Ministering priests from “A” to “Z.”
Ezekiel is chosen to remind us that the priestly family that once provided leadership for Israel in its relationship to God has passed from Aaron to Zadok. For now, it’s not the reason, but the role of the office that is my point of interest. Ezekiel is instructed by God to give the children of Israel a detailed presentation of what the new temple and sacrificial system will be like in its eschatological setting. The details are almost numbing. But it’s what God said to Ezekiel about Zadok and his sons that struck me. They shall come near to the LORD to “minister to Him;” as part of this ministry they shall offer a young bull for a sin offering. And yes, blood from a sacrifice is the pictorial key offered as an ongoing reminder that “without the shedding of blood, there shall be no remission” of sin.

Present day “priests” form “A” to “Z.”
Pastoral ministry covers a broad gamut of responsibilities…some of which I’m not sure that the Lord intended for their job description. But one responsibility does not change from generation to generation or even covenant to covenant. That responsibility has to do with a clear presentation of the importance of a blood sacrifice. I just finished reading a statement from Dan Dehaan’s book wherein he commented that he didn’t think he had remembered hearing three messages in his life on the glory of God. In turn, that caused me to wonder how many have heard three messages about the blood of Christ. The blood of sacrifice was sprinkled and/or poured out in the OT. The blood of Christ was poured out, spattered and offered for sin in the NT. Paul made sure that his audiences knew of the importance of the cross of Christ, the blood of Christ and the power of Christ. He said it was the love of Christ that controlled him; it was the death of Christ has moved him; it was the need of reconciliation of men to God that drove him to preach the gospel. And, if it wasn’t for the blood of Jesus, none of the above would matter. He emphasizes this fact in his teaching on the Eucharist: the cup represents the blood of Christ; if we dishonor the cup, we dishonor His blood. O Christian, pray that God will ever provide for us “priests” who will honor and preach the blood of Christ!