A fundamental purpose of the Old Testament priesthood was to offer sacrifices for the people of Israel. Above almost everything else their function was that of the slaughterman. Their ministry was one of blood, wood, fire, and smoke. Sacrifice was their appointed duty because that's what the people needed to be reconciled to God. Hebrews 9:22 says "Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins."
However, before the priest could serve in the Levitical ministry, he himself had to be cleansed, consecrated, purified. Before Aaron or his sons ever offered a sacrifice for the people, they had to bring sacrifices for themselves. Leviticus 8 records this event.
First, Aaron and his sons had to be washed in water (v.6). Their bodies had to be cleansed for the service of God.
Next (v.14-17), their sin offering of a bull was brought forward, they laid their hands on it (symbolizing their identification with the bull, who will die in their place), and the bull is killed. The bull's blood is used first to purify the altar, the place where Aaron and his sons will serve. Then, the good parts of the bull (fat, liver, and kidneys) are burned on the purified altar. The bad parts of the bull are taken outside the camp and burned with fire. This sacrifice atones for the sins of the priest, procuring his forgiveness before God.
Thirdly, an ascension offering (often translated as "burnt offering") of a ram is offered (v.18-21). Again, Aaron and his sons lay hands on the ram, who will represent them in the sacrifice. The whole ram is burned and the smoke of the sacrifice ascends up to God, a pleasing aroma to the Lord. This sacrifice symbolizes the priest's fellowship with God.
The final sacrifice is another ram, called "the ram of ordination" (v.22-29). This time, the ram's blood is taken and put on the priest's right ear lobe, his right hand thumb, and his right foot's big toe. This not only symbolizes the priest's whole person being consecrated (from head to toe), but it also lays out in symbol the new life the priest must live. "The ear, because the priest must at all times hearken to the holy voice of God; the hand, because he must execute God’s commands, and especially the priestly functions; the foot, because he must walk rightly and holy." (Taken from Mark Rooker's NAC Leviticus commentary).
Finally, blood from the sacrifice and oil for anointing are taken and sprinkled on the priest and his priestly garments. In this way God through Moses consecrated the priest to serve in the Levitical ministry, to offer sacrifices, and to shepherd the people of Israel.
The Christian pastor likewise must go through a time of preparation for his ministry. He must be washed with pure baptismal water. He must have his sins forgiven through Christ. He must be in intimate fellowship with God. He must have his head, his heart, and his will consumed by the fire of God's Spirit.
But these are things that every Christian must go through. All believers experience these things. But not all Christians are to offer the ordination sacrifice. The ram of ordination was a sacrifice that only the priests made. It symbolized their total consecration to God's service and the service of Israel. In the same way, the Christian pastor must be entirely consecrated. Pastoral ministry is ordained ministry. It isn't something any man can just start doing. A pastor must be called and set apart. The blood of ordination must be on his whole being; head to toe.
Similarly, the pastor and his office must be washed in blood and oil (v.30). Blood points forward to the shed blood of Christ. The oil represents the presence of the Holy Spirit. In v.30 both the priest and the priest's garments. The garments that the priest wears are the symbol of his office. Both the man himself and his ministry must be covered in the blood of Jesus and empowered by the Holy Spirit. There must be both blood and oil, and they must cover both the man and his ministry. Anything less than this is inadequate.
The Levitical pastor is called to a sacrificial ministry, to serve God and to serve God's people. But he must be prepared first and this can only happen through sacrifice. Only if his entire person and office is wholly offered to God by fire can his ministry be truly effective and glorifying to God.
+ Blessings in Christ +
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