The Christadelphian, May 1923, Henry Sully

“The Atonement and Priesthood of Christ”

A Question and Answer

Question.—I understand that Jesus was the sacrifice, the altar, and the priest, but since he was of the tribe of Judah, of which tribe Moses spake nothing of priesthood, the question which I cannot at present satisfactorily settle is, “How and in what sense was the Lord Jesus a priest in the days of his flesh?” or to put it another way, “When did the priesthood of Christ commence?” O.K.

In reply to your question respecting the priesthood of Christ, he did not and could not officiate as a priest as the administrator of the Mosaic law, because that function was reserved to the tribe of Levi, a position which he fully recognised when he commanded the man cleansed from leprosy by his miraculous touch to show himself to the priest and “offer the gift that Moses commanded” (Matt. 8:3, 4).

You ask, “When did the priesthood of Christ commence?” It must have commenced at the moment when he permitted himself to be offered as a sacrifice upon the cross, because the Mosaic law was typical of the sacrifice by which sin was to be put away (Heb. 9:9, 10; 10:1.). In those typical sacrifices the one who offered for his sin was required to slay the animal himself, see Leviticus 1. and 2. The priest then laid the required portion upon the altar. Further, it is written that “through the eternal Spirit Christ offered himself without spot to God” (Heb. 9:14). It is also written that he was “delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God” (Acts 2:28), therefore in co-operation with the Father for that purpose he himself became at once the Sacrifice and the priest. Further, just as Aaron, according to the command of Moses, offered “first for his own sins and then for the people’s” (see Lev. 9:7, 8), Jesus did this at the time when “he offered up himself” (Heb. 7:27). Now, we are told elsewhere (Heb. 13:10) that he also became the altar, just as he was the sacrifice and the priest. From thence onward he became a priest for others until sin is abolished from the earth, because it is written that he “is a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec” (Heb. 5:5), the “one mediator between God and men” (1 Tim. 2:5).

By the shedding of his blood he became a blood sprinkled mercy seat (see Lev. 16:14; Heb. 12:24) and the altar (Heb. 13:10), henceforth offering to the Father the results of his sacrifice both for himself and his brethren. Now, after Aaron slew the calf of the sin offering which was for himself, “he dipped his finger in the blood and put it upon the horns of the altar, and poured out the blood at the bottom of the altar” (Lev. 9:8, 9), the significance of which is enhanced when we remember that Christ is represented as the sacrifice “bound to the horns of the altar” (Psalm 118:26, 27). This signifies the sacrifice of himself from head to foot, his powers and all. The whole chapter in Leviticus is highly significant and instructive for his sons, “whose sons we are if we hold fast our confidence to the end” (Heb. 3:6).

The High Priest not only sprinkled the blood upon the altar and poured out the same at the base thereof, but he also “washed the inwards with water,” and consumed with fire all the rest of the animal (Lev. 9:8–14). So also did Jesus wash when he was baptized in Jordan. The “inward” significance is not far to seek. He utterly repressed all “inward” emotions contrary to his Father’s will, finally destroying the source of these emotions when his blood was poured out from him upon the cross. He thus became fitted for that instantaneous change from mortality to immortality which soon afterwards took place (John 20:17; Matt. 28:9; 1 Cor. 15:51–55; 1 John 3:2).

Now, just as Jesus “washed his inwards,” his disciples must do so likewise. There he stands at the right hand of the Majesty on High (Acts 2:38), to receive from his children the result of the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all (Heb. 10:10), “For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified” (v. 14). Thus his priestly function must have “commenced” upon the earth before he ascended to heaven. His work will only be completed at the end of his millennial reign upon earth (1 Cor. 15:24–28).

Henry Sulley.