Main Idea: Jesus is our great high priest who makes His followers a kingdom of priests to represent Him to the world.
Role of a Priest: Priests represent to the people and the to God
1. God’s priests dress to God’s glory and beauty – Exodus 28:1-43
. . . For glory and beauty. (28:2)
The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed his glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14
When I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and among the lampstands was one like the Son of Man, dressed in a robe and with a golden sash wrapped around his chest. Revelation 1:12-13
For those of you who were baptized into Christ have been clothed with Christ. Galatians 3:27
2. God’s priests dress to their identity – Exodus 29:1-35
. . . For consecrating him to serve God as priest. (28:3)
Four Ways God’s Priests Are Set Apart:
Now many have become Levitical priests, since they are prevented by death from remaining in office. But because he remains forever, he holds his priesthood permanently. Therefore, he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, since he always lives to intercede for them. For this is the kind of high priest we need: holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. He doesn’t need to offer sacrifices every day, as high priests do—first for their own sins, then for those of the people. He did this once for all time when he offered himself. For the law appoints as high priests men who are weak, but the promise of the oath, which came after the law, appoints a Son, who has been perfected forever. Hebrews 7:23-28
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 1 Peter 2:9
But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and don’t make plans to gratify the desires of the flesh. Romans 13:14
Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and dearly loved, put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a grievance against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you are also to forgive. Above all, put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. Colossians 3:12-14
3. God’s priests dress to themselves to serve – Exodus 29:36-46
. . . So that they may serve me as priests. (28:4)
As the Priests Serve:
Then I saw heaven opened, and there was a white horse. Its rider is called Faithful and True, and he judges and makes war with injustice. His eyes were like a fiery flame, and many crowns were on his head. He had a name written that no one knows except himself. He wore a robe dipped in blood, and his name is called the Word of God. Revelation 19:11-13
Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have boldness to enter the sanctuary through the blood of Jesus— he has inaugurated for us a new and living way through the curtain (that is, through his flesh)— and since we have a great high priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed in pure water. Let us hold on to the confession of our hope without wavering, since he who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to provoke love and good works, not neglecting to gather together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day approaching. Hebrews 10:19-25