​                      Look carefully at the illustration above; where are you in this picture?
Jesus in you, you in Jesus, Jesus in the Father... (John 15:1-17; John 10:38)
​
CONCLUSION
Jesus our Prophet, Priest, and King is all we need to be the Church.  He demonstrated for us the Way, the Truth, and the Life we are to live, then He died and rose from the dead demonstrating His complete full authority over all of creation.  Jesus the “Anointed One” brought to our lives complete and full restoration to God the Father; nothing is left undone.  Jesus then sent from heaven, to us, the Holy Spirit; who now fills us with comfort and Truth as He teaches us the very things God wants us to join Him in.  As an individual we are complete in Christ, as a Church we are complete in Christ.  As an individual we are given gifts, as a Church we are given gifts. 

One very important aspect of living the Kingdom Life, God has designed for us, is to remember that what we are given as gifts and talents is for the benefit of each other and the world around us.  All we are given, in Christ, is to be given away for the benefit of others (1 Corinthians 12:7).  This brings us to the conclusion of our time exploring who the person of Jesus is: Prophet, Priest, and King.  Living in the Kingdom of Heaven, in the New Testament era has aspects of the Old Testament life woven into it.  We function today as God’s people with a complete fulfilled Law, a complete fulfilled relationship with God and each other, a complete fulfilled life to come.  All because God first loved us! 

Jesus our Prophet, establishes in the New Testament church the prophetic office. There is a distinct order of prophets (1 Corinthians 12:28; Ephesians 2:20, 3:5, 4:11-13) outlined for us. They are different from the "teacher," whose primary purpose was/is to impart truths already revealed. 

• The prophet builds up the Body of Christ and advances the King’s agenda by hearing from God and speaking to people with a sense of immediacy and urgency.  They declare what they hear God saying and see God doing (Noordmans, pg. 110).

As Jesus fills us with His truth, we begin to understand how the newness of Life changes us. We are no longer defined by our past, we are defined by our future.  Our identity becomes Kingdom centered and we live out the Way of Jesus, because He has made Truth real. 

Jesus our High Priest fulfills all the requirement of God’s priestly order so that we can offer up to God our sacrifices of praise and worship without a mediator.   The priestly order is carried out in the church today; not in the same way as the Old Testament, but carried out non the less. Through the mediation of Christ Jesus, we, as a holy priesthood, offer spiritual sacrifices to God (1 Peter 2:4-12; Hebrew 13:15-16).  Our sacrifices are the praises we give to God and the very way we live out our lives serving others.  Jesus brings to our lives purpose, He defines our destiny, that is to worship and praise our Heavenly Father and pour into others what God has poured into us.

Jesus our King lived out for us and explains the very nature of leadership for the New Testament Church (Matthew 23:5-12; John 13:12-17).  Through the life and teaching of Jesus, the Kingdom of Heaven has come.   Given to us is the way we lead and guide others into Kingdom living.   We, as Jesus expands our capacity, live out the Kingdom life where He brings to our lives ruling authority in the Kingdom. The people of God are called kings in the Scriptures (Daniel 7:22,27; Matthew 19:28; Revelation 1:6).   Jesus the head of the Church leads and guides all authority for all time. 

I pray you are encouraged as we have been on this journey together.  I understand that there is so much more to learn and grow in my understanding of Jesus as Prophet, Priest, and King.  I pray that more questions are formed and more searching begins as we continue to walk the Way of Jesus our Lord and Savior.  I am very excited to continue to learn what the Kingdom of Heaven living has for us in the generation.  May you experience God the Father, Christ Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit in real, personal, and practical ways more and more. 

Now may the God of peace – who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great Shepherd of the sheep, and ratified an eternal covenant with his blood – may he equip you with all you need for doing his will.  May he produce in you, through the power of Jesus Christ, every good thing that is pleasing to him. All glory to him forever and ever! Amen.  Hebrews 13:20-21
 
Work Cited
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Electronic Database Copyright © 1996, 2003, 2006 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.
Easton's Bible Dictionary, PC Study Bible formatted electronic database Copyright © 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.
Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Copyright © 1986, Thomas Nelson Publishers
Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.
Meet the Rabbis: Rabbinic Thought and Teachings of Jesus, Brad H. Young ©2007, Baker Publishing Company.
A Primer on the Empowering Works of the Holy Spirit, Philip J. Noordmans © 2018, Kindle Direct Publishing. 

The Person of Christ Jesus: High Priest

​Hey everyone, greetings in the Glorious Name of Jesus our Lord.  How exciting it is to be able to freely read and study God’s wonderful Word. All Praise and Glory to God in the highest!  May the Holy Spirit bring the truth alive and comfort you in all that God is doing in your life.  We are gearing up to have our worship services again, praying for June 7 re-open.  I am so excited to have the opportunity to safely gather together to worship and praise our Heaven Father together. 

Psalms 86:11-12
11 Teach me your ways, O Lord, that I may live according to your truth! Grant, me purity of heart, so that I may honor you. 12 With all my heart I will praise you, O Lord my God. I will give glory to your name forever, … 

I am so excited to share with you God’s wonderful truths.  Our King and Prophet and Priest Jesus, helps us to know and live out the Kingdom of Heaven life that He offers to all who will accept Him as Lord.  Christ Jesus, the Messiah, clearly indicates that He was anointed or consecrated to His great redemptive work as Prophet, King and Priest for our lives. 
​
Jesus our Prophet brings clarity to living out the truths of Scripture.  Jesus makes the why and how of living out the scriptures real and practical. 

Jesus our King rules wisely, justly, and righteously. He is the perfect representation of God.  He leads with Mercy, Grace, and Love, showing us that leading others is about deeply caring, building up, and protecting.  Today we open our hearts to know Jesus as our Priest.   

Our focus Scriptures: Colossians 1:11-23, Hebrews 1:1-14

Here is some information concerning the biblical understanding of the priestly order God established to aid in our understanding of Jesus as our High Priest.
The word for priest in Hebrew is ‎kohen‎ (‎ko-hane') and in Greek is ‎hierus‎ (hee-er-yooce).  The word priest always denotes one who offers sacrifices. (Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

At first every man was his own priest, and presented his own sacrifices before God. Afterwards that office was entrusted to the head of the family, as in the cases of Noah (Genesis 8:20), Abraham (Genesis 12:7; 13:4), Isaac (Genesis 26:25), Jacob (Genesis 31:54), and Job (Job 1:5).

What we find is that the title “priest” first occurs and was applied to Melchizedek (Genesis 14:18). Certain laws respecting the qualifications of priests are given in Leviticus 21:16-23. There are also ordinances regarding the priests' dress (Exodus 28:40-43) and the manner of their consecration to the office (Exodus 29:1-37). The priestly duties were very important and there were many of them. (Exodus 27:20,21; 29:38-44; Leviticus 6:12; 10:11; 24:8; Numbers 10:1-10; Deuteronomy 17:8-13; 33:10; Malachi 2:7). (Easton's Bible Dictionary)

It was the priest’s major responsibility to officiated at worship by offering various offerings on behalf of the nation and to help lead the people into confessing their sins.  In their function of offering sacrifices at the altar, the priests acted as mediators between man and God, offering sacrifices so that sin might be forgiven (Leviticus 4:20,26,31). Each sacrifice was a demonstration that the penalty of sin is death (Ezekiel 18:4,20), and that there can be no forgiveness of sin without the shedding of blood (Hebrews 9:22)                                                                                (Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary)

NOTE concerning blood: The most important biblical concept in regard to blood is the spiritual significance of the blood of sacrificial animals. Most scholars agree that blood refers to the animal's death. Most of the Old Testament passages that discuss sacrifices mention the death of the animal, not its life (Leviticus 4:4-5). The Bible makes it clear that the satisfaction or payment for human sins was made by the death of a specified animal substitute: “…I have given you the blood on the altar to purify you, making you right with the Lord. It is the blood, given in exchange for a life, that makes purification possible.” (Leviticus 17:11)                                                                                                          (Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary)

Jesus our Compassionate High Priest
Hebrews 4:14-16; 7:23-8:13; 9:11-12; 10:8-22
The reason for the priestly order was that man needed a mediator between them and God and God choose the blood line of Aaron, Moses’ brother to be priests, the mediators.  The purpose for the priest was to offers sacrifices for God’s chosen people, Israel.  The priestly order, was God, preparing His people for the work of Jesus on the cross. 

Hebrews 1:1-3 1 Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets. 2 And now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son. God promised everything to the Son as an inheritance, and through the Son he created the universe. 3 The Son radiates God's own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command. When he had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven.

The Scriptures tell us that Jesus cleansed us from our sin (Hebrews 1:3; 1 John 1:7) According to the Old Testament, the cleaning of sin came through the blood sacrifice of a very special clean animal was presented to God by a priest; as we just learned.  In the New Testament, this Old Testament idea of sacrifice is applied to Christ's blood that was poured out on the cross at Calvary; the "blood of Christ" always means the sacrificial death of Jesus on the cross.

Some references to the blood of Christ are
Romans 3:25 For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, …

1 Peter 1:19 It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God.

Other Scripture references Revelation 1:4-5, Hebrews 9:14, and many others

God desires that we, all of humanity, be reconciled back to Him, just like the days in the Garden of Eden where He walked with His wonderful creation.  God accomplished this through His Son. 

Ephesians 1:7 He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins.

2 Corinthians 5:18-19 18 And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. 19 For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people's sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation.  

Jesus the Son of God, the Messiah (anointed), Emmanuel (God with us), gave himself to pay the ransom that was needed for the forgiveness of sin.  He is the prefect spotless “Lamb of God” who takes away the sins of the world (John 1:29-34).  Jesus reconciled man unto God and man unto man, He fulfilled all the laws of sacrifice once and for all, for all of creation.   Jesus gave himself for all! (Galatians 2:20)

Back the responsibility of the priest (high priest) of the temple.  His duty was to present the sacrifice to God in behalf of Israel, God’s people.  Jesus presented Himself (God the Son, fully God and fully man) as the sacrifice to God the Father in behalf of all people.  He, with His own blood, offered to God, the sacrifice that all of creation would be reconciled to God.

Colossians 1:19-20 19 For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, 20 and through him God reconciled everything to himself.  He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ's blood on the cross.

The penalty for all sin is death! The gift of God is internal life through Christ Jesus our Lord, the Messiah (Romans 6:23).  The Anointed One, who came from God and went back to God, but not before He paid the price to redeem all of creation.  Jesus sits in the place of power at the Father’s righthand, (Luke 22:67-69) and when the Father looks at us, He sees His creation just like He made it, because Jesus has offered to God the final sacrifice to restore us to Him.

Praise and Glory to God, for He has redeemed His creation and has provided for us the perfect High Priest, King, and Prophet Christ Jesus, His own Son.  Praise and Glory to God for He has sent His Holy Spirit to teach and comfort us in the ways of Kingdom living!  Praise and Thanksgiving to God as we live out the Kingdom Life together!

We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light. For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.                    Colossians 1:11-14
 
NOTE: The priestly order is carried out in the New Testament.  Not in the same way as the Old Testament, but carried out non the less. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, we, as a holy priesthood, offer spiritual sacrifices to God (1 Peter 2:4-12).
 
Work Cited
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Electronic Database Copyright © 1996, 2003, 2006 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.
Easton's Bible Dictionary, PC Study Bible formatted electronic database Copyright © 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.
Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Copyright © 1986, Thomas Nelson Publishers
Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.
Meet the Rabbis: Rabbinic Thought and Teachings of Jesus, Brad H. Young ©2007, Baker Publishing Company.
A Primer on the Empowering Works of the Holy Spirit, Philip J. Noordmans © 2018, Kindle Direct Publishing. 

Good morning everyone; greetings in the Glorious Name of Jesus our King.  What a wonderful opportunity we have to freely read and study God’s wonderful Word. All Praise and Glory to God in the highest!  May the Holy Spirit bring the truth alive and comfort you in all that you are reading and studying.  What a wonderful day that will be when we can safely gather together to worship and praise our Heaven Father again; the time is coming soon! 

Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy, for you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now. And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. (Philippians 1:3-6) NLT

Colossians 1:11-23, Hebrews 1:1-14
So much joy has filled my heart over the past several years; seeking to know Jesus better, has been the most rewarding time ever.  I have heard many people talk about Jesus; how He helps them in so many different ways; the list I could make is huge myself.  We know Jesus brings clarity to living out the truths of Scripture.  Jesus, the Messiah, clearly indicates that He was anointed or consecrated to His great redemptive work as Prophet for our lives. 

Today we continue our adventure of the person of Christ Jesus as we look at Jesus as King.  There are few, if any, non-believers who will say Jesus was/is King.  Followers of Jesus, on the other hand, know Jesus as King above all kings.  The title for king, as defined in the Scriptures, is often misunderstood; mostly because the men who were kings messed up, not all of them, many of them. 

Their primary purpose of a king was to be servant of God and the people.  They were to know, apply, and proclaim the law of God wisely, justly, and righteously (Deuteronomy 17, 1 Kings 3:25, 2 Chronicles 17:7).  Above all the king was to be a representative of Jehovah, the true King of Israel (1 Samuel 10:1).  Jesus as King completes these requirements perfectly.  (Easton’s Bible Dictionary)

We find in the Scriptures the title King is applied to God (1 Timothy 1:17), and to Christ, the Son of God (1 Timothy 6:15,16; Matthew 27:11). (Nelson’s Bible Dictionary)

Jesus’ kingly office is described for us in Isaiah 9:1-7. All the Old Testament prophecies concerning the Kingdom of Heaven were all about Christ Jesus’ Kingly office. Jesus in every way from the beginning, today, and into eternity is King, King of all kings! (1 Timothy 6:15, Revelation 17:14, 19:16) 

There are Prophesy of Jesus’ heir to the throne of David's Isaiah 11-12:1-3
He was to be born King Matthew 2:2
Therefore, He came into the world as a King Luke 1:32-33
He was rejected as King Mark 15:12-13
He died as King Matthew 27:37
He is coming again as King Revelation 19:16

Along with Jesus as King is the fact that He is also Teacher/Master. Much of a king’s reign was to be a teacher/master for God’s people; again, the king was supposed to be the representative of God the Father.  Jesus, King, proclaims the Law perfectly. He demonstrates great wisdom, acts justly, and proclaims rightly the way to God the Father.  For the Law is to show us our need for God, and Jesus fulfilled the Law completely by clarifying its purpose.  Jesus provided for us a way to be reconciled unto God the Father.  A wonderful example of the Kingly reign of Jesus are His actions as a shepherd. 
God’s design for a shepherd, is not much different than His design for a king, in that both are about protection, guidance, and care.  Jesus used the example of a shepherd to explain His rule and reign to His people.  He explained His role as Shepherd and called Himself the “Good Shepherd.” (John 10:6-21). 

A King, is the representative of God to the people, protecting, guiding and teaching: everything justly, rightly, and wisely.  Jesus, our King, is the prefect representative of God the Father and reigns over all of heaven and earth.  He has all authority (Matthew 28:18) and His rule and reign will never end (Isaiah 9:7).  The rule and reign of Jesus, will always be characterized as one of truth and obedience, grace and compassion, mercy and care, and justice and love.  By the way, this is very way we are called to live as children of the Kingdom of Heaven. 

It is Jesus as King (Hebrews 5:6; 7:1; Revelation 11:15), who enables us to become heirs of the Kingdom of Heaven which He has established through His sacrificial death on the cross. 

We have a King, who we can enthusiastically submit to, who we can trust, one who has invited us to talk to Him anytime we want to. 
We have a King, one who is Love without any conditions, a King whose mercy is new every morning, and a King whose grace is sufficient for all our needs. 
​
All praise and glory to God our Father, Christ Jesus our King, and the Holy Spirit our Comforter. 

Question: After spending time, considering Jesus as Prophet and King (Priest will come next week) how does or should this knowledge affect the way you live out your Christian walk? 
 
NOTE: Jesus explains the very nature of leadership for the New Testament Church Matthew 23:5-12; John 13:12-17.  Through the life and teaching of Jesus we have the Way we live out life as the church.  Jesus is the only King we have today, He is the only King we need!
 
Bibliography
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Electronic Database Copyright © 1996, 2003, 2006 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.
Easton's Bible Dictionary, PC Study Bible formatted electronic database Copyright © 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.
Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Copyright © 1986, Thomas Nelson Publishers
Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.
Meet the Rabbis: Rabbinic Thought and Teachings of Jesus, Brad H. Young ©2007, Baker Publishing Company.
A Primer on the Empowering Works of the Holy Spirit, Philip J. Noordmans © 2018, Kindle Direct Publishing. 

Praise and glory to God in the highest! 
Greetings in the Glorious Name of God our Father, Jesus our Savior and the Holy Spirit our Teacher. 

All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. Ephesians 1:3       (NLT)

This week and the next two weeks, I will be sharing the roles Jesus has in our lives as His followers: Prophet, King, and Priest.  I pray you are encouraged and strengthened as you continue to grow in your knowledge and love of God our Father, Christ Jesus our Lord and Holy Spirit our Comforter.

Colossians 1:11-23, Hebrews 1:1-14

There are many things Jesus has done and will do for us.  If, we were to make a list it would be huge.  We, all together, could fill quite a volume of text explaining what Jesus has and continues to do for us.  There are three major roles Jesus has in our lives, these roles are what gives Him the authority to affect our lives in such transformational ways and allows us to make a large list of things He does. Jesus, the Messiah, clearly indicates that he was anointed or consecrated (Hebrews 1:8-9) to his great redemptive work as Prophet, Priest, and King of his people.  Jesus is to be known by us as Prophet, Priest (High Priest) and King, the world on the other hand does not and cannot know Him as such. 

Christ Jesus the Great Prophet
To help clarify the office of prophet here is an explanation: In Hebrew the word nabi (naw-bee'), which from a root meaning "to bubble forth, as from a fountain," thus "to utter", as “the inspired man.” This Hebrew word is the first and the most generally used for a prophet. (Easton's Bible Dictionary)

There are several other words used to express a prophet’s function.  In the time of Samuel another word, ro'eh ‎(raw-aw') "to see", began to be used (1 Samuel 9:9). It occurs seven times in reference to Samuel. Afterwards another word, chozeh (kho-zeh'), "beholder of vision" (2 Samuel 24:11), was employed. In 1 Chronicles 29:29 all these three words are used: "Samuel the seer (ro'eh), Nathan the inspired (nabi'), Gad the “vision holder" (chozeh). In Joshua 13:22 Balaam is called, in Hebrew, a kosem (kaw-sam) "diviner," a word used only for a false prophet. (International Standard Bible Encyclopedia) and (Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary)

The "prophet" proclaimed the message given to him, as the “inspired” "seer" who saw the vision of God (Numbers 12:6,8.). Therefore, a prophet was a spokesman for God; he spoke in God's name and by his authority (Exodus 7:1). The prophet is the way that God speaks to people (Jeremiah 1:9; Isaiah 51:16), and thus, what the prophet says is not of man but of God (2 Peter 1:20-21; compare Hebrews 3:7; Acts 4:25; 28:25). Prophets were the immediate mouth piece of God for the communication of his mind and will to people (Deuteronomy 18:18-19). (Easton’ Bible Dictionary)

The whole Word of God, in this general sense, most be considered prophetic, because as it was written by men who received the revelation they communicated from God, regardless of what life topic: moral. ethical, government, life today, life eternal it is all covered. A prophet is a person speaking for God, declaring God’s mind and will to people.  As for the prophet foretelling future events, it was not necessary for the prophetic office to tell the future, it was always a minor task. 

The great task assigned to the prophets whom God raised up among the people was "to correct moral and religious abuses and proclaim the great moral and religious truths which are connected with the character of God, and which lie at the foundation of His glorious Kingdom." (Easton's Bible Dictionary)

Our Lord and Savior is frequently spoken of as a prophet in the Scriptures (Luke 13:33; 24:19). He was, is, and always will the great Prophet for the Church.  He speaks truth that brings clarity into the life of those called God’s children. He brings transformation to the way we are to understand all the laws and prophets of old. Jesus brings perfect understanding of moral and religious truths that are the very character of God. 

The many times Jesus taught about the Kingdom of Heaven, helps us to know at the very core of our being the Truths, Ways, and Life of who we are, what we live by, and how we interact with those He is drawing to Himself.

Jesus is the perfect representation of God’s voice; Jesus is and always will be the prefect representation of God’s character. Jesus proclaims the mind and will of God in all the Scriptures; giving for us truths that we live by today and Jesus even tells us of the things and times to come. Oh, that our hope is strengthened as we anticipate His coming again and our eternal life with God in heaven. God the Father, sent God the Son, Jesus the perfect representation of who He is to proclaim truth, that all may come to the same saving understanding that eternal life is real in and through our Great Prophet, Christ Jesus the Messiah and Him alone. 

As our Prophet, it is essential that we listen to what Jesus says through the Word and what He speaks to us through the Holy Spirit.

 "There is so much more I want to tell you, but you can't bear it now.  When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future.  He will bring me glory by telling you whatever he receives from me.  All that belongs to the Father is mine; this is why I said, 'The Spirit will tell you whatever he receives from me.' John 16:12-15

Jesus speaks of the Kingdom of Heaven and gives us clarity to live out Kingdom life.  We have all the instructions and applications we need, as Jesus speaks the mind, heart, and will of God into our lives.  We have all we need to be transformed into the Church, God’s Children, God’s People…

All Praise and Glory to God!

We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light. For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.  Colossians 1:11-14 (NLT)
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More Scriptures proclaiming Jesus as a prophet.
Deuteronomy 18:15-20
Matthew 13:53-58
Luke 24:19-21
Acts 3:17-23

NOTE: In New Testament times the prophetical office is continued. There is a distinct order of prophets (1 Corinthians 12:28; Ephesians 2:20; 3:5. 4:11-13). They differed from the "teacher," whose office it was/is to impart truths already revealed.

Bibliography 
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Electronic Database Copyright © 1996, 2003, 2006 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.
Easton's Bible Dictionary, PC Study Bible formatted electronic database Copyright © 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.
Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Copyright © 1986, Thomas Nelson Publishers
Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.
Meet the Rabbis: Rabbinic Thought and Teachings of Jesus, Brad H. Young ©2007, Baker Publishing Company.
A Primer on the Empowering Works of the Holy Spirit, Philip J. Noordmans © 2018, Kindle Direct Publishing. 

Praise and glory to God in the highest! 
Greetings in the Glorious Name of Jesus and the Power of the Holy Spirit. 

Galatians 1:3-5
May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.
Jesus gave his life for our sins, just as God our Father planned, in order to rescue us from this evil world in which we live.
All glory to God forever and ever! Amen.

Ever since 2000 I have been on a journey that has proven to be the greatest adventure of my life so far.  The opportunity God has given me to explore His Word and grow in His grace and peace, has been so awe inspiring.  In 2003, I began to study who Jesus is.  Over the years I have used bits and pieces of the knowledge to help me and others understand the Gospel message.  Awhile back I was prompted to put together those things I have learned and to continue to learn in one place.  Starting today and for the next 3 weeks I will be sharing on the person of Christ Jesus. 

The focus Scriptures are Colossians 1:11-23, Hebrews 1:1-14.  I cannot say I have complete understanding of what I have learned, I believe it is true and by faith accept it is true.  I continue to grow in my love for God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, and He is gracious, patient, and longsuffering along the way.

Colossians 1:11-23
Some speak of Jesus as a great man, a great teacher, or even a great prophet.  Some refer to Him as the founder of a new religion.  None of these are incorrect.  They all are true and yet there is more to who Jesus is.  We, God’s children, must include Son of God, Messiah (Hebrew) and Christ (Greek) (anointed), Emmanuel (God with us), Lord (Supreme Master), and we must remember Jesus who is our Savior, “for He will save His people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21). When we, His followers, speak of the person of Jesus, this is who we are talking about. (Easton’s Bible Dictionary)

To believe that "Jesus is the Christ" is to believe that he is the Anointed, the Messiah, Emmanuel foretold by the prophets, the Savior sent of God.  That he is, in a word, what he claimed to be. (International Standard Bible Encyclopedia)

This is to believe the gospel, the rule and reign of Christ, by the faith given, which is the only way we can be reconciled unto God. Jesus being the Christ is the testimony of God, and the very faith that constitutes one as a Christian. (1 Corinthians 12:3; 1 John 5:1)
J.C. Lambert explains, “Man is incapable of understanding God completely because God is holy and man is sinful.” (International Standard Bible Encyclopedia)

Because of the great schism between man and God, He provided a way back into a personal relationship with Himself. To bridge this gap between God and man, God took the form of man in Christ Jesus, and brought reconciliation to all who accept Jesus as the Messiah. Let’s look at the Scriptures that show us Jesus as God and Jesus as man.

The Deity of Jesus: Jesus is God
Let's consider Hebrews 1:1-14, for the Scriptures to show us the deity of Jesus.

1. Verses 4-6 and 13-14 the angles will worship Jesus and He has charge over the angles
2. Jesus is the Creator v 10
3. Jesus is unchangeable v 12
4. Jesus is eternal v 11
5. Jesus is justice/righteous v 8

In verse 8 Christ is addressed as God, spoken of as King, and anointed.  The qualities of his kingship are justice, righteousness, and hatred of wickedness - qualities which can only characterize mercy, grace, truly a holy righteous reign. In His deity Christ Jesus is above or superior to all. To this exalted and honored position Christ Jesus has been anointed rather than appointed, and this anointing of Jesus brings victorious eternal, rule and reign.
A few statements of who Jesus said He was/is/always will be
John 10:25-38, 14:6-7; John 10:6-10; Matthew 27:11; John 6:47-48…

Jesus, fully God, proclaimed that He, the Son of Man, was the way into the Kingdom of Heaven.

The Humanity of Jesus: Jesus is man
Let’s read several passages and look at how Jesus’ humanity is illustrated:

1. John 4:6-7
2. John 11:35
3. Matthew 23:37-39
4. Matthew 4:1-11
5. Luke 22:14-16

Jesus told Satan the same phrase each time he was tempted in the desert: “The scriptures say.”   He knew the Word and its power to battle evil. Jesus fully man understands all we go through (Hebrews 2:14-18).

Jesus as man performed many miracles which clearly demonstrating the Holy Spirit’s complete influence in and through His life. Philip Noordmans explains; It was after His baptism and filling of the Holy Spirit that Jesus began to heal, teach, and proclaim the Kingdom of Heaven” (Matthew 3:13-14).  (A Primer on the Empowering Works of the Holy Spirit, pp 11-12)

Matthew 8 records some of the miracles Jesus did. 
v 3: Jesus heals the leper
v 6-13 Jesus heals the Centurions daughter
v 16-17 Jesus heals Peter’ s mother
v 23-27 Jesus calms the storm

Jesus did many wonderful miracles and taught the ways of God more plainly, so that we would know God/Him better.  He walked as man and yet he walked with great compassion and grace.  He demonstrated the Fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22); showing the full and complete emersion of the Holy Spirit in His life.  Jesus showed His complete dependence on God (John 5:19-23).  There was no man before, during, or since that can make the claims Jesus did.  Jesus is who he said he is.

Christ Jesus is the perfect image of God and man; he has authority over all of heaven the earth (Matthew 28:18).  Jesus fully God and fully man.  His experiences were just like ours today. 

He was tempted (Matthew 4:1-11) just like we are.  Though he never yielded, this allows him to understand when we are tempted.  When each of us fail, he forgives us as we confess our sins to him (1 John 1:9).

He suffered pain and rejection just like we do (John 1:10-11).  Everything we experience in this life Jesus knows all about. 

To be the complete expression of God, Jesus had to be God.  To be seen and understood by man, Jesus had to be man.  Christ Jesus has a dual nature – He is God – He is man.  I cannot say I have a solid understanding of the theology.  I do believe it is true, and by faith accept all of who Jesus says He is. I heard someone say once, death showed us Jesus is man, His humanity, and the resurrection showed us He is God, His deity.

It is by faith we believe, and by faith we accept Jesus as the: Son of God, Messiah (anointed), Emmanuel (God with us), Lord (Supreme Control) Christ (Anointed), and Savior (Freedom from eternal death).  This is who Jesus is and always will be.  He will come again to redeem His people, the Church, and we will live forever in His presence.  The very basis for the Churches existence is because of who Jesus is.    

Over the next three weeks I will be sharing the roles Jesus has in our lives as His followers: Prophet, King, and Priest.  I pray you are encouraged and strengthened as you continue to grow in your knowledge and love of God our Father, Christ Jesus our Lord and Holy Spirit our Comforter. 
 
Work Cited
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Electronic Database Copyright © 1996, 2003, 2006 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.
Easton's Bible Dictionary, PC Study Bible formatted electronic database Copyright © 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.
Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Copyright © 1986, Thomas Nelson Publishers
Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.
Meet the Rabbis: Rabbinic Thought and Teachings of Jesus, Brad H. Young ©2007, Baker Publishing Company.
A Primer on the Empowering Works of the Holy Spirit, Philip J. Noordmans © 2018, Kindle Direct Publishing. 

O Lord, if you heal me, I will be truly healed; if you save me, I will be truly saved. My praises are for you alone! Jeremiah 17:14 (NLT)

Praise has come up in several different contexts over the past several weeks: prayer times, on the radio, reading the Scriptures, within the depths of my heart, and visiting people, at a social distance of course.   I began to think more about praise when I heard there are several words in the NT for praise.  I did some research and found 6 different words for praise: 6 verbs and 3 nouns; the 3 nouns have the same root as 3 verbs totaling 6 different words for praise.

I found this exciting as I thought through and discovered a deeper understanding of praise, it makes sense how my life has radically changed and how praise is an integral part of me.  I pray you are encouraged and find something that will bring praise and glory to God as well. 

Here are the words for praise in the New Testament:

‎ainéœ (‎ahee-neh'-o) ‎(lit. "extol, glorify"; Luke 2:13,20; 19:37; Acts 2:47; 3:8)
To express the greatness of God, through outward expressions of joy and excitement for what He has done.  One can be so touched by God’s greatness that no word can express the awe and thus a quiet reflection is all that can be expressed. God is glorified in the praise! 

doxázœ ‎(dox-ad'-zo) ‎(lit. "extol, honor"; Matthew 6:2; Luke 13:13; 17:15; 23:47; Acts 4:21)
Honor is given where honor is due; to lift up the honor of God.  To express the touch of God, through outward expressions of joy and excitement for what He has done.  One can be so touch by God’s work that no word can express the awe and thus a quiet reflection is all that can be expressed. God is honored in the praise!

epainéœ ‎(ep'-aheen-o) (lit. "approve, praise"; Romans 15:7-13)
Jesus made away for the Gentiles “so that God will be given glory.” For the Gentile, we remember God’s mercies towards us which brings praise (Romans 15:9).  This tends to be an outward expression.
‎
exomologéomai (ex-om-ol-og-eh'-o) (lit. "confess, praise"; Romans 14:10-12; 15:7-13)
To express the “awe” and greatness of God, through outward expressions of joy and excitement for what He has done, doing or will do. We all have so much to confess considering God’s greatness.   
‎
hymnéœ ‎(hoom-neh'-o) (lit. "sing hymns of praise"; Hebrews 2:12, many Psalms: 9:2, 9:11, 47:6)
An outward expression of glory and honor to God through song. 
‎
psállœ ‎(psal'-lo) (lit. "play a stringed instrument," "sing to a harp"; RSV "sing praise," James 5:13, 1 Peter 1:6-7, and many Psalms).
As many of the Psalms, Peter, and James point out, singing and praising God is done regardless of circumstances.

In the NT "praise" translates the Hebrew/Greek words as nouns: The object of the action is a noun: I never thought of praise as a noun until I looked at the context of how praise is used in these Scriptures.    
‎
épainos ‎(‎ep'-ahee-nos) (lit. "approval, praise"; Romans 2:29; Ephesians 1:6,12,14; etc.)
Seeking/receiving praise from God or someone who would bring “praise” to God. 

dóxa ‎(dox'-ah) (lit. "glory"; Luke 17:18; John 9:24; 12:43)
Give “praise” that is glory to God for His great act of Mercy, Love, Grace. 

aínos ‎(‎ah'-ee-nos) (Matthew 21:16; Luke 18:43), and ‎aînosis (Hebrews 13:15).
Giving or receiving praise…praising God or offering “a sacrifice of praise to God”

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Electronic Database Copyright © 1996, 2003, 2006 by Biblesoft, Inc.
Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.
​
Text book definition
Praise: An act of worship or acknowledgment by which the virtues or deeds of another are recognized and extolled. (Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary)

Let’s look at two major objects of praise for the Christian life – man and God, that is, praise of: man-toward-man; God-toward-man; and man-toward-God. 

We know that the praise of man toward man can be very helpful and encouraging (1 Corinthians 11:2; 1 Timothy 1:3), because it is important to build each other up and to encourage each other.  Although, it seems that praise can be quite a snare to man (Proverbs 27:21; Matthew 6:1-5). I have experienced this snare in my own life and because of the experience, I find it difficult to give praise to people.  I try to be very careful and express praise in context to what God is doing or has done within the person’s life.  To help build up, so that God is glorified and the person is given proper praise.

We know that the praise of God toward His children is the most satisfying approval a person can ever receive. When God is glorifying/praising it reflects the true servant's heart (Matthew 25:21; 1 Corinthians 4:5).  A person after God’s own heart, brings praise and glory to God, because of God being pleased with him/her. It is humbling to think of serving God and pleasing Him; that I could please God, through Christ Jesus, is exciting, bringing joy and awe to my life….so very humbling.  How wonderful the words are “well done good and faithful servant.”

Our, followers of Christ Jesus, highest priority and our main focus must be “true” praise.  True praise is always directed to and for God.  The praise of a person toward God is the way he/she expresses: awe, joy, love, hope, adoration, and thanksgiving to the Lord (Ephesians 1:3-14).  

We are to praise God both for who He is and for what He does (Psalms 150:2), the major purpose of our praise is: Praising God for who He is, defined as adoration and Praising Him for what He does, is defined as thanksgiving. (Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary)

There are a variety ways “Praise” of God is expressed: Often we praise in song (outward or inner expression) or prayer (outward or inner expression), maybe individually or collectively as the Family, perhaps praise is spontaneous or prearranged. 

Praise originates from the emotions of knowing God or from the will of God who now dwells within us, through Christ Jesus our Lord.  It is important to point out that praise can be an inward expression or an outward declaration of both who God is and what He does, and is a part of the very fabric of our life as a follower of Jesus.  (Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary)

Oh, that we might echo King David's words,
Psalms 71:6 Yes, you have been with me from birth; from my mother's womb you have cared for me. No wonder I am always praising you! (NLT)
Psalms 71:14 But I will keep on hoping for your help; I will praise you more and more. (NLT)

J.C. Lambert explains the duty of praise to be: - Praise is everywhere represented in the Bible as a duty no less than a natural impulse and a delight. To fail in this duty is to withhold from God's glory that belongs to Him (Psalms 50:23; Romans 1:20); it is to shut one's eyes to the signs of His presence (Isaiah 40:26), to be forgetful of His mercies (Deuteronomy 6:12), and unthankful for His kindness (Luke 6:35-36). If we are not to fall into these sins, but are to give to God the honor and glory and gratitude we owe Him, we must earnestly cultivate the spirit and habit of praise.

From holy men of old we learn that this may be done by arousing the soul from its slothfulness and sluggishness (Psalms 57:7-10; 103:1), by fixing the heart upon God (57:7; 108:1), by meditation on His works and ways (77:11), by recounting His benefits (103:1-2), above all, for those to whom He has spoken to by His Holy Spirit and Son, we focus and praise Him for His unspeakable gifts (2 Corinthians 9:15; compare Romans 8:31-33; 1 John 3:1-3).
(International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Electronic Database Copyright © 1996, 2003, 2006 by Biblesoft, Inc.)

As we continue to grow in our love for God and understanding His ways, I pray that the praises of His people will flood all of heaven; that God’s praise of His people will permeate their lives, that others might come to know the One true God; and that we as Children of God, will encourage and build each other up through praising for what God is doing in and through our lives.

I pray that all of our circumstances are seen through the lens of Scriptures. Even though life seems harsh and perhaps even lifeless that we would remember the Love, Grace, and Mercy that is extended to us through Christ Jesus our Lord.  That we would, with an open heart, listen to the Holy Spirit as He comforts us. 

Oh, thank you Lord, for a life full of praise.
Psalms 103:1-2
Let all that I am praise the Lord; with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name. Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me.  (NLT)

Good morning Family,  I am looking forward to the day we can all gather together arm-in-arm to praise and worship God our Father, Jesus our Lord, King, and High Priest, through the power of the Holy Spirit.  Thank you all for creatively finding ways to stay connected.  This Sunday, April 19, lets all, at our homes, gather at 10:00 on our front porch, on our deck, at our windows, someplace looking out and pray as the Holy Spirit leads for as long as the Holy Spirit Leads.  Let us all gather to pray and worship in Spirit and Truth.   I pray you are encouraged by todays message, may you experience hope, peace, and joy as we share together. 
Love you all and miss you lots

Today's message comes from Luke 24:13-49
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I appreciate how patient Jesus was. How He listened to the men as they were walking away.  What I find really noteworthy is that Jesus knew all that had transpired and yet He asked them to give their version of the story.  He wanted to hear how the recent events had affected these two men, His disciples.  This reminds me of a Psalm

Psalm 62:8 O my people, trust in him at all times. Pour out your heart to him, for God is our refuge.

God wants to hear what is on our minds and in our hearts…Yes, He knows, non-the-less He wants to hear.  Through Jesus we have access to the Holy of Holies, just three days earlier the Curtain was torn, access, to pouring out our hearts to God, was granted to all who trust Jesus!

Hebrews 4:16 So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.

These two men, discouraged and mourning, were leaving the place they could receive comfort, two sheep wondering off.  We are likely to miss Jesus and withdraw from the strength found in other believers when we are preoccupied with our dashed hopes and frustrated plans.  Only when we are looking for Jesus in our midst will we experience the power and help only He can bring.  Jesus, as Lord, brings to our lives the transformation to live His ways especially when things are not going according to plan.
In verse 25 Jesus, after listening to their plight, responds to the disciple’s discussion on their way to Emmaus.

Luke 24:25 Then Jesus said to them, "You foolish people! You find it so hard to believe all that the prophets wrote in the Scriptures.

Foolish or “slow of heart” in this context is one who is struggles with the ways of truth.  It refers to one who easily gives way to doubtfulness and even distrust.  These men saw Jesus’ own hand heal and feed the multitudes.  They knew He taught with impeccable authority and still they could not conceive what had been accomplished.  I do not believe Jesus was condemning these men, just simply pointing out, the foolishness of their hearts, all our hearts really.  The problem these men had was not what was in their head, it was what was in their heart. 

Knowing full well that these two men needed more, Jesus began to teach. He began to open their hearts to the Scriptures. 
Luke 24:27 Then Jesus quoted passages from the writings of Moses and all the prophets, explaining what all the Scriptures said about himself.

Jesus helped these two men understand their faith. The imperfection found in these two men is strong evidence of the transforming work found in the Truth of the Gospel.  Oh, how it benefits us to take time to grasp the fullest assurance of the Scriptures in context to our situation.   Jesus brings to our lives the fullness of the Word of God.  He brings clarity and understanding; He never brings confusion or despair to our lives. 
What a wonderful testimony to the New Covenant Scriptures, people like these are.  They were chosen: First and foremost, to believe the scriptures; secondly, to proclaim them in the world; and, thirdly, to die on the evidence of those truths.  The blessed influence of the Gospel, (Christ Jesus Reigns) felt in their own hearts, and fully lived out in their lives. This brings hope to all of us, who like these guys struggle too.

As they continued on the road:
Luke 24:28-30 28 By this time they were nearing Emmaus and the end of their journey. Jesus would have gone on, 29 but they begged him to stay the night with them, since it was getting late. So, he went home with them. 30 As they sat down to eat, he took a small loaf of bread, asked God's blessing on it, broke it, then gave it to them.

It came time for supper and the three sat down to eat.  The three were sharing a meal together; Two old friends and their new found friend, who they have not really met yet.  I am reminded of Revelation 3:20

"Look! Here I stand at the door and knock. If you hear me calling and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal as friends.

They began to eat and
Luke 24:31-32 31 Suddenly, their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And at that moment he disappeared! 32 They said to each other, "Didn't our hearts feel strangely warm as he talked with us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us?"

In these Scriptures we find two men who were in quite a mess.  They were down hearted, experiencing intense mourning, they were trying to put the pieces together.  Jesus’ acting as head of the family, in taking, blessing, and distributing the bread among them, caused them to see Him.  His words and inflections, His mannerisms they had often heard Him speak, and those hands by which they had often been fed, brought assurance and clarity to their minds and hearts.

This is the position of the master or head of a family; and this was our Lord's usual custom among his disciples. Those whom Christ walks with he feeds. He feed the bread He, Himself has blessed, and this sharing together not only strengthens, but also enlightens the soul. For Jesus said, “I am the Bread of Life” (John 6:48).

We see here the very beginning of the formation of what so many long for today; connectedness.  The very existence of the church happened because of Christ Jesus’ revelation to mankind. Hearts are stirred, minds are opened, Truth is known and transformation begins.  How I am looking forward to gathering as the Family of God, worshiping and praising together arm-in-arm.

Many questions came to mind as I pondered this encounter with Jesus.  Here is one: When Jesus vanished, did He really leave, was He really gone? 
When we get to those times and feel like Jesus has left, after He was revealed to us, take heart He has never left. The Scriptures tell us

John 14:20 When I am raised to life again, you will know that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.

Colossians 1:27 For it has pleased God to tell his people that the riches and glory of Christ are for you Gentiles, too. For this is the secret: Christ lives in you, and this is your assurance that you will share in his glory.

That is where our Lord is living, in us! Making us His very own.  There are times of doubt and when we are in those times, we know that we are never really alone, Jesus has never left us nor will He.

Hebrews 13:5-6 5 Don't love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, "I will never fail you. I will never abandon you." 6 So we can say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?"

Jesus said, … And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Matthew 28:20

Our lives are made in such a way that we need to be connected.  These scriptures have a great deal to do with faith and connectedness.  God grants us the faith to stand strong in times of adversity and Jesus as the Vine, keeps us connected to Him; the one who brings encouragement, perseverance, hope, and faith to our lives.  The hearts of these two men "burned within," as Jesus was revealed.

John Rawlinson puts it this way “Spiritual feelings must be sustained by the means which first produces them. Do you wish to keep your heart warm in this sense? Often walk and talk with Jesus. Let Him be much in your thoughts.”

Connections are vital to our lives and life in the church.  Our connectedness comes when Jesus is Lord of our lives.  I am so looking forward to connecting with you the ones God has given each us as brothers and sisters here in Garfield, very soon.