Prophet, Priest, King (Rev. 1:5)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR

01/20/2005

 

My Worship Time                  Focus:  Prophet, Priest, & King

 

Bible Reading & Meditation             Reference:  Rev 1:5

 

            Message of the verse:  5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood— (NAS95) 5   and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, firstborn of the dead, and ruler of kings upon earth. To him who loves us and has set us free from our sins through his own blood, (Philips)

            In this verse John is describing the Lord Jesus Christ, as he goes on with his description of the Triune God.  Jesus Christ has three offices and they are all described in this verse.  He is a faithful witness, (Prophet), and He is the firstborn of the dead, (Priest), and He is the ruler of the kings of the earth, (King).  This phrase firstborn of the dead does not mean that Jesus Christ was the first person raised from the dead, but it means that He is the highest of those raised from the dead.  All others who were raised from the dead did die again, so in that respect of never dying again Jesus is the firstborn of the dead.

            John goes on in this verse to speak of Christ’s love and because of that great love for us he came to earth and suffered and died for our sins, He shed His blood that so that we can be set free form our sins.

 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  I see in this verse the fact that as a believer I am in Christ, as I died with Him when He died and because He is the firstborn of the dead, I too have been raised up with Him and am seated in the heavenlies with Him, as seen in Ephesians. 

 

The Word of God was refreshing to my heart as I read it this morning.