What Christ’s Anointing Empowered Him to do
The second point to consider about Christ’s anointing is what it empowered Him to do. This involves His threefold office as Mediator: Prophet, Priest, and King. Christ’s anointing empowered Him to reveal the Father to humanity as Prophet, reconcile humanity to God as Priest, and rule over an eternal kingdom as King.
Sin’s Impact and Christ’s Threefold Remedy
Joel Beeke explains that Christ’s threefold office perfectly addresses the needs created by sin:
- Prophetic Office: Sin leads to a refusal to hear God’s Word, resulting in foolishness and spiritual hardness. Christ heals this through His prophetic Word.
- Priestly Office: Sin causes rebellion against divine authority, transgressing God’s law and incurring guilt and punishment. Christ expiates this through His priestly work.
- Kingly Office: Sin causes moral corruption that excludes sinners from God’s holy presence. Christ overcomes this by His kingly work.
The Order of Christ’s Ministry
The sequence of Prophet, Priest, and King is not arbitrary; it reflects the order of Christ’s ministry and the application of salvation to the individual.
This is also the order used in the Heidelberg Catechism’s explanation, as seen in Answer 31: “Because He is ordained of God the Father and anointed with the Holy Spirit to be our chief Prophet and Teacher, our only High Priest, and our eternal King.”
Christ’s Prophetic Office
A prophet is sent by God to declare His Word, revealing truths about the present and future that would otherwise remain unknown. Jesus, as the greatest Prophet, brought the Word of God directly from the Father. In John 8:26, Jesus says: “I declare to the world what I have heard from Him.”
Jesus’s prophetic role was unique because of His relationship with the Father as the only begotten Son. Through this office, He addresses humanity’s spiritual blindness, deafness, and darkness. His revelation of God’s will and Word is the light that dispels this darkness.
Even after His ascension, Christ continues His prophetic work through the Word of God left to the Church, which is able to make one wise unto salvation.
Christ’s Priestly Office
The priesthood involves two main functions: making sacrifices and interceding for the people. The book of Hebrews explains: “Every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins.” (Hebrews 5:1)
Unlike Old Testament priests, who were themselves sinners and had to offer sacrifices for their own sins, Jesus was sinless. His sacrifice was not the blood of bulls or goats but His own body—the perfect, spotless Lamb of God.
Old Testament priests, though they interceded for the people, did not always have their prayers answered. In contrast, Jesus, as the perfect High Priest, always has His intercessions answered by the Father. Moreover, Jesus’s priesthood is unique in that He applies the benefits of His sacrifice to His people, ensuring their regeneration and eternal life.
Christ’s Kingly Office
A king rules over a kingdom, enforces laws, rewards righteousness, punishes wickedness, defends his subjects, and governs with no superior authority. Christ was ordained to govern the Church, protect her, and grant eternal rewards or judgments.
Christ governs His Church as its head, ruling by His Word and Spirit. He defends His people both internally and externally, empowering them to combat spiritual enemies daily. Ultimately, He leads His people to eternal glory.
The Perfect Fulfillment of Christ’s Threefold Office
As Prophet, Priest, and King, Christ perfectly performed His work as Mediator. He continues to apply the benefits of His anointing and offices to all who are united to Him by faith.
To hear the full audio of this article, visit https://covenantbaptistnb.com/sermon-audio/the-significance-of-jesus-anointing/.
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