Christ: Prophet, Priest, and King
Introduction:
Prophet, Priest, and King, that is how the titles of Jesus
are often expressed. In Israel, the King governed as God’s representative
on earth. The Priest represented the people to God by offering sacrifices
and prayers on their behalf. Prophets were commissioned by God to be His
spokesman to the people. Jesus is the only one mentioned in Scripture who
is said to be all three. This distinction of His work helps us understand
both the vastness and greatness of His salvation for humanity.
Body:
I.
Jesus As Prophet
·
The primary responsibility of prophets in the Hebrew
Scriptures was to speak to the people on behalf of God. Often their message
was to call them to faithfulness – to repent and obey God. Prophets like
Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Elijah come to mind.
·
Moses in the long ago said this about Christ. (Deuteronomy
18:15-18) “The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from
your midst, from your brethren, Him you shall hear, according to all you
desired of the Lord your God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying,
‘Let me not hear again the voice of the Lord my God, nor let me see this
great fire anymore, lest I die.’ And the Lord said to me: ‘What they have
spoken is good. I will raise up for them a Prophet like you from among
their brethren, and will put My words in His mouth, and He shall speak to
them all that I command Him.” NKJV Then Acts 3:19-23. “Repent therefore and
be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing
may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send Jesus Christ,
who was preached to you before, whom heaven must receive until the times of
restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy
prophets since the world began. For Moses truly said to the fathers, The
Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brethren.
Him you shall hear in all things, whatever He says to you. And it shall be
that every soul who will not hear that Prophet shall be utterly destroyed
for among the people.” NKJV
·
Note what was said when Jesus fed the five thousand. (John
6:14) “Then those men, when they had seen the sign that Jesus did, said,
‘This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world.’ ” NKJV
·
On the Mount of Transfiguration, God made it clear that the
people were to listen to His Son. (Matthew 17:4-5) “Then Peter answered and
said to Jesus, ‘Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, let us make
here three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.’
While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and
suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, ‘This is My beloved Son, in
whom I am well pleased, Hear Him!’ ” NKJV The writer of Hebrews affirms
this as well. (Hebrews 1:1-3) “God, who at various times and in various
ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last
days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things,
through whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory
and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of
His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right
hand of the Majesty on high,” NKJV
·
Jesus is God’s final prophet. If you reject the message of
Christ, you have rejected your only means of eternal salvation. (Hebrews
2:1-4) “Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have
heard, lest we drift away. For if the word spoken through angels proved
steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward,
how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first
began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard
Him, God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various
miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?” NKJV
II.
Jesus As Priest
·
The Priest’s role under the Mosaical system was to offer,
sacrifices for the people. The animals which were killed were a continual
reminder to both the priests and people that the penalty for sin was death.
·
The high priest had a very unique responsibility. He and he
alone was authorized to enter the Most Holy Place on the Day of Atonement.
He was to offer a sacrifice for the sins of all the people.
·
Jesus was divinely called to be our High Priest. (Hebrews
5:1-5) “For every high priest taken from among men is appointed for men in
things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for
sins. He can have compassion on those who are ignorant and going astray,
since he himself is also subject to weakness. Because of this he is
required as for the people, so also for himself, to offer sacrifices for
sins. And no man takes this honor to himself, but he who is called to God,
just as Aaron was. So also Christ did not glorify Himself to become High
Priest, but it was He who said to Him: ‘You are My Son, Today I have
begotten You.’ ” NKJV He is perfectly qualified for this work. (Hebrews
4:14-16) “Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed
through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.
God we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses,
but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore
come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace
to help in time of need.” NKJV
·
Jesus, our High Priest, offered Himself as the ultimate
sacrifice. (Hebrews 7:26-28) “For such a High Priest was fitting for us,
who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become
higher that the heavens; who does not need daily, as those high priests, to
offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people’s, for
this He did once for all when He offered up Himself. For the law appoints
as high priests men who have weakness, but the word of the oath, which came
after the law, appoints the Son who has been perfected forever.”
NKJV Also, He makes intercession for
us. (Hebrews 7:25) “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.” NKJV
·
Jesus is the last Priest we will ever need. (Hebrews 7:24)
“But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood.”
NKJV
III.
Jesus As King
·
Jesus is King of King, and Lord of Lords. (Revelation 19:16)
“And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND
LORD OF LORDS.” NKJV He was prophesied to be such.
(Psalm 2:6) “Yet I have set My King On My holy hill of Zion.”
NKJV
·
His throne is everlasting. (Psalm 45:1-2, 6) “My heart is
overflowing with a good theme; I recite my composition concerning the King;
My tongue is the pen of a ready writer. You are fairer than the sons of
men; Grace is poured upon Your lips; Therefore God has blessed You forever.
6 Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the
scepter of Your kingdom.” NKJV
(Hebrews 1:10-12) “And: ‘You, Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of
the earth, And the heavens are the work of Your hands. They will perish,
but You remain; And they will all grow old like a garment; Like a cloak You
will fold them up, And they will be changed, But You are the same, And Your
years will not fail.’ ” NKJV
·
Because He is King, all authority has been given to Him.
(Matthew 28:18) “And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority
has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.’ ” NKJV
Conclusion:
Though we distinguish between the offices of Christ, they are
never separate. He is always Prophet, always Priest, and always King. As
Hebrews 13:8 declares: “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today, and
forever.” NKJV Those of you who
have submitted to Him and obeyed His Word enjoy the promise of Hebrews
10:14: “For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are
sanctified.”
Bobby Stafford October 8, 2017
