Priest, Prophet, King

We conclude the Second Article of the Creed by focusing on the three-fold office of Jesus Christ as Prophet, Priest and King.

First of all, when we speak about the work of Christ, it is important not to play one person of the Trinity against the other. It is not as if Jesus buys God off through his self-sacrifice. It is not that God was formerly angry and has now become loving because of his Son’s innocent death on the cross. God has never been anything but love. Moreover, his love drove him to send his Son to the cross, just as it was the Son who out of love willingly obeyed his Father’s will in the Spirit for our salvation. We will never understand this profound mystery. Faith simply accepts it with gratitude and gives glory to our Triune God.[i]

First, the office of prophet. The prophetical office includes the teaching and miracles of Christ.[ii] The OId Testament prophets spoke on behalf of God. Jesus claimed this status for himself. We read in John, “No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father’s heart, who has made him known.”[iii] People who heard Jesus recognized he spoke with authority.[iv]

When Jesus began his ministry, he announced that the kingdom of God was here. In Him the loving, saving rule of God came to human beings. In parables about the kingdom, he told people what it is like when God rules with his grace. Jesus’ miracles were signs of God’s kingdom. God’s loving rule was in action when Jesus healed the sick, raised the dead, forgave sinners and ate with outcasts.

Jesus’ most profound revelation of His love for His Father came through who he was and what he did. Through Christ, God revealed his love for the world in his death on the cross to bring all people back into a right relationship with God.[v] However, we saw this revelation through human reason as foolishness and weakness,[vi] but this is the only way our relationship with God could be put right.

While he lived on earth in his humiliation, Jesus proclaimed God’s word directly through his teaching and life: now in his exaltation, he continues this prophetic office through His pastors and people.[vii] In other words, we are a prophetic people.

Second, Priest. The priestly office consists of the satisfaction made for the sins of the world by the death on the cross, and in the continued intercession of the exalted Savior for his people.[viii] Jesus Christ is the priest who offered himself as a sacrifice for his people, but who also remains forever the mediator between God and his people.[ix] As our substitute, Jesus Christ took our place in the face of all that threatens and accuses us. He gave his life as a ransom for sinners.[x] As the ‘suffering servant’,[xi] who humbled himself to death on the cross,[xii] Jesus freed us from the curse of the law;[xiii] paid the penalty for our sin and turned away the wrath of God because of our sin.[xiv] Jesus freed us from our sin and guilt through the forgiveness of our sin.[xv] We receive this forgiveness through the sacrament of Holy Communion.

Because Jesus is now at the right hand of the Father, he continues his priestly role as our advocate,[xvi] who mediates for us, representing us to God. Both God and human, Christ is our high priest, continually intercedes for us.[xvii] Because he suffered temptation, we can approach the throne of grace, trusting in God’s mercy and help.[xviii]

Third, King. The kingly office, whereby Christ founded his kingdom, defends his church against all enemies, and rules all things in heaven and on earth.[xix]

Jesus is the king who has won the victory for us over sin, death and Satan. Through his death on the cross, Jesus defeated his enemies and broke the power of the law over us. In our baptism, we are united with the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ[xx] so that we now share in his victory.

Jesus is also the servant-king whose throne was his cross and whose crown was thorns. He rules in the church through love and mercy, demonstrating his love in washing his disciples’ feet. His commandment is that we love one another.[xxi]

Jesus rules as king now at ‘the right hand of the Father’ although his kingdom is not visible. Christ’s ascension is his ‘enthronement’ and enables him to be everywhere at all times and no longer confined in time and space. Jesus will return as king at the end of time[xxii] and judge the living and the dead.[xxiii] He will then reign forever in glory with the saints. Amen.

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[i] Most is from this website. http://www.lutheran.edu.au/assets/Uploads/pr/LEAdr/2%20Christian%20Studies/2%20Christian%20Beliefs/2Theological%20Notes/090212Theological%20NotesWORD%20redraft%20CB%202.pdf

[ii] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Threefold_office

[iii] John 1:18

[iv] Matt 7:29; John 7:46

[v] 2 Corinthians 5:19–21; Rom 5:8

[vi] 1 Corinthians 1:18–30

[vii] See Phil 2:5–11

[viii] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Threefold_office

[ix] Hebrews 9:26; 1 Timothy 2:5

[x] Mark 10:45

[xi] Isa 52:13–53:12

[xii] Phil 2:8

[xiii] Galatians 3:10-14

[xiv] Gal 3:10-14; 1 John 2:2; Rom 3:25a

[xv] 2 Corinthians 5:21

[xvi] 1 John 2:1

[xvii] Hebrews 7:25

[xviii] Hebrews 4:14-16

[xix] [xix] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Threefold_office

[xx] Romans 6:3-11

[xxi] John 13

[xxii] Col 3:1-4

[xxiii] Matt 24:27–44; 25:31–46