Jesus - Son, High Priest, King, Lord.

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OVERVIEW


`that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings,…` (Phil 3: 10)

To know the Lord, His character, and His purposes, is the goal of the Holy Spirit in our lives. As we learn and appreciate more of who the Lord is and what He has done and is doing in our lives, the more we grow up into Him.

`speaking the truth (of Christ) in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the Head – Christ…` (Eph. 4: 15)



The Holy Spirit has been sent by the Lord to reveal to us Himself and His plans.

`However, when He the Spirit of Truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and tell you things to come.

He will glorify Me, for He will take what is Mine and declare it to you.` (John 16: 13 & 14)



As we study the many names and titles of our precious Lord may the Holy Spirit guide us and enlighten our understanding to glorify Him more and more.

 

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The Father`s Plans for Restoration – Jesus.


When God created the angels the most glorious angelic ruler (Lucifer) rebelled and was cast out. Then when God created man, in His foreknowledge He knew that man would sin and that the great estate, earth, would be overrun by the usurper, (Lucifer/Satan). This would result in sin, disease and death.

God the Father however had purposed -

`according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth – in Christ..` (Eph. 1: 9 & 10)

This was a momentous purpose and involved all the Godhead – Father, Son and Holy Spirit. All of God`s creation from the highest heaven to the earth needed restoration and was destined to come under the righteous rulership of the Son.

God established legal and moral requirements for this restoration, and we see this revealed to us throughout God`s word in the nation of Israel.

Thus, Jesus came born into the nation of Israel, and legally received the firstborn birth right, as well as two positions of authority – King and Priest.

Then, when Jesus was received into heaven at the right hand of the Father He became Heir of all the Father`s estates. He held the right to this supreme administration with the title `Lord,` in every sphere of rule, every realm of power, every government and kingdom.



The Lord, Jesus Christ.

Lord – Administrator over all God`s great Kingdom.

Jesus – Saviour, Priest.

Christ – Anointed King.



Let us now look at God`s great purpose in more detail and see the hand of the Father working with mankind and finally sending His only Son to bring about the restoration of all God`s great kingdom.

 

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Jesus, Son of God.



`These things says the Son of God,…` (Rev. 2: 18)

The title `Son of God,` denotes identity with deity, in His superior status in the Godhead. The terms Father and Son in Godhead does not mean senior and junior as in our human sphere but denotes the express image of personality, the same mind, will and heart and oneness of being.

`God, who at various times and in different ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets has in these last days spoken to us by His Son,…..who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person..` (Heb. 1: 1 – 3)

The Son has insight and personal knowledge of the Father such as no one else possesses, which indicates His unity in Godhead. Only Deity can reveal Deity, and only sonship can manifest fatherhood.

`For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of Him who sent me. `(John 6: 38)

The Son of God came from heaven to begin to fulfill the Father`s plans for the restoration of all things through Himself.



Jesus, Son of Man.



`The Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.` (Matt. 19: 10)

The Son didn`t come from heaven as an angelic being but entered the human race as the `Son of Man.` He knew the great loss man had made through his rebellion resulting in loss of inheritance and of his relationship with God.

There was a way, however, for this to be restored. The divine law that was given affirms that, when land and life are to be recovered and ransomed, the benefactor who undertakes the case must provide legal evidence to prove he holds a close kindred relationship to those in adversity. (Ruth 4: 1 – 13)

Thus, the Son of Man came to fulfill this important function as kinsman on behalf of mankind. He understood the formidable task of ransoming the earth from the control of the usurper and redeeming man from the bondage of the devil and death.

`Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy Him who had the power of death, that is the devil.` (Heb. 2: 14)

 

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Jesus the Son named of the Father.


Jesus enters the human race through the nation of Israel. This heritage is very important as it is the legal requirement of a kinsman to bring redemption. Then the naming of the Son was not left to human will but of God the Father. He sent an angel to Joseph to make the name known.

The function of a name is to reveal the character and purpose. And this the angel revealed to Joseph.


`An angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream saying -Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a son, and you shall call his name JESUS, for he will save his people from their sins.` (Matt. 1: 20 & 21)

Jesus – he will save His people from their sins. Jesus, Hebrew Joshua - `y`howshua` Jehovah – saved.


God prophesied concerning the coming of His son through the prophets.

`I will declare the decree: the LORD (Father) has said to me, (Jesus), “You are my Son, today I have begotten you.` (Ps. 2: 7)

`Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel – God with us.` (Isa. 7: 14)

Immanuel – God with us.


God the Father confirms His Son by the Holy Spirit and His voice from heaven.

`Then Jesus, when He had been baptized, came up immediately from the water; and behold the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.` (Matt. 3: 16 & 17)

 

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Jesus the Son is the Firstborn.

`For God so loved the world He gave His only Son..` (John 3: 16)

`And she (Mary) brought forth her first-born son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths, and laid him in a manger,…` (Luke 2: 7)

The Father gave His only Son, His first born to the world to redeem it.



Jesus receives the birthright and two positions of responsibility.



Looking at the typology of this in Israel we see that the first-born in Israel was Reuben. He should have received the birthright and two portions above his brothers but because he sinned each portion went to other brothers.

`Now the sons of Reuben the first-born of Israel – he was indeed the firstborn, but because he defiled his father`s bed, his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph, the son of Israel, so that the genealogy is not listed according to birthright: yet Judah prevailed over his brothers and from him came a ruler, although the birthright was Joseph`s. ` (1 Chron. 5: 1 & 2)

Joseph the birthright. (1 Chron. 5: 1 & 2) Judah the kingdom. (Gen. 49: 10) Levi the priesthood. (Deut. 33: 8 – 11)



Jesus received the birthright and these two positions of responsibility and authority, King and Priest,` so that He could carry out His mission of redeeming mankind.

Man, not only needs to be delivered from the rulership of darkness, (Satan) but also to come into the righteous rulership of Jesus.

Kingship carries with it the authority to rule, while Priesthood functions as intermediate between God and man.



The Birthright – doubly fruitful. `anointed with the oil of gladness more than your companions.` (Ps. 45: 7)



The Kingship – `Where is He born King of the Jews?` (Matt. 2: 2)

The Father said, “I have set my King on Mount Zion.` (Ps. 2: 6)



The High Priesthood – The Father said, `You (Son) are a priest forever..` (Ps. 110: 4)

`Jesus having become high priest forever..` (Heb. 6: 20)

 

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Jesus the Son at the Father`s Right Hand.

When Jesus had finished His work as Saviour on the cross the Father raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand.

`God the Father ….raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places.` (Eph. 1: 20)
`when He had purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.` (Heb. 1: 3)

There at the Father`s right hand the glorified Son, Jesus, is exalted to the highest place.

`far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And He put all things under His feet.` (Eph. 1: 21 & 22)


These two aspects of our Lord – suffering on the cross and His exaltation - is illustrated in the naming of Jacob`s last son. The last son of Jacob was named by the mother and then later by the Father.

`Rachael travailed in childbirth….and so it was, as her soul departed (for she died) she called his name Ben-Oni, but his father called him Benjamin.` (Gen. 35: 18)



Ben-Oni – Son of my sorrow.

Jesus was `A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.` (Isa. 53: 3) (cross)


Benjamin – Son of my right hand.

God `raised Him (Jesus) from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places.` (Eph. 1: 20) (ascension)



At the Father`s right hand the Son then moves on to the next part of the Father`s plan.

`The LORD, (Father said to my Lord, (Son), “Sit at my right hand till I make your enemies your footstool. ` (Ps. 110: 1)

Then – `The Lord (Father) shall send the rod of your strength out of Zion. Rule in the midst of your enemies! ` (Ps. 110: 2)

 

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Jesus the Son is God`s Heir.

The glorified Son, at the Father`s right hand is then appointed heir of all the Father`s estates – all things.

`God, who at various times and in different ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son who He has appointed Heir of all things,..` (Heb. 1: 1 & 2)


The enemy tried to get rid of God`s Son, Jesus because he knew He was the heir to the Father`s inheritance. This is revealed in one of the parables about a man who planted a vineyard and at the right season sent his servants to collect some of the fruit. Some servants were beaten, and others killed. Finally, the man sent His only son.

`Therefore still having one son, his beloved, he also sent him to them last, saying, “They will respect my son.” But those vinedressers said among themselves,

“This is the heir. Come let us kill him and the inheritance will be ours.” And they took him and killed him and cast him out of the vineyard. ` (Mark 12: 6 – 8)

God the Father warns the kings of the earth to bow to His Son, the Heir over all.

`Now therefore, be wise, O kings; be instructed, you judges of the earth. Serve the lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way…` (Ps. 2: 10 – 12)

Son – Heb. `bar,` a title for the heir apparent to the throne.


The Father gives His Son the inheritance also of the nations.

`The LORD (Father) has said to me, “You are my Son….ask of me and I will give you the nations for your inheritance and the ends of the earth for your possession.` (Ps. 2: 7 & 8)



As King Jesus has all power, and then as heir He receives all possessions, making Him Lord of all.

`And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: King of Kings and Lord of Lords.` (Rev. 19: 16)

 

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The Early Priests of God.


When Adam and Eve sinned God showed them His way of forgiveness and how to draw near to Him.

`for Adam and his wife the Lord God made tunics of skin, and clothed them. ` (Gen. 3: 21)

The blood sacrifice was God`s way to cover their sin and Abel their son knew this too.

`Abel …brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat. And the Lord respected Abel and his offering. ` (Gen. 4: 4)



Thus, people in early times often built an altar where they could sacrifice to God. The head of the family often performed this priestly function.

When Noah and his family came out of the ark, Noah then built an altar.

`Noah built an altar to the Lord ….and offered burnt offerings on the altar. And the Lord smelled a soothing aroma.` (Gen. 8: 20 & 21)



Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob offered sacrifices and drew near to God. An altar of stones was set up where sacrifices could be offered, especially for important events

`And he (Abraham) moved from there to the mountain east of Bethel…he built an altar to the Lord and called on the name of the Lord.` (Gen. 12: 8)



The king of Salem, who was a priest of the Most High, called Melchizedek, met Abraham and blessed him.

`Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was priest of the Most High. And he blessed him and said :“Blessed be Abraham of God Most High,…` (Gen. 14: 18 & 19)



The ultimate sacrifice of Abraham`s son, Isaac, was a great test, but as Abraham said

“ My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering.” (Gen. 22: 8)



Thus, we can see that priests and priestly activity were known in ancient times as God`s way to cover sin and for the person to be able to draw near to Him. However, this was only a temporary way till God provided Himself as the final sacrifice.

 

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The Priests in Israel.

When God made the nation of Israel to reveal His righteous rulership to the other nations, they rebelled against Him. This then necessitated that God show Israel how to come to Him for national forgiveness.

God gave to Moses the detailed plan of a structure, the Tabernacle, that would have within it the means of forgiveness for the people. God then had Moses set up a priesthood in the tribe of Levi, to officiate in the ceremonies of the Tabernacle. The Levites were to assist the main priests who were of the family of Aaron, (Moses` brother).

`The Lord said to Moses…..”You shall appoint Aaron and his sons, and they shall attend to their priesthood;…` (Num. 3: 10)



The priests had to wear special garments, be consecrated, learn to attend to the holy things in the tabernacle and administer sacrifices and offerings on the altar. Then the Lord God would meet with the children of Israel and dwell among them.

There were many priests of the Aaronic family, however there was only one High Priest who held office at a time. Aaron the first High Priest was called of God, then clothed with special garments, and finally consecrated.



Once a year the High Priest was to go into the holy of Holies in the Tabernacle and meet with God. He was to take the blood of a young bull as a sin offering and sprinkle it on the mercy seat of the ark of the covenant.

In the courtyard of the Tabernacle there was the brazen altar where the sacrifices were made. The High Priest would take the blood from the sacrifice and then enter the first tent, the holy place. Here there was the golden lampstand giving light and the 12 loaves of fresh bread signifying the 12 tribes of Israel.

The High Priest would then go to the golden altar of incense and take some of the incense and burning coals with the blood in a censor. He would then enter behind the veil into the Holy of Holies. Here was the ark of God`s covenant with Israel. It had the 10 commandments inside, the manna, and Aaron`s rod that budded, signifying God`s approval of his priesthood.

Finally, the High Priest would sprinkle the blood and the burning coals before God`s ark, and the incense would rise with the glory cloud of God`s acceptance.

`the cloud covered the tabernacle of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. `(Ex. 40: 34)

 

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