Christian Publishing House Blog
Apologetic Defense of the faith, the Bible, and Christianity
Paul demonstrates how the priestly office, first filled by Aaron, was characteristic of that which Christ Jesus serves as a superior and heavenly high priest. This being so, the priestly position, operation, and procedure of Aaron’s high office take on extra meaning for Christians. (Heb 8:1-6; 9:6-14, 23-28)
According to the Book of Exodus, Aaron first functioned as Moses' assistant. Because Moses complained that he could not speak well, God appointed Aaron as Moses' “prophet” (Exodus 4:10-17; 7:1)
It was quite befitting, therefore, that our Lord should explain to his fisher friend the momentous and glorious ministry that awaited him, through the calling in which he had been engaged from boyhood, and which had so many points of resemblance with the work of winning souls.
IF the days of David and Solomon may be compared to spring and summer in the history of the kingdom of Israel, it was late autumn when our story opens.
The city of Smyrna was located approximately thirty-five miles north of Ephesus. It was a prosperous city with a population of over one hundred thousand in John’s day (c. A.D. 95). That location had been inhabited for over three thousand years and no one knows for sure who founded Smyrna or exactly when it was established.
There is nothing more important for the development of the spiritual life of the Christian than regular, systematic Bible study.
God has placed within each person’s heart a need for spiritual sustenance. He has provided for this need with his Word, which is literally more essential than physical food and literally more precious than any material resource.
Decades ago, when two people had a disagreement, they had three options: continue to disagree, adopt the opponent’s view, or mutually agree on some third viewpoint. A fourth option has been invented and become practically mandatory in modern times: everybody’s viewpoint is correct.
We need to be determined to emulate the faith of Abraham. As was true of him, we also need knowledge and experience. As we grow in our knowledge of God and be obedient to what we learn, we will see how He blesses and protects us.
Aaron, whose name might mean, a teacher, or lofty, was the eldest son of the Levite Amram by Jochebed, and the older brother of Moses and Miriam, born about 1600 B.C.