Although Jesus was surely a prophet, he was far more than a prophet. No prophet before or since would claim for himself what Jesus claimed. He invites a weary and burdened humanity to come to him and then promises to give them rest. (Matthew 11:28) He often predicted his death. (Matthew 16:21) and spoke of his life and death as a sacrifice to be offered as atonement for sin. (Matthew 20:28) On the night before his death, he instituted a memorial meal and spoke of his body being broken and his blood being shed for the forgiveness of sins (Matthew 26:26-29) And after his death and resurrection, he explained how these events had been predicted in the Hebrew Scriptures and were necessary as a part of God’s eternal plan of salvation.

Jesus is Savior. His exemplary life, obedience to God and particularly his suffering qualify him as the Great High Priest. Not unlike the high priest in the Hebrew sacrificial system. He makes atonement for our sins, however, not annually but once for all and he does it not with the sacrifice of an animal but with the sacrifice of his own life. The unknown writer of Hebrews states it as clearly as it can be stated, "But when Christ came as a High Priest of the good things that have come, then through the perfect tent (not made with hands, that is not of this creation) but he entered once for all into the holy place, not with the blood of goats and calves but with his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption." (Hebrews 9:11-12)

The priestly ministry of Jesus means that by virtue of his sacrificial death on the cross and his triumphant resurrection from the grave, he offers us forgiveness from our sins, deliverance from our sins and triumph over our sins. He is not only prophet, rebuking our sinfulness and calling us to holiness and justice, but he is the redeemer, the reconciler who saves us from our sins and empowers us to live our lives in holiness and justice. He not only points the way to truth and righteousness and goodness, he himself makes a way for us to experience all of this.

The one word that best describes the priestly ministry of Christ is the word grace. John says it this way, "From his fullness we have all received grace upon grace. The law, indeed, was given through Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus Christ." (John 1:16-17) The greatest of all the Hebrew prophets was Moses, the Lawgiver. Yet Jesus is much more than this great prophet. Jesus is the revelation and embodiment of God’s grace. His sacrificial death is his free gift to us to make atonement for our sins. His living and loving presence is offered to us now as a free gift and with that presence is the offer of pardon for our past sins and freedom from our present sins. This is the priestly ministry of Jesus Christ.

And what is our participation in this priestly ministry? How do we extend to others God’s grace revealed in Jesus Christ? How do we help the world understand and receive the Good News and taste the salvation that liberates from guilt and fear? The answer to this question, of course, begins with our own experience of grace. We cannot minister what we ourselves do not receive. If we are still living by a performance based religion or trying to prove our worthiness or goodness before God, we show that we know little of grace.

But if by looking at the cross we can see the image of a God who loves us so much that he enters into our suffering and bears our sin, we know we can trust this God with our lives. We can let go of our compulsions and our need to be right or to be in control. We don’t have to feel guilty all the time. We don’t need to be afraid of the future or afraid of failure or afraid of dying.

"If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not withhold his own Son but gave him up for all of us, will he not with him also give us everything?" (Romans 8:31-32) Jesus is the ultimate victim, yet he is the willing victim. And this makes him the victor. He is victor over everything that would destroy or debilitate us. There is nothing in the entire universe that can separate us from the love of God. Jesus tasted everything that sin can do to an innocent person. He was betrayed, he suffered humiliation, physical pain and isolation from God. Yet he never stopped loving. Even in the darkest hour of his life, he forgave his executioners. He offered assurances of pardon to a dying criminal at his side. He shows care for his mother and closest friend in the hour of his greatest agony. And at the moment of his death, he surrenders himself to the God he calls Father.

This is not just the death of a martyr or hero. This is the death of a Savior. So we gaze upon this cross. We meditate on his suffering. We study and struggle to explain its meaning more fully. We contemplate it as an event of cosmic proportions and a mystery that redeems humanity and redeems us. The more we do this, the more we lose our pride and self assertiveness. And the more we want to love like he loved, to sacrifice like he sacrificed, to be obedient to the will of God as he was obedient to the will of God.

Herein we get an idea of our participation is in his priestly ministry. Recognizing that we have received grace, we now give grace. Understanding that we are forgiven, we now forgive. Seeing what unconditional love is, we now offer it to others. Being freed from our own guilt and fear, we can help others become free. Having experienced reconciliation, we can be instruments of reconciliation.

The Church of Jesus Christ, more than any other place or people in the world, should be a people and place of grace. Helping others find peace with God, peace with one another and peace within themselves. The Church should not only be a safe place, but a saving place. Receiving grace, giving grace, experiencing grace, dispensing grace, it is a priestly ministry that continues the ministry of Christ. It is a ministry of healing, a ministry of reconciliation and a ministry of restoration.

Daniel Vestal has served as CBF's coordinator since December 1996.