Beloved, the Bible makes it clear that Jesus’ High Priesthood is not according to the order of the Levitical priesthood, but according to the order of Melchizedek. Thus, it is important to know the differences between Jesus’ perfect High Priesthood and the “imperfect” Levitical priesthood. Under the Old Covenant, priests came from the tribe of Levi, and the first high priest in that order of priests was Aaron, whom God Himself appointed. (see Exodus 28:1-3). These high priests were sinful men who had to offer animal sacrifices, first for their own sins and then for the people’s. They themselves had to be covered by the blood sacrifices before they could intercede on behalf of the people, for they were imperfect. Besides the daily sacrifices offered by the priests, year after year, on the Day of Atonement, the high priest had to offer sacrifices. These sacrifices were only good for covering the sins of the nation for a year. It was a temporal solution, for it is not possible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. (see Hebrews 10:4). These Levitical high priests were not just imperfect with regards to their own sinful nature and the imperfect sacrifices they offered, but also by the fact that they were prevented by death from continuing in office. (see Hebrews 7:23). Their sacrifices also couldn't make anyone perfect. (see Hebrews 7:11). And so, to fix this problem, God Himself became a Man in the Person of Jesus Christ (see John 1:1-5, 14; 1 Timothy 3:16) to become our great High Priest forever (see Hebrews 4:14) and offer Himself as the sacrifice for our sins, to put away sin once for all. (see Hebrews 9:12, 26). He had to be made "fully human in every way, in order that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make propitiation for the sins of the people.” (see Hebrews 2:17). He had to become a Man also because "every high priest is selected from among the people." (see Hebrews 5:1). However, Jesus' High Priesthood is after the order of Melchizedek (see Hebrews 5:1-10), which is a perfect and eternal priesthood. It is not after the order of Aaron (or the Levitical priesthood), which was temporary and imperfect.
Levitical priests inherited their office by law and only held the position temporarily until death, but God swore to make Jesus our High Priest forever. (see Hebrews 5:5-6). Since Jesus wasn't a Levi, His Priesthood required a change in the law. (see Hebrews 7:18-22). Jesus became a priest by oath sworn by God Himself declaring Him a Priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. And because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantor of a New and better Covenant (see Hebrews 7:22). Since the Old Covenant (of law) was tied to the sacrifices made by the Levitical high priest, the people's fate was linked to the acceptability or right standing of the high priest before God. Hence the high priest had to secure good standing before God through sacrifices for his own sins before he could offer sacrifices for the people to also be in good standing before God. And since the high priest’s standing before God was never stable because of his sinful nature, the people's standing before God was never stable either. So God changed the priesthood of the Old Covenant and replaced it with the perfect and better priesthood of Jesus Christ, confirming with an oath to make His priesthood permanent and everlasting so that our right standing before God will also be permanent and everlasting. Today we can be at ease because our High Priest is God's own sinless Son, in whom He is well pleased (see Matthew 17:5). We can be certain of God's acceptance and blessings in our life. No wonder Paul says in Ephesians 1:6 that we are accepted in the Beloved. We cannot lose our right standing before God because Jesus is our eternal High Priest. Jesus' priesthood is after the order of Melchizedek, which is a priesthood of righteousness and peace. Hence, Jesus came to make peace between God and man and to establish us in righteousness through faith (see Romans 5:1, with 2 Corinthians 5:21; Romans 3:22; Isaiah 54:14; Isaiah 53:11). For those of us who believe in Him, Jesus is our righteousness forever (see 1 Corinthians 1:30, with Daniel 9:24)), and thus blessings are perpetually on our head, because the Bible says blessings are on the head of the righteous (see Proverbs 10:6). We are blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus (see Ephesians 1:3). Hallelujah!
Jesus has a permanent priesthood, and is able to save completely those who come to God through Him because He always lives to intercede for them (see Hebrews 7:23-25). Also, since Jesus our High Priest is sinless and perfect in every way (see Hebrews 7:26-28), He offered His own blood once for all for our eternal redemption. He did not need to sacrifice the blood of goats and bulls. He is the One John the Baptist introduced twice as the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world (see John 1:29; John 1:36). He Himself became our perfect sacrifice, entering the Most Holy Place once for all with His own blood; and God has accepted His sacrifice as sufficient in itself for our ETERNAL redemption (see Hebrews 9:11-12). This means that we were not redeemed for just a year or until our next sin; we were redeemed for eternity. The Bible says that Jesus, having been perfected, became “the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him.” (see Hebrews 5:9). So we can be secure in His salvation. We have also been made holy forever through Jesus' sacrifice (see Hebrews 10:10). We have been made perfect. (see Hebrews 10:14). Jesus our High Priest has done what the Levitical priests couldn't do. The Levitical priests could never make anyone perfect (see Hebrews 7:19; Hebrews 10:1); they could never sit down because their work was never done, and their sacrifices could never take away sins (see Hebrews 10:11). But when Jesus our great High Priest "had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, He SAT DOWN at the right hand of God." (see Hebrews 10:12, emphasis mine). To me, this is by far the most distinguishing characteristic affirming the superiority of our great High Priest Jesus Christ's priesthood to that of the Levitical priesthood. He is sitting down. Just reflect on that picture for a minute. And be reminded that the Levitical priests never sat down because their work was never finished. They just kept offering more and more sacrifices because the sacrifices they offered were only good for the time until they committed the next sin. So they kept at it, going on and on, never sitting down. There wasn't even a single chair in the Tabernacle or Temple for them to sit down, because it would be unnecessary since their job was never done. The only seat there was the Mercy Seat of God in the Holy of Holies, which no one dared sit on. No priest ever sat down. But Jesus offered one perfect sacrifice, and sat down, because the work was finished. Did I hear you say, "Amen!?" Jesus accomplished what the entire Levitical system could never accomplish: He sat down. "For by one sacrifice He has made perfect forever those who are being made holy." (Hebrews 10:14 NIV). And this one sacrifice was the sacrifice of Himself. Jesus did it all. As far as our salvation is concerned, the work is finished, and Jesus is sitting down. You have to believe it so that you can also sit down with Him and rest with Him. The Bible says that “we who have believed do enter that rest.” (see Hebrews 4:3). There is nothing to add to the salvation Jesus has purchased for us. "For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His." (Hebrews 4:10 NKJV). All of us who claim to believe in Jesus as our Savior must also cease from our own works; we must cease from working FOR our salvation. Salvation has been given to us by grace, and it is to be accepted (or received) by faith. (see Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 10:9-10). Through Jesus' one perfect sacrifice, God has reconciled us to Himself and made peace with us forever (see Colossians 1:19-20; 2 Corinthians 5:18-19; Romans 5:1), so that now we can come boldly and with confidence to the throne of grace (which is the throne of God) whenever we like, without fear or trepidation (see Ephesians 3:12; Hebrews 4:16). ALL our sins – past, present and future – are forgiven. (see Colossians 2:13). “All” means ALL. Jesus’ one time sacrifice took ALL of our sins away. All our sins are forgiven or remitted once we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. “And where these (sins) have been forgiven, sacrifice for sin is no longer necessary." (Hebrews 10:18 NIV, brackets mine). Thanks to our great High Priest Jesus Christ, today we no longer need an endless line of priests who aren't perfect, offering sacrifices that aren't sufficient, in a sanctuary that isn't permanent. "For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with human hands that was only a copy of the true one; He entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence. Nor did He enter heaven to offer Himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own. Otherwise Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But He has appeared ONCE FOR ALL at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of Himself. Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed ONCE TO TAKE AWAY THE SINS OF MANY; and He will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but TO BRING SALVATION to those who are waiting for Him." (Hebrews 9:24-28 NIV, emphasis mine). Hallelujah! This is the good news we are all commanded to preach to the world.
Today God doesn't want us to approach Him through anyone else but Jesus our great High Priest. "For there is one God and one Mediator between God and mankind, the Man Christ Jesus." (1 Timothy 2:5 NIV). When we believe in Him and depend on Jesus Christ as our High Priest, He brings us to the Father. Jesus Himself said, "my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and BELIEVES in Him shall HAVE eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.” (see John 6:40 NIV). This is our hope in the New Covenant. "Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest of our confession." (Hebrews 3:1 NASB). “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.” (Hebrews 10:23 NASB). “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16 NKJV). The throne of grace is the new Holy of Holies. For the Old Creation man, it was a throne of judgment which they approached in fear. But for us the New Creation men, it is a throne of grace which we approach boldly in faith and with confidence. Jesus said that as we come boldly to the throne of grace with our needs, the Father will give us whatever we ask in His name. (see John 16:23-24). “Therefore, brethren, having boldness to ENTER the Holiest BY THE BLOOD OF JESUS, by a NEW AND LIVING WAY which He consecrated for us, THROUGH THE VEIL, that is, His FLESH, and having a High Priest over the house of God, LET US DRAW NEAR with a true heart in full assurance of FAITH, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.” (Hebrews 10:19-22 NKJV, emphasis mine). Amen!
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