10 March

The original Hebrew word for ‘Lord’ (YHWH) had no vowels and was not vocalised. It was considered too sacred to pronounce. For that reason, when vowels were added to the original Hebrew texts they weren’t added to ‘the name’ (YHWH). There has been much debate in modern times as to what vowels should be used – it used to be thought it should be ‘Jehovah’, but most scholars now think ‘Yahweh’ is more accurate.

In the Greek translation of the Old Testament, the Septuagint, this sacred name (YHWH) is translated ‘Kyrios’ (Lord). It really is quite extraordinary, therefore, that the New Testament writers (who were Jewish monotheists) made this fundamental Christian affirmation that ‘Jesus is Lord’ (Kyrios) (Romans 10:9; 2 Corinthians 4:5; Acts 2:36) and that our Lord has been crucified for us.

• My Messiah
  It is ironic that the religious leaders mocked him and described him as ‘this Christ’ (vv.31–32), because that is exactly what he was and is. The English term ‘Christ’ is derived from the Greek ‘Christos’, which translates the Hebrew ‘Mashiah’or ‘Messiah’. Both the Greek and the Hebrew literally mean ‘anointed’. We have seen Jesus as the anointed High Priest of God. Here we see him as the anointed King.
• My Saviour
  Again we see the extraordinary irony of the mocking words of both the passers-by, ‘Come down from the cross and save yourself!’ (v.30), and the religious leaders, ‘He saved others… but he can’t save himself!’ (v.31). This was exactly true – in order to be the Saviour of the world he could not save himself. He had to go through the agony of the crucifixion in order to save you and me.
  
  The incident with Barabbas provides us with a picture of what Jesus has done as Saviour of the world. Barabbas, like me, was guilty and deserved punishment. He was ‘in prison with the rebels who had committed murder in the uprising’ (v.7). Jesus, on the other hand, was totally innocent. As Pilate remarked, ‘What crime has he committed?’ (v.14). Yet Barabbas was ‘released’ and set free, whilst Jesus was ‘handed... over to be crucified’ (v.15). The innocent one faced the punishment of death so that I, the guilty one, could go free. We may not be murderers like Barabbas, but all of us need rescuing by the Saviour of the world.
• My Lord
  In yesterday’s passage we saw how when Jesus was asked by the High Priest, ‘are you the Messiah, the Son of the blessed one?’ he answered, ‘I am’ (14:61–62). The high priest’s response was to accuse Jesus of blasphemy – that is claiming to be God. Why was this? When God revealed his name YHWH to Moses (Exodus 3:14–15), he also explained its meaning. It comes from the Hebrew phrase ‘I am who I am’ or simply ‘I am’. The high priest’s response to Jesus’ statement in Mark 14:62 suggests that Jesus was declaring himself to be none other than YHWH (the Lord) (see also John 8:58).

This amazing truth is the background behind St Paul’s extraordinary soul-cry in Philippians 2:5–11 (which forms the basis of the prayer below).

Lord, help me to have the same attitude as Jesus, who humbled himself and became obedient to death. Thank you that you exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow in heaven and on earth and under the earth and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord.

The theme of Leviticus 21 is God’s holiness and the need for the priesthood in order for the people to be able to approach God. In the New Testament we see that Jesus is the Great High Priest and it is through him that we approach God. Jesus is:

• Completely holy
  The high priest had to be ceremonially clean(21:11b). Jesus was morally perfect. Jesus is ‘completely holy, uncompromised by sin’ (Hebrews 7:26, MSG).

• Dedicated to God
  The High Priest had to be dedicated to God(Leviticus 21:12), as Jesus was (Luke 2:22).

• The anointed one
  The High Priest had to be anointed with oil (Leviticus 21:12) as a symbol of the Holy Spirit. Jesus was anointed by the Holy Spirit at his baptism. He is the anointed one: the Christ.

If we are reminded of the need for a perfect priest in chapter 21, we are also reminded of the need for a perfect sacrifice in chapter 22. The sacrifice has to be ‘without defect’ (22:19,21). Jesus was both the perfect priest and the perfect sacrifice.