(23) Jesus Is My Priest (BC 21)

If you lived in Israel in the days of the Old Testament you would have been familiar with the work of the priest. Throughout the year godly Jewish people would offer sacrifices to God for their sins. The families would watch the priests kill their animals and burn their parts on the altar as a testimony that God forgives the sins of the penitent. The priest was "the channel through which spiritual life was communicated."
A priestly ministry feels far removed from us today. But it shouldn't. The Book of Hebrews reminds us, "We have a great High Priest … Jesus the Son of God" (4:14). Only through the priestly work of Jesus are we brought near to God and stay near to God.