Jesus: Prophet, PRIEST, King
Pastor Jefferson M. Williams
Chenoa Baptist Church
11-09-2025
Aslan is on the Move
This past weekend, the Goose and I started the “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.” I’ve wanted to read this to her for years and now she’s old enough to follow the story and understand the message. (Not growing up in a Christian home,I didn’t read the Chronicles of Narnia book series until I was in my 20s).
C.S. Lewis wrote some of the most beloved books in the history of Christianity. He said that he wrote the Chronicles of Narnia with a very specific purpose in mind. He wanted to give children categories, or types, or word pictures, to help them understand the Gospel.
When they hear the Gospel they would have a framework to make sense of it.
When they first understand that they are sinners held in bondage by satan and are hopeless and helpless to save themselves, they would automatically say, “Just like Edmond was held in bondage to the White Witch.”
When they are told the Good News that Jesus willingly died in their place to pay the ransom for our sins, they will smile and say, “I know that story! Aslan died on the stone table to take Edmond’s punishment and buy him back from the White Witch.”
When they are told that Jesus didn’t stay dead but was resurrected in power and lives forever more as our Savior, they will remember this scene.
[Aslan’s Resurrection - Youtube stop at 1:59]
“The witch would have known that when a willing victim who had committed no treachery was killed in a traitor’s stead, the Table would crack and Death itself would start working backwards.”
In the Old Testament, after the fall, God instituted three offices or patterns.
Prophets - revealed God’s will to the people
Priests - mediated between a sinful people and a holy God
Kings - led the people as a representative of God
The prophets would be foretellers - they would reveal what would happen in the future, and forth-tellers, revealing the messages from God, most often a message of judgement and a call to return to the Lord.
The prophets were agents of revelation, facing the people, speaking for God (thus says the Lord) and making God know to them.
From Moses to Malachi, God called and used these prophets to proclaim His Word to His people.
They used sermons, word pictures, and even props to make their point.
They were used to call out the Israelites and their constant running after false gods and to call them to repent and return to the Lord.
But, if you read the whole Old Testament, you see another pattern emerging. These prophets were pointing to something, or better yet, SomeOne, out in the distant future. They couldn’t see the whole picture but God would give them glimpses of future glory.
They all looked back to the promise of Genesis 3:15 when God curses the serpent:
“And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.” (Gen 3:15)
The word “offspring” is literally “seed” and it is singular. Already, we see the Gospel taking shape. Satan would strike at this Seed’s heel but, in the end, the seed, the Promised One, would crush satan’s head once and for all.
Throughout the Old Testament, we see the prophets giving us hints of Who that seed would be.
Moses writes of this Promised One:
"The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your fellow Israelites. You must listen to him.” (Duet 18:15)
The writer of Hebrews begins:
“In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.” (Hebrews 1:1-3)
Jesus is the last and greatest prophet. He is the fulfillment of all the Old Testament Messianic prophecies.
He is the perfect communicator of God’s will and words to us. He is far superior to any of the other prophets because He is God’s own self-revelation, not just another messenger.
He was mighty in word, in prayer, in deed, and in suffering.
If you missed last week, you can always watch it online.
This morning, we are going to look at Jesus, our high priest from Hebrews 5.
Prayer
A Picture of a Priest
Every culture around the world has some sort of religion and, in that religion, they have priests to make sacrifices to and appease the gods for the people.
In our culture, when I say the word “priest,” you might picture this. [picture of priest]. That’s not what we are talking about this morning. The priests we are studying looked more like this. [picture of OT priest].
It is obvious that God considered Adam a type of prophet, priest, king but he failed, miserably.
Because of his sin he deserved to die. But God didn’t execute Adam and Eve. Instead, an animal was sacrificed to cover their sins.
Already in the garden we learn that without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sin. (Leviticus 17:11; Hebrews 9:22)
They were evicted from the garden and the garden was guarded by angels with flaming swords.
We know there were priests before Exodus, Noah, Abraham, and Job all built altars to the Lord and made sacrifices to Him.
But the priesthood was established in Exodus and the priests would be of the line of Aaron, yes, “Golden Calf Aaron” and the tribe of Levi.
Moses consecrated Aaron and his sons. This included washing, sacrificing a bull, and a ram and blood placed on their right earlobe, right thumb, and right big toe.
The priests were to wear elaborate outfits that would make them stand out (for “glory and beauty”) not just among the people but in the gray, drab desert.
They were to be anointed with oil, representing God’s presence.
The number one thing that we learn from this is there was a LOT of blood. In fact, when they got through with all the sacrifices, they would have been a bloody mess.
This was the start of the sacrificial system. There were burnt offerings, guilt offerings, grain offerings, peace offerings, and sin offerings.
The priest had to know each of these offerings and what was to be done to the animal.
Imagine that Maxine and I have an argument. Well, now we need to take one of our little lambs to the tabernacle. We would lay our hands on its head, the priest would slit it’s neck and the blood would be sprinkled on the altar.
Then, as we were walking back home, someone’s donkey cuts us off in traffic, and maybe I said some not so pastor-like words. We are going to need another lamb!
Day after day, a bloody mess, priests sacrificing millions of lambs.
There was a sense that people started to understand that all this blood, all the bulls and goats, just covered their sins, it didn’t atone for them.
You can remember what atone means - at one ment with God.
But you have to remember that this entire sacrificial system was a word picture, a shadow, pointing to a reality to come.
When God told Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac on the mountain, Isaac asked the question that we all would have asked,
“The fire and wood are here,” Isaac said, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” (Gen 22:7)
And Abraham’s answer echoes down the corridors of time:
“Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two of them went on together.” (Gen 22:8)
If you know the rest of the story, right as Abraham was about to plunge the knife into Isaac, and angel said stop and he noticed a ram, a male lamb, caught in the thicket, with his head wrapped in thorns.
When God brought the last plague upon Egypt, the death of the first born sons, the Israelites who covered their doorposts with the blood of the Lamb were protected from God’s wrath.
Adam and Eve were covered with the skins of animals that had been sacrificed. Isaac is replaced on the altar by the ram. The Israelites are protected by the blood on the doorposts.
What they were learning was forgiveness is costly and bloody.
But God made it clear through Isaiah that the blood of bulls and goats weren’t enough:
“The multitude of your sacrifices— what are they to me?” says the Lord. “I have more than enough of burnt offerings, of rams and the fat of fattened animals I have no pleasure in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats.” (Isaiah 1:11)
Hebrews 10:4 says that the Levitical priesthood and the Mosaic system could not bring the reality of forgiveness because the blood of bulls and goats cannot take away sins.
This is all pointing toward something, or Someone, out there in the future that would be a sacrifice for all of us.
Perhaps the best picture is that of the high priest. The high priest started with Aaron and then his oldest living son. The high priest was responsible to go into the Holy of Holies on the Day of Atonement.
The high priest would ritually wash and then wear linen garments. He would sacrifice a bull first for his sins and the sins of the people. The blood would be sprinkled on the mercy seat of the ark.
Then two goats would be presented. One would be sacrificed and its blood sprinkled on the altar. The other one was called the “scapegoat.” The high priest would place his hands on the goat’s head and confess the specific sins of the people. This goat would then be led out of the town and released in the wilderness.
All of this was shadows, categories, word pictures, pointing forward to the ultimate high priest - Jesus Christ.
Jesus the Great High Priest
Last week, we read that Moses predicted that God would raise up a prophet like himself from among the people (Duet 18:15).
This week, we see a prophecy in I Samuel stating that God will raise up a high priest that will be faithful (unlike the sons of Samuel) that will minister for all time:
“I will raise up for myself a faithful priest, who will do according to what is in my heart and mind. I will firmly establish his priestly house, and they will minister before my anointed one always.” (I Sam 2:35)
There was just one problem with Jewish people accepting Jesus as this prophesied high priest. He wasn’t from the line of Aaron or from the tribe of Judah.
That’s where a strange encounter in Genesis 14 comes into the story.
Abraham’s nephew Lot and his family had been kidnapped and taken away by a group of armies. Abraham called out 318 of his best soldiers and they defeated this coalition and rescued Lot.
On the way back, Abraham encounters a man named Melchizedek:
“Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, and he blessed Abram, saying, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. And praise be to God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand.” (Gen 14:18-20)
This Melchizedek was called the “king of Salem” which means “King of Peace” and his name means “King of Righteousness.” He fed Abraham and his men and blessed him. And Abraham gave him a tenth of all his spoils.
Melchizedek was not from the line of Aaron or from the tribe of Levi. In fact, Aaron had not even been born yet.
Melchizedek is only mentioned one other time in the Old Testament. David wrote in Psalm 110 of the coming Messiah that would be prophet, priest, and king:
The Lord says to my lord: “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet. …The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind: “You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.” (Psalm 110:1,4)
So this Messiah would not be from the line of Aaron or from the tribe of Judah but who be a priest in the order of Melchizedek, a much older priesthood than Aaron’s.
The writer of the New Testament book of Hebrews makes it clear that Jesus is the promised high priest:
“In the same way, Christ did not take on himself the glory of becoming a high priest. But God said to him “You are my Son; today I have become your Father.” And he says in another place “You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.” (Hebrews 5:5-6)
Hebrews was written to a group of Jewish Christians who were persecuted for their faith. The whole point of the book of Hebrews is that Jesus is the reality that the Old Testament word pictures pointed to.
The writer begins by saying that Jesus is the greater prophet than Moses and that God speaks through Him now. Jesus is greater than the angels, greater than Abraham, and greater than the high priest of Old.
The Mosaic covenant wasn’t designed to “save” people.
The sacrifices merely covered the sins and kept the people in right standing before God.
It was designed to show them, and us, that we are completely incapable of keeping all the rules. We are guilty before God and we can never hop high enough for God’s holiness.
Because of this people yearned for a high priest who would make perfect intercession and sacrifices for them. And, in the fulness of time, Jesus, the Seed, the Promised Messiah, the ultimate high priest came.
Anyone remember this sound [dial up internet sound]. That’s the Old Covenant. It worked for its time but Jesus when Jesus died on the cross the veil, a huge curtain that separated the Holy of Holies from the rest of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom, instituting a new and living way to God through faith in Christ.
“But in fact the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, since the new covenant is established on better promises…By calling this covenant “new,” he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and outdated will soon disappear.” (Hebrews 8:6-10,13)
How is Jesus greater than the high priest of the Old Testament?
“Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” (Hebrews 4:14-16)
Jesus is not like the human priests that have to continue to offer sacrifices day after day. Jesus offered His sacrifices of Himself once and for all and sat down at the right hand of God.
“Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all.” (Hebrews 7:27)
Jesus is not like the high priests. He is the second Person of the Trinity, the Son of God.
“Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.” (Hebrews 4:14)
He can sympathize with our weaknesses. He knows what it is like to be tempted “in every way” but He did not sin.
“Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.” (Hebrews 2:17-18)
“Such a high priest truly meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens.” (Hebrews 7:26)
Jesus provides us continuous access to God.
Now, in the new covenant, you don’t have to go through a priest, a preacher, or a pope, or anyone else. You can go directly to God through Jesus by the Holy Spirit.
This is a very famous picture of John-John playing under the resolute desk. He had access to the most secure room in the world. Why? Because it was his daddy’s office!
We come confidently before God’s throne now. Are we worthy of that honor? No! But Jesus opens the door for us.
Come Obediently
This is not really an invitation. It’s a divine command. Draw near to Him in trust and obedience
Come Personally
You don’t need a priest or anyone else to mediate for you. By faith in Christ, you can come directly to God for the help you need.
Come Confidently
The throne of God represented holiness and judgement. In other words, stay away! Jesus changed God’s throne into a fountain of grace. Are you worthy? No. But Jesus is and we are with Him!
Come Freely
You don’t have to know how to pray “pretty.” Bring Him the good, the bad, and the ugly.
Come Continuously
He is always there and always ready to listen!
Come Urgently
Make prayer your first response, not your last resort. Prayer only works if you understand your neediness.
Come Expectantly
Pray with assurance that He never leaves you empty handed when you approach the throne of grace with confidence.
We never leave empty-handed. God promises will receive “mercy and grace to help us in our time of need.”
John wrote to Timothy:
“For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.” (I Tim 2:5-6)
Jesus provides an eternal priesthood.
“And it was not without an oath! Others became priests without any oath, but he became a priest with an oath when God said to him “The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind: ‘You are a priest forever.’” Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantor of a better covenant. Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood.” (Hebrews 7:20-24)
Jesus provides eternal salvation for those who will come to Him in faith.
“During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered 9 and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek.” (Hebrews 5:7-10)
Jesus sits at the right hand of God and prays for us continuously.
“What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.” (Romans 8:31-34)
What is Jesus praying for us right now? Albert Molher takes his cue from the prayer in John 17:
keep them in Your name. Protect and secure them. (v. 11)
Make them one as We are one. Unity. (v. 11)
Make our joy complete in them. (v. 13)
Sanctify them. Make them holy, set them apart for God’s use (v. 17)
Jesus is coming again for His bride, the Church.
“You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. For, “In just a little while, he who is coming will come and will not delay.” (Hebrews 10:36-37)
Three Different Ways to go from Here
After hearing this sermon, there are three different ways you can go from here.
The reason the writer of Hebrews was so clear and strong in his language is because his readers were being tempted to go backwards, back into Judaism, to try and escape the persecution of Christians taking place.
Hebrews tell us that there is nothing to go back to there. The sacrifices, which were just a shadow pointing to Jesus, ended in AD 70. There are no priests, no Temple, no sacrifices.
I have a rabbi friend who I call from time to time to ask him questions. I asked him what he does on Yom Kippur. He said he goes to the park and feeds the ducks and prays for his people to be good people.
The writer of Hebrews goes to great pains to tell us that Jesus’s covenant is greater.
“The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming—not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship. Otherwise, would they not have stopped being offered? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins. But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins. It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, and since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool. For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.” (Hebrews 10:1-4,11-14)
The Mosaic covenant, with its sacrifices, feasts, and blood, have passed away. They were only shadows, categories, (Aslan for Jesus and Narnia for Heaven), Jesus is now here and has started the New Covenant with perfect blood shed for you and me.
So we can’t back. But neither can we go forward.
Again and again, we are told that Jesus’s sacrifice on the cross was a once and for all sacrifice, never needing to be repeated again.
But, right now, all over the world, there are priests who are sacrificing the body and blood of Jesus on the altar, again and again and again.
“Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.” (Hebrews 10:27-28)
To sacrifice Jesus again is blasphemy and it makes the cross useless. If you have to keep sacrificing Jesus, then it’s pretty apparent that His original death on the cross was not enough.
Let me say this as clearly as I can - Jesus is enough! His life, death, burial and resurrection is enough. We are saved by faith alone, through grace alone, by Christ alone, to the glory of God alone.
That’s actually the third way. To simply trust that Jesus died on the cross in your place for your sins, to say to God “I’m with Him.” Paul wrote:
“Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:7-8)
This is enough to blow our minds for eternity. My fear is that we have become so used to the story that we really don’t believe it anymore.
New Tribes Missions spent more than six months explaining to a tribe in Papua New Guinea the basics of the Old Testament and how it all points to Jesus.
When the missionary Mark explained the cross and how Jesus, as their spiritual high priest, offered Himself as a sacrifice once and for to pay their sins, they were completely amazed and kept saying “EETAOW!” Which means “it is true”. Kind of like our word Amen.
[Start at 10:58 - 14-07]
