Holy Priesthood

Jesus became a priest not according to the law of a commandment, but by the power of an indestructible life.1 

John receives a message and he is told to write what he sees and to send it to the seven churches. The seven Churches are lamps, lights to the world. Here the Spirit speaks to the churches, they need to be refined by Christ. "I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent."5 Gold is often referred to in the testing of our faith, and the testing of his Church.6 "But he knows the way that I take; when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold."7 Out of testing, or refining, will come the true people of God.8 Jesus sits as a refiner and purifier of silver; "he will purify the priests and refine them like gold and silver. Then He will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness."9

The lamp stand in the sanctuary of God was fashioned as a tree, with seven branches going out from the trunk and each of these branches had cups that held a lamp, made like a cup (calyx) of almond tree blossoms.7 Almond trees were the first to blossom and bear fruit each season. Jesus was the "first fruit", the seed of a new creation, heirs to the promise. He was the first to die and be raised into eternal life.8 He became the high priest of the people of God. Aaron had been chosen as God's High Priest under the Mosaic covenant.8 God identified Aaron as being chosen by having each leader of the tribe place a rod with their name on it into the Ark of the covenant, Aaron’s rod, representing the tribe of Levi, had budded and was blossoming, and had ripe almonds hanging from it.9 Aaron and his sons, were given the priesthood, for the priesthood is your special gift of service.10 

The lamp stand was to be placed in the first section of the tabernacle, called the Holy Place. The lamps on the stand were to be tended by Aaron and his sons, to give light, day and night.11 It shall be a statute for ever unto their generations on the behalf of the children of Israel. It was symbolic of Israel being a light unto the nations, its light was to never go out. But this was a “shadow of things to come” that pointed to Jesus. Christ became the light of the world.12. He became the Righteous Branch, the true light, which gives light to every man that comes into the world.14 and the only way by which one can come to the Father.15 God's temple is now within us, we are to be a shining light unto the world, we like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.16

If perfection were attainable through the old, it would have continued through the order of Aaron, it did not, so a change in priesthood brings about a change in the Law. The people had received the Law under the Levitical priesthood. Jesus was descended from the tribe of Judah, who had never served at the altar.11 He became a priest on the order of Melchizedek, whom Levi himself paid a tenth part through Abraham, so to speak, who paid a tenth part to Melchizedek, without dispute the inferior is blessed by the superior.

Jesus became a priest not according to the law of a commandment, but by the power of an indestructible life.12 This word for indestructible (from kata and luó, "to loosen down" , "bring down exactly, complete") Yes, Jesus came down from heaven to loosen, to complete, he became our High Priest by the power of his life, he was the only man to live righteously in the flesh, who condemned sin in the flesh.

Jesus would be a high priest to the age, of the new covenant. The former commandment was set aside, as it was without strength and unprofitable.14 Indeed, the Law perfected nothing, but it introduced a better hope by which we draw near to God.15 By oath, Jesus holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever, he reaches out to the uttermost, interceding for all who draw near to God. There is never a need for another priest nor need for another sacrifice as he did this once and for all, he became the lamb of God. Fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.16

In the midst of the lamp stand, the seven Churches, is the Son of Man, he is clothed to the feet and girded with a golden sash. His hair white and his eyes like flaming fire, the feet like metal, yellow like frankincense as in a furnace refined, and the voice of him like the voice of many waters. Holding in his right hand seven stars and out of his mouth proceeds his word, a sharp two-edged sword going forth, and the face of him is like the sun shining in full strength. 

Jesus stands among the branches, the seven churches, he is the head of His Church, which are his people, a “light of the world”20 The churches of Christ are to walk in the light, "if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin."21 Jesus prayed to the Father, that we would have this unity, because by it others would know we are from the Father.22 "We are to let our light shine before men so that they might see our good works and glorify our Father in Heaven."22  

We are to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. What are these sacrifices? Even in the old it was about our hearts. For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.25 Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?24 In sacrifice and offering you have not delighted, but you have given me an open ear. Burnt offering and sin offering you have not required.26  For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.27  “

Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.28 We are to die to our flesh and live in Him. Present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.29  His greatest commandments are of love. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.30 To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.31 I will offer to you the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the Lord.32 Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.33

His Church is to be a city on a hill, His people, a holy priesthood, "we like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood"  And he will be the light for the city of God. and the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it, and its gates will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there.34 Jesus, the Lamb of God came for this purpose, a light to all nations, by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.35