PRIESTS Imaging a Perfect God
TRANSFORMERS THAT SIT ATOP TELEPHONE POLES move thousands of electrical watts from power lines into homes and businesses by transforming them into safe, usable amounts of electrical energy. Electrical currents are safely accessible for everyday use because of transformers. This is similar to the role of Israel’s priests—they served as transformers. They stood between the untouchable holiness of Yahweh and his people. Holy sacrifices demanded holy sacrificers.
The reason strict physical restrictions were required of the priesthood in Leviticus was to symbolize the perfection and holiness of God (21:1–22:16). Today, Jesus Christ is both our perfect priest and our perfect sacrifice. He is the mediator between us and God (1 Tim 2:5; Heb 10:11-14). Christ’s redemption makes salvation possible for all people, no matter their physical condition or ability. Our weaknesses are no longer an issue for our faith, because we are enabled by Jesus’ strength (Heb 9:24-28).
Israelite priests were required to offer sacrifices, intercede in prayer, communicate laws, and provide moral examples for the people. Jesus fulfilled and exceeded all these requirements, yet he is also our brother (Heb 2:16-18; 4:14-16). His unblemished personhood and sacrifice mean our disabilities will no longer keep us from our heavenly Father.
Restrictions due to disabilities are a thing of the past
Because of Jesus’ perfection (Heb 7:11-28), we can now all become priests to one another. Disabilities become irrelevant if we have first come to know him (1 Pet 2:9-12). We offer sacrifices (Heb 13:15-16), we pray for others (1 Tim 2:1-6), we teach (Acts 2:42-47; Col 1:28), and we are to be examples of ethical purity (1 Thes 4:1-12).
God had justifiable reasons for imposing limitations on the Israelite priests since they were the mediators between holy Yahweh and his people. How grateful we are that these Old Testament limitations no longer exist. Jesus, our perfect High Priest, makes us perfect; and all Christians, no matter their physical, intellectual, or emotional condition, can now approach the throne of God (Heb 10:14).