Jesus: Our Priest, Prophet, King, and Savior

Devotional

Day 1: Christ's Roles in Our Redemption

Jesus Christ's fulfillment as our priest, prophet, and king is not merely a religious concept but a profound reality that shapes our understanding of salvation. As the ultimate priest, He offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice, reconciling us with God. In His prophetic role, He calls us to repentance, guiding us back to a right relationship with the Father. As our king, His reign is not of this world but is a heavenly rule that opposes the forces of darkness and aligns us with God's will. This threefold office is essential to grasp the fullness of our redemption and the depth of the grace extended to us. [05:46]

Hebrews 7:24-26 (ESV)
"But he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens."

Reflection: How does understanding Jesus as your priest, prophet, and king change the way you approach Him in prayer and worship?

Day 2: Learning from Historical Failures

The shortcomings of human priests, prophets, and kings throughout history underscore our need for a true savior. These flawed individuals do not undermine the divine purposes of these roles but rather magnify the perfection of Jesus's work on our behalf. His sacrifice and leadership stand in stark contrast to human failure, offering us a clear example of what divine intervention looks like in a broken world. This perspective helps us appreciate the magnitude of Jesus's perfect priesthood, prophetic truth, and kingly authority. [11:35]

1 Samuel 8:7 (ESV)
"And the Lord said to Samuel, 'Obey the voice of the people in all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them.'"

Reflection: Can you identify a time when a human leader's failure pointed you toward a greater reliance on Jesus's perfect leadership?

Day 3: The Significance of Baptism

Baptism is not a milestone of spiritual perfection but an act of obedience and a public declaration of faith. It signifies the believer's recognition of their need for Jesus's covering and marks the beginning of a life dedicated to God. Through baptism, we are united with Jesus in His death and resurrection, symbolizing our rebirth into a new life with Him. This sacred act is a step taken in faith, embracing the transformative power of Christ's sacrifice. [18:43]

Romans 6:4 (ESV)
"We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life."

Reflection: What does your baptism mean to you, and how does it shape your daily walk with Christ?

Day 4: Anointing for All Believers

The anointing received through Christ is not a status symbol but a mark of our divine calling to live set apart for God's purposes. This anointing, symbolized in baptism, is the same for every believer, regardless of their role in the church or the length of their faith journey. It empowers us to minister the gospel of grace to the world, affirming our identity as chosen and cleansed by God. [16:25]

1 Peter 2:9 (ESV)
"But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light."

Reflection: How can you live out your anointing today in a way that reflects your calling and identity in Christ?

Day 5: Baptism as a Testimony of Transformation

The act of baptism is a powerful testimony to the transformative work of Jesus Christ in the believer's life. Witnessing baptism connects us with the faith's rich history and every believer who has publicly declared their faith through this sacred act. It is a celebration of spiritual resurrection, from death to life, and a reminder of the continuity of faith that spans centuries. [23:10]

Colossians 2:12 (ESV)
"Having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead."

Reflection: How can you bear witness to the transformative power of baptism in your own life and encourage others to take this step of faith?

Sermon Summary

In today's gathering, we celebrated the resurrection of Jesus Christ, not just as a historical event, but as the cornerstone of our faith and the reason for our hope. We delved into the significance of Jesus as our priest, prophet, and king, and how these roles are not just titles but functions that He perfectly fulfills, bridging the gap between our broken humanity and God's holiness.

As our priest, Jesus is not akin to the image of a Roman Catholic priest but rather, He is akin to the Old Testament priests who covered our sins. He stands in the gap between us and God, offering Himself as the ultimate sacrifice for our transgressions. As our prophet, Jesus is not a fortune teller but one who calls us to repentance and restoration with God. He predicted the future, yes, but His primary role was to guide us back to a right relationship with the Father. As our king, Jesus's rule is not of this world but is a heavenly kingship that stands against God's adversaries and leads us in submission to God's will.

We also reflected on the flawed human examples of priests, prophets, and kings throughout history. Their failures and shortcomings do not diminish the divine purposes for which these roles were established. Instead, they highlight our need for a true savior, a need that is universal and unchanging. Whether we have been believers for many years or are just beginning to explore faith, we all require Jesus's saving grace.

Baptism was a central theme of today's service, symbolizing our participation in Jesus's death, burial, and resurrection. It is an outward declaration of an inward transformation, marking the beginning of a life consecrated to God. Baptism is not a rite reserved for the perfect or the fully knowledgeable; it is a step of obedience for anyone who recognizes their need for Jesus's covering.

We were reminded that the anointing we receive through Jesus Christ is not exclusive or hierarchical. It is the same for every believer, setting us apart for God's divine purpose. This anointing is symbolized in baptism, where we are washed clean of our sins and declared participants in Jesus's resurrection life.

As we concluded, we extended an invitation to those who felt moved by the Holy Spirit to come forward for baptism. It was a call to action, not to delay in responding to Jesus's stirring in our hearts. We celebrated the resurrection of souls from death to life, witnessing the beautiful symbolism of baptism as they participated in Jesus's sacrifice, burial, and resurrection.

Key Takeaways

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Observation Questions

What roles does Jesus fulfill according to the sermon, and how are these roles described? ([05:46])
How does the sermon describe the act of baptism and its significance for believers? ([18:43])
What examples from the Old Testament are given to illustrate the anointing of priests, prophets, and kings? ([07:13])
According to Romans 6:1-5, what does baptism symbolize for believers?

Interpretation Questions

How does understanding Jesus as our priest, prophet, and king deepen our appreciation of His role in our salvation? ([05:46])
In what ways do the failures of human priests, prophets, and kings highlight our need for Jesus's perfect fulfillment of these roles? ([11:35])
How does the act of baptism serve as both a personal declaration and a communal testimony of faith? ([18:43])
What does it mean to be anointed by Jesus, and how does this anointing set believers apart for God's purpose? ([16:25])

Application Questions

Reflect on the roles of Jesus as priest, prophet, and king. How can you personally relate to each of these roles in your daily walk with Christ? ([05:46])
Have you ever experienced a moment when you felt the need for a true savior, as highlighted by the failures of human leaders? How did that experience shape your faith? ([11:35])
If you have been baptized, how did that experience impact your faith journey? If you have not been baptized, what are your thoughts or hesitations about taking this step? ([18:43])
The sermon mentioned that the anointing we receive through Jesus is the same for every believer. How does this understanding affect your view of your role within the church community? ([16:25])
Think about a time when you felt the Holy Spirit stirring in your heart. How did you respond, and what was the outcome? How can you be more attentive to the Holy Spirit's leading in the future? ([26:49])
How can you actively participate in the communal aspect of baptism, supporting and celebrating with those who are taking this step of faith? ([23:10])
Identify one area in your life where you need to embrace Jesus's covering and anointing more fully. What practical steps can you take this week to live out this anointing? ([16:25])

Sermon Clips

"Baptism isn't something that we put off until we're perfect, until we've figured it all out, until we just have rock-solid faith and we know everything. It's not something you put off until you feel like you can prove that you are worthy of his love. It's something that we embrace by grace because as we follow Jesus, we should desire his covering, we should desire his anointing." [17:54]( | | )

"Jesus is our priest, not in the Roman Catholic sense, but in an Old Testament sense, the one who covers our sin. The priest who stands in the gap between broken humanity and God's holiness. He's also our Prophet... the role of the Prophet is one who calls people to repentance in order to restore them to right relationship with God. Jesus is our prophet. He is also our King, not in an earthly sense... but his rule is a heavenly kingship." [05:46]( | | )

"The failures of human priests, prophets, and kings throughout history serve as a stark reminder of our collective need for a true savior. These flawed examples do not negate the divine intention behind these roles but rather emphasize the perfection of Jesus's sacrifice and leadership." [11:35]( | | )

"We need the Messiah. The word Messiah simply means anointed one. Jesus is the anointed one. His blood shed on the cross for our sins sets him apart from all other sacrifices, the only anointed one who can stand in the gap between your sins, my sins, and the salvation that he freely gives to us." [13:58]( | | )

"My covering is no more precious than yours. If you believe in Jesus and the power of his resurrection, then you have the same covering, the same anointing. The same blood that covers me is freely given by Jesus to cover you. The same spirit that walks with me is freely given by Jesus to walk with you." [16:25]( | | )

"Baptism is our anointing in faith, setting us apart from the world for his divine purpose to be a royal priesthood, to tell others about Jesus who stands in the gap for all of our sins, who gives us hope by his love and produces faith." [17:04]( | | )

"We are not anointed in the same way as Old Testament priests, prophets, and kings. We are anointed by the Messiah, by Jesus Christ, the anointed one, first by the blood covering our sins on the cross bringing us into unity with God, second by the spirit calling us to faith, repentance, and restoration." [22:25]( | | )

"Now we have with us a handful of people today who have chosen to commit their lives to Christ. They want to declare their faith through baptism. We get to stand as witnesses to this declaration. This is a joyous moment, the anointing by water representing their full covering in Christ." [23:10]( | | )

"Happy Resurrection Sunday. We get to celebrate the resurrection of these souls from death to life, and that is a thing of beauty. It is joyous, it is glorious. We get to watch them participate with Jesus in his sacrifice, his burial, and his resurrection." [28:14]( | | )

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