In the Old Testament, we encounter three major offices or roles – Prophets, Priests and Kings. Jesus Christ fulfilled these three roles and is known as the Greatest of all Prophets, Priests and Kings.

• Jesus Christ – the Prophet:

Prophets are God’s messengers who convey messages from God to His people. They teach the word of God urging people to repent for their sins and speak about events that may happen in the future.

Jesus Christ is the greatest prophet of all as He is the word of God made flesh (John 1:1). Jesus preached the Good news and urged people to turn away from their sins. Jesus healed many and also foretold his passion and resurrection.

In Luke 4:18, Jesus read from the book Isaiah and these words referred to Jesus and His ministry: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor.”

Jesus addressed himself as a prophet in Mark 6:4 “Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and among his own kin and in his own house.”

The people also considered Him to be a prophet. The disciples on the road to Emmaus describe Jesus as a prophet mighty in deed. “They said to him, “The things that happened to Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people” (Luke 24:19).

• Jesus Christ – the Priest

A priest is a mediator between God and His people. The priest prays and offer sacrifices for the people to make atonement for their sins.

Jesus Christ offered the ultimate sacrifice through His passion on the cross and thus he became the perfect sin offering. Jesus Christ, the high priest offered himself and thus redeemed mankind from their sins.

St Paul says in Hebrews 9:12 “But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that have come to be, passing through the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made by hands, that is, not belonging to this creation, he entered once for all into the sanctuary, not with the blood of goats and calves but with his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption.”

Hebrew (4:14-16) says, “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.”

Jesus Christ is also the High Priest of the order of Melchizedek who is the King of Salem and the priest of God Most High. The priesthood of Jesus is eternal. “You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.” (Hebrews 7:17)

• Jesus Christ – the King

Jesus Christ is the King of kings and Lord of lords. “He has a name written on his cloak and on his thigh, “King of kings and Lord of lords.”” (Revelation 19:16).

The angel Gabriel proclaimed to Mary that Jesus “will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end” (Luke 1:32–33).

When Jesus was questioned by Pilate He answered “My kingdom does not belong to this world. If my kingdom did belong to this world, my attendants be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not here.” (John 18:36)