| Author | Message | ||
| Sabra (Sabra) |
In my witness to my Catholic friend, I discovered something I thought would refute his need for a priest. Didn't get a response but I did get some interesting little nuggets from the scriptures.  Just thought I'd share and maybe get some of you posting on SOMETHING! teehee I have been reading through the Old Testament and am currently finishing up with the book of Leviticus and there is a LOT of information there regarding the priests. Knowing that this has some significance or it wouldn't be there I've taken an interest in the specific commands given to the priests and reasons for them. I discovered a few interesting points. Hebrews 7,8 &9 explain fully that Jesus is our High Priest and He takes the place of our earthly priests. Interesting enough He fulfilled the commands of the earthly priest. Now considering the transfer of the earthly priesthood to Jesus. Ceiaphis was the current High Priest at the time of Jesus' death. Notice in Leviticus 21:10 The High Priest is not to tear his clothes yet in Matthew 26:65 The high priest tore his clothes. However, when the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his garments and divided them among themselves and said among themselves, "let's not tear it, but cast lots for it" ( John 19:24) To fulfill the prophecy in Psalms 22:18 This rending of the high priest Caiaphis' clothes nullified his priesthood and at this time Christ became our High Priest. God confirms that the priesthood was transferred at this time by rending the veil in the temple in two. (Luke 24:45) | ||
| Colleentinker (Colleentinker) |
Sabra, this is interesting. When we studied Hebrews I was really overwhelmed to see how every single detail in the Mosaic covenant pointed to some aspect of Jesus' ministry. I hadn't thought about the robe-tearing before. I also think it's interesting that Jesus is a new order of priest, not in the order of Aaron but of Melchizedek. He did not descend from Levi but from Judah, the royal tribe instead of the priestly tribe. And, as Hebrews 7:12 says, "For when there is a change of the priesthood, there must also be a change of the law." Interesting, isn't it? Also, David was the king that also "overlapped" with the priesthood. When he conquered the city of Jerusalem from the Jebusites, he set up his capitol there. He became the king of Jerusalem, and he also established Jerusalem as the religious capital of Israel when he brought the ark and established it there. David also assumed some of the roles of the Levites by arranging some of the temple worship procedures. He functioned in both the royal and the priestly roles. He was linked to Melchizedek by being both king and priest in Jerusalem (formerly Salem, the city where Melchizedek was from), and he foreshadowed Jesus in the same way. It's really overwhelming to me to see how God was in the circumstances of Israel long before there was an Israel, and to see how God foreshadowed Jesus and his ministry through the living metaphor of Israel and her kings, particularly David. None of Israel's ceremony or history was random. Everything pointed toward Jesus. It's amazing! Colleen | ||
| Sabra (Sabra) |
Thanks for all of that! Guess I could learn more from "studying" from teachers than my own study, but I don't know anyone who want to dig into this stuff with me. Our church has lots of different studies going on but they are like "experiencing God" (which I would like to take) and different things like that, don't know of any in-depth studies. Most of the time I'm over my own head, ;) Thanks so much for your insight! Blessings to you! Sabra | ||
| Colleentinker (Colleentinker) |
Sabra, God really does help us understand when we study the Bible. Our Hebrews studies, by the way, are on this website under studies. But everything there came from studying and praying for God to reveal the truths about himself that He wanted us to know. He is really faithful--and His word is alive! Colleen | ||
| Colleentinker (Colleentinker) |
This might not be quite the right thread, but it's relatedÖ I have the verse John 8:31-32 on my classroom window this year. (I have a whole wall with windows facing into the hallwayóI can't imagine what some contractor was thinking to put windows from a classroom into a hallway!) Every year I pick a verse, and Richard designs a series of posters based on the verse to cover those windows to prevent distractions. At any rate, I alaways talk about the verse of the year with my students during the first week of school. The verse this year reads like this: "To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, 'If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will seet you free.' ì I'd like to ask the same questions here that I asked my students. I'm really eager to see/hear your remarks and insights! 1. What are Jesus's teachings to which we must hold? 2. How do we hold them? 3. What is the truth we will know? Colleen | ||
| Jerry (Jerry) |
1. To love God and each other. 2. In our hearts. 3. Jesus died for us and we are saved. How much more loved could we be? Isn't it GREAT! Everything else we should do or not do comes from these principles. If you make it the other way around, (Do, do not do, then you might be loved if you did it just right) you have not started with God's love. How's that? Jerry | ||
| Sabra (Sabra) |
1. What are Jesus's teachings to which we must hold? 2. How do we hold them? 3. What is the truth we will know? Jesus said, 'If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will seet you free.' ì NKJV says: "If you abide in My Word, you are my disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free." Abiding in the Work is so important, it is the primary source we have to know Jesus. 1. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind body and soul, and your neighbor like yourself. 2. By seeking God and desiring to be like Him. 3. That Jesus is the Son of the living God, that He was born, died and was raised from the dead and is seated at the right hand of the Father. That no one comes to the Father except through Him. | ||
| Doug222 (Doug222) |
1. What are Jesus's teachings to which we must hold? 2. How do we hold them? 3. What is the truth we will know? 1. I am hopelessly trapped in a world of complete and utter darkness. Even the things I think bring me life, joy, and happiness, end in death. 2. By surrendering my right to be the Captain of my own life. 3. God loved me so much that he made a way out of darkness through his son. Jesus is the light of the world. Not only does He release me from the condemnation of my past, but He is also the wellspring of life! His yoke is easy, his burdens are light, and they lead to life like I have never experienced before--eternal life. | ||
| Colleentinker (Colleentinker) |
Isn't it wonderful?! I talked to my students about abiding in the Holy Spirit, that when we accept Jesus and are sealed by the Holy Spirit, we are connected to God directly. Our decisions and reactions become His personal concern. It's no longer a matter of my willing myself to get the victory. It's a matter of surrendering each mometn to Him. It was interesting to watch their reactions; they were really quiet, and many of them looked like they had never heard about the Holy Spirit that way before. My principal quoted Billy Graham as saying 95% of Christians do no understand the role of the Holy Spirit in a Christ-follwer's life. I'm convinced he's right. It's such a liberating thing for me to understand that God himself takes responsibility for me, and he will discipline me and teach me, and I don't have to struggle with myself by myself. And, as Oswald Chambers says, our struggle on this side of the new birth is not with sin; it is with the flesh. We are new creatures! We are spiritually alive, and we are eternally secure. I am so grateful! Colleen |
