4.1 Key themes⤒🔗

• In heaven Jesus Christ is still working as our Prophet, Priest, and King:
  - As our Prophet, he speaks to us through his Word and he works in our hearts through his Spirit.
  - As our Priest, he prays for us and helps us in our weakness.
  - As our King, he leads and protects us.
• Through the Holy Spirit, we share in the anointing of Jesus. The Spirit makes us:
  - prophets, who confess the name of Jesus.
  - priests, who offer our lives as sacrifices to God.
  - kings, who rule over sin and will one day rule in God’s kingdom.
• We fail again and again, but we must keep our eyes on Jesus Christ, the perfect Prophet, Priest, and King.

4.2 John 14:15-20←⤒🔗

^15. “If you love me, you will obey my commandments.

^16. Then I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you forever—

^17. the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot accept, because it does not see him or know him. But you know him, because he resides with you and will be in you.

^18. “I will not abandon you as orphans, I will come to you.

^19. In a little while the world will not see me any longer, but you will see me; because I live, you will live too.

^20. You will know at that time that I am in my Father and you are in me and I am in you.

© NET Bible                    

4.3 Christ is still our Prophet, Priest, and King←⤒🔗

In Lesson 3 we saw that Jesus came to earth to be our Prophet, Priest, and King. His work did not stop when he went back to his Father. He is still our Prophet, Priest, and King. That is why we still call him “Christ,” God’s Anointed One.

Christ is still working as our Prophet. He speaks to us through his Word, the Bible. He sends preachers to tell the world about him (Romans 10:14–15). When we hear his Word, he also works in our hearts through his Spirit.

Christ is still working as our Priest. A priest does not only bring sacrifices. He also prays for his people. Jesus has already brought the final sacrifice. Now he is in heaven, to pray for us.

The apostle John writes, “if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous One” (1 John 2:1). An “advocate” is someone who speaks on behalf of another person. When we sin, Jesus speaks to the Father on our behalf, so that we may be forgiven.

When you have sinned, Jesus prays for you! When you are weak, Jesus can help you. He knows exactly what you are going through, because he is human just like you. He was also tempted, but he did not sin. He can help you in every temptation (Hebrews 4:14–16).

Christ is still working as our King. He is always leading his church. He protects every one of his sheep (Lesson 2). As our King, he also tells us what to do. As he says in John 14:15, “If you love me, you will obey my commandments.”

4.4 We share in His anointing←⤒🔗

In our passage from John 14, Jesus promises to send his Holy Spirit to his disciples. This promise was fulfilled on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2). Since that day, Jesus is with his church through his Word and Spirit. The world cannot see Jesus anymore, because he is in heaven. But through the Spirit, the church can “see” Jesus (verse 19).

Think of a city’s power station. The power station can be far away from the city. But it provides the electricity that is needed for the city’s lights to shine. It controls the life of the city. Like that power station, Jesus provides all the energy that his church needs on earth. He is in heaven, but he is connected to us through his Word and Spirit (verses 19-20 of our passage). He makes us a shining light for the world!

Jesus is the Christ, the Anointed One. If you believe in him, you share in his anointing (1 John 2:27). His Spirit also makes you a prophet, priest, and king.

4.5 In Christ we are prophets←⤒🔗

A prophet is someone who speaks God’s Word. Every Christian is a prophet. As prophets, we must not try to get new messages from God. The good news about Jesus Christ is God’s final message to the world (Hebrews 1:1–2). As prophets, our task is to confess the name of Jesus Christ. This means that we must speak about Jesus Christ when we have the chance (1 Peter 3:15).

As prophets, our words and our actions must agree. In everything we do, we must show that we are children of God. This is not always easy. Think of Daniel, who was thrown to the lions because people saw him praying to God!

To be a faithful prophet, you must fear God and not fear people. Remember these words of Jesus: “if anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels” (Mark 8:38).

4.6 In Christ we are priests←⤒🔗

The church is a “holy priesthood” (1 Peter 2:5). As priests, we must bring sacrifices to God. We do not bring sacrifices so that God will forgive our sin. Jesus Christ has already brought the final sacrifice for sin. But we bring sacrifices of thanksgiving to God.

What are the sacrifices of thanksgiving that God wants from us? The apostle Paul says, “present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship” (Romans 12:1, CSB).

To sacrifice your body to God means to sacrifice your whole life. Your life at home, your work, your times of rest.… Whatever you do, do it for God! Learn to obey him in every part of your life. Let your life be filled with prayer. That is what it means to be a priest.

4.7 In Christ we are kings←⤒🔗

Before Jesus Christ saved us, we were ruled by sin. But now, through his Spirit, we have the power to rule over sin. As kings, we must fight against the sins in our heart and the sins in this world.

If you stand strong in the fight, Jesus will reward you when he comes back. He will say, “Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (Matthew 25:34). On that day you will rule together with Jesus (2 Timothy 2:12)!

4.8 Not by ourselves←⤒🔗

By ourselves, we are not worthy to be God’s prophets, priests, and kings. We fail again and again. But Jesus is our perfect Prophet, Priest, and King. He stands between us and God his Father. He washes us clean from our sins, so that our lives can be pleasing to God (1 Peter 2:5).

Let us keep our eyes on our great Prophet, Priest, and King. He will help us up when we fall. He will help us to grow, so that we will become better prophets, priests and kings every day.