Butch Ewing
Butch Ewing is a Full Stack Developer, Bass Player, Entrepreneur, Public Figure, Cancer Survivor, Ordained Minister, Comedian, and Dork.
In your own words, answer the question “What did the Son of God do?” How many different ways can you think of to properly answer that question?
Jesus’ Work
Prophet, Priest, and King
In this session, we will focus our study on the particular roles (or offices) that Jesus Christ fulfilled: prophet, priest, and king. In fulfilling these roles, He thus fulfilled three functions: revelation, reconciliation, and reign. Likewise, we will see that we are subsequently called to be prophets, priests, and kings. Our ministry in the world is to reflect the ministry of Christ.
Voices from Church History
“I believe that Jesus of Nazareth was the Saviour of the world, the Messiah so long foretold: That being anointed with the Holy Ghost, he was a Prophet, revealing to us the whole will of God: That he was a Priest, who gave himself a sacrifice for sin, and still makes intercession for transgressors: That he is a King, who has power in heaven and in earth, and will reign till he has subdued all things to himself.”
–John Wesley (1703-1791)
1. Jesus is the Prophet who reveals God to us (Acts 3:22-26).
What Old Testament stories come to mind when you think about prophets? How many prophets can you name?
| Major Prophets | Minor Prophets | |
|
Isaiah Jeremiah Lamentations Ezekiel Daniel |
Hosea Joel Amos Obadiah Jonah Micah |
Nahum Habakkuk Zephaniah Haggai Zechariah Malachi |
Christians as Prophets
As Christians, we are called to mirror Christ’s prophetic role to the world. Through our faithful witness to the gospel, we will speak boldly and graciously about sin and our need for a Savior. We will speak out against injustice and point people to the one true Judge. Just as the Old Testament prophets called people to repentance, we must be faithful to call people to repent and trust in Jesus—the Prophet who reveals God to us. By proclaiming the gospel with our words and demonstrating the gospel with our actions, we fulfill our role as salt and light in the world (Matt. 5:13-16).
How can you practically pursue greater faithfulness to your calling to a prophetic role within your community?
Are there currently areas of your life where you are unable to see how the gospel applies? Or areas in which you are hesitant to proclaim the power of the gospel?
2. Jesus is the Priest who reconciles us to God (Heb. 2:14-18).
What comes to mind when you hear the word priest? What was the role of a priest within the Old Testament?
What are the implications of truly believing that Christ’s one offering of Himself was sufficient to completely cover and cleanse us? How should this reality affect the way you live your life?
Christians as Priests
As we are called to image Christ in His prophetic role, so we as Christians are called to mirror Him in His priestly role. The Bible calls us a royal and holy priesthood (1 Pet. 2:5,9). Obviously, we do not function as priests by offering ourselves as atoning sacrifices but rather by carrying out two duties: reconciliation and intercession.
As priests, we are called to highlight for the people of God the sacrifice that was offered before Him. As the Levitical priests would lift up the sacrifice of a beast for all to see, so we lift up the gospel and proclaim the sufficiency of Christ for a lost and dying world. In this sense, our role as priests mirrors our call to a life of mission.
Additionally, as Christ interceded for the people in His role as priest, so we are called to a life of intercession for the world. We pray for others, weep for their salvation, and run with arms outstretched to the places where humans need God’s merciful response.
3. Jesus is the King who reigns over all (Rev. 19:11-16).
What images do you see when you think of royalty? How might our conceptions of royalty influenced by modern pictures (such as Great Britain’s monarchy) adversely affect our understanding of Christ as King? Are there any positive correlations?
Christians as Kings
As with Christ’s prophetic and priestly roles, so Christians share in His reign (Rev. 22:5). Though the shared reign of believers with Christ is clearly attested in Scripture, the form of that reign is shrouded in mystery.
There is a vast array of glorious implications of Christ’s kingship. The church will surely overcome (Matt. 16:18); we will live forever, for death will be destroyed (1 Cor. 15:26); all injustice and sorrow will be wiped away eternally (Rev. 21:1-4). Indeed, all things will be made new (21:5).
But the implications are not reserved for the end of time. Indeed even now, the reign and rule of Christ should affect our daily lives in various ways. One of the most profound implications of Christ’s reign is the certainty of the accomplishment of His great commission (Matt. 28:18-20).
The reign and rule of Christ even today at the right hand of the Father should give the church great confidence in the work with which we have been entrusted. All authority has been granted to the Son. So when we go and proclaim the gospel, we do so in His authority and with the help of the Holy Spirit.
How can you increase your confidence in the authority and power of Christ?
What are the implications of full confidence in the authority and power of Christ for how you live on mission for His kingdom?
Voices from Church History
“The threefold misery of men introduced by sin—ignorance, guilt, and tyranny and bondage by sin—required this conjunction of a threefold office. Ignorance is healed by the prophetic; guilt by the priestly; the tyranny and corruption of sin by the kingly office. Prophetic light scatters the darkness of error; the merit of the Priest takes away guilt and procures a reconciliation for us; the Power of the King removes the bondage of sin and death. The Prophet shows God to us; the Priest leads us to God; and the King joins us together and glorifies us with God.”
–Francis Turretin (1623-1687)
Conclusion
The Son of God is the greater Moses, the Prophet who mediates the Word of God to us. The Son of God is the greater High Priest, who offered Himself as a propitiation for our sins and now lives to make intercession for His people. The Son of God is the greater David, the King who reigns and rules in perfect righteousness.
As Prophet, Priest, and King, we are assured that Jesus loves us, intercedes for us, has reconciled us to God, and will surely keep us to the end. What glorious truths!
As the Christ, the Anointed One, Jesus has perfectly fulfilled the threefold offices of the Old Testament. As those who have been anointed by the Spirit (1 John 2:27), we too are anointed for the work of mission and are to pour ourselves out as prophets, priests, and kings on behalf of the church and a lost world.
The Spirit’s Identity
The Person of the Holy Spirit
In this session, we will see that the Holy Spirit is God’s great gift to the believing community. The Bible teaches that the Spirit is a Person with a distinct mission from the Father and the Son. The Bible also teaches that the Spirit is God. Because of the Holy Spirit’s presence and work, we are able to have a relationship with God and join Him on His mission to seek and save the lost.
Next Week
Jesus’ Work: Prophet, Priest, and King
By Butch Ewing
Jesus’ Work: Prophet, Priest, and King
In this session, we will focus our study on the particular roles (or offices) that Jesus Christ fulfilled: prophet, priest, and king. In fulfilling these roles, He thus fulfilled three functions: revelation, reconciliation, and reign. Likewise, we will see that we are subsequently called to be prophets, priests, and kings. Our ministry in the world is to reflect the ministry of Christ.
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