Many Hats

Many Hats

Moses continued, “The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your fellow Israelites. You must listen to him.”

Deuteronomy 18:15

A different priest, who is like Melchizedek, has appeared. Jesus became a priest, not by meeting the physical requirement of belonging to the tribe of Levi, but by the power of a life that cannot be destroyed.

Hebrews 7:15-16

I will raise up one of your descendants, your own offspring, and I will make his kingdom strong. . . . And I will secure his royal throne forever.

2 Samuel 7:12-13

Have you ever heard it said of someone that he or she “wears a lot of hats”? When we use that expression, it’s not meant literally—we’re talking about a person who fills several different roles or functions. For example, one man might be a husband, a father, a sales manager, a baseball coach, and a church elder. A girl might be a student, a sister, a daughter, a friend, an athlete, and a musician.

We could say that Jesus wore many hats. The Bible describes him as a Prophet, a Priest, and a King. Each of these roles played a part in expressing God’s nature and fulfilling God’s plan for our salvation. To help us understand each of these roles, God gave us “pictures” of them in the Old Testament.

Old Testament prophets were people called to carry out God’s covenant: They warned of the judgment to come and paved the way for grace—the new way God would deal with people when Jesus came. Jesus came as a Prophet who was a living, breathing embodiment of God’s judgment of the world and grace for his people.

Priests stood in the presence of God to mediate between God and his people. Jesus came as our Priest who was both sacrificer and sacrifice, whose blood alone forgives sins.

Kings reigned over God’s people as earthly representations of the heavenly King. Jesus came as a King, the true Son of King David. His Kingdom is forever, and his rule will never end.

Jesus is the one the Old Testament prophets, priests, and kings all pointed to. As Prophet, he announces salvation. As Priest, he earns salvation on our behalf. As King, he rules over us in love and purity.

DISCUSSION STARTERS

What are some of the hats people around your table wear?

Who were some of the Old Testament prophets? priests? kings?

How do we benefit from Jesus’ perfectly fulfilling each role?