August 24, 2021
Jesus! Our Prophet, Priest, and King!
“Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come” Revelation 1:4
“…from Him who is”! We are taught that the role of Jesus after He left the earth and ascended into Heaven is that of High Priest, ministering on our behalf in the heavenly sanctuary.
Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:14-16
“...and who was”! A prophet is one who speaks for God. In the Old Testament, the prophets would say, “Thus sayeth the LORD…” Jesus certainly is the Word of God who became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:1,14). John the Baptist said:
For [Jesus] whom God has sent speaks the words of God. John 3:34a
“...and who is to come”! Jesus will return as “King of kings and LORD of lords” (Revelation 19:16) to gather His people, just as He promised.
Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. John 14:1-3.
The return of Jesus to claim His bride is the culmination of this fallen world’s history. As we look with joy and anticipation for the coming of the Bridegroom, may we hear, heed, and share the joyful message! The stern admonishments to get ready and stay ready for His return are an essential part of the message, for they bring discernment and peace as we navigate storm-tossed and tumultuous seas. For the receptive heart, admonishments are welcomed with gratitude.
There is a popular and dangerous teaching that has gained much traction in recent decades. In it, our enemy has injected procrastination into his web of entanglements; he would have us believe that there is an additional seven years beyond the return of Jesus for those who have rejected Christ. Yet the parable of the wheat and the tares is one of numerous lessons that make clear there is no such seven year “second chance” period:
Let both [the saved and the unsaved] grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather together the tares and bind them together in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.” Matthew 13:30
Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God . . . Romans 11:22a NIV*
*Generally, Scripture quotes are taken from the NKJV unless otherwise specified