Union with Christ is the only way of salvation. Thus, Jesus can apply Isaiahs prophecy to himself: The Spirit of the LORD is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. and [thou] shalt be turned into another man and that God gave him another heart (1 Samuel 10:1, 6, 9). But that you may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins (w. 2, 6). 9:11 says, "But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation." As a priest, Jesus is our mediator between God and ourselves ( 1 Tim. Melchizedek became the name used for the Holy Priesthood after the order of the Son of God (see D&C 107:12). All of these Old Testament persons in some way pre-figure Jesus: the true priest, prophet, and king. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. John explains this doctrine at the beginning of his Gospel: But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name (John 1:12). Throughout His ministry, Jesus taught, Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them (Matthew 18:20). We see this in the second priestly ministry the apostles committed, the ministry of prayer: But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word (6:4). Moses also fulfilled the prophetic role of mouthpiece for the Lord as he called the children of Israel to repentance and prepared them to enter the promised land. Danielle Bernock Crosswalk.com Contributing Writer Jun 03, 2020 a copy of this law" ( Deut. The Prophet Joseph Smith supports the belief that Jesus was first anointed in the premortal existence: He, the Lord being a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek, and the anointed Son of God, from before the foundation of the world. [10] Elder Bruce R. McConkie, echoing the words of Joseph Smith, taught the same doctrine: And Christ our Lord, Firstborn of the Father, mightiest of all the spirit host, a Man like unto his Father, was also chosen and foreordained and anointed to come into mortality and do the very work that he then accomplished. [11]. What is the Great Commandment? Jesus followed the prophet John the Baptist. Moses performed many miraclesthe plagues, the parting of the Red Sea, the water from the rock, bread and quail in the wilderness. Moses passed along his prophetic keys to Joshua by the laying on of hands. And large crowds came to Him, bringing with them those who were lame, crippled, blind, mute, and many others, and they laid them down at His feet; and He healed them(Matthew 15:30). We can learn both from the prophecies concerning the Messiah and from the kings of Israel, particularly David, what the future king was to be like and what characteristics the messianic king would have: 1. Reformed theology affirms that Scripture and its teaching on grace and faith emphasize that salvation is solus Christus, "by Christ alone"that is, Christ is the only Savior (Acts 4:12). But it is not as if the apostles wanted to sit in their study, sport their tweed jackets, and puff their pipes without being bothered by the flock. He has spent the last ten years planting churches in England and is the author of Covenants Made Simple. The accounts of the anointing of Saul and David record that after the anointing the Spirit of the Lord fell upon them. He is none other than the Word of God in the flesh. In his patriarchal blessing given by his father Jacob, Judah was promised that the king would come through his lineage: The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be (Genesis 49:10). One man didnt wear more than one title. In Acts 6, the apostles declare that their word ministry is the most important thing they do, It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables (6:2). The Gospels present Jesus as the fulfilment of these prophecies. In the past God spoketo our ancestors through the prophetsat many times and in various ways,but in these last dayshe has spoken to us by his Son,whom he appointed heirof all things, and through whomalso he made the universe (Hebrews 1:1-2). [11] Bruce R. McConkie, The Mortal Messiah, 4 vols. Many people today question the belief that salvation is only by faith in Christ. Multiple times he told his disciples about his death and resurrection that was going to happen. The sacrifice of Jesus need never be made again. Answer There are three main "offices" spoken of in the Old Testamentprophet, priest, and king. What Does it Mean That Jesus Is Prophet, Priest, and King? - Christianity 16:27). Moses is an Old Testament prophet who foretold of a prophet to come. . From it, he preaches to us of the love and justice of God. The symbolism of Jesus as king fills the Gospels. These are just a few examples. The anointing of Saul, David, and Solomon helps us to understand that the king was called upon for special responsibilities from the Lord and given special gifts in connection with those responsibilities. The Joseph Smith Translation and the Book of Mormon restore many important truths about Melchizedek (JST, Genesis 14:2540; Alma 13.1419). Romans 5:10 says, "When we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son." PDF Jesus - Prophet, Priest, and King - Austin-Sparks This three-fold division of the mediatorial work. He called the world to turn from sin and return to the Father and was put to death for it. After a rousing performance of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, the famous Italian conductor Arturo Toscanini is said to have told the orchestra: "I am nothing. Theologians down the centuries have often spoken of Jesuss threefold office. Shes writtenEmerging With Wings, A Bird Named Payn,Loves Manifesto,Because You Matter, and hosts theVictorious Souls Podcast. The prophet pronounced the forgiveness and pardon of God (Isa. First, his life stands in the Old Testament as a type of Christ in many ways. Rev. He spoke of himself as a prophet: No prophet is accepted in his own native place (Luke 4:24). Jesus, known as the Christ, the anointed one, fills all three roles. Jesus followed in the tradition of the prophets. Jesus responds by saying, "The one who has seen me . Through the power of this priesthood, Melchizedek had the same power as Enochpower over the elements, power to defy the armies of nations, and the power to be translated and taken into heaven (see JST, Genesis 14:3032). The end result is that today, many peopleas H. R. Niebuhr famously said of liberalismproclaim and worship "a God without wrath who brought men without sin into a kingdom without judgment through the ministrations of a Christ without a cross.". Rather a thousand clunky but faithful expositions of penal-substitutionary atonement than a thousand depictions of the cross as a terrible accident. He did not have to make sacrifice for Himself because He was pure; He brought to God the sacrifice of His own blood, offering one sacrificean infinite and eternal sacrificefor the sins of the world. 3. Prophet, Priest, and King: Our Identity in Christ He doesn't just represent God to humanity, he is God, the exact expression of God. The office of priest is represented by Melchizedek. The Priesthood of Believers: A Lens for Viewing the World. Once a year on the Day of Atonement the Jewish high priest went into the Holy of Holies in the Temple. Your throne shall be established forever (2 Samuel 7:16). As our King, He has fought our battles and now rules in such a way that sin never can reign over us (Rom. In Christ, the chains of our captivity have been broken, and the light of His grace has shone As powerful as sin is, the blood of Christ is more powerful still. When we read the Old Testament we discover three groups of people are anointed with oil to symbolize their commissioning to an office: prophets, priests, and kings. It was Melchizedek who ordained Abraham to the Melchizedek Priesthood (see D&C 84:14) and to whom Abraham paid his tithing (see Genesis 14:20). Through this power, Melchizedek established peace in Salem and was called the Prince of peace, and King of peace (JST, Genesis 14:33, 36)titles that would foreshadow the coming of Christ. 1. Jesus is that Prophet. Request the classic book and Stephen Nichols companion teaching series. The words of this well-known hymn were written by Samuel Medley. Jesus has one office, that of Messiah or Christ. As we live in our identity as a priestwhich means that we are near to Godthere are a couple of things that emerge as we look out into the world. Jesus: Prophet, Priest, and King | Loyola Press Take just chapter twelve of Matthews gospel. Will we leave inspired by the courage of Daniel, crushed by the law of God, disturbed by the misery of the psalm? These verses bring to mind the times when Jesus face shone upon the lame as He caused them to walk, the blind as He caused them to see, the lepers as He healed them, the sinners as He forgave their sins, and the dead when He raised them. The Israelites anointed their priests and kings with oil. . Summary: Three offices in the Old Testament required anointing: prophet, priest, and king. When Pilate asked if he were king of the Jews, Jesus replied, You say so, and he clarified, My kingdom does not belong to this world (John 18:36). In fact, throughout the Old Testament priests are anointed to set them apart, to separate them from the realm of the profane, and to enable them to function in the realm of the sacred at the tabernacle and temple. David, a descendent of Judah, was promised, And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever (2 Samuel 7:16). 4. In fact, these accounts often show us how Jesus is always acting as prophet, priest, and king at the same time. The news spread all about the region, for the people recognized one who manifested the power of God as did Elijah and the great Israelite prophets. The God Jehovah came to earth and officiated with the Melchizedek Priesthood. Jesus Christ as Prophet, Priest, and King - Liberty University [5] In Exodus 29:49 and Leviticus 8:69, Aaron and the priests were washed with water and clothed in the clothing of the priesthood before their ordination. He had to enter only one time, for He sprinkled His own blood on the mercy seat. His mission was to have God reign in the hearts of all and to have peace and justice in the world. He judged the wicked and offered compassion and forgiveness to those who would repent. In the Old Testament, the priests had many functions. Lineage. . Provo, UT 84602 As He prayed in the gardenreminiscent of the anointing of the high priest with bloodHe bled from every pore (see D&C 19:18). In the Old Testament, the Lord prophesied to David that the future Messiah would be a priest: The Lord hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek (Psalm 110:4). . (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 197981), 1:26. One of the most common metaphors for kings in the ancient Near East was the shepherd. The conviction of sin as you walk through the Ten Commandments grows almost overwhelming. After all, Christ died so that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery (Heb. 31). What Does the Bible Say about Visiting Graves? In him, God has given us the perfect Prophet, Priest, and King. Romans 5:19 says, "By the obedience of one shall many be made righteous." These were real offices filled by real people. As the Prophet, Jesus is the only One who can reveal what God has been purposing in history "since the world began" and who can teach and make manifest the real meaning of the "scriptures of the prophets" (the Old Testament; see Rom. For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Heb. During the time of Samuel, the people clamored for a king, and with a warning the Lord allowed them to have one. Later, when warned to depart hence: for Herod [Antipas] will kill thee, Jesus replied that He would continue on, for it cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem (Luke 13:31, 33). He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? 16:2526). What Does it Mean That Jesus Is Prophet, Priest, and King? He alone offered the sacrifice on the day of atonement that cleansed the people for one year. The depths of emotion expressed by the psalmist as he cries out for deliverance stirs and unsettles your soul. Through the system of sacrifices and offerings, the priests under the law of Moses facilitated the final stages of repentance by offering on behalf of the children of Israel their sacrifices at the temple. You see, this is the reason God, in the Old Testament, pronounced judgment upon men like Saul and Uzziah, who were both kings and who both usurped the office of the priest. Do you love Him in His person, offices, natures, and benefits? The question about the cessation or continuation of special revelation has very practical ramifications for the Christian life, for Gods special revelation carries great authority. Christ is King. Within that priesthood was a single High Priest. Prophet Prophets speak on behalf of the Lord. 1:2324), and therefore the way of discipleship, as Christs followers learn what it means to take up their own crosses to follow him. Jesus died to set us free from the burden of sin. He came not just proclaiming the Word of God; He is the Word of God (John 1:1). The first is to satisfy the justice of God through obedience to the law. Jesus fulfilled the prophecy in Zechariah 9: Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass (v. 9). The anointed king was to represent God on earth. We can grow in the Christian life only as we live obediently under Christ's rule and by His power. The following will explore the Old Testament prophecies of the coming of the Messiah, the Anointed One, in terms of prophet, priest, and king and discuss how the Savior fulfilled each of these offices in His mortal ministry. If we can see the threefold office at work in the miracles of Christ, we see it supremely, too, in the cross of Christ. Gabriel announced to Mary that the Lord God would give her son the throne of David his father, and he would rule over the house of Jacob forever. Attributes. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end(Luke 1:31-33). Like the high priest of old, Christ entered the Holy Place, but unlike the high priest, He entered to offer Himself. ", The centrality of Christ is the foundation of the Protestant faith. John 8:28 So Jesus said, "When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and I do nothing on My own initiative, but I speak these things as the Father taught Me." He Revealed the Future Matthew 24:1-4 "Jesus came out from the temple and was going away when His disciples came up to point out the temple buildings to Him. Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices,which can never take away sins. 10:48, 52), as well as a savior-priest to whom we can beg, Make me clean! (Mark 1:40). 16:34). We can grow in our enjoyment of access to God only by a deepening reliance on Him as our Sacrifice and Intercessor. They say what God is saying and prophesy what is to come. The official anointing of Jesus comes at his baptism, where he is anointedmessiahednot with oil but with the Holy Spirit, who descends on him in the form of a dove. Hence, in ancient Israel olive oil and anointing often symbolized the Spirit. Through these roles in the new covenant, he is the absolute leader for our spirit, soul, and body. 9:1114). Jesus the Messiah: Prophet, Priest and King - Religious Studies Center He sovereignly gives repentance to the impenitent and bestows forgiveness on the guilty (Acts 5:31). Jesus' sacrifice took place once only, but He still continues as our great High Priest, the One through whom all acceptable prayer and praise are made to God. It is possible to trace how Jesus fulfilled each of these three priestly functions in His ministry: 1. Pastoral Concern about Evangelical Prophecy, Joel R. Beeke, Anointing with oil was a symbol of gladness among the common people. 801-422-6975. (Heb. neither have ye sought that which was lost; but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them (Ezekiel 34:24). First, "for every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins" (v. 1). David ruled during the golden age of Israel and became the type of the kingbrave, faithful, loyal, sensitive, and full of the Spirit. As mediator, the high priest entered the Holy Place and offered a sacrifice to God on behalf of the people once a year on the Day of Atonement (Lev. No king was ever as beloved as he was. A priest is a mediator, or bridge, between God and human beings. The high priest was a mediator and represented the people before the Lord, and the Lord before the people. Prophets often are killed for their message. Chapter 7 - The Prophet, Priest and King in the Heavenlies Chapter 8 - The Expression of Jesus as King 3. As the mediator between God and man, Jesus Christ fulfills and unifies three offices: prophet, by which we are given necessary knowledge; priest, by which we are forgiven and justified resulting in reconciliation; king, by which we have our enmity removed and are subdued to the gracious rule of Christ. For we do not have a high priestwho is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are yet he did not sin. Priests were anointed so that they could be consecrated, able to officiate in sacred placesin particular, the tabernacle and the temple (see Exodus 30:30). Christ came in the line of David as David's son and yet also as David's Lord (Matt. Dec 27, 2017 Jesus the King Brad Barrett God's people in the old covenant were given prophets, priests, and kings to serve them before their God. Jesus Christ: Our Prophet, Priest, and King - Ligonier Ministries Take a deep, biblical look at Jesus Christ. ( Heb. At first glance, we might think Christ is acting solely as conquering King, driving out the demons to their destruction. To add an RSC website shortcut to your home screen, open the website in the Safari browser. Priest: Priests in the Mosaic Covenant offered sacrifices on behalf of the Israelite people for their sins. Jesus isnt just a prophet, hes the Prophet were told to listen to. The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, Priests, Prophets, Kings - Word on Fire 3. Roles. . 10 Things You Should Know about the Priesthood of Believers. He is not only the perfect priest, holy and sinless, but the perfect sacrifice. Jesus is the greatest high priest. The second anointing occurred in conjunction with the baptism of Jesus. Peter and the other apostles teach, and the young Christian community devoted themselves to their teaching (Acts 2:42). Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever (Isaiah 9:67). . What Does It Mean that Jesus Is Prophet, Priest, and King? He proclaimed our need to repent and believe on Him (Mark 1:15). 2. We have seen his glory,the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of graceand truth (John 1:1-5,14). Jonty Rhodes is the author of Man of Sorrows, King of Glory: What the Humiliation and Exaltation of Jesus Means for Us. Thus I'll start by quoting Ludwig Ott's Fundamentals of Catholic Dogma (179-182) Regarding Christ's prophetical (or teaching) office, the emphasis is on freeing humanity by giving knowledge: Stephen D. Ricks and John W. Welch (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book and Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, 1994), 26289. He was arrested for making himself king, and the soldiers mocked him as one. If so, what is its importance? Jonty is married to Georgina, and they have four children. If you are a child of God, Christ in His threefold office as Prophet, Priest, and King will mean everything to you. Because of this, its important to note that Jesus is called all three. The reason why the blood of Christ is sufficient and exceeds the foreshadowed blood of bulls and goats is that Christ's blood has immeasurable redeeming valuenot due to the amount, but due to its distinctive characteristic of being shed by the Son of God. Symbolically, Jesus entered the Holy of Holies, or presence of God, one time. In the threefold office of Christ, we are granted our freedom from sin. Names for Jesus. But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins,he sat down at the right hand of God, (Hebrews 10:8-12). Moses anointed Aaron with blood upon the tip of his right ear, upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the great toe of his right footprobably symbolizing the anointing of the whole body. Finally, Christ is the King, ruling over all things. Kingship in the Old Testament had to do with covenant faithfulness, not organizational leadership. The 1689 London Baptist Confession, for instance, puts it this way: "Christ, and Christ alone, is fitted to be mediator between God and man. We see Jesus thus anointed and acclaimed, heading a triumphal procession into the Holy City. How is Jesus Christ "Prophet, Priest, and King?" - For What Saith [4] See John A. Tvedtnes, Olive Oil: Symbol of the Holy Ghost, in Ricks and Welch, eds., The Allegory of the Olive Tree, 42759. Does the Bible Have Anything to do with My Life? [9] Anointing with oil symbolizes the giving of the Spirit (see 1 John 2:20, 27). He fulfilled the prophecy, being the priest after the order of Melchizedek, since the lineage of Levi was not required for the higher priesthood (see Hebrews 7:1112). [2] In the Old Testament, anointing was done with olive oil, which was sometimes mixed with perfumes and spices, [3] Olive oil, associated with prosperity, wealth, cleansing, healing, and purity, symbolized the Spirit. This is demonstrated by the consecration of kings, priests, and prophets, who were called to specific functions: kings to rule, priests to represent the people before the Lord in holy places, and prophets to deliver the word of the Lord. Martin Luther said that Jesus Christ is the "center and circumference of the Bible"meaning that who He is and what He did in His death and resurrection is the fundamental content of Scripture. Jesus Christ: Priest, King, and Prophet Roger R. Keller It is impossible to do justice to what Christ has done for us in His life, His suffering, His death, and His Resurrection, and thus our words are inadequate shadows of the reality that has changed and shaped each of our lives. We cannot do either, but Christ did both perfectly. At His baptism, Jesus took upon Himself the symbol of water and was anointed with the Holy Ghost. 3. Danielle Bernockis an international, award-winning author, coach, and speaker who helps people embrace their value and heal their souls through the power of the love of God. Learn more about Church leadership and how a pope is chosen with this page of questions and answers for the papal conclave. And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ [Messiah], the Son of the living God (Matthew 16:1316). And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. The lineage of kings was God allowing his people to have what they asked to be like other nations and accept the consequences. The second is to pay the price of our sins. He is the prophet, priest and king of the church of God" (8.9).