Jesus, Prophet, Priest, and King

Intro:

CPS:

I Jesus the Prophet

There were many prophets recorded in the Bible, from Moses to J.T.B. Theses two are perhaps the Greatest. But each point to someone greater!

Deuteronomy 18:18 ‘I will raise up a prophet from among their countrymen like you, and I will put My words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him.” Peter say’s this Prophet is Jesus! Acts 3:22 “Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brethren; to Him you shall give heed to everything He says to you.”

A Prophet is the mouthpiece of God, he is one who stands between God and man to communicate to man the Word of God. The true mark of a prophet is rather or not his prophecy comes true. When the prophet spoke he was moved by God, inspired and without error. But when Jesus spoke He spoke only absolute truth. The teaches us that Jesus is the Word of God that became flesh that came to explain God to weary men. (John 1:14, 18b). Jesus Himself stated I am the way, the TRUTH, and the life no comes to the Father expect through me.

Here He is called THE (ho) Faithful Witness. Faithful (adj)(pistos) one who is reliable, it implies being worthy of full trust. Witness martyros, witness.

ILL: Through out History, many have made wonderful predictions. King George II said in 1773 that the American Colonies had little stomach for revolution. An official of the White Star Line, speaking of the firm’s newly built flagship, the Titanic, launched in 1912, declared that the ship was unsinkable. In 1939 The New York Times said the problem with TV was that people had to glue their eyes to a screen, and that the average American wouldn't have time for it. But not even one letter uttered from the mouth of Christ will go unfulfilled.

Jesus said.Mark 10:33–34 “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered to the chief priests and the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death and will hand Him over to the Gentiles. “They will mock Him and spit on Him, and scourge Him and kill Him, and three days later He will rise again.” And it happened just as He said. Jesus said John 10:10a I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” John 10:28 “and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand.” and by grace through faith in Jesus this will come to path in your life!

Jesus is a prophet but more.... The Prophet of Prophets. God sitting in the office of Prophet and the writer of Hebrews said. Hebrews 3:3 “For He has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, by just so much as the builder of the house has more honor than the house.” Jesus is prophet of prophets.

II. Jesus the High Priest

In ancient Israel their were many Priest, beginning with Melchizedek then Aaron, a priest was an office given for life. a Priest was the one who saw to or performed the Sacrifices to God. The most important Sacrifice was the made on Yom Kippur the Day of Atonement (Lev. 16) where the sin of the people was atoned for for a complete year by the sprinkling of the blood over the Mercy Seat. However this sacrifice could never perfect the worshipper of God in needed a perfect sacrifice. Man kind needed Holy and Perfect God to sacrifice Himself

On the darkest day of humanity, Good Friday over 2000 years ago Jesus became our High Priest by offering an eternal sacrifice for the sins of man on Calvary’s cross. There what countless sacrifices could never achieve Jesus accomplished and declared His work to be finshed. He the Love of man and in faithfulness to God and the Word He offered His precious life’s blood upon so that we can be forgiven of our sin!

Our text says He is “The Firstborn from the dead! On the third day Jesus the priest who offered Himself arose from the dead! Firstborn is the Greek adj. prōtotokos, it is not the order of but the place of honor. It is the birthright. It pertains to the inheritance rights for the 1st born.

There were people who God rose from the dead before Jesus rose. The son of the widow from Zarephath (1 Kings 17:17-23), The Shunammite woman’s son (2 Kings 4: 32-35), The son of the widow of Nain (Luke 7:11-17), and Jairus’ daughter (Mark 5:41). This is referring to the preeminence of Jesus though not the first raised but the first to rise and never die again He is the one Who receives the Father’s inheritance.

ILL: A few years ago for Father’s day my sister Anne bought my a dad a 1 foot by 1 foot piece of property in Ireland this came with the title of Lord. She has dad listed in her phone as lord dad. As his firstborn I would receive that title. But Jesus is inheriting something far more valuable all that was His in the beginning. That is everything. Rule, power, glory, and dominion, and by Grace through faith… it includes you and I the saints of God. (Eph. 1:18)

Jesus does’nt simply hold the office of priest but priest of priest. Hebrews 5:8–11 “Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation, being designated by God as a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek. Concerning him we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing.”

III. Jesus the King

There have been many kings on the earth but none like king Jesus. At His birth He was called “King of the Jews” (Matt. 2:2) at His death He was rightly accused and affirmed that He was King of the Jews” (Matt. 27:11-12) and on His cross He was labeled “King of the Jews” (Matt. 27:37). One earth Jesus was King indeed. A king who was gentle and loving who came to the slums of earth to identify with His people.

ILL: It reminds me of a story about that took place many years ago. In England there was a good and righteous king who loved his people and was burdened over their needs. So he dressed in common clothes and visited the slums of London. One day while visiting he encountered a poor elderly blind man who invited him into his scarcely furnished home. The man offered his visitor porridge from his kettle that was cooking over the fire place. The king sat and ate with him. Over the next several months this good and righteous king returned to visit the man, he had taken to him and loved him with great affection. One day he decided to reveal himself to the man wanting to do something good for him. He came to the man’s humble home with his kingly escort and dressed in his royal attire and when he entered the mans house he told him “I am your king.” The man fell to his knees and then the king asked “what can I do for you.” Expecting to be asked for riches, privileges, or comforts the poor blind man said.... “you left your palace came and sat with me in this dark damp place, you ate of the course porridge with me…to some you give riches and to others positions of honor but today you gave me something far greater, you gave yourself!” 2000 years ago king Jesus left his palace in glory to visit with the poor and lowly of earth because He loves us (present tense) and wanted to set us free. He released us from our sin by paying the ransom for sin with His life’s blood. He gave us Himself.

This king Jesus came to earth masked in lowliness but He is not lowely at all. The Revelation of Jesus tells us that He is Ruler of the kings of the earth. Ruler is the Greek noun archōn, which identifies Jesus as ruler of both the natural and the supernatural.

There are many rulers today on earth. kings, presidents, and dictators. Their is an evil spirit that has limited authority on earth, he is satan But the Bible accurately teaches that there is one ruler of the kings of the earth It is King Jesus. Who created all things and established all dominions. Col. 1:16 tells us He created these things for Himself therefore He is sovereign over all these things. Vladimir Putin, Kim Jun Un, Xi Jinping, Joe Biden you may not know it, and you may not like it but you’re not in control you are ruled by the Lord Jesus and as verse 7 implies one day He will reveal Himself as He truly is, that day the eastern sky will be ripped open and the Lord will appear Revelation 19:16 “And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”

Jesus is King of Kings and Lord of lords, and by grace through faith in Jesus we can honestly say, even so.. Lord Jesus come.

Conclusion: In His love He has called us (God’s saved people) to be His kings and priest to exercise spiritual authority in this world, to bring light to the darkness around us and to serve God in this world.

Jesus is The Prophet of prohpets who brings truth into this world. The Priest of priest who brings Salvation into this world, and He is King of kings and Lord of lords who will execute judgment on this world. Be on alert and be ready for He is coming soon!