Christ Threefold Office
An In Depth Teaching of Jesus Christ's Threefold Office
Overview
Christ As Prophet
Understanding Jesus Christ’s threefold office as prophet, priest, and king is essential for deepening our relationship with Him. In the Old Testament, Israel’s leadership was divided among prophets, priests, and kings. Prophets delivered God’s word, priests mediated His presence, and kings enforced His rule. In the New Covenant, Jesus fulfills all three roles simultaneously. As the ultimate Prophet, Jesus not only proclaimed God’s word during His earthly ministry but also inspired the Old Testament prophets by His Spirit. Recognized as a prophet by contemporaries and through His own declarations, Jesus taught and revealed God’s truth, embodying the prophetic role in word and deed.
Jesus’ prophetic role continues through the Holy Spirit, who teaches and reveals God’s word to believers. This ongoing revelation underscores that all divine truth comes through Jesus, and His presence is experienced directly through the Spirit and Scripture. Believers, therefore, do not need intermediaries to know God’s will, as Christ’s anointing teaches them all things. The church must prioritize preaching Christ’s word to facilitate this divine encounter. Thus, Jesus as our great Prophet ensures we learn all we need about God and His will, highlighting the profound love and power of our Savior.
Christ As Priest
Understanding Jesus Christ’s role as the Great High Priest is vital for comprehending His work and our salvation. The priesthood of Jesus, as detailed in the book of Hebrews, surpasses the Old Covenant requirements. Unlike Old Testament priests, Jesus meets the absolute criteria for priesthood: He is human, appointed by God, and faithful. Furthermore, His priesthood transcends the Old Covenant’s limitations through His resurrection power, eternal existence, sinlessness, and heavenly position. Jesus offered Himself as the ultimate sacrifice, securing eternal redemption and satisfying God’s justice for believers, thus fulfilling His primary task as priest.
Jesus’ priestly duties continue with His intercession and aid to believers. He intercedes for us before God, continually advocating on our behalf and providing prayers for our needs. Additionally, He assists us in overcoming temptations and struggles, having experienced and conquered them Himself. The profound truths of Christ’s priesthood call us to draw near to God with confidence, live purified lives, and encourage one another in faith. As our eternal High Priest, Jesus eliminates the need for any other mediator, embodying the perfect bridge between humanity and God, and ensuring our access to divine grace and mercy.
Christ As King
In concluding our series on the threefold office of Christ, we explore Jesus as the Messianic King, a profound and multifaceted truth. The Old Testament is rich with promises of a future, eternal king from David’s lineage who would rule in love and grace. Jesus fulfills these promises, becoming the eternal Davidic king prophesied in 2 Samuel 7 and Psalm 110. After initially rejecting earthly attempts to crown Him, Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection affirmed His kingship. As Peter explained in Acts 2, Jesus is now enthroned, ruling sovereignly as the royal Messiah over His kingdom.
Jesus exercises His kingship by reigning over the church, bringing people into His kingdom through the Gospel, and ruling over His enemies. This present reign will culminate in the future consummation of His kingdom, where Christ will conquer all enemies, eradicate sin and death, and establish a new heavens and earth. The kingship of Christ demands the church’s full allegiance and obedience, as He lovingly reigns to make us holy and blameless. Understanding Jesus as King means our obedience is the natural response, reflecting His authority and grace in our lives. Christ, our prophet, priest, and king, brings us into His dominion, calling us to strong faith and unwavering service.