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Questions From ReadersThe Watchtower (Study)—2020 | July
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Questions From Readers
When did Jesus become High Priest, and is there a distinction between when the new covenant was validated and when it was inaugurated?
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Questions From ReadersThe Watchtower (Study)—2020 | July
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There is no distinction between when the new covenant was validated and when it was inaugurated. Why not? When Jesus ascended to heaven and offered up his perfect human life in our behalf, he set in motion a process that validated, or legalized, the new covenant. That same process also inaugurated the covenant, or put it into effect. What steps were involved in doing so?
First, Jesus appeared before Jehovah; next, Jesus offered up the value of his sacrifice to Jehovah; and finally, Jehovah accepted the value of Jesus’ shed blood. Until these steps were taken, the new covenant was not operative.
The Bible does not tell us exactly when Jehovah accepted the value of Jesus’ sacrifice. Accordingly, we cannot pinpoint a specific time when the new covenant was validated and also put into effect. Nevertheless, we do know that Jesus ascended to heaven ten days before Pentecost. (Acts 1:3) At some point during that short period of time, he presented the value of his sacrifice to Jehovah, who accepted it. (Heb. 9:12) Proof that the new covenant was now operative was visibly evident at Pentecost. (Acts 2:1-4, 32, 33) The new covenant was then obviously in place and working.
In summary, the new covenant was validated and inaugurated after Jehovah accepted the value of Jesus’ shed blood and brought the anointed into that covenant. The covenant then became operative with the High Priest, Jesus, serving as its Mediator.—Heb. 7:25; 8:1-3, 6; 9:13-15.
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