This is Spoken Gospel.

We’re dedicated to seeing
Jesus in all of scripture.

In each episode, we see what’s
happening in a Biblical text

and how it sheds light
on Jesus and his gospel.

Let’s jump in.

So far in Leviticus, we have
seen descriptions of the sacrifices.

These sacrifices needed
priests to carry them out.

But last we saw from Aaron, the head priest
in the book of Exodus, he was begging for

his life after building Israel an
idol in the shape of a golden calf.

Here, we see that God has provided a way
for Aaron and his sons to be forgiven of this

terrible sin and serve inside
his tabernacle as priests.

Aaron and his sons are
ordained as priests after following

all the commands God gave
back in Exodus chapter 29.

Then they carry out the sacrifices
Leviticus has commanded so far.

The result of this
obedience is tremendous.

God revealed his glory and sent
fire to consume the burnt offering.

But, then, only one verse later,
fire comes out from God again.

But this time, it is not the fire of
acceptance, but the fire of judgement.

That’s because Aaron’s sons, Nadab
and Abihu, disobeyed God’s commands.

They brought a different fire into
God’s presence than the one he lit.

So, God’s fire consumes them.

God showed his glory to the people
when he consumed the sacrifice.

Here, God shows his holiness to the
people by sending his fire of judgement.

After this incident, God says, “Among
those who are near me I will be sanctified,

and before all the
people I will be glorified.”

God will show those who come near
him that he is holy and set apart.

And whether in worship or in judgement
God’s glory will be displayed to all.

So how can we come near
God without being consumed?

Jesus is our answer.

Jesus is the final high priest who
perfectly obeyed every command of God.

Therefore, he did not have to go
through a process of ordination

where blood was
spilled to pay for his sins.

And since he shed his own blood for
us, we can approach God with boldness;

not because of our goodness
or accomplishments but

because we know that Jesus
perfectly represents us before God.

The fire we deserve to have consume us was
fully extinguished upon Christ’s body on the cross.

And like the fire on the altar showed
God’s acceptance of Israel’s sacrifice,

so the fire of the Holy Spirit that
indwells believers today shows that

we have been made into
acceptable living sacrifices to God.

Our ability to draw near to God is not
based on how well we follow rules.

The reason we are not consumed
by God’s holiness is because

his holiness has
come to live in us.

He makes us fully acceptable, so that we
can be a kingdom of priests that never perish.

I pray that the Holy Spirit
would give you eyes to see

the God of perfect
holiness and tremendous glory.

And that you will see
that Jesus is the only way

we can enter into God’s holy presence
and behold his glory with joyful worship.