Preparation for the Perfect PriesthoodWhat does the Bible teach concerning the office of the Priest? Does it teach that there are hereditary requirements for eligibility to serve as Priest? According to the Bible, who are the priests of our day? Do the Scriptures indicate that God had designed a higher order of the priestly office to provide perfect satisfaction to Himself and for mankind? Listen in as Pastor: Landis teaches a compelling message based on our current study from the Gospel of Mark titled: “Preparation for the Perfect Priesthood”
Old Testament Scripture Reading: Numbers 18:1 – 7 (NASB)
Num 18:1 So the LORD said to Aaron, “You and your sons and your father’s household with you shall bear the guilt in connection with the sanctuary; and you and your sons with you shall bear the guilt in connection with your priesthood.
Num 18:2 “But bring with you also your brothers, the tribe of Levi, the tribe of your father, that they may be joined with you and serve you, while you and your sons with you are before the tent of the testimony.
Num 18:3 “And they shall thus attend to your obligation and the obligation of all the tent, but they shall not come near to the furnishings of the sanctuary and the altar, lest both they and you die.
Num 18:4 “And they shall be joined with you and attend to the obligations of the tent of meeting, for all the service of the tent; but an outsider may not come near you.
Num 18:5 “So you shall attend to the obligations of the sanctuary and the obligations of the altar, that there may no longer be wrath on the sons of Israel.
Num 18:6 “And behold, I Myself have taken your fellow Levites from among the sons of Israel; they are a gift to you, dedicated to the LORD, to perform the service for the tent of meeting.
Num 18:7 “But you and your sons with you shall attend to your priesthood for everything concerning the altar and inside the veil, and you are to perform service. I am giving you the priesthood as a bestowed service, but the outsider who comes near shall be put to death.”
New Testament Scripture Reading: Mark 1:8 – 15 (KJV)
Mark 1:8 I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost. Mark 1:9 And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan. Mark 1:10 And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him: Mark 1:11 And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Mark 1:12 And immediately the Spirit driveth him into the wilderness. Mark 1:13 And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him. Mark 1:14 Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, Mark 1:15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
Transforming Power Statements:
#1) In one sense it could be said that the entire earthly ministry of Messiah {which endured for approximately 3 ½ years} was the performance of a high and heavenly perfect priesthood with Jesus Himself being the Mediator between sinful man and God.
#2) The summary of the offices of the Christ have been stated as consisting primarily of these three: 1) Prophet, 2) Priest, & 3) King.
#3) The Melchisedec Priesthood was in the Scriptures for centuries being somewhat cloaked with nearly as much mystery as the doctrine of Messiah Himself, making it a most interesting twist to find it’s resolve in the same person; Jesus The Christ, who also fulfills the prophecies of the son of David, who is the Son of man, who is the Son of God.
