Royal Priests

I'm continuing my meditation upon Jesus' conversation with the Sanhedrin member Nicodemus, recorded in John 3:1-21, especially our Lord's comments about being reborn.

My maternal grandmother used to tell us grandchildren that we are descended from British royalty. Of course, we all thought that a big joke. Anyway, as Americans who cares? And yet . . . it was kind of fun to imagine what that might mean. Her maiden name family was Brommel or Brummell—I never discovered how to spell it correctly. A brief Google search reveals that the Brommel family did indeed come from England and spelled the name in various ways, including Bromell, Bramhall, Bromhale, Bromhal, Bromehall, Brumel, Bromhill, etc. Further, Richard Bromwell came to Maryland in 1674 and Anne Brumwell arrived in Virginia in 1703, along with thousands of others with similar names.

Grandma like to say that we were descended from George Bryan Brummell (1778-1840), commonly known as "Beau" Brummell. He's the guy credited with introducing the modern men's suit, worn with a tie. It was a mode of dress that rejected overly ornate fashion in favor of fitted and tailored clothing with dark jackets and full-length trousers rather than knee breeches and stockings. Ta dah! I suppose that one day I'll have to research the validity of Grandma's fancy.

From Biblical times to the present birth status has been important. In fact, in Biblical times birth status was the single most important factor in determining a person's worthiness of honor. Such honor usually remained with a person for life. So if Jesus was talking about being born again (a meaning of the Greek adverb anohthen assumed by Nicodemus), such an event would be truly life changing. How could this be? One surely could not enter his mother's womb again.

However, as I pointed out in yesterday's post, Jesus spoke instead of being born from above. That means being born of God's realm or kingdom. It means to become in truth a child of God. And such a birth raises one to the highest possible status, far above royalty or kings and queens of any sort. And all the children born of such a father would likewise be princes and princesses. Later on, the Apostle Peter does in fact make such a claim for all followers of Jesus Christ as he writes,

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. - 1Pe 2:9-10 ESV

The status of priest or kohen in Hebrew was originally conferred on Aaron, Moses' brother, and his sons as an everlasting covenant (Exodus 28:1-4). To be born into this family put you into the highest status level, especially since the priests were those who performed the ritual duties of the temple, praying for the people and offering sacrifices.

Jesus was not a descendant of Aaron's family. He was of the family and lineage of Judah. However, the writer of the letter to the Hebrews affirms that Jesus' priesthood is superior and more ancient than the Levitical priesthood of Aaron's family. He is of the priesthood of Melchizedek (Genesis 14:18-20 and Psalm 110:4). You may read about this in Hebrews 5:1-10 and 7:11-19.

Note also that Peter calls Christians a chosen race of royal lineage. This fits in, of course, with Jesus' own lineage, recorded in Matthew 1:1-17 and Luke 1:26-35. He is of the royal family of David and has inherited David's throne and kingdom of which there will be no end. All born from above and again into that family share in the highest possible status of both priest and king or queen, or as Peter says, the royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession.

I did not choose to be born into my Grandma's family, if it is indeed true that I am descended from the Brummells. What is vastly more important and of eternal significance is that I was chosen and given rebirth into the family of Jesus of Nazareth, son of David and Son of God. This happened in my baptism, as Jesus says,

"Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.' The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit." - Jhn 3:5-8 ESV

If you, my brother or sister, have been born of the Spirit you know what Jesus means. If you have not, I pray that you will receive this blessing. Nicodemus asked, "How can these things be?" I shall try to explain it further in my next postings.