2 May 2010
Psalm 24, 29; Lev. 8:1-13,30-36; Heb. 12:1-14; Luke 4:16-30

The beginning of the priesthood; the consecration and ordination of Aaron and his sons. The garments have been made in accordance with the Lord’s instructions and now the time has come to vest and invest the priesthood. Moses takes charge of the ceremony according to God’s word to him and performs all the rituals necessary to complete the work. Sacrifices are offered for atonement of the sins of the priests themselves which must be done in order for them to serve in the role of intercessors for the sins of the people. No one may approach the glory of the Lord without their own sins having been dealt with, the priests are no exception. I am personally thankful that no one comes up to me on Sunday morning and throws blood on my garments prior to the beginning of worship, but it is an important part of my personal preparation to come before the Lord on Sunday and confess my sins and ask for forgiveness prior to vesting for worship. Until that work is done I have no right to put on a white robe and stand before the congregation.

Jesus boldly announces His purpose. It is an extraordinary statement to claim that you are the fulfillment of a six hundred year old prophetic word, it begs proof and it invites those who hear it to see if He does these things. It also begs for faith in Him if He indeed does them. The people speak well of Him and then seem to realize they know Him, “Isn’t this Joseph’s boy?” Doubt has suddenly crept in based on what they think they know. We know that the answer is that biologically Jesus isn’t Joseph’s son. Jesus speaks directly into their doubts by raising the issue of God’s work with Gentiles through Elijah and Elisha in their hometowns, indicating that perhaps those closest to these great prophets were lacking in faith, just as these here are. In saying this, Jesus is making another comparison that is likely to anger them, with the great prophets of Israel’s past. In just a few minutes it seems the mood of the crowd went from “all speaking well of him” to rage. Truth hurts.

Jesus knew when He set out on this journey how it would end. He didn’t want us to be ignorant of our own fate if we chose to follow in His footsteps, telling the disciples they would be persecuted and that their walk would be taking up the cross. We are called to run the race knowing the hardships that might come our way. An expectation of health and wealth was completely foreign to those who followed Jesus, in fact their expectation was that life would be more difficult for choosing to follow. They expected to be disciplined in order to train them in righteousness. The writer encourages his flock to lift up their drooping hands and strengthen their weak knees so that they can continue to follow and run the race set before them in order that they might see the Lord at the finish line waiting for them.

Ascribe to the LORD, O heavenly beings,
ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.
Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name;
worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness.