A reconstruction of the garments worn by the high priest in Israel.
Good day dear friends.
We continue to visit with the gift from God through Jesus. Who received the greater gift? Jesus or the Magi?
Here is our study guide for today:
Tuesday: Read Acts 2:29-30 about the references to Jesus’ place on the throne of Israel. Peter, as he preaches this first Christian sermon, is covering all the bases for those present to hear about what God has done in and through Jesus Christ. Compare this to Hebrews 7:26-27 and Jesus’ role mentioned there. Are the first two gifts given by the Magi in accordance to these references?
Here are those two passages from Acts 2 and Hebrews 7:
29 "Fellow Israelites, I may say to you confidently of our ancestor David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30 Since he was a prophet, he knew that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would put one of his descendants on his throne
26 For it was fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, blameless, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. 27 Unlike the other high priests, he has no need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for those of the people; this he did once for all when he offered himself.
The first gift was gold, that which is the required gift fit for a king. Peter in this sermon shares that even David knew that God would keep His promise of putting one of David's descendants on the throne, whom Peter believed was Jesus, king of the Jews. In the second passage, the writer of Hebrews is calling Jesus our high priest, but unlike other high priests whose duty it was to offer sacrifices daily, Jesus has paid them all. The second gift was the gift of frankincense.
In Jesus we find our king and our high priest. Jesus came to rule over our lives if we surrender to Him. In Jesus we also find He who gave Himself as our high priest, he who is the "bridge" between God and humanity. (Keep in mind the root word of priest is ponte, similar to the Spanish "puente" - bridge). Jesus is the high priest, but as the Hebrews writer said has paid our sins and does not need to offer any other sacrifice for He has offered Himself as our sacrifice.
PRAYER: Thank you dear God for Jesus and the great gift You've shared with us through Him. Let us surrender to Jesus so that He truly becomes our King. Let us pray in His name knowing Jesus intercedes for us. Make us more like Jesus this year is our prayer. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
Have a great and blessed day!
e.v.
