The Prophetic & Priestly Offices of Christ

Of all the books of the Bible it is Hebrews that is consistently among my favorites. The reason for this ought to be obvious. Hebrews is arguably the most Christ exalting book in the whole Bible. If it were possible to place a sub-title for this book it would be, “You name it, Jesus is Better.” Over and over again we see Christ being compared to the Old Testament types and shadows and each time Christ is represented as the consummation and final fulfillment of each of them. What a beautiful truth it is to realize that Christ embodies what those types merely pointed to.

However, this precious truth is not clearly understood by all. In my estimation, groups such as The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints do not understand the extent of Christ’s work on the cross or the current “offices” which he possesses as the overseer of his church. My point here is not to speak negatively about Mormonism, or any other group, but to speak positively about Jesus.

When theologians speak about “The Offices of Christ” they are usually referring to his roles as prophet, priest, and king. I do not intend here to discuss Christ’s role as King since that is highly debated and often coupled with eschatological baggage. Rather, I’d like to focus on the prophetic and priestly ministries of Christ.

When we survey the Old Testament we see that God called specific men to represent himself to his people: known as prophets. Likewise, God called specific men to represent his people to himself, which were the priests. The prophets were to speak the words of God to the people and to reveal God’s purposes to them, and the priests were to perform sacrifices on behalf of the people as an offering for their sins. The beautiful thing about Christ is that he has fulfilled both of these ministries.

The book of Hebrews begins by telling us Christ is the final authoritative voice for God. Whereas God use to speak through prophets, he now speaks through his Son. There is no more need for human prophets. Since the prophetic position entailed the representing of God to the people, who would be more qualified for this position then Christ? The whole point of the first eight verses of Hebrews is that Christ is able to represent God, as prophets of old did, in the fullest sense of the term because he is God. As John states in the prologue to his Gospel, “No one has seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known (John 1:18).” He is most qualified because he is God.

Within the book of Hebrews we see a clear defense of Christ’s fulfillment of the Aaronic Priesthood and his sole possession of the Melchizidek Priesthood. Concerning the Aaronic Priesthood we know that under the old covenant, the high priest was required to enter the holy of holies each year to provide atonement for sins. Yet, under the new covenant of Christ, the atonement has been settled with his blood. We no longer need a high priest because Christ has “entered once for all into the holy places (Heb 9:12).” The former priesthood system was done away, and Christ remains our priest permanently (Heb 7:24). The former priests were required to sacrifice on behalf of their own sins as well as the sins of others. However, the author of Hebrews tells us, “For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens (Heb 7:26).” Therefore, because of the perfect offering of Christ’s life on our behalf, not only do we have no need for the function of the Aaronic Priesthood through sacrifices and other rituals, but we are also imputed with his righteousness.

With regard to the Priesthood of Melchizidek we are told that Christ received this Priesthood “not on the basis of a legal requirement concerning bodily descent, but by the power of an indestructible life (Heb 7:15).” No one can meet these requirements. The Aaronic priesthood required lineal descent from the tribe of Levi to Aaron, but Christ was from the tribe of Judah. Christ received the Priesthood of Melchizidek as the one that was victorious over death. The writer of Hebrews says that in light of this Christ remains a priest forever and is the mediator of a better covenant (Heb 7:21-22). Perhaps the clearest indication that Christ is the sole holder of this Priesthood can be found in verse 28, which says, “For the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever.” The law appointed the sons of Aaron to fulfill the temple rituals, although they were “weak.” Their weakness was in the ineptitude to fulfill the sacrificial system’s intent. However, “the word of the oath,” or the promise of his eternal office as priest, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever. The idea is that the sacrificial system pointed to Christ. It is no longer that any man represents us before God, as the priests did, instead Christ is our mediator to God and the one who intercedes for us (1 Tim 2:5; Heb 7:25). He is the only one able to do this because he is the one who has an indestructible life, the one who was sworn to be a priest forever, the one who mediates the new covenant, and the one who has done away with all priestly services. He is truly the only one worthy to hold this Priesthood.

As an extension of his priestly ministry Christ also fulfills the temple. Not only did Jesus fulfill the sacrificial rituals that took place within the temple, but he fulfilled what the temple’s symbolic representation of the presence of God. However, Jesus was not just a representation or symbol of the presence of God; instead he was the presence of God. This is because the fullness of deity dwelt within his physical body (Col 1:19, 2:9). Matthew makes this clear in the opening chapter of his Gospel by calling Christ “Immanuel”, which means “God with us” (Mt 1:23). Hebrews tells us that Christ’s priestly ministry, although not being fulfilled in a literal, or earthly temple, “is in the holy places, in the true tent that the Lord set up, not man (Heb 8:2).” Christ has indeed fulfilled the roles of prophet and priest, yet he continues to occupy these offices before the presence of God, the true temple. He both represents God to us, and represents us to God. This indispensable truth is at the heart of the Gospel and the very work of the person of Christ.

Reflections on the Carmen Christi

Philippians 2:5-7 explains the heart of the Incarnation. The study of Christology is laden with complex philosophical ideas and intense theological assertions. One small mistake can brand someone a heretic. Christology is perhaps the most nuanced and specific branch of evangelical theology, and which it should be. However, this passage states the best aspects of Christology. Jesus, who was in the form of God, did not count equality a thing to be grasped. In being God, Jesus had a humble spirit and did not consider his status as something that he would not lay aside. Instead, he made himself nothing; lowering his status on our behalf. The King of the Universe became the servant of man. The one who gave us his image, took on our likeness. The one who is majestic, became defiled by men. The one who had every right to maintain his status in heaven as the most holy being, departed willfully from his throne and became in every way like us. Such clear Christological themes are presented in this passage. Christ is God. Christ became man. All of our theological terms and philosophical terms cower in comparison to this passage. Christ represents the highest degree of humility in this single act. Therefore, if our God can humble himself in this way, we ought also to act as he did.

In Philippians 2:8 we see the greatest example of humility demonstrated in all of human history. Not only did the God of the universe come to the world in the likeness of men, but he came and died. This idea becomes even more profound when we consider that we died convicted as a criminal, when he himself knew no sin. But it gets worse! They didn’t just hang him, or stab him. Instead, they killed him in the worst way possible. They crucified him! He hung on a tree. Still it gets worse. The law says that cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree. Christ became a curse for us. The sinless, perfect, matchless, undefiled, unblemished, spotless King of Glory was treated worse then most murderers today in America are. What absurdity! Now, I know that this tells me a lot about my Savior. He is humble, loving, and gracious in a way that no words could express and in a way that no actions or deeds could equal. However, this event tells me a lot about myself as well. I am so evil, so utterly despicable, so incapable of goodness, so profoundly inept, so wicked, and so totally depraved that it took all of that to atone for me. Not an angel, or any creation could fix my problem. Only the subsiding of God’s wrath through the propitiation of Christ could draw me out of darkness.

In Philippians 2:9-11 we see the crowning moment in Christology. In becoming a man, Christ willfully subjected himself to suffering, yet he is now highly exalted above all things to the glory he previously had with the Father before his incarnation. His name is superior to all other names. God did not exalt Mohammed. God did not exalt Joseph Smith. God did not exalt anyone other than Christ. The very name of Christ exhorts such glory that even at the sound of his name, everyone will confess and bow to his lordship. This is an amazing thought. Our Savior is also our King! Now, something that is very interesting about this passage is that Christ is the one who is exalted, and Christ is the one with the greatest of all names…If God is jealous, desiring his own glory in all situations, what does this tell us about the Deity of Christ? The entire “Christ hymn” ends with such a profound statement that if not considered with its proper ramifications, it could be shrugged off as an old cliché statement about Christ. However, of all the things stated about Christ in this passage that point so clearly to his Deity, this one shouts it! Christ is the name above all names. No one else can say that. God would not be giving glory to himself if he allowed a creature to have the name above all names. Instead, Jesus is God. And there is no other way to understand this passage. When we read this passage we ought to sit back and proclaim that Christ is our Savior, King, and God!

What The Bible Says About Jesus

Jesus Christ was fully and completely human, being born of a virgin (Mt 1:23; Gal 4:4), and growing in human likeness both mentally and physically (Lk 2:52; Heb 5:8-9). Christ also had human needs, such as the necessity of having water and rest (Jn 4:6,19:28). Although Christ was tempted by sin like all men, he overcame his temptations and never sinned (1 Peter 2:22; Heb 4:15-16).

Jesus Christ is fully and completely God. He is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact imprint of his nature (Heb 1:3); having the fullness of Deity dwell within him (Col 1:19; 2:9). However, Christ did not become God. He is the creator of all things and therefore is not created (Jn 1:3; Col 1:16-17). The Deity of the Son of God is one that is eternal with God the Father (John 1:1; 8:58; 17:5). During his earthly ministry Christ demonstrated his Deity by forgiving sins (Mark 2:10-11), reinterpreting the Law (Mt 5:17-48; 12:1-8), calming the seas (Lk 8:22-25), and receiving worship (Mt 28:9).

The Deity and Humanity of Christ are two distinct natures that compose the one person of Christ. However, these two natures are also completely unified, demonstrating that Jesus was a man and “God with us” (Mt 1:23). According to his earthly genealogy he was the Son of David, yet he is also the Son of God (Ro 1:3-4). He is the eternal Word veiled in human flesh (John 1:1, 14). Only Christ as a man could die for our sins, and only Christ as God could provide the perfect atonement to satisfy the wrath of God (Heb 2:17; 1 John 4:10). It was in God’s sovereign wisdom to place our iniquity upon him so that he would be our substitute for salvation (Is 53:6; Acts 2:23; 2 Cor 5:21). After his death, he did not descend into Hell, since the efficacy of his atoning work was enough (Jn 19:30).

In coming to earth, Christ provided the greatest demonstration of humility. Though he was in very nature God, he lowered himself and became a servant (Mark 10:45; Phil 2:6). Furthermore, he humbled himself by obeying his Father’s will and dying on a cross (John 17:4; Phil 2:8). Although three days later God raised him from the dead and exalted him with the name above all names. After appearing to more than 500 witnesses, Christ physically ascended to heaven at the right hand of the Father (Mt 26:54; Luke 24:51; Acts 1:9; 1 Cor 15:6; Phil 2:9-11), where he will continue in his physical resurrected state for all eternity (Lk 24:39; Acts 1:9-11). Because of Christ’s humility and obedience, God has highly exalted him to the glory he shared with him before creation, demonstrating that Christ is forever glorious and worthy of all praise (John 17:5, 24; Rev 5:9-12).

Christ is now our prophet, king, and priest. As our prophet he has brought the final revelation of God’s truth to us (Heb 1:1-2). As our King of Kings he is the preeminent head of the Church who ushered in the kingdom of heaven under his lordship (Mt 4:17, 23; Col 1:18). As our permanent high priest he offered himself as a blameless sacrifice for our sin; enabling us to enter God’s presence (Heb 6:19-20; 7:24-27). He is also continually making intercession for us as our mediator with God (Ro 8:34; 1 Tim 2:5).