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 Have
you given serious thought to the multiple
"roles" of our Savior, and to that which each
contributes to the over-all truth? Think with me.
Israel
was called God's "servant," but as their
unfaithfulness became apparent, Isaiah wrote of one who
was "chosen' (elect) as God s servant, and who would
"restore the preserved of Israel" and also be "a
light to the Gentiles" (Isa. 42:1-7; 49:5-6). Matthew
identifies that one as Jesus (12:14-21). As a
"servant" Jesus did the will of the Father, even unto
death. He taught us humility (Jn. 13: 3-17), and, that greatness
in God's kingdom is measured by service (Matt. 20:20-28). Except
we learn these lessons, following His example, we will not
profit by this role (1 Pet. 2:18-).
Moses
spoke of a Prophet which was to come (Deut. 18:18-f), and
although many "spokesmen" for God followed, Jesus
filled that role in a special way. Peter cites the above passage
and applies it to Jesus. God "spake in times past" by
the prophets, and "hath in these last days spoken unto us
by His Son" (Acts 3:22-f.; Heb. 1: 1-2). Surely Jesus
Christ is Prophet of Prophets. As someone put it, He is
The Christ of Content, not an emotional ideal or a label
for bumper stickers. He bears a message. He teaches something
that must be heard and heeded if we are to benefit by Jesus in
the role of Prophet. "The word that I have spoken, the same
shall judge you in the last day. For I have not spoken of
myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment,
what I should say, and what I should speak" (Jn. 12:48-50).
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Zechariah
said the one identified as the "Branch" (See Isa. 4:2
Jer. 23: 5) would be "priest upon his throne"
(6:12-13); and in keeping with this and other prophecies, the
Hebrew writer says our Lord is "High Priest after the order
of Melchisedec" (Heb. 7: 21-25; 9:11-f). Unlike the Aaronic
Priests, Christ offered His own blood at the true mercy seat of
God in heaven (9:24), and we are urged to "come boldly unto
the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to
help in time of need" (4:15-16).
Because
sin is our "disease," and the substitutionary offering
of the life of Jesus is our "remedy," the priestly
role of Christ deserves its place of emphasis. The
sinned-against Father is appeased, we are redeemed from our
legal debt, and pronounced "free of guilt" (justified)
on the basis of this offering. The role is continued as He
intercedes for us, day by day. But we err if we neglect the many
companion roles that go with priesthood. Remove the message of
the Prophet, and we are left ignorant of the remedy. Without His
example as a Servant we are as sheep astray, with no
demonstrating Shepherd to guide us home. And the current
aversion to the "rule" "law"
"authority" of Christ ignores His role as King. After
the order of Melchisedec, He is "priest upon his
throne," "King and Priest" at the same time (Gen.
14:18- Heb. 7:).
Many
denominational exegetes place great stress upon Christ's
priestly role, practically ignoring the necessity for blending
all other roles into their final conclusion. Particularly, they
postpone His kingship to (continued next page)
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