Jesus: Prophet, Priest and King
Matthew 2
1 ¶ Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,
2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews?
When we speak of the Revelation of Jesus Christ we are not speaking about the book of Revelation but a personal, overwhelming, life changing revelation of Jesus. As The Christ. As The Messiah. As The Anointed One. As The Son of God. As The Living Word. As The Savior. As Our Lord. As Our Redeemer. As Our King.
I believe that the One Thing needed in this hour of trial and tribulation is for us to come into a fresh Revealed Knowledge of Jesus. Paul wrote in Philippians:
Php 3:10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
Paul’s One Life Driving Force was that he might KNOW JESUS. That he might Know Him in Power (that would be good times). That he might know Him in times of suffering (that would be hard times). That he might know Him in times of sacrifice.
At this particular stage in my life I want to Know Him. Know Him every way I can know Him. Know Him in every possible situation of life. Know Him in good times in hard times in times of sacrifice and rejection and pain and even death.
We have been so guilty of running after theological concepts and pet doctrines and a feel good Gospel that we have all, I believe, fallen away from our First Love. And that is dangerous. Jesus is what it is all about. Jesus is what Church is about. Jesus is what the Believers life is about. That is what is of prime importance. He is the Main Thing. Not some Thing but the Main Thing. He is the foundation and the corner stone of all things. I want a fresh and life changing revelation of Who He Is and What He Does. Are you with me??
Now, what can we discover about Jesus in the Word? How does the Word tell us about Who Jesus is and What Jesus does? Remember, the Word is our best and most reliable Revelation of Jesus… all else (all books written about Him and all study about Him and all research about Him) are all futile and less than adequate in our quest to Know Him. As we search the scriptures we find some very remarkable things about Jesus. Things that can help us as we seek to know more about Him. However, knowing about Jesus is, in itself, not the main thing. The Main Thing is to KNOW HIM… remember, that is what the Apostle Paul had a heart for… to KNOW HIM… really Know Him. Personally. Intimately. Supernaturally.
Our study at this time will consider Jesus as Prophet, as Priest and as King… these three offices are well defined and well substantiated in the Word. In many places in the OT, the Word informs us that the office of Jesus is three-fold, the office of a Prophet and the office of a Priest and the office of a King.
Jesus fulfills the office of a Prophet
Deut 18
15 ¶ The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet (notice the capitalization: a designation of a proper noun… a name) from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken;
18 I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.
Acts 2
22 For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you.
23 And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.
24 Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days.
Jn 4
19 The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet.
Now, what is a prophet? What does a prophet do? What does he say? What is his purpose? If the Bible says that Jesus fills the office of a Prophet, then we need to know everything we can about a prophet. The word “prophet” means “spokesman” or “speaker” in the Hebrew. In the NT the word ‘prophet’ means “one who declares to men what he has received by inspiration from God.” He is a foreteller as well as a forth teller.
A prophet speaks for God to God’s people. He is God’s representative to God’s People. He is responsible to tell people what God is saying and what God is planning and what God is preparing and what God is doing. He speaks regarding the Now and also regarding the Future. A prophet is necessary to keep the Body informed and abreast of the plan and purpose of God. He speaks in agreement with the Word of God and the Will of God. What He says can be checked out with the scriptures. And he can be judged as a true prophet by the fact that what he prophecies comes to pass.
Jesus perfectly fills the office of a Prophet since He speaks for God to us… and He has spoken (and still speaks) to us…
Heb 1
1 ¶ God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
God has spoken to us by His Son…
Jesus fulfills the office of a Priest
In Hebrews 7: 17 there is a reference to Jesus who would be a Priest forever after the order of Melchisedec…
- For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec
In Hebrews 9:11 again But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come…
Question: What is a priest? What does a priest do? What does he say? What is his office all about? In the Bible a priest is one who offers sacrifices. He represents God’s people to God. A priest speaks for God’s people to God. Jesus is our Faithful High Priest since He has shed His Blood for us… representing us to God and speaking to God for us. As our High Priest He pleads to God in our behalf and is our Advocate or Lawyer as we stand in Presence of God.
1Jo 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate (Representative for us) with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
Heb 2:17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
Jesus fulfills the office of a King
Rev 19 reminds us that He is presently reigning as a King.
11 ¶ And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.
13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
Do you know who that is talking about? That’s talking about Jesus. KING of Kings and LORD of Lords… The Jesus I know is not a meek and mild baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying helpless in a manger but He is a reigning, ruling King. All power and all authority have been given to Him and all Power and all authority is HIS.
Matthew 2
1 ¶ Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,
2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews?
The wise men came looking for Jesus… (and they still do) you know how they looked for Him? They came looking for a King. They came to ask questions and what they asked was” Where is He that is born who is King of Jews?” So before He grew into manhood and filled His Office as a King He was already known to be the King of the Jews
Jesus is King. And He is reigning over a Kingdom. His Kingdom is without end… it will last forever… it is eternal. And we are in it. Hallelujah.
Isa 9:7 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 forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
Lu 1:33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
A prophet speaks for God to God’s people. A Priest speaks for God’s people to God. Now what does a king do? A King Rules and Reigns.
Now we can better understand Jesus as King if we consider the role of an earthly king. We need to think in terms of an earthly king ruling on this earth. That is the best way for us to illustrate it.
First, an earthly King is not elected to that office. He is born by Royal Blood. An earthly king is never given his office through a democratic election or selection. He is in line to sit on the kingly throne because of his lineage and the royalty of his blood. A king is born to be a king. A king is never given a throne because of the will of the people. A king cannot be elected. Jesus was not elected. He was not selected by a process of elimination. But He has the authority, the power and the right to rule as a King because He was conceived by the Holy Ghost in the womb of a virgin and in His veins flows the very Blood of His heavenly Father. He was and is Born to be a King.
Secondly, an earthly king possesses absolute authority. In other words, if He did not or could not exercise absolute authority he would not be a king. A king possesses absolute power and authority. On his lips rests the power of life and death… If he speaks, then the words that he speaks become law and they demand perfect and total obedience because the King has spoken. Jesus is King. He is Born a King and He possesses absolute power.
Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
A king is not a king if he does not have some power. He’s got to have power in order to be a king. How much power does it take to make a King? As much as you can get. How much power does Jesus have? All of it. Every bit of it. All power both in heaven and on the earth has been given to Jesus Christ and the word “power” here in Matthew means authority, right and ability. A king possesses absolute authority and absolute power.
Thirdly, an earthly king is recognized by all subjects as the one who is in control. Everybody recognizes a king as the boss. He is recognized by those over whom he rules as the one who is in control of all things. He is respected and feared because of Notice what the Bible says regarding the control that Jesus has…
“For by Him were all things created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible whether they be thrones or dominions or principalities or powers… all things were created by Him and for Him and He is before all things and by Him all things consist or hold together… and He is the Lord of the body (the church0) He is the beginning the First Born from the Dead that in all things He might have the preeminence…” A king is recognized as the one who is in control. Let me ask you something… who is in control right now? The devil would try to make you thing that he is in control he would like to get everybody believing that he is running all things, but the devil is a liar and truth is not in him… he is not in control! He has had his authority taken away from him. I will tell you who is in control… the KING is in control! And the King is Jesus.
A king is only able to rule over a territory or kingdom the size of which he has the power to control. If a king has a kingdom and another king rises up that is stronger that he is and who has a greater army what happens to the first king? He loses control of his territory. He is only able to control as much territory as he has power to control. All power has been given to Jesus…both in heaven and in earth and He is in control and there is no dominion and there is no kingdom and there is no power that is able to come against Him because He is All Power… He has all the power that is. All is ALL and He has all of it.
Fourthly, a king receives recognition from powers that are lesser than his. What happens when a mighty king comes on the throne and begins to rule over a large domain… the little kings around him say “well we better make friends with the big king because he’s got a big army and he is able to exercise authority over us and he over run us if he wants to and he defeat us and he can tax us and he can restrict us and he can control us… we better pay homage to him and recognize him as the big king who has more power than we have.” If he has greater power then all the kingdoms around him recognize that he is The King. The Big King. The Boss. Now that’s just like Jesus… and the lesser kingdoms have to recognize that Jesus is really THE KING…
In Acts chapter 19 the Apostle Paul was going everywhere getting people saved and healed and delivered and baptized in the Holy Ghost and casting out devils and creating quite a stir wherever he went. And the sons of Sceva began to watch Paul. When he would preach the Word people would get under conviction and come and he would lay hands on them and cast out devils. And the sons of Sceva said “you know, this guy has got something going… lets us try this.” And so they decided to attempt to do what Paul was doing. So they began to preach and sure enough a man came who was full of the devil. He was demon possessed. And they began to prophecy over him and said “we adjure thee devil and we command you to come out of this man in the Name of the Jesus who Paul preaches…” The devil that was in the man said “I know Paul and I know Jesus but who in the world are you?” And the demon came out and those poor impersonators were attacked by the devil…their clothes were torn off they were beaten and bruised and they fled naked and wounded. You know why? The devil recognized that Paul was greater than they were had and more powerful and had more authority than they had. They recognized the superior power and authority of Jesus.
Number five. A king rules over a kingdom of subjects who are submitted to him Jesus is Kingover an invisible kingdom. Dic you know that the kingdom over which Jesus rules alive and well all over the earth today? Everywhere on every continent in every climate in every hemisiphere and every nation and every land the Kingdom over which Jesus rules in alive and well and strong and powerful. \It is not seen by the naked eye it is not recognized by resident powers it is not recognized by people inprominence The kingdom of God at this moment is invisible and Jesus isruling over the hearts of men and soon injust a matter of pmoths perhaps this kingdom isgoing to become a visible kingsom and Jesus is going to rule and reign where everybody will be able to see Him and every knee will have to bow and every tongue will have to confess that He is King of kings and Lord of lords. He is ruling over an invisible kingdom but shortly that kingsom will become a visible kijngdom
Acts 19
13 ¶ Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth.
14 And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so.
15 And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?
16 And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.
Phil 2
9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That is King Jesus…
10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
A king is recognized by lesser powers around him All the demons of hell recognize that Jesus is Lord and that He is King and He possesses all authority and all power. The devil has tried to make you not believe this… but the Bible says that even the devils tremble when the Name of Jesus is mentioned. And the reason they tremble is because they recognize that He is a King who has more than they have.
Number six. A king rules over a kingdom of subjects who are submitted to him. Jesus is King over an invisible kingdom. Did you know that the kingdom over which Jesus rules is alive and well all over the earth today? Everywhere on every continent in every climate in every hemisphere and every nation and every land the Kingdom over which Jesus rules in alive and well and strong and powerful and thriving. This kingdom is not seen by the natural eye and it is not recognized by resident powers. It is not recognized by people of prominence The kingdom of God at this moment is invisible and King Jesus is ruling over the hearts of men. Soon this kingdom is going to become a visible kingdom and Jesus is going to rule and reign where everybody will be able to see Him and then every knee will have to bow and every tongue will have to confess that He is King of kings and Lord of lords. Hallelujah.
Are you subject to King Jesus? Have you bowed the knee of your heart to Him? Does He occupy the Throne of your heart? Is He your Lord? If He is then you are willingly submissive to Him. You delight in pleasing Him. You determine to stick with Him even if it costs you your life. You want Him. You want to Know Him. You love Him. You have a passion for His Will.
If you have not recognized Jesus as King and Lord will you do it NOW?
dickbraswell 
Leave a Reply