From the old to the new

John the Baptist had impressive credentials for his work here on earth: he was born of the line of Aaron the High Priest, his father was an active priest ministering in the Temple, and he was the only priest ever whose birth was announced by an angel in the Temple itself. Many years in the desert equipped him for his important task. His ministry included leading the people to be cleansed of their sins by having them repent and then baptised in the Jordan – this is the most important function of a High Priest. We can then say that John was a better and purer representation of the Levitical priesthood than the High Priest Caiaphas and his priests were at the time – they were totally corrupt and even plotting the murder of their Messiah.

Jesus brought us into a new covenant relationship with God through His death and resurrection. We know that it is a better covenant than the old one – Heb 8:6 Now, however, Jesus has received a much more excellent ministry, just as the covenant He mediates is better and is founded on better promises.

But when a covenant changes, there must also be a change in priesthoods. The new covenant therefore means a new priesthood, replacing the old Levitical one.

It is highly significant then that Jesus urged John the Baptist to baptise Him in the Jordan. Jesus, as our High Priest (Heb 4:14 So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, …), facing John the Baptist in his High Priestly function, representing the two priesthoods of the two covenants. As John baptised Jesus, he was in reality ending the functionality and right of existence of the old covenant priesthood and handing the reigns over to Jesus, and the new priesthood of the new covenant begins. Two significant happenings pointed to the transition from the old to the new: Caiaphas tore his clothes, thereby stripping himself of his authority and funtion as High Priest, and the veil in the Temple tore in half, opening the sanctuary of God to all who believe.

 The new priesthood started operating at His resurrection. Jesus now makes us, (believers in Him from all nations and tribes), the priests of this priesthood, as we read in 1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of the One having called you out of darkness into His marvelous light  We now function as kings and priests (royal priesthood) in His Kingdom. As kings, we have the authority to act in His name, as priests, we have the duty to reconcile people to God and minister to their spiritual and physical needs. We as believers in Jesus have even greater credentials for this role than John the Baptist had for his priestly role – we are children of God, born in His image, completely equipped for the task by Holy Spirit! And this is what Jesus meant when He said that even the least in the Kingdom will be greater and better equipped than John the Baptist.

Points to ponder:

How do we ‘proclaim the excellencies’ of Jesus as His kings and priests? By our decrees. If we make a proclamation according to the Word, the following happens: the Holy Spirit moves; angels are summoned; spiritual opposition is destroyed; the promises of the Word are made manifest. His prophecies come about, His kingdom expands, miracles happen, and darkness flees! Take your place today – the world needs the continuation of the ministry of Jesus!