Gospels Part 043
In the last lesson we covered that “Christ” means anointed, the same as the Hebrew word Messiah. We also covered that one of purposes for anointing was to dedicate something or someone to God. Jesus’ entire life was an example of complete and total dedication to God’s will. Today we’ll look at another use of anointing and how it applies to Jesus Christ.
Selected for the Priesthood
After the dedication and consecration of the tabernacle in the wilderness, God instructed Moses to carry out another anointing.
"Bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance to the tent of meeting and wash them with water. Then dress Aaron in the sacred garments, anoint him and consecrate him so he may serve me as priest. Bring his sons and dress them in tunics. Anoint them just as you anointed their father, so they may serve me as priests . . ." (Exodus 40:12-15, New International Version).
We see from this example that anointing was used to set individuals apart to serve as priests to God.
What is the role of a priest? What did a priest do? It is difficult for us to comprehend because that system of priesthood and temple worship was crushed during the Roman destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70. Although alive and flourishing in Jesus’ day, it is a foreign concept to many of us today, lost in the mists of long ago.
In its simplest terms, a priest’s function was to serve as an intermediary between God and man. Under that system of temple worship, mankind had no direct access to God. Members of the priesthood served as God’s representatives to Israel. By performing sacrifices, they interceded with God on behalf of the people.
How does this apply to Jesus Christ? We are told that “we have a great High Priest . . . Jesus the Son of God" (Hebrews 4:14).
Our perfect High Priest
The book of Hebrews explains how Jesus Christ is the perfect High Priest. We are told He can “empathize with our weaknesses,” because He was “tempted in every way, just as we are—yet He did not sin.” (Hebrews 4:15, NIV). Jesus Christ lived as a physical human being and knows what we go through in this life. He also knows that we are weak and how we need God’s mercy and help. In addition to this, Jesus Christ is submissively obedient and has been made perfect (Hebrews 5:8-9).
Unlike human priests who grow old and die, He will never need to be replaced in that office; “because Jesus lives forever, He has a permanent priesthood” (Hebrews 7:24, NIV). Jesus Christ continues the intercessory work of the physical temple priesthood.
“Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.” (Hebrews 7:25, NIV).
He will always be there to save those who come to God, forever.
"Such a high priest truly meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens" (Hebrews 7:26 NIV).
We read that physical sacrifices are unnecessary because,
"Unlike the other high priests, He does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for His own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when He offered Himself" (Hebrews 7:27, NIV).
Through His function as High Priest, Jesus Christ purifies us through His sacrifice:
“. . . The blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse[s] our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!” (Hebrews 9:14, NIV).
What is the result of this? Having been cleansed of our sins, we can now be reconciled to God and come before Him confidently.
"Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus . . . let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful" (Hebrews 10:19-23, NIV).
This paints a wonderful picture of Christ’s sacrifice and function as High Priest and how He allows us to be reconciled to God. It shows us that Christ has removed the barrier of sin between man and God and brought us together again, making us one with God. We can come boldly to God’s throne, full of faith and confidence that we are forgiven and pure in His sight.
© Scott Ashley, 2025. All rights reserved.
Course Content
Scott Ashley
Scott Ashley was managing editor of Beyond Today magazine, United Church of God booklets and its printed Bible Study Course until his retirement in 2023. He also pastored three congregations in Colorado for 10 years from 2011-2021. He and his wife, Connie, live near Denver, Colorado.
Mr. Ashley attended Ambassador College in Big Sandy, Texas, graduating in 1976 with a theology major and minors in journalism and speech. It was there that he first became interested in publishing, an industry in which he worked for 50 years.
During his career, he has worked for several publishing companies in various capacities. He was employed by the United Church of God from 1995-2023, overseeing the planning, writing, editing, reviewing and production of Beyond Today magazine, several dozen booklets/study guides and a Bible study course covering major biblical teachings. His special interests are the Bible, archaeology, biblical culture, history and the Middle East.
