Since we have been looking at the foreshadowing of Jesus in the Old Testament I have found that the more you explore, the deeper you can go on this subject. God’s grace in giving His people a picture of what was to come is immeasurable! I think this is why skeptics and others have no choice but to conjure up claims against the veracity of the Scriptures because they cannot explain the depths of not only its historical reliability, but the theological implications as well.
This week we will look at how the role of the Priest, particularly the High Priest, foreshadowed Jesus. Reading from Exodus chapter 28 and on through Leviticus one might tend to gloss over the details concerning the role of the Priests and the description of the Priestly Garments. Taking a closer look however, we find some things that directly foreshadow, or picture, the things that Jesus would do.
The author of the New Testament book of Hebrews refers to Jesus as our “High Priest” fifteen times. Jesus eliminated the division of Priesthood by fulfilling that final role and making the ultimate sacrifice on behalf of all people. By His death and resurrection He fulfilled the Law, putting an end to its practice, and thus bringing about a change in the Priesthood from the Aaronic order to the order of Melchizedek:
For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham as he was returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, to whom also Abraham apportioned a tenth part of all the spoils, was first of all, by the translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then also king of Salem, which is king of peace. Without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, he remains a priest perpetually. Now observe how great this man was to whom Abraham, the patriarch, gave a tenth of the choicest spoils. And those indeed of the sons of Levi who receive the priest’s office have commandment in the Law to collect a tenth from the people, that is, from their brethren, although these are descended from Abraham. But the one whose genealogy is not traced from them collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed the one who had the promises. But without any dispute the lesser is blessed by the greater. In this case mortal men receive tithes, but in that case one receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives on. And, so to speak, through Abraham even Levi, who received tithes, paid tithes, for he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him. Now if perfection was through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the people received the Law), what further need was there for another priest to arise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be designated according to the order of Aaron? For when the priesthood is changed, of necessity there takes place a change of law also. For the one concerning whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no one has officiated at the altar. For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, a tribe with reference to which Moses spoke nothing concerning priests. And this is clearer still, if another priest arises according to the likeness of Melchizedek, who has become such not on the basis of a law of physical requirement, but according to the power of an indestructible life. For it is attested of Him,
*“You are a priest forever
According to the order of Melchizedek.”
(*The author of Hebrews quotes this from the prophecy in Psalm 110:4)
For, on the one hand, there is a setting aside of a former commandment because of its weakness and uselessness (for the Law made nothing perfect), and on the other hand there is a bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God. And inasmuch as it was not without an oath (for they indeed became priests without an oath, but He with an oath through the One who said to Him, “The Lord has sworn and will not change His mind, ‘You are a priest forever’”); so much the more also Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant. The former priests, on the one hand, existed in greater numbers because they were prevented by death from continuing, but Jesus, on the other hand, because He continues forever, holds His priesthood permanently. Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. For it was fitting for us to have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens; who does not need daily, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people, because this He did once for all when He offered up Himself. For the Law appoints men as high priests who are weak, but the word of the oath, which came after the Law, appoints a Son, made perfect forever. Hebrews 7:1-28 (NASB)
Continue on by reading Hebrews Chapter 8 as it shows how Jesus is also the High Priest of a New Covenant. The New Covenant is the fulfillment of the original Promise made by God immediately after the Fall (Genesis 3:15). This promise unfolded throughout the Old Testament in the Abrahamic, Mosaic, and Davidic Covenants all of which point to Jesus’ final fulfillment of the promised New Covenant (see Jeremiah 31:31-34).
In addition to His fulfillment as High Priest, there are some interesting pictures of Jesus in the Priestly Garments. Specific directions for these garments are found in Exodus 28 and Leviticus 8 with details that picture things that Jesus, the Messiah, would do. One of the main purposes of the Priestly Garments was to make the Priest stand out by setting them apart for service to the LORD.
The Priestly Garments were to be beautifully ordained so that they represented the glory of the LORD. In John 1:14 we are told: “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.” Jesus came to show us the glory of the LORD (not the full glory, but again a picture of what we will see in Heaven).
The Priestly Garments were an expression of the Tabernacle. The Tabernacle’s purpose was to house the presence of God. The Priestly Garments were representing on the outside what the Tabernacle looked like on the inside.
Just as the Hight Priest would take the blood of sacrifice into the Holy Place on the Day of Atonement, so Christ enters the presence of God on our behalf by His own blood. He is our Atonement:
But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation; and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? Hebrews 9:11-14 (NASB)
Going Deeper:
Watch this teaching by Pastor Mike Winger on “How the Priestly Garments Represent Jesus.”
In addition, I highly recommend the book by book teachings by Pastor Stephen Armstrong at Verse by Verse Ministries as he specifically delves deep into the foreshadowing of Jesus in the Old Testament, including the eschatology: Verse by Verse Ministries
Conclusion:
God has made so much available to us through His Word, it is on us to read and study it. We wouldn’t really understand Jesus’ life, ministry, death, and resurrection if we didn’t know the Old Testament’s pictures, for example: Passover, the Exodus, the Law, the role of the Priest, and people who foreshadow Him like Isaac, Joseph, Moses, Joshua and many others. We won’t really understand the future, and our place in it, if we don’t study the Bible in its entirety because much of what is to come is foreshadowed in the Old Testament too!
Bible Study Review:
- What are some ways we see the role of the High Priest foreshadowing Jesus?
- What are are some things that the Priestly Garment represents? (from video segment by Pastor Winger)
- How has knowing the fact that Jesus is foreshadowed throughout the Old Testament changed your view of reading and studying the Old Testament?
- Extra-Credit: Where in the Old Testament have you seen the foreshadowing of future (apocalyptic) events? If you’re new to Bible study keep an eye out for this as you study through the Old Testament.
Join us next week as we continue our “Case for the Old Testament.”
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Teri Dugan
TeriDugan@truthfaithandreason.com
1 Peter 3:15
Very well arranged and explained. I have been teaching on “words” that accompany being “born again” and have taught on the atonement a few Sunday mornings now. This is great!