"He then presented the bull for the sin offering, and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on its head. Moses slaughtered the bull and took some of the blood, and with his finger he put it on all the horns of the altar to purify the altar. He poured out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar. So he consecrated it to make atonement for it."

Leviticus 8:14-15

Aaron and his sons were brought before God and the entire assembly of the people of Israel. Before anything else, they were washed with water (v. 6). Jesus Christ was later to make the point that such a washing was an indication of the full cleansing which enables sinful people to become acceptable to our impeccably holy God. After this, they had their everyday clothes replaced with ornate priestly ceremonial garments (vv. 7–9,13). Zechariah’s vision helps us to understand the import of this symbol in the spiritual realm. Even more significant are Paul’s words that when we are washed with the water of baptism, we are clothed ‘with Christ’!

Then, there were the sacrifices, starting with the bull on whose head Aaron and his sons laid their hands before it was slaughtered (vv. 14–16). The blood and different parts of the carcass were variously treated ‘as the Lord commanded Moses’ (v. 17). Then came the ram, which was consumed entirely by fire as a whole burnt offering devoted to the Lord. Together, they all point to Jesus Christ the Lamb of God, who was sacrificed to atone for our sin. Finally, there was the anointing with oil for consecration, a solemn dedication for sacred purpose and service. Today we have a much more sacred anointing. It is not made of vegetable oil and dispensed with the hands of a priest. Our anointing is God’s Holy Spirit conferred on us by God himself.

CLOSING PRAYER

Lord Jesus, my high priest, thank you for your blood that was shed for me; through the power of your Spirit, I have been saved, sealed, and sanctified. Show me how to live in ways that others may see you and believe.