The heading before Exodus 29 is Consecration of the Priests. I looked that up. To make or declare sacred especially: to devote irrevocably to the worship of God by a solemn ceremony. Aaron and his sons are before the Lord and the assembly. “This is what you are to do to consecrate them, so they may serve me as priests.” v. 1. It goes on to describe the bull and the rams and the 2 lambs along with bread made without yeast that are to be offered by Aaron and his sons to the Lord. The blood to be sprinkled on them and on the altar; the blood of the second ram to be put on the lobe of their ear, their thumb and toe.

I confess reading this is puzzling to me in 2022. I tried to imagine what it would have been like to witness this. The animals did nothing wrong. Did the Children of Israel truly understand what they were witnessing? Jesus did nothing wrong. There are those who blame the Jews for Jesus’s death. I think they miss the point. The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming – not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship. Otherwise, would they not have stopped being offered? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins. But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins. It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said: “Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me; with burnt offerings and sin offerings you were not pleased. Then I said, ‘Here I am – it is written about me in the scroll – I have come to do your will, my God.’” (Psalm 40:6-8) Hebrews 10:1-7.

When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.” After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among you. For I tell you I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after the supper he took the cup saying, “This is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you. But the hand of him who is going to betray me is with mine on the table. The Son of Man will go as it has been decreed. But woe to that man who betrays him!” Luke 22:14-23.

He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. Revelation 19:13.

This solemn, sacred ceremony we only read about in Exodus 29 is a shadow of the reality. Aaron and his sons were not perfect just as we are not perfect. They were a shadow of the perfect High Priest who gave His life for us out of His great love for us. God well understood their imperfections just as He understands ours. Yet…“So I will consecrate the tent of meeting and the altar and will consecrate Aaron and his sons to serve me as priests. Then I will dwell among the Israelites and be their God. They will know that I am the Lord their God, who brought them out of Egypt so that I might dwell among them. I am the Lord their God”. v. 44-46.

They needed Him. He prepared a way for that to happen so that they would understand the vast difference between what is holy, God, and what is not – us. He prepared a way for us, too. “If you love me, keep my commands. I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever – the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. John 14:15-20.

The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming…not the realities themselves…When Jesus returns He ushers in the Kingdom of God, the reality of the good things God prepared in advance for us the children He loves so well. What will that be like? I can’t wait to find out and I imagine there will be much learning to be done but He will teach us! In the meantime…take His hand. We will not understand perfectly in this lifetime, nor were we meant to, but we can experience His love and peace for us now. The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says: “This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.” (Jeremiah 31:33) Then he adds: “Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.” (Jeremiah 31:34) And where these have been forgiven, sacrifice for sin is no longer necessary. Hebrews 10:15-18. God speed that day!