WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.425 --> 00:00:02.725 Grace, mercy, and peace 2 00:00:02.725 --> 00:00:07.725 be unto you from God, our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus 3 00:00:07.725 --> 00:00:08.525 Christ. 4 00:00:09.125 --> 00:00:09.825 Amen. 5 00:00:11.225 --> 00:00:14.825 I wanted to tell you about the significant noise that we're hearing in 6 00:00:14.825 --> 00:00:17.425 the back of our Sanctuary outside. 7 00:00:17.825 --> 00:00:19.725 And to me, it's the sound of beauty. 8 00:00:19.725 --> 00:00:23.125 It's like the sound of children in church. 9 00:00:23.225 --> 00:00:27.425 It's a sound that although maybe a bit dissonant is beautiful, 10 00:00:27.425 --> 00:00:31.725 nonetheless, the church, that is building and renovating and changing 11 00:00:31.725 --> 00:00:37.025 and growing is indeed a wonderful gift both inside with God's children 12 00:00:37.325 --> 00:00:40.325 as well as the sanctuary without. 13 00:00:41.525 --> 00:00:47.625 The basis for today's meditation, is recorded in Hebrews 7 verses 23 14 00:00:48.025 --> 00:00:50.925 through 25, these words. 15 00:00:52.125 --> 00:00:59.225 The former priests were many in number because they were prevented by 16 00:00:59.225 --> 00:01:02.725 death from continuing in office. 17 00:01:03.525 --> 00:01:11.625 But he holds his priesthood permanently because he continues forever. 18 00:01:12.525 --> 00:01:13.425 Consequently, 19 00:01:13.725 --> 00:01:19.525 he is able to save the utmost those who draw near to God through him 20 00:01:19.825 --> 00:01:21.825 since he always lives 21 00:01:22.225 --> 00:01:24.925 and makes intercession for them. 22 00:01:26.925 --> 00:01:28.025 This is the text. 23 00:01:28.925 --> 00:01:34.725 So we move from temporary priest to serving the Eternal high priest 24 00:01:35.525 --> 00:01:36.525 Jesus Christ 25 00:01:36.925 --> 00:01:37.725 our Lord. 26 00:01:38.625 --> 00:01:43.825 The great writer of the book of Hebrews challenges us this morning. 27 00:01:44.325 --> 00:01:52.125 It centers around the role of finite, priests in contrast and pointing 28 00:01:52.125 --> 00:01:56.225 to the great and exalted high priest Jesus 29 00:01:56.825 --> 00:01:57.625 Christ 30 00:01:57.925 --> 00:02:02.825 our Lord. The former priesthood was a material 31 00:02:02.825 --> 00:02:09.425 one with physical adornment, Tabernacle, sacrifices 32 00:02:09.725 --> 00:02:16.825 and with pardon soaked in ritual. Material were all its appointments 33 00:02:16.825 --> 00:02:18.625 of the old priesthoods. 34 00:02:19.125 --> 00:02:23.825 Thus the role of priest is spelled out in Numbers 18, when the Lord 35 00:02:23.825 --> 00:02:26.225 God says, you are to be 36 00:02:26.725 --> 00:02:30.825 responsible for the care of the sanctuary and the altar. 37 00:02:31.025 --> 00:02:35.625 So that my wrath will not fall on the Israelites again. 38 00:02:36.225 --> 00:02:42.825 I myself has selected, you fellow Levites from among the Israelites as 39 00:02:42.825 --> 00:02:48.825 a gift to you, dedicated to the Lord to do the work in the tent of 40 00:02:48.825 --> 00:02:49.425 meeting. 41 00:02:49.825 --> 00:02:54.825 But only you and your son's may serve as priests in connection with 42 00:02:54.825 --> 00:02:56.425 serving at the altar 43 00:02:56.725 --> 00:03:02.325 and inside the curtain. I am giving you the service of the priesthood 44 00:03:02.525 --> 00:03:09.625 as a gift, anyone else, who comes near the sanctuary is to be put to 45 00:03:10.125 --> 00:03:10.825 death. 46 00:03:12.025 --> 00:03:16.725 The high priest duties, written in Leviticus 4 including presenting, 47 00:03:16.725 --> 00:03:21.725 the sin offering for himself and the congregation. In Leviticus 16, 48 00:03:21.825 --> 00:03:25.925 we read of special functions on the Day of Atonement. 49 00:03:27.225 --> 00:03:32.425 Overall, the high priest supervise the worship and the other priests. 50 00:03:32.425 --> 00:03:36.825 All of these roles and function of both priest and high priest 51 00:03:36.825 --> 00:03:40.525 they help us, they both point to Christ. 52 00:03:40.525 --> 00:03:47.725 And, and the need for Jesus to be our great, high priest and sacrifice 53 00:03:47.725 --> 00:03:53.725 for the sins of all people. Not at regular cycles of the worship 54 00:03:53.725 --> 00:03:57.125 calendar, nor for religious festivals on a regular 55 00:03:57.225 --> 00:04:05.125 basis, not for any work, not for any labor effort on our part but 56 00:04:05.125 --> 00:04:13.225 once and for all. In a sermon preached by Luther on Christ our priest. 57 00:04:13.625 --> 00:04:14.625 He said this. 58 00:04:15.625 --> 00:04:21.525 The New Order is a spiritual priesthood with spiritual adornments, 59 00:04:22.225 --> 00:04:28.425 spiritual Tabernacle, and sacrifices spiritual in all that pertains to 60 00:04:28.425 --> 00:04:30.325 it Christ. 61 00:04:30.925 --> 00:04:35.925 In the exercise of his Priestly office, in the sacrifice on the cross. 62 00:04:36.725 --> 00:04:40.625 He was not ordained with silk and gold and precious stones. 63 00:04:41.725 --> 00:04:50.025 But with Divine love wisdom, patience, obedience and all virtues. His 64 00:04:50.025 --> 00:04:55.725 adornment was apparent to none, but God and possessors of the Holy 65 00:04:55.725 --> 00:04:59.325 Spirit for it was spiritual. 66 00:05:00.225 --> 00:05:05.425 So, Luther points out the dichotomy between spiritual versus material 67 00:05:05.425 --> 00:05:08.525 and highlights the eternality of Christ 68 00:05:08.525 --> 00:05:09.525 our high 69 00:05:09.525 --> 00:05:10.025 Priest. 70 00:05:10.025 --> 00:05:16.625 It is a wonderful comparison using the priests of the Old Testament, 71 00:05:16.625 --> 00:05:22.125 with their multiple roles and responsibilities there, many functions 72 00:05:22.125 --> 00:05:29.525 to point to Christ as the cleansing and the sacrifice are very, very 73 00:05:29.525 --> 00:05:29.725 important. 74 00:05:31.225 --> 00:05:38.925 We are after all a broken and sinful people. All the priestly 75 00:05:38.925 --> 00:05:44.325 ritualistic movements, all the blood of animals forfeited for us. 76 00:05:44.525 --> 00:05:50.825 Enough blood to fill, and ocean would not be enough to save such a 77 00:05:50.825 --> 00:05:56.325 rebellious hard-headed and stiff-necked people. 78 00:05:57.225 --> 00:06:03.125 It is the person and work of Christ that grants us complete, 79 00:06:03.125 --> 00:06:07.025 forgiveness and absolution of all our sins. 80 00:06:07.225 --> 00:06:14.025 And at the same time, gives us life and hope and happiness, and joy, 81 00:06:14.525 --> 00:06:17.125 as we live, as forgiven people. 82 00:06:17.925 --> 00:06:24.525 The matter of priests-pastor is certainly not foreign to you. And 83 00:06:24.525 --> 00:06:26.825 perhaps the primary reason for pastoral 84 00:06:27.025 --> 00:06:32.025 formation taught at this, Seminary at the heart of systematic 85 00:06:32.425 --> 00:06:36.525 exegetical, historical and practical theology. 86 00:06:37.525 --> 00:06:41.625 Ultimately, the question is what is a pastor? 87 00:06:42.625 --> 00:06:47.025 Many years are spent studying processing savoring 88 00:06:47.025 --> 00:06:52.125 the topic with lively discussion, the reading of Luther and his 89 00:06:52.125 --> 00:06:57.825 passion for pastoral Ministry, or simply reflecting on your gifts of 90 00:06:57.825 --> 00:06:58.525 ministry. 91 00:06:58.825 --> 00:06:59.325 Whith a fellow 92 00:06:59.325 --> 00:07:03.625 classmate over an aromatic cup of coffee. 93 00:07:05.425 --> 00:07:07.725 What do we make of clergy? 94 00:07:08.425 --> 00:07:10.925 What do we make of pastors? 95 00:07:12.125 --> 00:07:18.525 Our identity, our distinctiveness from this springs forth issues that 96 00:07:18.525 --> 00:07:27.325 drive matters to the very depth of our soul, who we are. What you 97 00:07:27.325 --> 00:07:32.925 consider God's calling his vocatio for you to be. According to the 98 00:07:32.925 --> 00:07:39.525 book of Hebrews, even, the best aren't perfect due to one standardized 99 00:07:39.825 --> 00:07:40.625 flaw. 100 00:07:41.625 --> 00:07:44.925 Temporal, finite 101 00:07:46.125 --> 00:07:47.225 they died. 102 00:07:48.525 --> 00:07:55.625 We too are not perfect, but we are not to wallow in our flaws, but run 103 00:07:55.625 --> 00:08:01.825 to the grace of God with thanksgiving. As a baptized child of God, you 104 00:08:01.825 --> 00:08:07.325 are already set apart as a forgiven child for his holy purpose. As a 105 00:08:07.325 --> 00:08:07.825 redeemed 106 00:08:07.825 --> 00:08:09.525 child of God in Christ 107 00:08:09.525 --> 00:08:14.125 you are called out of darkness and into his marvelous light. 108 00:08:14.725 --> 00:08:17.325 You hear often that your sins are forgiven. 109 00:08:17.325 --> 00:08:18.125 Yes. 110 00:08:18.425 --> 00:08:23.125 You participate at the table of our Lord, Jesus and receive his body 111 00:08:23.125 --> 00:08:26.825 and blood in the sacrament of the Altar for the forgiveness of sins. 112 00:08:27.025 --> 00:08:27.825 Yes. 113 00:08:28.325 --> 00:08:33.025 You gather as a body of believers and proclaim, the goodness of our 114 00:08:33.025 --> 00:08:37.525 God, and the greatness of his love for his bride, 115 00:08:37.825 --> 00:08:38.725 the Church. 116 00:08:39.325 --> 00:08:46.525 It is the blood of Jesus our high priest who saves us. You who seek the 117 00:08:46.525 --> 00:08:48.125 office know that 118 00:08:48.325 --> 00:08:49.825 time is of the essence. 119 00:08:50.225 --> 00:08:55.325 We the Church are so thankful for you. 120 00:08:56.025 --> 00:08:59.825 The Church has great need for you. 121 00:09:00.425 --> 00:09:05.025 The military chaplaincy to which I served for 31 years, requires your 122 00:09:05.025 --> 00:09:06.125 services. 123 00:09:06.525 --> 00:09:11.825 As Jesus said, the harvest is plentiful and the workers are few. 124 00:09:12.525 --> 00:09:17.625 You who teach train and mentor, we hold a special love in our heart 125 00:09:17.625 --> 00:09:18.225 for what you 126 00:09:18.325 --> 00:09:22.225 do. To the families, we know your sacrifice. 127 00:09:22.825 --> 00:09:23.525 Thank you. 128 00:09:24.325 --> 00:09:26.825 Thank you so very much. 129 00:09:27.125 --> 00:09:30.725 You are a true gift from our heavenly Father. 130 00:09:31.225 --> 00:09:36.425 The joy of Jesus is in his eternalness and perceptuality to provide 131 00:09:36.425 --> 00:09:44.525 salvation, for all this includes you, all of you. 132 00:09:45.325 --> 00:09:51.725 We have Christ as our high priest, performing the sacrifice and being 133 00:09:52.025 --> 00:09:54.925 the sacrifice for us 134 00:09:54.925 --> 00:10:01.025 all. It is a joy to no longer have a role as the Old Testament. 135 00:10:01.025 --> 00:10:02.825 Levitical temporary 136 00:10:02.825 --> 00:10:03.725 Priest. 137 00:10:04.525 --> 00:10:08.325 It is a joy to have Jesus as the high priest. 138 00:10:09.625 --> 00:10:13.625 To pull those two together, not long ago 139 00:10:14.225 --> 00:10:18.325 I was presenting at a conference on caring for veterans and ran into 140 00:10:18.325 --> 00:10:21.625 an old friend, a classmate, a fellow pastor. 141 00:10:22.825 --> 00:10:26.925 I asked him I said, hey Bill, how did Sunday Services go? 142 00:10:28.325 --> 00:10:30.625 He was picking me up from the airport. 143 00:10:31.525 --> 00:10:34.625 He said, and he could see a twinkle in his eye. 144 00:10:35.125 --> 00:10:39.725 He said, oh, just another typical Sunday. 145 00:10:40.225 --> 00:10:41.425 The Mystery of the Lord 146 00:10:41.425 --> 00:10:44.325 Jesus was revealed in his word. 147 00:10:44.625 --> 00:10:48.125 We partook of his body and blood in the bread and wine. 148 00:10:48.625 --> 00:10:52.325 Jesus, forgave hundreds of their sins. 149 00:10:52.725 --> 00:10:57.625 We heard words of comfort and assurance found only when God himself 150 00:10:57.625 --> 00:11:01.225 comes to us and loves us and knows us 151 00:11:01.625 --> 00:11:08.325 through Jesus. Just another ordinary Sunday. 152 00:11:10.025 --> 00:11:17.625 May you look to the great high priest Jesus, through faith grasp onto 153 00:11:17.625 --> 00:11:25.025 his eternal flowing robe, seek his forgiveness and serve him with joy, 154 00:11:25.625 --> 00:11:26.525 from temporal 155 00:11:26.525 --> 00:11:28.925 priest to the Eternal high 156 00:11:28.925 --> 00:11:29.625 Priest. 157 00:11:29.925 --> 00:11:32.625 It is in his holy and precious name 158 00:11:32.625 --> 00:11:36.425 we ask this, our great high priest Jesus. 159 00:11:37.225 --> 00:11:37.925 Amen.