«By so much more Jesus has become a surety of a better covenant. Also there were many priests, because they were prevented by death from continuing. But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood» (Hebrews 7:22-24).
NOT MANY THINGS are unchangeable. Almost everything changes and not necessarily for the better, as evolutionary philosophy purports. The clearest proof lies in the very existence of sin. Always present in people, damaging and destroying. For this reason, not only the death of Christ became necessary, but also His intercession. «Immutability is the peculiar property of eternity,» said Marsilio Ficino, implying that it is the ability to not change or the impossibility that an entity changes in its essence or in its properties.
Sin and death seemed like invincible enemies. But the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, in a council of peace, prior to the appearance of these evils, created a plan of salvation. The Son offered Himself to a voluntary death in place of the sinful human race.
He would bethe Sacrifice and the Priest at the same time. His immaculate life, death, and intercession would overcome death caused by sin and make possible the definitive restoration of sinners.
The earthly sanctuary illustrates the ministry of the heavenly sanctuary, immutable, unchanging, without beginning or end, universal and permanent in Christ Jesus. It is non-transferable, it is not delegated to a successor, «therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them» (Heb. 7:25).
This intercession was not possible for the Aaronic priesthood. All the priests, including the high priest, were replaced through hereditary succession. Eleazar succeeded Aaron as high priest, Phineas succeeded Eleazar, and so on from fathers to sons until the destruction of the temple in AD 70. According to Josephus, this act was repeated eighty-three times.
Only Christ could intercede all the time because only He lives forever.
That is why Paul says that this Priest is suited for us because He is the adequate High Priest, because of His enabling divinity/humanity to mediate between sinners and God, He does not need to offer sacrifices for Himself as the Aaronic high priests. «When Christ went through the tent and entered once and for all into the Most Holy Place, he did not take the blood of goats and bulls to offer as a sacrifice; rather, he took his own blood and obtained eternal salvation for us» (Heb. 9: 12, GNT).
Jesus is empowered to save us by His
perfect sacrifice on earth and His perfect mediation in heaven.
In the face of this unchanging and immutable love, we are the only ones who need to change, don’t you think?