Fri.’s Devo - Sanctifying the Priests and the Betrayal of Jesus

Read: Exodus 29:1-30:10; Matthew 26:14-46; Psalm 31:19-24; Proverbs 8:14-26 Moses was to consecrate Aaron and his sons as priests. The animals for the sacrifice were chosen then the priests were dressed in their priestly garments. They were to place their hands on the head of the bull to transfer their sin to the bull. The bull was offered as a burnt offering to atone for them. *** Next, they were to take two ram. The first one would be their sin offering so they placed their hands on the head of the ram and offered it on the altar as a burnt offering. The second ram was to be killed and the blood applied to the tip of the right ear of Aaron and his sons, also on the thumb of their right hand and the big toe of their right foot. The rest of the blood would be sprinkled all around the altar. Some of the blood on the altar, would be mixed with anointing oil and sprinkled on Aaron and his garments and on his son’s garments. *** The places the blood was applied was to represent what God was sanctifying. He was sanctifying what they heard (the ear), what they did (the hand), and where they went (the big toe). *** Some of the fat from the offering, a loaf of leavened bread made with oil and a wafer of unleavened bread would be put in the hands of Aaron and his sons and they were to wave them as a wave offering before the Lord. Then then were to be burnt on the altar. The breast of the ram was to be waved before the Lord and be their portion to eat. These would be the peace offering. *** Daily offerings were to be offered in the morning and in the evening. This was to be done continually because this was where they would meet with the Lord. He would dwell with them and be their God and they would be his people. *** An altar was to be made of wood and covered with gold. It would be fore bringing incense to the Lord. It would have horns on the corners and Aaron and his sons were to make atonement upon its horns once a year with the blood of the sin offering. *** In Mathew, Judas Iscariot went to the chief priests and asked them what they would give him to turn Jesus over to them and they gave him 30 pieces of silver. He looked for just the right moment. *** It was the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread and the disciples asked Jesus where he wanted to eat the Passover meal. Jesus told them the house to go to. God had already prepared that man to receive them. On that Passover night, Jesus sat with them and told them that one of them would betray him. They all wanted to know if it was them. When Judas asked Jesus if it was him, Jesus replied, “You have said it.” Jesus told them that it would be better for his betrayer to not have been born. *** I have to think that Judas now knew that his plot had been discovered, so he had to act then. Little did he know that God was orchestrating his timing. *** Jesus blessed the bread and told his disciples that it represented his body. Then he gave them the wine and told them it represented his blood that would be shed for the remission of the sins of many. He told them he would not drink wine from then until he drank it with them in his Father’s kingdom. 
 *** Jesus tried to prepare them for what was going to happen that night. He quoted Zechariah 13:7 saying that he would be struck and they would be scattered. *** Peter spoke up and said that he would not stumble. Jesus told him that he would deny him three times before the rooster crowed. Peter refused to accept that. *** Jesus then took them all to the garden of Gethsemane and told them to pray with him. He went alone but when he returned, he found his disciples sleeping. He addressed Peter who had promised not to stumble and asked him if he couldn’t stay awake for even an hour. This happened twice. The second time, Jesus told them to wake up his betrayer was close. *** It is hard to get upset with the disciples when we look at our own weaknesses. They had no idea what was about to happen and how much Jesus needed them to be supportive. These were the people Jesus would leave the responsibility for carrying out his ministry. We are the ones Jesus has put on the earth right now to carry out his ministry. May we be faithful to carry out our part. *** Lord, anoint us to carry out our assignments on the earth. May we be watchful and awake when we need to be seeking your face and your will.