What The Heck Is A Priest?

Big Idea: God’s presence and power are breaking into this world. People have always been a vital part of God’s plan.

The resurrection that we celebrated last week marked a transformation of all creation from one epoch to another.

Many, many things were transformed when Christ defeated death and made way for the life of the kingdom, eternal life, resurrected life.

There is one piece that we so often overlook that shows up again and again throughout the new testament and I think will shed light on what it means to be Jesus People:

something mysterious happened when Jesus actually died:

Matthew 27:50–53 NLT

Then Jesus shouted out again, and he released his spirit. At that moment the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, rocks split apart, and tombs opened. The bodies of many godly men and women who had died were raised from the dead. They left the cemetery after Jesus’ resurrection, went into the holy city of Jerusalem, and appeared to many people.

What is this and why does it matter:

What is the temple? Consecrated (holy) place, one purpose: Holy Place Where God himself could reside with his people.

Center to the life of Israel.

2nd temple built but never under independent Israel. (vassal Kingdoms after exile)

Deeply limited: high priest, one day a year, only if people and place were holy according to OT law

The curtain was a permeable dividing line

God is breaking out, holiness (forgiveness) washes over people and creates new holy places, The earthquake might have done it, judgment on cultic system,

we are going to talk alot about the temple and why it exists this series because we have to understand it to get

Direct conflict between Jesus and the Temple

Temple was absolutely corrupted

The Sanhedrin was run by lawyers (priests were just laborers)

Jerusalem was rich because it had the temple (repository of wealth)

Abused the Exiles

Jesus was a prophetic actor, brought to Jerusalem like a pure spotless lamb to bring life to the family of God and the priests themselves sacrifice Jesus through their political means.

Earlier in Matt 27 it is the priests themselves preparing Jesus as a sacrifice by accusing him before Pilate.

THere is a ton going on in the passion narrative, but I want to hone in on the temple because it is very important.

THe temple symbolizes the presence of God in the world and the power of God: It is a house and a castle

Holy of Holies is a throneroom meant to mirror the heavenly throneroom of God....like a portal from this world to the next world:

Stargate portals. looks just like where God came from.

The Garden started with God’s presence ubiquitous with humanity. No veil, no curtain all access.

Sin means we must be hidden from God’s presence. He holds back his presence to save us from the soul-crushing shame we would experience to be with God physically when we are not consecrated.

But from the beginning, there have been people who are deeply connected with God.

Pure of heart,

Spiritually Sensitive,

Quiet, good listeners,

silence and solitude.

All of creation has always had access to God, and God has been working to break in, but it requires that we be the kind of people who can commune with him.

Why are some people good at this and others aren’t?

Lets look at the first priest?

Abraham and Melchizedek Gen 14:17-20

Genesis 14:17–20 NLT

After Abram returned from his victory over Kedorlaomer and all his allies, the king of Sodom went out to meet him in the valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley). And Melchizedek, the king of Salem and a priest of God Most High, brought Abram some bread and wine. Melchizedek blessed Abram with this blessing: “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. And blessed be God Most High, who has defeated your enemies for you.” Then Abram gave Melchizedek a tenth of all the goods he had recovered.

Who is this Melchizedek and where does he come from?

King: Salem-Jerusalem (geography of ancient religions)

Priest of El ELyon: personal name for God (Most High, King of Kings)

Natural Theology----From Noah, all the way back to the Garden. They started with the same knowledge and we are supposed to see the differences between the righteous king of Salem vs the wicked kings of Sodom.

God will show up wherever there is consecrated space: Mtn Tops (high places), Ebenezers, people’s hearts

And this is still true. God’s nature has never changed....but the spiritual landscaped changed on that day Jesus died.

1 Peter 2:4–12 NLT

You are coming to Christ, who is the living cornerstone of God’s temple. He was rejected by people, but he was chosen by God for great honor. And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. What’s more, you are his holy priests. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God. As the Scriptures say, “I am placing a cornerstone in Jerusalem, chosen for great honor, and anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.” Yes, you who trust him recognize the honor God has given him. But for those who reject him, “The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.” And, “He is the stone that makes people stumble, the rock that makes them fall.” They stumble because they do not obey God’s word, and so they meet the fate that was planned for them. But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. “Once you had no identity as a people; now you are God’s people. Once you received no mercy; now you have received God’s mercy.” Dear friends, I warn you as “temporary residents and foreigners” to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls. Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world.

We together are his new temple (after 70AD)

Jesus destroyed this temple and rebuilt it in 3 days: His Body (people)

We are being built and growing like a temple together....

Holy Priests: mediators (consecrated places with consecrated people=kingdom breaking in)

The plan was to create a people who would all bring God’s presence into the world.

Through His Mercy. Not our good works

Exiles bring God’s presence by consecrating their lives as living sacrifices.

Clergy/Laity divide

Invitation to change how you see yourself, how you see us.

consecrated (set apart for good works)

-not for us, for the world

How do our good works bring GOd’s presence:

-not about sinlessness but righteousness:

-See our good works and praise our father in heaven

--people experience God’s love and provision through our presence

-Fruit of the spirit

-Like our Rabbi Jesus, we sacrifice our lives so others might see God and walk with him

-It is like a virus....light breeds light

-We have a sacred role as a people: Look and live different so the world might experience God.

-Fruit of the spirit

Do you see your identity as a priest?

Do you imagine GOd’s presence coming with you?

-Like our Rabbi Jesus, we sacrifice our lives so others might see God and walk with him

What areas of your life need to be removed so the temple is not tarnished?

-It is like a virus....light breeds light

What areas do we need to repent as a body?

-We have a sacred role as a people: Look and live different so the world might experience God.

This is the challenge: take our work seriously. There are no levites and no temple but you,

Do you see your identity as a priest?

Do you imagine GOd’s presence coming with you?

What areas of your life need to be removed so the temple is not tarnished?

What areas do we need to repent as a body?