pimp, coach, and homeboy….or….Prophet, Priest, and King?

Jump to Comments

We live in a culture that is full of “Jesus”. From the music artists who thank him at the award shows to the t-shirts, mugs, and bumper-stickers stamped with his face. “Jesus” is popular in our culture. “Jesus” is getting beat up on cartoons and is the subject of laughter on the big screen. He is the genie granting salvation and miracles for any donation over $100 according to televangelists. Is this the son of God who came to save us? Today, the “Jesus” in our culture is a highly effeminate guy who is supposed to be my friend and make me happy. Even some churches have the lost the essence of who he is. Jesus is mentioned by name, but the name no longer means anything without knowing who he is and what he did.

John Calvin’s exposition of the threefold office of Christ is a great help to all Christians. Rather than an invisible buddy, motivator, and life coach…..scripture shows a Jesus that is glorious as prophet, priest, and king.

PROPHET

Old testament prophets were men who spoke on behalf of God and were mediators between God and his nation Israel. Jesus was the prophet promised by God…….

[“The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers—it is to him you shall listen] -Deuteronomy 18: 15

Moses was a great prophet who mediated the covenant between God and his people. Christ would be a greater prophet mediating a greater covenant. (including Gentiles as well as Jews)

[For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.] -John 1:17

A covenant is a promise that is negotiated between God and people. Adam and Eve failed to keep the covenant of works and death as God promised, came upon the human race as a result of sin. Moses mediated another covenant which gave the law to God’s people (this covenant was given to a people already redeemed not so that the people would redeem themselves by works). This covenant was part of God’s grace and was a shadow of the new covenant to come through Jesus Christ.

Jesus is a prophet in the sense that he spoke on behalf of God to people…..

[Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works.] -John 14:10

Jesus is a prophet in the sense that he predicted future events. He talked about the nature of the kingdom and how it would be. Some events he predicted have already come true……..

[Jesus left the temple and was going away, when his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. But he answered them, “You see all these, do you not? Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.”] -Matthew 24:1-2

This prophesy was fullfilled in A.D. 70 when Rome conquered Jerusalem and destroyed the temple.

Prophets preached and proclaimed the word of God. Christ not only preached and proclaimed, but was the word himself. Christ not only told us about God but was God himself. He is the greatest prophet and revelation of God.

[Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature....] -Hebrews 1:1-3

Priest

Old testament priests would speak to God on behalf of the people. They would intercede and burn offerings for them. Christ is the high priest mentioned in psalm 110…

[ The Lord says to my Lord:
“Sit at my right hand,
until I make your enemies your footstool.”

The Lord sends forth from Zion
your mighty scepter.
Rule in the midst of your enemies!
Your people will offer themselves freely
on the day of your power,
in holy garments;
from the womb of the morning,
the dew of your youth will be yours.
The Lord has sworn
and will not change his mind,
“You are a priest forever
after the order of Melchizedek..]

Regular priests had to offer multiple sacrifices for themselves and their people but Christ provides an all-sufficient sacrifice once and for all…..

[He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself.] -Hebrews 7:27

Jesus doesnt only make that amazing sacrifice but provides himself as that sacrifice offering. Jesus is called the “Lamb without blemish” and the “Lamb of God” because he lived a sinless life in perfect obedience to the Father. His sacrifice on the cross was enough to satisfy the wrath of God and cover us in his righteousness. Any other sacrifice would not be enough to forgive us of our sins.

High priests could relate to their people because they were tempted just as they were……

[For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.] -Hebrews 4:15

Jesus is able to understand us because he took on human form. He understands our troubles on earth and was able to endure all trials without sinning.

He also defends us and is the mediator between us and God. His power to bring us closer to God is unrivaled by any other priest. Priests would die but Christ intercedes for us forever…….

[Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.] -Hebrews 7:25

King

Jesus as the eternal Son of the Father has inhertited his kingdom. The old testament speaks of this role fullfilled by Christ…..

[“As for me, I have set my King
on Zion, my holy hill.”

I will tell of the decree:
The Lord said to me, “You are my Son;
today I have begotten you.
Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage,
and the ends of the earth your possession.
You shall break them with a rod of iron
and dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.”

Now therefore, O kings, be wise;
be warned, O rulers of the earth.
Serve the Lord with fear,
and rejoice with trembling.
Kiss the Son,
lest he be angry, and you perish in the way,
for his wrath is quickly kindled.
Blessed are all who take refuge in him.] -Psalm 2:6-12

This prophesy is fulfilled in Christ. Elsewhere in the old testament it talks about his kingship and authority…….

[ “I saw in the night visions,

and behold, with the clouds of heaven
there came one like a son of man,
and he came to the Ancient of Days
and was presented before him.
And to him was given dominion
and glory and a kingdom,
that all peoples, nations, and languages
should serve him;
his dominion is an everlasting dominion,
which shall not pass away,
and his kingdom one
that shall not be destroyed.] -Daniel 7:13-14

Jesus is the promised Messiah, “the anointed one”(Christ….Greek word for anointed one) and descended son of David. We do not need to “make him Lord”, he is the Lord of our life and everything else whether we realize it or not. As King, Jesus has all authority in the kingdom…..

[“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me."] -Matthew 28:18

Our culture produces many christs….ones that make you rich, help you lose weight, have a good self-esteem. But all these fakes cannot compare to the true Jesus we learn about from the word. He comes as God in the flesh to reveal himself to us. He tells us the secrets of the kingdom. He tells us the future of this world and the next. He understands our weaknesses and is able to sympathize with us. Being perfect and blameless, he offers himself to atone for our sins. And this one person….is king of all the universe. Christ is amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

11 Comments

Filed under JESUS, THEOLOGY, WRITTEN BY ME

Tags: BIBLE, christian, CHRISTIANITY, church, faith, God, JESUS, RELIGION, THEOLOGY