A ROYAL PRIESTHOOD


But you [are] a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

- First Peter 2:9


Sometimes we simply take for granted how very blessed we are. According to Peter, we are the Lord’s special people. The Apostle Paul tells us that we are “a new creation.1 ” He also tells us that we have “a treasure in jars of clay 2 ” (the jars of clay are our bodies).


  1. The Lord prescribed a procedure to Moses for the ordaining of priests 3: The first step was the washing of the candidate.

  2. Then the candidate was given sacred garments.

  3. Next, the candidate was anointed with oil.

  4. The father of the priest candidate then stated that the candidate was, in fact, his son.This last step is according to Jewish tradition



When Jesus was baptized by John, He completed the first step of priestly ordination. We also know that He had a special garment of brilliant white as seen on the Mount of Transfiguration. The anointing oil represents the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit came upon Jesus in the form of a dove. Lastly, God the Father confirmed that Jesus was His Son 4. Jesus became not only a priest, but our High Priest, and the ritual given to Moses was completely fulfilled.


Some scholars believe that John the Baptist was immersing in the Jordan River near Jericho. In fact, they think it is the same spot where the Children of Israel crossed the Jordan under the leadership of Joshua. (Joshua is a variation of Jeshua, which in Greek is Jesus.) In the account of the Crossing of the Jordan, the waters of the river were rolled back to a town called Adam 5. Jesus, our High Priest, rolled our sins all the way back to Adam.


When a person becomes a Christian, they also follow the procedure of priestly ordination:



  1. Christians are washed in the Blood of Jesus 6 when we are immersed.

  2. Christians are given robes of white 7.

  3. Christians have received the anointing of the Holy Spirit 8.

  4. Declaration of Father 9.



The priests of Israel were privileged, frequently wealthy, and well provided for by their position. We Christians are not only priests, we are a Royal Priesthood because we are children of the King of the Universe. We have many special privileges, including the ability to appear before His Throne of Grace. We have wealth in Glory that is beyond counting, and the Lord provides for us exceedingly well. Praise His name, always.


Endnotes:

1 - Second Corinthians 5:17

2 - Second Corinthians 4:7

3 - Exodus 40:12-16

4 - Luke 3:22

5 - Joshua 3:16

6 - The Revelation 1:5

7 - The Revelation 19:8

8 - Acts 2:38

9 - John 1:12



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