We must also recognize the tradition of the church. Ordination, like other elements in the Christian church, has plenty of variation among the various Christian denominations, but there is considerable agreement about the need for ordination.
How have Christians arrived at this kind of conclusion? I am aware of the Plymouth Brethren and their arguments, but they and others like them are really a small minority. In outline form we will try to summarize a case for the consecration of individuals to an office or a ministry. We are all acquainted with this expression in the New Testament, but before we examine the occurrences there, we ought to see how the expression is used in the Old Testament.
The elaborate ceremony involved the offering of one bull, two rams, unleavened bread, cakes, wafers. It also involved the washing of Aaron and his sons with water and their putting on of priestly garments. The ceremony was climaxed by putting anointing oil on the head. During the ceremony, when it came to the offerings of the bulls and the rams, Aaron and his sons had to lay their hands on the heads of each of the animals.
Then the animals were slain and became offerings for them Exodus , 15, Here the "laying on of hands" involves identification. When individual Israelites offered burnt offerings and peace offerings, they also had to lay their hands on the heads of the sacrificial victims Lev.
In these offerings, whether priests or people, the laying on of hands indicated an involvement with a means of an atonement The laying on of hands was a crucial part of the solemn ceremony. This ceremony likewise was a rather involved one Numbers But twice the laying on of hands accompanies the dedication ceremony. During the ceremony the Levites had to appear before the people.
In presenting them before the Lord the people of Israel were to lay their hands upon the Levites; this probably means the princes of the people since a mass laying on of hands does not seem very feasible Num.
The Levites were also to lay their hands on two bulls, one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering. When the people laid their hands on the Levites they were by this action designating the Levites as taking their place.
In putting their hands on the bulls the Levites were indicating that in some way the offering of these bulls was a decisive response to their sinful separation from God. This is described in detail in Numbers It is summarized by way of review in Deut. After Moses had a mountain top view of the land of Canaan, he came down to be gathered to his people Num.
Moses took Joshua and caused him to stand before Eleazar the priest and the whole congregation Num. By this symbolic action Moses was investing Joshua with some of his authority that all the congregation of Israel might obey Joshua Num.
So the commissioning of Joshua by Moses in the sight of all the people dramatically expressed a transfer of authority. Joshua was to complete the task that Moses had begun. Elijah asked Naaman to bathe himself seven times in the Jordan river and he would be healed from his leprosy. Naaman as a Syrian thought that the rivers of Damascus were far superior to the Jordan. Further, he had a preconceived picture as to how the prophet would heal him: " I thought that he would surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the LORD his God, and wave his hand over the place and cure the leper" II Kings His servants politely suggested to Naaman that he do what the prophet asked since washing in the Jordan river was not difficult.
When Naaman obeyed, he was completely healed. Here is an early account of waving the hand over that which was diseased to bring about healing. At the close of Elisha's life, Joash the king of Israel visited Elisha during his final illness. The prophet commanded the king to take a bow and arrows. He was to draw the bow, insert an arrow, open the window eastward and shoot the arrow. When the king did this, Elisha laid his hands upon the king's hands.
The arrow that had been shot Elisha called: "The Lord's arrow of victory, the arrow of victory over Syria! With the remaining arrows probably tied in a bundle the king was to smite the ground. The king did this a mere three times. Elisha was angry with the king because he wanted the king to have smitten the ground five or six times.
Three times meant that Israel would achieve only three victories over Syria. Five or six victories would have eliminated Syria from being a threat to Israel. The laying on of the hands of the prophet in this symbolic action pointed to God's presence in, and control of, history.
The technical expression, "the laying on of hands" is used in a variety of ways in the N. We will summarize these and give most of our attention to the passages which have implications for ordination. The laying of hands is found as :. Hebrews lists six foundational elements: 1 Repentance from dead works, 2 Faith towards God, 3 Teaching about baptisms, 4 about the laying on of hands, 5 about the resurrection of the dead, and 6 about eternal judgment.
The first three elements have to do with conversion. The last two elements have to do with eschatology. Hence it is the fourth element, "the laying on of hands," that covers a variety of things in the Christian life, in Christian service and ministry. Jarius made the request of Jesus that he come and lay his hands upon his daughter who was at the point of death.
He believed that when Jesus did this she would be cured and recover Matt , Mark Mark records, "He laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them", and in Mark Jesus was asked to lay his hands upon a man who was deaf with a speech impediment. The account tells just how Jesus restored this man. In healing the blind man near Bethsaida Jesus put hands on him twice, Mark , The longer ending of Mark speaks of the disciples putting their hands on the sick Mark Luke covers a whole day of Jesus miracles and then when the day came to a close he says: " Jesus healed a crippled woman on the Sabbath by laying hands upon her only to be rebuked by the ruler of the synagogue Luke Ananias of Damascus laid his hands on Saul later Paul so that he could recover his sight Acts , Paul laid his hands on the father of Publius, the chief official on the island of Malta; he recovered from his fever and dysentery Acts Matthew reported an event that brought the rebuke of the disciples towards Jesus.
Mark and Luke speak about Jesus "touching" the children Mark ; Luke All three gospels note the immediate response of the disciples — that of a stern rebuke of Jesus. Matthew concludes: "And after he had placed his hands upon them, he proceeded from that place" Matt The symbol of laying on of hands accompanied by prayer points to some kind of dedication or consecration. The disciples thought that Jesus should not waste his time with this.
But since his kingdom consists of such kind, Jesus says: "Allow the children and stop hindering them from coming to me" Matt. Jesus seems to have been consecrating them for service in his kingdom. The first of these is the Pentecost feast day in Jerusalem.
Then ask:. To help students answer this question, display the following statements by the Prophet Joseph Smith —44 and President Joseph F. Smith — :. Every man ordained to any degree of the Priesthood has this authority delegated to him.
Smith [], This account in the Doctrine and Covenants helps us understand what took place on the Mount of Transfiguration. You may want to suggest that students write Doctrine and Covenants —16 as a cross-reference in the margin next to Matthew —8.
Students may use different words, but they should express the following truth: Jesus conferred priesthood keys upon His Apostles so they would have authority to direct the Church both before and after His death. Matthew — Mark — Luke — John — Assign students to work in pairs to study one or two of these passages and to consider what principles the Apostles may have learned from their experiences with the Savior. Then invite students to share with the class what they discussed. You may want to write their answers on the board.
Then ask follow-up questions such as the following:. How does knowing that Jesus Christ guides His Apostles help you to trust their counsel? Invite students to read Acts —22 and identify the requirement the new Apostle needed to meet.
What were the qualifications for the new Apostle? There are two other reasons why we can conclude that Jesus intended his apostles to be priests, which admittedly are not as conclusive as the first.
How do these actions reveal that Jesus meant for the apostles to be his New Covenant ministerial priests? But what is it about the command that invites such an interpretation?
Every student of the Bible knows that offering sacrifice is a duty that belongs to priests see Leviticus , ; Hebrews For example, in Exodus of the Septuagint the Greek translation of the Old Testament used by Jesus and the apostles poieo is used five times in reference to Moses offering sacrifice as part of the ritual for ordaining Aaron and his sons as priests:.
The use of poieo in Leviticus makes it clear that Moses transferred this priestly duty to Aaron and his sons. The passage reads:. And since offering sacrifice is a priestly function, it follows that Jesus instituted his apostles as his New Testament ministerial priests.
Anamnesis has sacrificial meaning in both the Old and New Testaments.
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