Christ, our High Priest

Last Sunday night, I sat down to eat a bowl of peaches that we'd been glad to find locally... and found something even better. I stumbled into the last part of a movie/documentary airing on TBN about the Ark of the Covenant. The final "theory" that they presented for the possible location of the Ark -- was under the Temple Mount. A spokesman for the Temple Institute, an organization preparing for the Third Temple, said that they did not need to make a new Ark, because they knew where it was. The movie also contended that if you asked Israeli government officials, they would tell you that the Ark was in Israel, and that they knew where it was. I found this fascinating, and spent some time this week doing internet research. And, internet research leads all sorts of places...

The Temple Institute website has pictures of the vessels that they have prepared for the next Temple, including parts of the High Priest's garments. I found the High Priest's crown especially beautiful, with its (Hebrew?) inscription reading "Holy to G-d." Pictures of other parts of the garments are also available, including the stones of remembrance.

This train of thought led to pondering Jesus as our High Priest, and finally, later in the week, my daily Bible reading brought me to Hebrews.

Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
Hebrews 6:19-20

By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament. And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death: But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.
Hebrews 7: 22-27

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; A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.
Hebrews 8:1-2