This week's Sabbath reading portion is titled Va-yikra which means "And He called." Va-yikra is also the Hebrew name for the third Book of the Bible that we call "Leviticus." This Book is about the calling of the priests into the service of the LORD in His tabernacle, and the offerings to the LORD that the priests are supposed to minister. This sabbath portion's name comes from the first verse of Chapter 1: "Now the LORD called (qara - to call out, cry out, proclaim, utter a loud sound, to summon, invite, appoint, call and endow, give name to) to Moses, and spoke to him from the tabernacle of meeting..." This is the same Hebrew word, qara, as God used in calling and naming His creation (see Gen. 1:5, 1:8, 1:10 ) and by which Adam "called" all of the beasts of the creation in order to name them. (see Gen. 2:19-20). It is an authoritative "calling" that establishes an identity and purpose.
As the Book of Leviticus begins, it begins with a blood sacrifice. God called Moses to speak to the children of Israel about the kind of blood sacrifice (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-offering to bring to the tabernacle that would be accepted for each man's atonement (kapar - atonement, purge, reconciliation, forgive, pacify, merciful, cleansed, pardon, cover over, atone for sin, propitiate [see Rom. 3:23-26, 1 Jn. 2:1-2]).
After the Israelite brings his (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-offering to the tabernacle, he will kill it there. Then the priests take over. They will take (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-blood and sprinkle (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-blood around the altar. (v. 5). Then the man shall flay/skin (pasat - strip, flay, strip off, spread out, deploy in a hostile array, to unclothe-plunder-flay, invade, stretch out, to rush upon, to attack) the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-burnt-offering. I think that we can see the connection here in the word "flay/skin" to the whipping of Jesus, our (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-burnt-offering not only for our atonement, but for the atonement for the whole world as scripture tells us. Part of being the atonement (see kapar above) is also that Jesus reconciles all creation to the Father, which same ministry of reconciliation has been given to us. (see 2 Cor. 5:18-19).
So the priesthood was to have a direct role in receiving and applying the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-burnt offerings of the children of Israel. As we believers in Messiah/Christ are called to a spiritual royal priesthood (see 1 Pet. 2:9-10, Rev. 1:5-6, Rev. 5:8-10, Rev. 20:6), we also have this ministry before the Father of the receiving and applying of His Son's atoning blood on behalf, not only of ourselves, but for the people. Revelation 20:6 noted above ties this priesthood of God and Christ with those of the first resurrection who will also reign with Messiah/Christ for one thousand years. They are called blessed and holy. Jesus made clear the "calling" authority that He has given to us by saying, "Peace to you! As (kathos - according as, just as, in the degree that, in proportion as, in that manner, like) the Father has sent Me, I also send you.' And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, 'Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained." (Jn. 20:21-23). What are we doing with this qara calling from Messiah/Christ who is sending us in the same manner in which He was sent by His Father? Jesus, who also taught us to pray saying in part, "And forgive us our debts/trespasses, as we forgive our debtors/those who trespass against us," adding "For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." (Mt. 6:9-15). This also is part of our priestly qara calling. The forgiveness is not predicated upon what we or others "deserve" to receive. It is based upon the words of Jesus, saying: "As the Father sent Me...".
From another Sabbath reading portion in Isaiah 43, the LORD mourns that His people haven't qara called upon Him. They have neglected the atonement burnt offerings which call out to Him, in the same manner that the atonement blood of His own Son, Jesus calls out to Him - not for vengeance, but for forgiveness. (Heb. 12:22-24). The blood cries out eternally. The LORD, in Isa. 43, faults their teachers/mediators (lus - ambassador, intercede, teacher, interpreter, mocker, scorn, derision, boast, talk arrogantly), and the LORD said that the "princes of the sanctuary", the royal priests, would become profaned, and the people accursed. Teachers/interpretors/mediators/ambassadors of God became mockers and scorners as they failed to teach the people the truth.
The people had not been properly taught that it is the LORD "who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; and I will not remember your sins." (Isa. 43:22-28). The apostle Paul took his “ambassadorship” (see the meaning of lus above) very seriously as he begged us to be reconciled (see the meaning of kapar atonement above) to God through the atonement of Messiah/Christ. (see 2 Cor. 5:20-21). The whole point of the "ambassadorship", both in Isaiah 43 and 2 Corinthians 5, is to minister to men to the kapar atonement reconciliation blood of our burnt offering, Jesus.
The priests of Leviticus ministered the atonement blood of the offerings for hundreds of thousands of the children of Israel. In so ministering, the hands of the priests were continually handling the blood of atonement. Would the presence of the atonement blood be evident on our hands as the royal priests of Jesus Messiah/Christ? Have we neglected to minister it on behalf of the people as the LORD mentioned in Isaiah 43? If so, have we left the blood of Atonement in Messiah/Christ behind a closed Door (Jesus is the Door of the sheep)? Who knows if our opening of the Door of Atonement, who Christ is and which Christ provided, will not also open the Door for the entrance of the Spirit of Grace and repentance?
God must surely bless those who, in quiet times of intercession (see lus above) with the LORD, minister the precious atonement blood of His Son that cries out to the Father on behalf of all creation, including man.
This is how the apostle Paul described the qara calling of the LORD for His purpose towards us who believe in the Son, Jesus: "And those whom He thus foreordained, He also called; and those whom He called, He also justified [acquitted, made righteous, putting them into right standing with Himself]. And those whom He justified, He also glorified [raising them to a heavenly dignity and condition or state of being]." (Rom. 8:30 AMPC - Amplified Version). God has called us to a high and heavenly calling in Jesus Messiah/Christ, including that of a royal priesthood.
If you would like to learn more about the priestly ministry of the Atonement blood of Jesus, you can join my prayer: "Heavenly Father, the blood of Your Son, Jesus, cries out to You from the Mercy Seat for forgiveness and purging of our sins. Lord, the blood of our Atonement, Jesus, is meant to be spread out beyond ourselves. The blood of Jesus cries out for the whole world. This is why You sent Your Son, Father, and He completed the work that You ordained for Him. The blood of the Atonement is priceless and most precious, yet it was freely poured out to make the way for the reconciliation of all creation. Father, I pray for the reconciliation of all man to You, which is the desire of Your heart. I say to all men: "Be reconciled to God, your Father and Creator, by the blood of Jesus." I ask these things in the name of Jesus. AMEN."
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