I Am His Priest

They stumble because they do not obey God’s word, and so they meet the fate that was planned for them. But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests.

1 Peter 2:8-9

Eric

“A priest!? I’m not a priest!” When most people hear the word priest, they think of someone who wears one of those religious collars, promises to never get married, and works at a church. But when the Bible says followers of Jesus are priests, it is emphasizing an awesome truth about who you are. As the above verses say, you are not like those who don’t know God. You are chosen by God for a special job. In the Old Testament, before Jesus entered our world, being a priest was an amazing privilege and a profound responsibility. Today we will talk about the privilege.

People often envy celebrities because of where they can go and who they can see. They go backstage at major concerts to hang out with the artists or into the locker room of big games to meet the players. Being a priest is also about where you can go and who you can be with. But it is way better than being a celebrity.

In Old Testament times, the Temple was the center of life for God’s people. The largest part of the Temple complex was the outer court, and you had to be born a Jew to go there. The second-largest area was the Holy Place, and to go there you had to be a priest who was a descendant of Aaron. The most sacred part of the Temple was the Most Holy Place, where God’s presence would meet with man at the mercy seat, which was the lid of the Ark of the Covenant. Only one person, the high priest, could go into this sacred area, and only one day a year—the Day of Atonement. People wondered what it would be like to be that priest, to spend time with the God of the universe, to be able to talk with God. People dreamed of being that person.

You are that person. You can enter into the presence of God.

When Jesus died, the curtain that blocked off the Most Holy Place was ripped in two (see Matthew 27:51). God does not meet with people in the Temple anymore. He will meet with you anytime and anywhere because you are His priest. Here’s what the book of Hebrews tells us:

And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place.

Hebrews 10:19-20

You get to be with God, talk to Him, and hear from Him! You are His priest!

Eden

We all know there are privileges that come with certain roles. Even as teens, we experience this. There are privileges I get because my dad is a pastor. Sometimes I get to swim in the baptismal pool and eat the snacks that are supposed to be for the preacher (shhh, don’t rat me out!). When my mom was a teacher, I would get to ride my Segway down the hallways and eat candy from my mom’s stash. Although my parents are normal people, there are cool parts that come with their jobs.

Like my dad wrote above, priests in the Old Testament had many privileges, but only one priest could be in God’s presence in the Holy of Holies—and only once a year! Now that Jesus has given us access, we can be in God’s presence anytime!

As a teen, sometimes I wonder how I can hear God’s voice. I always feel like others can hear Him so much better than I can. In those discouraging moments, I remember that God has already spoken. I can read Scripture and know I am reading His words—words that are still meant for me today. I don’t need a title or a special job to speak to the Lord or hear from Him. Because of Jesus, I get to talk to Him anywhere and anytime.

Reflection & Discussion Time

• If a friend asked you what the Bible means when it calls us priests, what would you say?
• When and where could be a time and place for you to meet with God in prayer?