This past Sunday we took a deep dive into learning about the Aaronic priesthood. And that’s just one sample of how throughout whole Bible – but especially within the Old Testament – it seems you can hardly turn a page without hearing about some prophet, priest, or king. These categories can feel a bit strange to us since our modern lives seem to work in categories more like president, pop star, teacher, mob boss, therapist, coach, guru, internet influencer, etc. So why do we need to know about prophets, priests, and kings? What’s it all about?
The best and most important answer is that we need to understand these categories so that we can understand what Jesus is like, what He’s done, and what He’s doing even now. He is the greater Prophet, for whom all those before were only forerunners (Deuteronomy 18:15-19). He is the one true Priest, who even now is interceding for us (Hebrews 7-10). He is the King over all, whose decrees for this world will come to pass (Matthew 28:18-20). Seeing Jesus rightly is the most important reason to think about prophet, priest, and king.
But seeing humanity rightly is a secondary reason to think about these categories. Jesus fulfills these offices because these offices describe humanity’s greatest needs. We were meant to function in these ways to each other. And Jesus must fulfill these offices because humanity failed to fulfill them. But in the new humanity that Jesus has created, we can serve each other in these ways, in His image to which we’re being conformed.
Adam’s role was to speak and explain God’s words accurately as would a prophet. Instead he stood idly by as his wife misremembered God’s words and listened to a distorted interpretation of them. Adam’s role was to keep (guard) the sanctity of the Garden of Eden as a priest ensures the holiness of the temple grounds. Instead he gave free rein to an unholy intruder. Adam’s role was to have dominion over every living thing on the earth. Instead he failed to rule over a serpent that was functioning outside of its ordained identity. And the results were catastrophic.
On this side of Christ, we’ve been given restored authority in all three of these roles. It’s a derivative authority – always under that of the High Prophet, Priest, and King. But it’s a real authority and responsibility nonetheless. We are a prophetic community (Rev. 11:1-14), and by “speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head” (Ephesians 4:15). We are “a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 2:5). He has promised that he will give us authority over the nations, and we will reign on the earth (Rev. 2:26-27, 5:10).
So pay attention when you see a prophet, priest, or king pop up on the pages of Scripture. When that happens, see Jesus there. And then pray that by His Spirit you might also speak His words, intercede, and exercise dominion as He’s called you to do.