Daily Devotions
John
The High Priesthood of Jesus
Text: John 1:19-24 (Cf. Hebrews 3-10)
THE HIGH PRIESTHOOD OF JESUS
The Book of Hebrews highlights the ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ as High Priest after the order of Melchizedek. Out of thirteen chapters, eight of them were devoted to expounding the theological significance of Jesus as the Great High priest. For our purposes, we need only to note that Jesus’ baptism was NOT because He had any sins to confess, but that at His baptism, He was anointed into the office of the High Priest according to the order of Melchizedek. Let us consider the puzzling phrase, “the order of Melchizedek”.
The author of Hebrews first broached the subject of Jesus as High Priest with these words,
“Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling,
Consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession,
Christ Jesus…”
Hebrews 3:1
Who was Melchizedek? Why was Jesus associated with him? The answers to these questions are to be found in the Old Testament Scriptures. The Book of Hebrews commented upon a passage in Genesis 14 where Abraham met a king and priest called Melchizedek. The author wrote,
“For this Melchizedek, king of Salem,
priest of the most High God, who met Abraham
returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him,
to whom Abraham gave a tenth part of all…Now consider how great this man (Melchizedek) was,
To whom even the patriarch Abraham gave a tenth of the spoils…Therefore, if perfection were through the Levitical priesthood…
What further need was there that another priest should rise
According to the order of Melchizedek…
For the priesthood being changed, of necessity there is also
A change of the law…”
Hebrews 7:1-2, 4, 11-12
The author of Hebrews explained that the Levitical Priesthood was imperfect. God meant to end that priesthood. He had planned to commence a new priesthood, with Jesus as the great High Priest.
There were therefore two orders of the priesthood to consider. There was the Levitical Priesthood. Then there was the order of Melchizedek. This was so named in honour of the mysterious Melchizedek who was both a king and a priest in the days of Abraham.
Melchizedek was a historical figure. He was a real person who lived in the days of Abraham. He was a type of Christ, prefiguring the kind of ministry that Jesus would one day fulfill. Just as Melchizedek was greater than Abraham, so the Melchizedek order of the priesthood was greater than that of the Levitical order.
“BEHOLD, THE LAMB OF GOD…” John 1:29, 36
After John baptized Jesus, he began to preach even more specifically about Him. Let us consider what he preached concerning Jesus.
“Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away
the sin of the world!”
John 1:29
John had come for a very specific purpose. He came to bear witness concerning Jesus. He had already testified concerning His greatness. He went on to add that Jesus was more than just a great Person. He was also the Lamb of God. What did John mean?
1. The Idea of a Lamb dates back to the Old Testament
The idea of a Lamb conjures up a number of images. Was John merely describing the nature of Jesus? Was he speaking about His gentle nature? John wanted to do more than describe the nature of Jesus.
John wanted the multitudes to see beyond the physical person. Jesus was more than just a preacher. He was going to preach and teach powerfully, but there was more to Jesus than that! John preached a powerful message that day. In proclaiming Jesus to be the Lamb of God who was able to take away the sin of the world, John was already testifying to the work that Jesus had come to do.
There were many “popular ideas” concerning the Messiah. Many imagined that He would come as a Deliverer and as a King. However, not very many people knew or believed that Jesus had come to deliver people from their sins, by being the Lamb of God.
In the Old Testament sacrificial system, lambs were offered as an offering or sacrifice to God. Imagine how John must have preached about Jesus as the Lamb of God!
2. The Prophecy concerning the Suffering Messiah
One special prophecy from Isaiah comes to mind, when we think about the idea of Jesus as the Lamb of God.
“He was led as a lamb to the slaughter,
and as a sheep before its shearers is silent,
So He opened not His mouth.”
Isaiah 53:7
John knew that Jesus had come for a special reason. He had come to save His people. However, it would cost Him His life. He would be the sacrificial Lamb of God.