The epistle to the Hebrews, which shows that through Jesus we have a better covenant, better promises, and a new and living way (8:6; 10:20), begins with these words, "God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high" (1:1-3).

Who is this Jesus that we serve? In the above-quoted verses, as well as others, the Bible shows that He is our prophet, priest, and king. In the Old Testament we read that David was both king and prophet. We also read that Jeremiah was both priest and prophet, but only in Jesus the Messiah do we find One Who is all three: (1) prophet, (2) priest, and (3) king.

Jesus Is Our Prophet. In the Bible the word "prophet" means one who speaks for or in place of another. Thus, a prophet of God is one who speaks for Him (Exodus 4:16; 7:1). In the Old Testament times God spoke to men through prophets (Hebrews 1:1). Through the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:20,21) God gave those prophets the very words that they spoke to men on His behalf. God told Jeremiah, "For thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak. . . Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth" (Jeremiah 1:7,9). In the early church there were also prophets through whom the Holy Spirit revealed God’s plan to save man in the Christ by the gospel (Ephesians 3:5,6). The Bible also says that the Spirit edified the church through those first-century prophets (1 Corinthians 14:3).

However, the greatest prophet of God is the Lord Jesus. Over 1400 years before Jesus’ birth, Moses prophesied of Him, saying, "The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken. . . I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him" (Deuteronomy 18:15,18). It is God’s will that all men today hear Jesus (Matthew 17:5) for the Father speaks to us in or through the Son (Hebrews 1:2). One who refuses to listen to and follow this Great Prophet shall be destroyed (Acts 3:22,23). Jesus, as a true spokesman for God, taught only the message of the Father. He said, "My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me . . . I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him . . . the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me" (John 7:16; 8:26; 14:24).

Friends, there is only one true religion that is pleasing to God: the teaching and scheme of redemption that He Himself has given us from heaven. That teaching and redemption come to mankind only through Jesus the Christ, the most unique prophet of God. In Him, God speaks to us through the gospel (Hebrews 1:2; 2 Thessalonians 2:14), and only in Him do we have the remission of sins (Ephesians 1:7).

Jesus Is Our High Priest. The work of a priest and prophet are not the same. Through His prophets, God spoke to mankind. Through priests, men came before Jehovah with their worship. The Levitical priests of the Old Testament were instructed to put a difference between holy and unholy, between unclean and clean, and to teach the children of Israel all the statutes of Jehovah (Leviticus 10:10,11). In addition, they stood daily and ministered, offering sacrifices (Hebrews 10:11). According to the Law of Moses, there was always to be one high priest. Of that system it is written, "For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins" (Hebrews 5:1). Also, "But into the second (that is the most holy place, rdc) went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people" (Hebrews 9:7). Through all of their service, the Levitical priests were to help bring the people of God to Him.

The book of Hebrews declares that Christians have only one high priest. Jesus is the first and last high priest of Christianity. "We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens" (8:1). Jesus serves as "high priest over the house of God" (10:21). Just as under the old law the high priest had to take blood into the most holy place for the atonement of the entire nation of Israel on the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16), so Jesus, as our high priest, had to die on the cross, then enter into heaven (the spiritual holy of holies) with His sacrifice for our atonement. "For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us" (Hebrews 9:24).

There were many faithful high priests that served in Israel, but none could compare to our great high priest, Jesus. The Levitical high priests were servants, but Jesus is more, for He is the Son of God (Hebrews 4:14). The Levitical high priests offered animal sacrifices, but Jesus offered Himself. They offered many sacrifices, but Jesus "offered one sacrifice for sins for ever" (Hebrews 10:12). They were mere men who sinned out of weakness, but Jesus is "holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens" (Hebrews 7:26). No earthly priest can compare to the Christ! Thank God that through Jesus’ blood He "by himself purged our sins" (Hebrews 1:2) so that we might be reconciled to God (Romans 5:9-11).

Jesus Is Our King. While a prophet speaks to man for God, and a priest helps man worship God, a king whom God has appointed serves as ruler over God’s kingdom. Upon returning to heaven, Jesus "sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high" (Hebrews 1:3). He is now ruling over the house of God, which is the church (Hebrews 10:21; 1 Timothy 3:15). The Christ is now "the head over all things to the church" (Ephesians 1:22). Does He sit on an earthly throne? No. He told Pilate, "My kingdom is not of this world" (John 18:36). Jesus’ kingdom is thus not earthly, as many expect, but spiritual.

When did Jesus begin to reign as king? When His kingdom came into existence on the earth. When was that? On the first Jewish day of Pentecost after Jesus rose from the dead (Acts 2). On that day the apostle Peter told the Jews who were assembled in Jerusalem that God had fulfilled His promise to David, that even as Peter spoke to them, Jesus was sitting on the throne of David, meaning that He was ruling as king (Acts 2:31-35). Peter further declared that God had made Jesus both Lord and Christ (2:36). Friends, the church of Christ is His kingdom on the earth (Matthew 16:18,19). When the church obeys Jesus’ teaching, then the church is really obeying its Head or King (Ephesians 5:24).

There can be no doubt about it: the kingdom of the Christ existed in the first century. How do we know? Because saints were in it! In 62,63 A.D. Paul wrote to the brethren at Colosse, "Who (God) hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son" (Colossians 1:13). Since people were in Jesus’ kingdom, then His kingdom already existed. And, because His kingdom existed then, then He was already King at that time! King Herod the Great, Pilate, the Jews, and many others tried to prevent Jesus from becoming King, but they could not! Jesus is King of kings and Lord of lords (Revelation 19:16). How long will He continue to reign? "Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power, For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet, The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death" (1 Corinthians 15:24-26).

How wonderful that we can have such a great Prophet, High Priest, and King! May God help each of us to serve Him zealously out of a heart filled with gratitude and love.

-- Roger D. Campbell