Christ Communes
Feasting with the Savior
Leviticus 8 is a smorgasbord of salvation-blessings to the priesthood. In our brief series of joyful contemplation of this text, we’ve had occasion to see that God cleanses, clothes, and crowns his priest. In Christ, we his priests are cleansed, clothed, and crowned. In this last post, there’s one more feature to marvel at: Communion.
God communes with Aaron and his sons. In verse 31, we read, “And Moses said to Aaron and his sons, ‘Boil the flesh at the entrance of the tent of meeting, and there eat it and the bread that is in the basket of ordination offerings, as I commanded, saying, “‘Aaron and his sons shall eat it’” (cf. also vv. 32-36). The fat and other pieces (tail, liver, kidney, and thigh) join with a loaf of unleavened bread and a loaf of bread with oil and a wafer (recalling the grain offerings from earlier chapters). They’re placed on all the fat pieces and right thigh. Then Moses places all of this in Aaron’s and his sons’ hands, and waves them up to God before his heavenly presence.
Moses takes them back and burns some of this, but he himself takes a portion of the ram of ordination. Aaron and his sons are commanded to eat some of the meat and bread. This happens over the course of seven days, and these portions become their food to sustain them during the seven-day ceremony. Once again we are stunned that God would commune with his people. By his grace, he has made a way for his people to feast with him.
On the night of his betrayal, the Son wanted to feast with his disciples. Contrary to us who when anxious, stressed, or depressed cannot eat, Jesus insisted on having a feast with his beloved, the men he had set apart to carry on his message of hope. When the Son was risen, he showed this care for communion by even feeding his disciples (John 21). On the shore of the Sea of Tiberias, he asked them, “Children, do you have any fish?” They had caught nothing, but the abundant Anointed One drew the fish into their nets. They caught 153 fish, and this miracle drew them to see that it was Jesus who spoke! As they walked onto the shore that morning, fish and bread had already been prepared for their weary bodies. “Come and have breakfast,” he invited his beloved.
With the Lord’s Supper, he communes with you. He says, “Come and have supper.” In fact, not only does he commune with you, but you commune with him by feasting on him by faith. You enjoy his presence but also his person, body and soul risen and glorified, and all for your spiritual nourishment and strength. Our God of grace has outpoured his love upon us, his holy priesthood, in cleansing us, clothing us, crowning us, and communing with us. What an awesome God we his priests serve!
Rev. Dr. Michael Mock is the Pastor of Grace Presbyterian Church (PCA) in Fresno, CA and an ACBC-certified Biblical Counselor. He’s the author of Hey, Dad, Why Do We…?: Kids Ask the Greatest Questions, Old Testament Introduction and Workbook, New Testament Introduction and Workbook, Comfort from Corinthians: A Devotional Walkthrough of 2nd Corinthians for Sinful and Struggling Saints, and A Confessional Marriage: Marriage Based on the Firm Foundation and a Faithful Confession. You can find his books here: Amazon.com: Dr. Michael D. Mock: books, biography, latest update.