The Son of Man in the Candlesticks - Our Great High Priest

The Revelation Series – The Son of Man in the Seven Golden Candlesticks                                The High Priest Garments

 

For months now, I have been caught up in John’s seeing of Christ in the Seven Golden Candlesticks (Revelation 1:9-20).  Of His fullness and completion, we have received of His Grace.  Here, the picture of Him in the Candlesticks speaks of His fullness.  Walking, being revealed, and dwelling in the Church is the Son of Man in Glory.  I do not know how we can approach the Book of Revelation and miss this reality that John turned to see, “JESUS CHRIST IN HIS CHURCH.”

 

In His description of Christ, John writes that he was clothed with a garment down to His feet.  What I hear and see in this statement is the High Priest of our souls.  I see the garment of praise and salvation.  As our High Priest He has taken us with Himself into that within the veil, into the Presence of God to be presented whole, complete, righteous, and without lack.  Oh, that we may know Him as our Great High Priest, and no longer look to the Priesthood of Aaron, which spoke of Christ.  

 

There is no perfection there, only a continual remembrance of sins with every sacrifice and every offering made by that priesthood.  Yes, Aaron’s priesthood was of God.  It came to speak for the time that was present of what God would do in Christ.  It was sanctioned and ordained of the Most High Himself, but could never take away the sin and guilt of the conscience in man.  It was imperfect but ordained to speak of the PERFECT ONE. 

 

Hebrews 8:1 “Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens;”

 

This is the summation of the thought we have such a High Priest who has sat down in authority, the right hand of God.  What does it mean He has sat down?  Why not just say who is in Heaven?  Who is with the Father?  Because He has sat down in rest and has all power and authority.  What His Priesthood speaks is what is true of the believer that has come to God by Him.  The believer is not destined to live in a sin conscience life, but in a life empowered by the Holy Spirit.  This High Priest cleared our conscience of sins (Hebrews 9:14), to present you holy and complete, perfect, before God our Father (Hebrews 10:10, 14).

 

This is what we can live in NOW, completion in Christ.  No longer having to succumb to the fear of death.  No longer having to succumb to whether God accepts me or not.  We are made accepted in the beloved.  We live through Christ in His Life.  The work He did at Calvary is enough.  It is this work that we must know and understand in our hearts.  It is this Priesthood that frees us from the conscience of sin that we must turn to SEE.  Going back to the old priesthood, to be told over and over you are not good enough, you do not measure up, will never complete your soul.

 

Unfortunately, this is where many in the Body of Christ are held, in the conscience of sin.  Much of the teaching that we sit under is like we are still under the priesthood of Aaron, the Old Covenant, where man was incomplete.  However, when our heart turns to the LORD, we see a New and living way, a NEW PRIEST, who has perfected forever them that come to God by Him.  Who clothes those that He loves in His own robe of righteousness?  Who fills those that are His in His own glorious life.  This is the Sum.  This is the Priesthood of Christ Jesus our Lord.  Here is where we have come.  Glory to God.  “We have such a High Priest.”  Who accomplished, fulfilled, completed all things in the body of His flesh and has made us complete in the Body of His Resurrection.