Who is this Jesus? CMc

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Who is this Jesus?
 
“Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?”
(John 11:25&26)
 
Here we find Jesus talking to Martha, sister of Lazarus, a dear friend and disciple of his.

This passage when followed to its ending, shows Christ’ ability to raise the dead. He clearly stated that if we believe in him, we will never see death, but instead will live again eternally!

  Although there are many passages throughout the New Testament that clearly define Him as the Son of God, I would take you today to a scripture that defines his priesthood, and why that priesthood superseded the old covenant.
 
“ If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood. (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchizedek, and not be called after the order of Aaron?

 For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.

 For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, which no man gave attendance at the altar. 

For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Judah; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning the priesthood. 

And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchizedek there ariseth another priest, 

Who is made not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life. 

For he testifieth, THOU ART A PRIEST FOR EVER AFTER THE ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK. 

For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof. 

For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God. 

And inasmuch as not without an oath he was made priest(for those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, THE LORD SWARE, AND WILL NOT REPENT, THOU ART A PRIEST FOR EVER AFTER THE ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK:

 By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament. 

And 
they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death: 

But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable  priesthood. 

Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. 

For such a high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens:

 Who needeth not daily, as these high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people’s: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.

For the law maketh high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.”

 
(Hebrews 7:11-28)
 
Long before the birth of Jesus, the prophets wrote and spoke of His coming. They told the people of Israel that once He had come, the old covenant would no longer be needed, and would, in fact, be insufficient for the atonement of sin. Paul tells us that Jesus was made a priest, not by man and his laws, but by God himself, and is therefore superior to the Levitical priesthood being followed at that time.
 
Had that priesthood been perfect, there would have been no need for the sacrifice of God’s Son.

The imperfection of the old covenant was that the Jewish people ignored God’s laws and depended on sacrifices made by their priests to atone their sin. In other words, it depended on imperfect people who were incapable, of themselves, to gain God’s favor and thereby be granted eternal life.

This should sound familiar in a society that even today depends on its science, and the teachings of philosophers  and politicians instead of adhering to those laws  that should be written in and on their hearts if they are, as they profess to be, Christians!

 Paul goes on to tell us that Jesus is a priest on the order of Melchizedek, who even Abraham recognized as the true priest of God long before Mosaic Law instituted that office for sons of Aaron. Melchizedek, like Christ was a priest ordained solely by God and not through human laws.


 
Christ’s claim to that priesthood comes solely through the power of eternal life.
Paul says the law, (the old covenant,) made nothing perfect, but that the bringing in of a better  hope did; by  the which we draw nigh to God. Jesus then, is the perfect priest eliminating the need for a further intercessor in human form. The 27th verse tells us that the sacrifice of Jesus was sufficient for all sin!

It is to that better hope and change of heart, that we need to turn, not the cheap imitation offered by our so called leaders who deny each and every one of the laws and teachings given by that priest, and Savior ordained by God the Father!
 
The 8th chapter continues:
 
“Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such a high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of Majesty in the heavens;

 a minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man. 

For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices: wherefore it is of necessity that this man have somewhat also to offer. 

For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law.

 Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle; for, SEE SAITH HE, THAT THOU MAKE ALL THINGS ACCORDING TO THE PATTERN SHOWED TO THEE IN THE MOUNT.

 But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises. 

For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second. 

For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah: 

Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers, in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; Because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord. 

For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel, after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be unto them a God, and they shall be to me a people.

 And they shall not teach every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: For all  shall know me, from the least to the greatest. 

For I will be merciful, to their unrighteousness, and their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. 

In that he saith, a new covenant he hath made the first old, Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.”

 
(Hebrews 8:1-13)
 
Jesus is on God’s right hand of the throne of Majesty in the heavens, this is why he is no longer physically in human form, so that He may be our minister of the sanctuary. He has obtained a better ministry than the Levitical priesthood, and is mediator of the new and far better covenant through which we are able to obtain salvation.

This does not provide a means to the Father, but provides the ONLY means by which we may reach Him!

 Paul goes on to quote Jeremiah and Zechariah and John to expound on his point that Christ is the path to God, and the only path given us.
 
The laws of God are written in the hearts of Christians, and God in turn, promises mercy and forgiveness.
 
This treatise is only a partial answer to the question I asked in the title of this message.

 Christ is also the Judge before whom all knees must bow, and that all tongues must confess.

 It is through our belief in Him that we have hope of the resurrection to eternal life, and by Him that the unbeliever will stand in the second resurrection into eternal damnation. 
 
Jesus is our Savior, Only Begotten Son of God, Intercessor, Mediator, Priest and only hope for eternal life and communion with God!
 
I salute you once more with love, in His name, a simple sinner,  saved by His grace, through his selfless blood sacrifice, still and always a soldier in His service echoing the need to
 REPENT  FOR THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS AT HAND

 
Amen and Amen
CMc

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