19-20; John 6:51-58; 1Cor. 11:23-27 -
These remained faithful to the teaching of the apostles, to the brotherhood, to the breaking of bread and to the prayers. - Acts 2:42 -
Saint Peter, Simon is the most prominent of the Lord Jesus Christ twelve apostles. He was a pioneer among the twelve apostles and the early Church, breaking ground that the Church would later follow. According to the early tradition, Peter went to Rome, where he died. In the New Testament, Rome referred to as 'Babylon' - 1Pet. 5:13 - This early and generally reliable tradition supports the pioneer role played by Saint Peter throughout his life and ministry.
Saint Peter Simon was the first pope of Rome, and also the first God's ordained priest of the Universal Church because the New Testament emphasize Peter's prominent role in the founding of the Church. - Matt. 16:18 -
Page 2
If you wish to donate. Thank You. God bless.
By bank transfer/cheque deposit:
Name: Alex Chan Kok Wah
Bank: Public Bank Berhad account no: 4076577113
Country: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Sunday, May 24, 2009
I have through years of reading, pondering, reflecting and contemplating, the 3 things that last; FAITH . HOPE . LOVE and I would like to made available my sharing from the many thinkers, authors, scholars and theologians whose ideas and thoughts I have borrowed. God be with them always. Amen!
I STILL HAVE MANY THINGS TO SAY TO YOU BUT THEY WOULD BE TOO MUCH FOR YOU NOW. BUT WHEN THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH COMES, HE WILL LEAD YOU TO THE COMPLETE TRUTH, SINCE HE WILL NOT BE SPEAKING AS FROM HIMSELF, BUT WILL SAY ONLY WHAT HE HAS LEARNT; AND HE WILL TELL YOU OF THE THINGS TO COME.
HE WILL GLORIFY ME, SINCE ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. EVERYTHING THE FATHER HAS IS MINE; THAT IS WHY I SAID: ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. - JOHN 16:12-15 -
No comments:
Post a Comment