Leviticus 21 and 22 give instruction for Aaron’s sons and descendants, the priesthood. Over and over at the end of each instruction these words…I am holy…Because they present the food offerings to the Lord, the food of their God, they are to be holy…I am the Lord…I am the Lord who makes him holy…tell Aaron and his sons to treat with respect the sacred offerings the Israelites consecrate to me, so they will not profane my holy name. I am the Lord.

It is the Lord who makes holy. There is a distinction.

In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs. Hebrews 1:1-4.

I can’t help but think about our High Priest, Jesus, when I read about Aaron and his descendants who served as priests. Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are – yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Hebrews 4:14-16.

Our time of need. We each one of us have times of great need. Humanity has great need. We have need of a merciful High Priest who understands and empathizes with our weaknesses. He lived among us yet He did not sin and no human priest can claim that. Jesus saw firsthand the suffering and the helplessness of humanity to save itself from sin. He healed physical suffering then, He heals spiritual suffering now. Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. Such a high priest truly meets our need – one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. Hebrews 7:23-26.

The early human priesthood was set up to serve God for the people. They were a type of the One to come who alone faithfully served God in all He did. He knew the distinction and the need for the love only God can provide. God is Holy. He is able to save us. Can we begin to understand so great a love? A distinction. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. 1 John 4:8-12.

Can we begin to understand so great a love? We can try.