In viewing The Passion of the Christ, it struck me that Mary was almost in every scene. She was there at the trial of Jesus. She was there for the scourging of Jesus. His walk down the Via Dolorosa, she was there. At the cross, she was there. While this may be very sound Roman Catholic theology, it doesn’t seem to line up with the Bible or what we know of the common practices of the Sanhedrin and the Romans. She probably caught up to Jesus only when he had already been nailed to the cross.

Then it struck me—there was one person who may have been there for all of that, or at least one person who had his fingerprints all over the Passion story—Caiaphas, the high priest!

Christians have not ignored him. Dante put him in the lowest part of hell, just a little higher than Judas who was being gnashed in Satan’s teeth. His name is synonymous for underhanded, conniving treachery.

We should stand in awe of Caiaphas. From a human point of view, he was the best the Jewish culture had to offer. He and his family were the first to grasp what Jesus was claiming. He was the first to happen upon a solution to the Jesus problem and he was skilled enough to maneuver both people and Romans into doing what they did not want to do. He may have even believed that Jesus rose from the dead!

Quite a man. It would be well for us to study this mortal foe of our Savior.

Dedication--he has no assistant.  He has to be by the Temple always.  He is always on call.

What was he supposed to represent?

The perfect holiness God gives his people.  Note the refrain, "I am the Lord who makes them holy."

Aaron and the rest of his successors in the office of the High Priest had very important jobs. But the most significant day for the High Priest was the Day of Atonement. Look at the events of that day.

What was in the Most Holy Place?

Ark of the Covenant.

What did that symbolize?

God's holy and forgiving presence among his people.

Why had Aaron’s two oldest sons died?

1. Bull.

2. Ram.

3. Ram.

4. Goat.

5. Goat.

1. Bull--sacrificed before the altar.  Aaron takes it's blood into the Most Holy Place and sprinkles it's blood before the Ark of the Covenant for his own sins.

2. Ram-sacrificed before the altar.  Aaron takes it's blood into the Most Holy Place and sprinkles it's blood before the Ark of the Covenant for the sins of hte people.

3. Ram sacrificed before the Tabernacle.

4. Goat-sacrificed before the Tabernacle.

5. Goat-sins of the people proclaimed over it and it is let loose in the wilderness.

What animal “survives” the Day of Atonement?

Scapegoat--it is left to wander in the wilderness.  Probably devoured by a predator.

What does all this symbolize?

curtain-a holy God whom sinners cannot approach.

sacrifices-wages of sin is death.  without death there can be no forgiveness.  each of the sacrifices were a "little Christ" pointing to the real sin sacrifice.

scapegoat-sins went away, never to be brought up again.  God removes our sins from us completely through the work of the Savior.

High Priest's sacrifice-even he is sinful.  all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.

Locate the lamp stand in the Tabernacle diagram.

Who is to make sure the candles don’t go out?

Aaron

Locate the Show Table in the Tabernacle diagram.

What goes on this table?

twelve loaves of bread and also twelve packets of incense.

What does the bread symbolize?

twelve tribes of Israel.  God provides food for his people.  They return thanks to him.

How often is the bread to be “changed”?

every Sabbath

Who gets the bread after it’s use is over?

The High Priest and his sons (and their families are understood)

It shouldn’t come as a surprise when Jesus comes into the world the High Priest becomes Jesus’ sworn arch-enemy. Jesus came to replace the High Priest with a better priesthood!

Hebrews was written to Jewish Christians who, under the wear and tear of persecution, were longing to go back to Judaism. The writer to the Hebrews urges them not to go back to Judaism, because we Christians have a better High Priest!

How do you know Jesus is sinless?

He doesn't have to offer a sacrifice for his own sins like the High Priest had to sacrifice a bull for his own sins on the Day of Atonement.

Where did Jesus enter?

Heaven

How does this show he is a better High Priest?

Heaven is a better arena for service than the man-made replica or model of heaven, just as a model car is inferior to the real car.

Did we miss anything in our diagram? If so, draw it in.

Altar of Incense (in the Most Holy Place, probably to the side)

What did the Ark of the Covenant look like?

Golden chest with a golden cover on it.  On the cover were two angels (cherubs), probably facing each other with their wings spread over the Ark of the Covenant.

Who alone could go into the Most Holy Place?

High Priest

When only could he go into the Most Holy Place?

On the Day of Atonement only

What did the Most Holy Place symbolize?

God's presence. Heaven.

Fill in the chart based on these verses.

Whose priesthood is obviously better? Why?

Jesus.  His does his work in heaven.  He is sinless.  He sacrifices himself, a better sacrifice.  His sacrifice really works forgiveness.

What is the way to heaven?

faith in the sacrifice of Jesus which was established by the Gospel covenant

Why don’t we offer animal sacrifices any more?

Jesus has taken away our sins forever by his suffering and death on the cross.

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