the better priest

Aaron shall present the bull as a sin offering for himself, and shall make atonement for himself and for his house. He shall kill the bull as a sin offering for himself.

Leviticus 16:11

God instituted the levitical priesthood and sacrifices so that atonement could be made for His people’s sin. But it was a necessary messy business, made all the more complex by the fact that the high priest and his family were themselves also sinners. This made the awkward situation of the priest publically performing sacrifices meant to atone for his own sins. This happened regularly as fallen leaders publically declared their sin and had to display their own need to deal with sin before a holy God as He had demanded of them.

In the levitical system a bull had to be slaughtered to atone for priestly sins. Sacrifices were made out of obedience to a holy God Whose righteous demands meant that all sin must be atoned for with the shed blood of a sacrifice. And the priests modeled this obedience by offering this special sacrifice on the Day of Atonement just to cover their own sin.

Thankfully now, we have perfect Great High Priest in Jesus. He never had to offer sacrifices for His own sins. Instead, His sinless sacrifice for us has forever atoned sin, appeased God’s wrath on sin, and taken away the guilt of those who have believed in Him as Savior. We cannot save ourselves, but His perfect atoning work for us HAS indeed saved us. He is the true and better High Priest Who gave Himself for us.