CHAPTER 8
CHAPTER 8
We have considered in detail the work appointed for Aaron and his sons, as priests to Jehovah; we have now an account of the manner of setting them apart for that office. They are first washed with water, this signifying the sanctification by the word. In this the high priest is identified with his sons; even as Jesus says, “For their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. Thy word is truth”; set apart, as man in glory, as the model of what we ought to be in holiness; and again, “By the words of thy lips have I kept me from the paths of the destroyer.” And when speaking of the church the language is, He “gave himself for it, that he might sanctify and cleanse it by the washing of water by the word.”
This being done, the high priest alone is clothed in his robes and anointed; he needed not blood to admit him into the service of God. He was the representative of One whom God could receive and own as “his servant, his elect, in whom his soul delighted.” Thus after His baptism we find the Spirit descends as a dove upon Jesus, and a voice comes from heaven, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” He needed no offering for Himself, but stood as the anointed of God without shedding of blood. Afterwards Aaron identifies himself with his sons, when sacrifices are brought to be offered for them: thus we see Jesus in one person, as it were, with us, entering the holy place by His own blood, that we might be made His fellows, that we might be qualified to worship with Him. This enabled Him to say, “I ascend unto my Father and your Father, unto my God and your God.” And afterwards we find that blessed association with the saints which made Him say, “In the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.” He is not ashamed to call them brethren.
[p. 240] We are thus marvelously introduced into the presence of God and the Father to worship in the holiest. “Truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.” But the high priesthood of Jesus is essentially connected with our introduction into the holiest of all and our worship there. The name indeed of Father carries us farther as partakers of the Holy Ghost and life in Christ; we have fellowship with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.
The burnt-offering and sin-offering are offered, and also the ram of consecration; all the various aspects of the work of Christ, in the value of which we come to God, are presented to us in connection with the priest’s consecration to God.
In the case of the leper’s cleansing (Leviticus 14) there is an analogy in the application of the blood of the sacrifice: only here it is consecration, there cleansing from sin; and further in the leper’s case the application was individual, but here the whole church is presented. Aaron and his sons fin their hands with the offerings, and they are waved for a wave-offering before the Lord.
They are qualified by the sacrifice, and priestly service becomes their privilege. The ear and right hand are sprinkled with blood, the great toe also, that nothing should enter into the mind, no act be performed, nothing should be found in their walk through the world, which should not be according to the precious blood of Jesus.
The church stands thus under the efficacy of the whole work of Christ. All that hindered from entering into the place of worship and service is done away; competency to exercise ministry depends upon our walking in the Spirit; but provision for this has been accomplished once for all, and we cannot escape from this responsibility — a responsibility measured and guarded by the holiness of Christ’s bloodshedding — entire death to sin and the world.
[p. 241] Let us remember, that whatever is unfit for us in entering the holy place, unfit for us as ministering priests, as worshippers in the sanctuary, must be put away. It is the privileged position of the church to be introduced to all the blessings of the resurrection and ascension of Jesus. If we are made anything, we are made priests unto God; as a body we are looked at according to the estimate God has of the sacrifice of His dear Son.
There is no renewal of the consecration; the priests were only to wash their hands and feet, that they might carry no defilement into the sanctuary from day to day; so we have need only to have our feet washed . Let us be careful thus continually to cleanse ourselves from any practical unfitness that may defile us in our intercourse daily with an evil world. Jesus has begun the new song of praise, and puts the same into our mouths, as sprinkled with His blood, anointed with His Spirit, and feeding continually upon Him in the presence Of the living God. Consider how far you have realized this as your standing, and be careful to cast away all that defiles you as a priest set apart for such a service. This is something far beyond walking half in the world and half with God, questioning whether even you do believe or not. Be assured, God would have you brought out of this miserable uncertainty. He would have you identified with the sanctuary, entering into all the fulness of joy that results from intimacy of fellowship and service with Jesus. Kings and priests unto God, not only blood but anointing oil was upon Aaron and his sons, and his sons’ garments. All within and without is consecrated. He “loveth us and hath washed us in his own blood, and made us kings and priests unto God and his Father: to him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”