Kids say the darndest things. Just the other day, my granddaughter Rachel, as she steps into the 92F pool water, declared, “It’s tdold!” (her way of saying ‘cold’). I thought that was one of the darndest things I ever heard, until I stepped into the pool. You know, she was right. When the the air temperature is 100F and you step into a 92F pool, it feels cold! You can hear some more of the darndest things here: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=kids+say+the+darndest+things
Teens sometimes say the darndest things. I remember when my oldest daughter was, maybe 17 or 18, asking this question at the dinner table: “Did you know that they give [traffic] tickets for doing 65 in a 50 mile per hour zone?”... “Uhhhh, yes, I knew that…”
Preachers sometimes say the darndest things. When I think of the the darndest things I have ever heard, some came from kids, some from teens, but many came from the the guy in the pulpit.
I remember debating, I mean, discussing this with someone. He said that since the guy in the pulpit, the “priest” in his case, is learned, that the congregation shouldn’t question anything he says. So, he could say the darndest things and go unchallenged? And at what point during his study and training did he become...infallible? That reminds me of one of the darndest things I ever heard from a guy in the pulpit. He said: NEVER question what the guy in the pulpit says. I guess that in his mind (and his mind only) he had reached that infallible state. May I make a recommendation here? Question everything.
Recently I heard a preacher ask (something to this effect, may not be an exact quote): Jesus died for you, would you die for someone? My answer, that I did not verbalize: “Of course not!”.
I really don’t know why he asked. When I think of my death, I don’t think it will accomplish very much and won’t benefit anyone much. It may have some affect on some people, close family, depending on who survives me, but overall, it will not accomplish much. When I think of Jesus’s death, I think of all that was accomplished at the cross and how it has affected so many over the course of centuries...mind blown!
Preachers sometimes say the darndest things while dressed in the darndest outfits. Look at what some of them wear to make themselves stand out: robes of many colors, or special collars or collarless shirts. The priests of ancient Israel stood out because while they were in service, wore clothing that was different from the common folk. The high priest, stood out from the lower priest because he wore something different. The high priest and lower priest were easily identified because of their priestly garb. The first time the priests were dressed in their special garb was during their eight day consecration.
Instructions for the consecration of Aaron (the first high priest) and his sons (the first lower priests) begins in Leviticus chapter 8. According to this chapter, Moses was to take Aaron and his four sons and while everyone was assemble at doorway of the tabernacle, wash them with water. Then Moses was to clothe Aaron. After that Moses was to anoint the tabernacle with oil then pour oil, pour as if without measure, on Aaron. After the anointing, Moses was to slaughter a ram and apply the ram’s blood to Aaron. Then the blood was applied to Aaron’s sons. The blood was then sprinkled around the altar of burnt offering then Aaron’s sons were anointed by sprinkling of oil. Notice the order of events. Aaron was anointed, then an animal was slaughtered and the blood applied. The blood was applied to his sons and then the sons are anointed by oil by sprinkling.
That priesthood is dead. Maybe ‘dead’ is the wrong word. That Aaronic priesthood is no longer, it has been superseded by a better one. Aaron, the one and only high priest, typifies Jesus, who is currently serving as our one and only high priest. Aaron’s sons typify true believers. The anointing oil typifies the Holy Spirit and the blood typifies, well, blood.
Like Aaron, Jesus was anointed before His blood was shed. Jesus was anointed by the pouring out of the Spirit. Acts 10:38 seems to say that this happened at His baptism by John. But it may have been before His incarnation since He is called the anointed one at birth (Luke 2:11). He was also anointed by oil by a woman (Mark 14:3-9). It was after His anointing that His blood was shed. It was only after His blood was shed could it be applied.
We become believers because of the shed blood. Like the lower priests, the blood had to be shed first. When we believe, the blood is applied. When we believe, we are anointed (in-dwelt) with the Holy Spirit. Perhaps, like the lower priests, we are anointed by sprinkling because if it was poured out without measure, we might stumble and fall under the sheer weight of it.
We have Jesus Christ (the anointed one). Jesus, who shed His blood for us, whose blood has been applied to us, who has inserted Himself between us and God, serving as our one and only high priest. Who needs someone dressed in the darndest clothes saying the darndest things?
Down at the cross where my Savior died,
Down where for cleansing from sin I cried,
There to my heart was the blood applied;
Go. And glorify His name...
