The Great Controversy Between Good and Evil
SUGGESTIVE PROPOSITIONS ON THE PRIESTHOOD OF CHRIST.
The Great Controversy between Good and Evil.
A S Michael the Archangel, Christ fought the great spiritual warfare with Satan for 4,000 years; yet during all this time, He brought no railing accusation against the adversary, but met him with, "Jehovah rebuke thee, O Satan." Zech. 3:2; Jude 9. The Son of God had not yet met the fullest test; He had not gone down to the lowest depths. Eph. 4:9. 9. As Michael the Archangel, He overcame, and Lucifer and his host failed, "neither was their place found any more in heaven." Rev. 12:8. 10. During the time of this part of the conflict the throne of grace was accessible through the merits of the pledged sacrifice of the Son of God, the Lamb slain in purpose from the beginning. Rev. 17:8. 11. The Melchizedek priesthood was still in vogue. The Son of God as the active Creator, who gave, and who ministered of His life to all, in the Father's plan was still the Melchizedek Priest of the universe, because Life-giver to all. But He was not yet the priest of this world, till He became a member of this world, and won the right to be its "Everlasting Father." But each earthly priest, the father, the patriarch of his family, was also a priest after the order of Melchizedek as much as mortal human could be; for from him all his family sprang, and under God He gave them life. This patriarch priest recognized God's plan by offering sacrifices typical of that of the Son of God; and God for the sake of the purposed Sacrifice accepted the ministration. The finished sacrifice, priesthood, and work of Christ were typified in their fulness, so far as the limitations of the earthly can prefigure the heavenly, by all the offerings and sacrifices and priestly work, in connection with the earthly sanctuary; but previous to the existence of the sanctuary, at the Exodus, the redemption of sinful humanity was typified by the simple lamb. 12. The next step taken by the Son of God in His purpose was to become man, to take the body God had prepared Him; "and being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death [nothingness], even the death of the cross." Phil. 2:5-8; Heb. 10:5. He went down to the very lowest depths,—death,—that in rising by the righteousness and power of an endless life, He might "fill all things." Eph. 4:9, 10. 13. The testimony of the entire first part of Hebrews is to the effect that the Son of God must become man, "Immanuel," one with us, must suffer, must in the utter helplessness of emptiness, and the hopelessness of lost humanity, pour forth His "prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto Him that was able to save Him from death, and having been heard for His godly fear, tho He was a Son, yet learned obedience by the things which He suffered; and having been made perfect, He became unto all them that obey Him the Author of eternal salvation; named of God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek." Heb. 5:7-10. He must conquer, in order to be an effectual priest for His people. He must do more than take upon Himself the "nature of angels;" He must take upon Himself "the seed of Abraham, wherefore in all things it behooved Him to be made like unto His brethren, that [in order that] He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that He Himself hath suffered being tempted, He is able to succor them that are tempted." Heb. 2:10-18. He is a great High Priest that is passed into the heavens; but making the sacrifice before He began His priesthood; "for it is of necessity that this Man have somewhat also to offer." There was "further need" beyond the Levitical priesthood "that another priest should rise after the order of Melchizedek." "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 [subsequently] who is made not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life," and then continueth ever, having "an unchangeable priesthood." Many similar expressions teach the same thing, namely, that Christ began His priesthood especially for men after His ascension; for the oath which made Him priest "was after ["since"] the law." See Heb. 7:11-28. 14. This priesthood could not be typified perfectly by the Aaronic priesthood; for it was after the order of Melchizedek in this world, a father-priesthood, the priesthood of an endless life. It constituted Christ the spiritual Head of the human family. To His children He is "the everlasting Father," the "second Adam," the second federal Head of the race, the demonstrated Son of God by His resurrection from the dead. He is King of Peace because He is the eternally demonstrated King of Righteousness.