How does Exodus 29:23 connect to Jesus as our High Priest? Setting the Scene in Exodus 29 Exodus 29 records the ordination of Aaron and his sons. Verse 23 instructs Moses to take “one loaf of bread, one cake of oiled bread, and one wafer” from the basket of unleavened bread placed “before the LORD.” These three pieces of bread are part of the wave offering that sets the priests apart for service. Three Kinds of Bread, One Unified Picture • “One loaf of bread” – unleavened, free from yeast (symbol of sin). • “One cake of oiled bread” – the same unleavened dough, now mingled with oil (a picture of the Spirit’s anointing). • “One wafer” – the thinnest, most fragile form, easily broken and consumed. Together they portray purity, anointing, and sacrifice. Jesus, the Sinless Bread from Heaven • John 6:33–35, 51 – Jesus calls Himself “the bread of life” who came from heaven. • 1 Corinthians 5:7 – “Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.” Leaven is purged out; He is utterly without sin. The unleavened loaf in Exodus anticipates Christ’s flawless nature. The Anointed Cake: Messiah Filled with the Spirit • Luke 4:18 – “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me…” • Acts 10:38 – God anointed Jesus “with the Holy Spirit and power.” The oiled bread points to the One uniquely empowered by the Spirit to serve as our High Priest. The Wafer: A Life Broken and Offered • Isaiah 53:5 – “He was pierced for our transgressions.” • Luke 22:19 – “This is My body, given for you.” The wafer’s thin, fragile form foreshadows Christ’s body, broken yet wholly given for God’s people. Raised in a Wave: Acceptance Before the Father Exodus 29:24 shows the bread “waved” before the LORD—lifted up, then received back. • Hebrews 9:24 – Christ has entered heaven “to appear now in God’s presence for us.” His resurrection and ascension are the ultimate “wave offering,” proving the Father has accepted His work. Consecrating the Priesthood: From Aaron to Christ • Hebrews 7:26–28 – Jesus is the holy, blameless, exalted High Priest. • Hebrews 8:1–2 – He ministers “in the sanctuary, the true tabernacle set up by the Lord.” Aaron’s ordination ceremony reaches its goal in the permanent priesthood of Jesus. Feeding the Priests, Feeding Us Exodus 29:32–33 has Aaron and his sons eat the consecrated bread, sharing in what was offered. • John 6:57 – “He who feeds on Me will live because of Me.” • 1 Peter 2:9 – We are a “royal priesthood,” nourished by Christ’s finished work. Key Takeaways • The threefold bread in Exodus previews the one Person and complete ministry of Jesus—pure, Spirit-anointed, and sacrificial. • The ordination wave offering finds its fulfillment in His resurrection and ascension. • By faith we partake of Him, the living Bread, and share in His priestly service before God. |
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