Thoughts from Mark "Hat" Rackley

For Moses said, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you must listen to everything he tells you.

• Acts 3:22

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
    because he has anointed me
    to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
    and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free, …
He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”

• Luke 4:18, 21

In the same way, Christ did not take on himself the glory of becoming a high priest. But God said to him,
“You are my Son;
    today I have become your Father.”
And he says in another place,
“You are a priest forever,
    in the order of Melchizedek.”

• Hebrews 5:5-6

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. For we do not have a high priest who 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.

• Hebrews 4:14-15

On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written:
KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.

• Revelation 19:16

For to us a child is born,
    to us a son is given,
    and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
    Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the greatness of his government and peace
    there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
    and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
    with justice and righteousness
    from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty
    will accomplish this.

• Isaiah 9:6-7

“I have installed my king
    on Zion, my holy mountain.”

• Psalm 2:6

“Q. 22. What offices doth Christ execute as our Redeemer?
“A. Christ as our Redeemer executes the offices of a prophet (Acts 3:22), of a priest (Heb. 5:6), and of a king (Ps. 2:6), both in his state of humiliation and exaltation.”

• Charles H. Spurgeon, Spurgeon’s Catechism (Scripture proofs in bold above)

“Q. 23. What offices doth Christ execute as our Redeemer?
“A. Christ, as our Redeemer, executeth the offices of a prophet,1 of a priest,2 and of a king, both in his estate of humiliation and exaltation.”

• The Shorter Catechism (Westminster Assembly)

The Larger Catechism questions go a different direction to address Jesus Christ as the three offices without really stating it.  Then the Larger Catechism will be back in line with Spurgeon and the Shorter Catechism as they delve into Jesus as prophet, then priest, then king over the next three questions.  The Larger starts with our redeemer as Jesus, then as Christ, and then as prophet … priest … king.

The fact that all three of these offices are very important to the Jewish people might be obvious, but they should be important to all of us.  We should know that Jesus filled the bill in all three instances.  We may not have ‘prophets’ today as there were in ancient times, but God uses people even today to make prophetic statements.  Yet, Jesus spoke to the Apostle John for the final prophecy, the book of Revelation.  Today, there are also false prophets.  Beware of those who give a specific date to something.  While the protestant churches, few at least, use the term priest, there are religious leaders.  And while the concept of king is not popular in many countries today, there are rulers of countries, whether voted into office, rigging the vote to be the only one on the ballot, or ascending to the position by the death of the previous ruler or a military coup, we have rulers of nations.  In the Apostle John’s time, these were for the most part kings.  It is a word used for any leader in a broader context.

And now let us sing.

The following worship song, Prophet, Priest, and King is not sung.  This is a change of pace.  The music is played.  The lyrics scroll by.  And you provide the singing voice.

My Lord Jesus, Prophet, Priest and King
You mean more to me than anything.
The wealth of earth means nothing
Compared with my salvation
That You give, my Prophet, Priest and King.
You revealed my godlessness and sin
And for sin You died Lord, to atone.
Though I was facing ruin
You showed the way to heaven
Was through You, my Prophet, Priest and King.
Everlasting Saviour, Prince of peace
I am now accepted by God’s grace.
Your blood has made me righteous
By faith I am forgiven
Thank You Lord, my Prophet, Priest and King.
Your blood has made me righteous
By faith I am forgiven
Thank You Lord, my Prophet, Priest and King.

• Tom D. Blakely, Prophet, Priest, and King

Closing Prayer

Dear Lord,
Thank You for all that You do.  We need a prophet to guide us.  We need a priest to direct us so that we will focus our gaze upon You.  And we need a king, the King of kings, to lead us, judge us, and govern over us.  And we find all that in You.
In thy Name we pray.
Amen

Soli Deo Gloria.  Only to God be the Glory.