In our last post, we discussed how our perception of God is likely influenced by us living in a different dimension than where God resides. He also has unity between his three components of unity, and they can be represented by our human understanding of the positions of prophet, priest, and king. Let’s explore this topic further.

A king is someone who has ultimate authority. This is akin to God the Father who has ultimate authority over all. The Apostle Paul tells us in Ephesians 4:6 – One God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. There is no one higher than God the Father and all things work according to his plan which no one can thwart.

A priest has spiritual authority. This is akin to God the Son who enacts God’s plan of reconciliation and will become the ultimate judge of mankind because everyone will be judged according to one’s response to Jesus Christ and his work of redemption and reconciliation. John tells us, in John 5:27 – And he [the Father] has given him [the Son] authority to judge because he is the Son of Man.

The term “Son of Man” had a more profound meaning to the Jewish leaders than did the term “Son of God.” Jeus is referred to as “Son of God” 46 times in the New Testament and as “Son of Man” 81 times. The term “Son of God” was applied to angels, pious men, and the kings of Israel. Yet, the term “Son of Man” became symbolic of the coming Jewish Messiah. Well known to Jews, and especially to the Jewish leaders, was this term used by the prophet Daniel: In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence (Dn 7:13).

The prophet Ezekiel was called “son of man” because he typified as a type of the coming Messiah, acted as a divine messenger and mediator between God and humanity, offered hope to the exiled nation of Israel, served as a watchman calling Israel to repentance, acted as a shepherd providing guidance, and as a priest interceding for their reconciliation with God.

This term “Son of Man” became known to refer to their coming Messiah who they believed would bring about an everlasting kingdom where righteousness and justice would reign. The term wasn’t only a title for the Messiah but represented him being both human and divine identifying and sympathizing with the human condition yet possessing the power and authority of God (Title Son of Man). This is why the Jewish leaders got to upset when Jesus referred to himself as Son of Man because he was stating he was both human and divine. They could not accept this because Jesus did not fit the mold for which they had envisioned for their Messiah.

A prophet helps to ensure alignment between the king and the priest so they both give a consistent message to the people about God. This is the working of God the Holy Spirit. Jesus stated in John 15:26 – When the Advocate (i.e., Holy Spirit] comes, whom I [i.e., Christ] will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father—he will testify about me (i.e, Christ, the Son of God].

These ways in which God works is for the purpose of creating Unity: both within himself and between himself and mankind.

These roles were not always distinct within the Godhead or within human presentation. Sometimes an individual fulfilled, or tried to fulfill, more than one role. Next time, we’ll go further into this topic. Please join me.

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Visit Books & Words to Inspire by Randy C. Dockens

Christ came with the purpose of fulfilling three roles that are laid out for him in the Old Testament: Prophet, Priest, and King. Each must be fulfilled in a successive manner because each subsequent role was built upon the fulfillment of the previous role.

Moses stated, “The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your fellow Israelites. You must listen to him” (Dt 18:15). Jesus Christ came as a prophet like Moses. How like Moses? He cared deeply for his people, he was patient with them and taught them, he was also harsh at times with the Jewish leaders because they distorted the true intent of Torah; some people adored him, and others ridiculed and despised him. This role of Christ was necessary for him to come and pay the price for the sin of rebellion that Adam placed upon the world and its inhabitants and to fulfill all requirements of the Mosaic Law. Christ could not fulfill the other duties until this one was complete. He came not just for the Jews, but for the entire world.

The writer of Hebrews said, “Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess” (Hb 4:14). Christ fulfilling his role as prophet set him up for this next role as our high priest to make intercession for us, cleanse us as we sin, and as we are sanctified and carry out his plan of building his Church, his bride, until his return. His Holy Spirit then provides the unity in his bride so she will be pure and without blemish at his return.

Once Christ’s role as our high priest and intercessor is fulfilled, he will come as King of kings and set up his earthly rule. The book of Revelation tells us, “On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: King of kings and Lord of lords” (Rv 19:16). This is what the Jewish leaders were expecting from Jesus when he first came because the Scriptures prescribed these actions to their coming Messiah. Yet, these duties had to be performed in a certain order to accomplish God’s plan for the entire world.

So, at Christ’s first coming, he fulfilled the eight sacrifices we have been discussing over the last several posts. Join me next time and I’ll summarize this, how Jesus Christ fulfilled the Mosaic Law, and how he set up the way for his New Covenant with us.

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Visit Books & Words to Inspire by Randy C. Dockens