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| Vol. 16 No. 9 September 2014 | Page 4 |
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| Vol. 16 No. 9 September 2014 | Page 4 |
Mark N. Posey
There were three major, distinct offices among the people of Israel: (1) Prophet (i.e., spoke God’s words to the people, such as Nathan, 2 Samuel 7:2), (2) Priest (i.e., offered sacrifices, prayers and praises to God, such as Abiathar; represented the people to God, 1 Samuel 30:7) and (3) King (i.e., ruled over the people as God’s representative, such as King David, 2 Samuel 5:3). Jesus fills these offices in the following ways.
Jesus as Prophet
A prophet of God is someone who reveals God, speaks for God and communicates to people the truths that God wants them to know. Unquestionably, Jesus did this when He came to do the will of the Father (Luke 22:42), to reveal the Father (Matthew 11:27) and to communicate the things of the Father (John 8:28; 12:49). Moses’ prophecy (Deuteronomy 18:15) was fulfilled in Jesus (Acts 3:22-23).
Jesus as Priest
The priests were the ones in the Old Testament who offered sacrifices to God in order to cleanse the people of sin. Ultimately, all such priests were representations of Jesus Who is the True Priest Who offered Himself as a once for all time sacrifice (Ephesians 5:2; Hebrews 9:26-27; 10:12), by which He cleanses us from our sins (1 John 1:7). Jesus has gone into the heavenly equivalent of the Holy of Holies, into the very presence of God (Hebrews 6:19-20); therefore, He continually leads us into God’s presence, so that we no longer need the Jerusalem Temple (Hebrews 9:24).
Jesus as King
A king is someone who has authority to rule and reign over a group of people. Jesus is just such a King. He is called the King of the Jews by the Magi (Matthew 2:2), yet He refused any attempt by people to make Him an earthly king (John 6:15; 18:36-37). Is there a kingdom of God without a King? No! Jesus is our King: “Are You the King of the Jews? And Jesus said to him, It is as you say”(Matthew 27:11).
Conclusion
Eusebius wrote, “And we have been told also that certain of the prophets themselves became, by the act of anointing, Christs in type, so that all these have reference to the true Christ, the divinely inspired and heavenly Word, who is the only high priest of all, and the only King of every creature, and the Father’s only supreme prophet of prophets” (Hist. eccl. 1.3.8, qtd. in Philip Schaff, ed., Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Second Series (New York, 1890), 1:86).
Russ Vickers
Every day for 20 years, Michael wrote a love poem to his wife. At a divorce hearing, though, he revealed that he didn’t compose these verses to celebrate the joys of marriage, but to pacify his domineering wife. The judge granted the divorce and declared that the marriage had nothing more than the “appearance of love.”
Relationships among some Christians often undergo a similar kind of breakdown. Long-hidden resentment when buried for so long can and often does come to the surface. Pretenses then go away. A spouse leaves after years of a supposedly happy marriage, saying he or she is tired of putting up a front and going through the motions. I have known people like this in my lifetime.
In 1 John 3:18 we read, “My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.” Cain’s love for his brother Abel covered a simmering jealousy that eventually broke out in anger. First John 3:12 states, “Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous.” What did Cain do? We all know the end to that story (Genesis 4:8). He killed his brother Abel when God accepted Abel’s offering and not his offering (Genesis 4:1-16). Surely, there was no love in Cain’s heart for his own brother.
Romans 12:9 (ASV) tells us, “Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.” A love cannot do what is false if it is a true love. Most of us have learned how to pretend to love others – how to speak kindly, avoid hurting their feelings and appear to take an interest in them. We may even be skilled in pretending to feel moved with compassion when we hear of others’ needs, or to become indignant when we learn of injustice. Yet, God calls us to real and sincere love that goes far beyond pretense and politeness. Sincere love requires concentration and effort. It means helping others become better people. It demands our time, resources and personal involvement. No individual has the capacity to express love to a whole community, but the body of Christ does.
Whether in marriage or in our relationships with fellow believers, resentment and separation are sure to surface if love is insincere. Instead of presenting the “appearance of love,” let’s take seriously the challenge to “let love be without hypocrisy.”