{"id":3275,"date":"2021-08-05T09:25:26","date_gmt":"2021-08-05T08:25:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/delevensschool.org\/en\/?p=3275"},"modified":"2021-08-05T10:17:21","modified_gmt":"2021-08-05T09:17:21","slug":"the-priest-in-the-order-of-melchizedek-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/delevensschool.org\/en\/the-priest-in-the-order-of-melchizedek-2\/","title":{"rendered":"The priest in the order of Melchizedek (2)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Following the introduction<\/a>, this second <\/strong>part of this series of studies describes how a disciple of Jesus Christ prepares <\/strong>and is ordained <\/strong>a priest in the order of Melchizedek.
Only then is he\/she ready to enter the court of the Tabernacle and take the first step along the new and living way, which is Jesus Christ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

God seeks man.<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Adam and Eve broke their relationship with God through their disobedience in paradise.
Nevertheless, He did not abandon<\/a><\/span> His creation and He still supports seeking human beings.
For, as the Holy Spirit hovered over the waters of the earth at creation, so does He, as the eyes of God, still \u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2026 range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. (2 Chronicles 16:9)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

However, the restoration of the relationship with God only became possible with the coming of Jesus Christ into the world.
Forgiveness of sins through faith in Him, results in life to the full being received, as Jesus testifies of Himself:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I have come so that they (His sheep) might have a life that surpasses everything<\/strong>. (Johannes 10:10 \u2013 freely translated)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

This superlative life is received in a life in relationship with Jesus Christ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The coming of Jesus Christ.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

To make this superlative life possible, Jesus came to the world and established a new priesthood<\/a><\/span> here, in the order of Melchizedek, of which He is the high priest.
He desires that everyone who believes in Him should accede to this priesthood, in order to live the superlative life, with the commission, as stated by Peter:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood<\/strong>, a holy nation, God\u2019s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him<\/strong> who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. (1 Peter 2:9)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

As a foretaste of this priesthood, after the Exodus from Egypt, God had designated Aaron and his descendants as priests. They were to serve in the sanctuary, the tabernacle, which Moses was to set up in the wilderness, according to the pattern that God had shown him in heaven.
There is much to be learned from the legislation for this Levitical priesthood under the high priesthood of Jesus Christ, even though it is subject to change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The tabernacle and floor plan<\/span><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The tabernacle, also called the tent of meeting, consisted of a sanctuary <\/strong>divided into the Holy Place<\/strong> and the Most Holy Place<\/strong>, which were separated from each other by a veil.
In front of this sanctuary was a courtyard<\/strong>.
The whole structure was surrounded by a linen wall 5 cubits high (+\/- 2m50).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Difference in priesthood.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Old Testament:<\/span><\/strong>
After the Exodus from Egypt, God had designated the tribe of Levi to serve in the tabernacle. They are called the Levites <\/strong>in the Bible.
From the tribe of Levi, God had appointed the family of Aaron <\/strong>as priests<\/strong>.
The male descendants of Aaron were therefore priests by natural birth<\/strong>.
They had no choice and were ordained <\/strong>as priests to fulfil their duties in the Tabernacle as soon as they were 25 years old. (Numbers 8:24)
They vouched for the offerings on the altar of burnt offering in the courtyard <\/strong>of the tabernacle and took care of the items in the sanctuary<\/strong>.
Only the High Priest<\/strong>, once a year on the Day of Atonement, had access to the Most Holy Place<\/strong>, the place where God was present.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The New Testament:<\/span><\/strong>
By his death and resurrection from the dead, Jesus established a new priesthood in this world, in the order of Melchizedek, of which He is the high priest. One is born into this new priesthood by spiritual birth<\/strong>, as a disciple of Jesus Christ, after which the disciple is also ordained a priest<\/strong> in the order of Melchizedek.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As Jesus explained<\/a><\/span> to Nicodemus, upon conversion <\/strong>a man or woman is begotten <\/strong>by God to new spiritual <\/strong>life<\/a><\/span>. This allows him\/her to see <\/strong>the Kingdom of God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then, when he\/she accepts the authority <\/strong>of Jesus over his\/her life and this becomes visible in the life of the believer, he\/she enters <\/strong>the Kingdom of God as a disciple<\/a> <\/strong>of Jesus Christ. This equates to a spiritual birth<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Peter exhorts therefore:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you come to him, the living Stone – rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him – you also<\/strong>, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house<\/strong> to be a holy priesthood<\/strong>, offering spiritual sacrifices<\/strong> acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
(1 Peter 2:4-5)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Access the priesthood in the order of Melchizedek.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

God chose the tribe of Levi<\/strong> from the nation of Israel<\/strong> to minister in the tabernacle, and, from them, Aaron <\/strong>and his descendants as priests<\/strong>.
The rest of the tribe of Levi, the Levites<\/strong>, were to assist the priests in carrying out their duties at (not in)<\/strong> the tabernacle (i.e. in the courtyard<\/strong>) and they were also responsible for maintenance and transportation, according to their job description given to Aaron in Numbers:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bring your fellow Levites from your ancestral tribe to join you and assist you \u2026 They are to be responsible to you and are to perform all the duties of the tent, but they must not go near the furnishings of the sanctuary or the altar<\/strong>. Otherwise both they and you will die. (Numbers 18:2-3)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Derived from the Hebrew \u2018lavah\u2019<\/strong> (which is translated as \u2018to join\u2019, \u2018to join up with\u2019), the name Levi <\/strong>means:<\/p>\n\n\n\n