Dearly Beloved in Christ,

Our English word "priest" translates two very different functions: 1) the Old Testament sacrificing priesthood of the Levites, and the sacrificing High Priests in the line of Aaron ("hiereus" and "archiereus" in the Greek,) and 2) the Christian priest or elder ("presbuteros" in the Greek.) 

There are few places in the New Testament where the sacrificing priesthood/priests are mentioned: 1 Peter 2:5, 9; Revelation 1:6, 5:10, 20:6 and in the Letter to the Hebrews.  In the latter the references are to Jesus as the ultimate great High Priest, who is both sacrificing high priest and sacrifice.  The High Priest who enters once and for all into the Holy of Holies through the tent of his body with the sacrifice which is himself - the lamb without blemish. 

With Christ's ultimate fleshly sacrifice the function of the sacrificing priesthood ends.  Except that both Peter and John make reference to the royal and holy sacrificing priesthood of the Christian community - a kingdom of priests.  If we, corporately, are a sacrificing priesthood what are the sacrifices we are to offer? "You yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 2:4-5.)  "I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship." (Romans 12:1)

Our sacrifice is to give up ourselves, to surrender ourselves completely to God through Jesus Christ, to truly make him the Lord of our lives, and to offer the spiritual sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving.  This, however, is not our only function as a sacrificing priesthood: "you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light." (1 Peter 2:9)  We are to proclaim the one who proclaims himself to be the only way to the Father: "I am the way, and the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6)

May we enter joyfully into our corporate ministry as a holy and royal priesthood in surrendering ourselves to him, in giving thanks and praise to him, and by proclaiming "the mighty acts of him who called us out of darkness into his marvelous light."
   

In His Peace, Grace, and Love,
Rev'd Sarah+

 

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Safe Travel: Joan Dawson, Ann Britt, Jim and Jane Louttit, and Pat, Sarah, Katarina and George Bronos