Christ the Permanent Priest

Election years remind us of the fleeting tenure of all leaders.

Psalm 24:3–6 ESV

Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? And who shall stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully. He will receive blessing from the Lord and righteousness from the God of his salvation. Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek the face of the God of Jacob. Selah

The response to that need was a priest.

Problem #1: Priests Weren’t Always Good People

3–11 AD - Annas b. Seth

Antiquities 20.9.2 But as for the high priest, Annas he increased in glory every day, and this to a great degree, and had obtained the favor and esteem of the citizens in a signal manner; for he was a great hoarder up of money: ... he also had servants who were very wicked, who joined themselves to the boldest sort of the people, and went to the thrashing-floors, and took away the tithes that belonged to the priests by violence, and did not refrain from beating such as would not give these tithes to them.

Problem #2: Even If You Found a Good Priest, They Didn’t Last

Wars of the Jews 4.9.8 [They] cast lots which of it should be the high priest. … It fell upon one whose name was Phannias … a man not only unworthy of the high priesthood, but that did not well know what the high priesthood was ... yet did they hail this man, without his own consent … they also put upon him the sacred garments, and upon every occasion instructed him what he was to do. This horrid piece of wickedness was sport and pastime with them, but occasioned the other priests, who at a distance saw their law made a jest of, to shed tears, and sorely lament the dissolution of such a sacred dignity.

Phannias is the last high priest in Jerusalem.

Psalm 24:3 ESV

Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? And who shall stand in his holy place?

Hebrews 7:21–22 ESV

but this one was made a priest with an oath by the one who said to him: “The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, ‘You are a priest forever.’ ” This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant.

Jesus came to accomplish what no other priest ever had.

Hebrews 7:23–25 ESV

The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.

Jesus never needs a successor.

Hebrews 7:26 ESV

For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.

Jesus never engaged in human politics and infighting.

Hebrews 7:27 ESV

He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself.

Jesus offered the last sacrifice we would ever need.

Hebrews 7:28 ESV

For the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever.

Are you still fretting over your next leader?