Priests
As protestants we don’t often talk about the role of priests. While it is true that ecclesiastically we no longer employ a priesthood, we do talk about Jesus fulfilling the role of the great high priest. And we do subscribe to the priesthood of all believers. But what do we mean by that?
On one level, when we talk about the priesthood of all believers we mean that we all have the opportunity to enter, by means of Jesus finished work, the holy place of God through prayer. We do not need another human to intercede for us. We also mean that each of us plays a role in bearing the burdens of our fellow believers. Spiritually caring for each other is not relegated to the professional clergy. But it also means that we have a responsibility to those in the “outer courts” to proclaim the excellencies of him who called us out of darkness into his marvelous light (cf. 1 Peter 2:9). Like the OT priest we bear the names of the nations near our hearts as we intercede before the Lord. I look forward to diving into the priesthood a little deeper with you this Sunday as we come to Exodus 28, 29!
Photo by Ismael Paramo on Unsplash