The Ministry Roles of Jesus
Jesus fulfills many roles in His ministry towards us. Let’s look at some of them.
High Priest
Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus; Hebrews 3:1 (KJV)
Jesus is the High Priest of our confession, or our profession. He is our representative to God. He watches over the words of our mouths to present them before God and bring His Word to pass in our lives. He serves God on our behalf in heaven.
Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:14-16 (KJV)
He has compassion on us and helps us overcome when we go to Him. The word come in this passage means to continually come. Those who continually come to Him receive mercy, grace, and help.
Intercessor
Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. Hebrews 7:25 (KJV)
As our intercessor, Jesus prays for us in heaven. He prays for us like He prayed for Peter on earth- that our faith fails not. He prays this because faith is our victory to overcome (I John 5:4). Intercession is the act of praying on behalf of another person or persons. We have a prayer partner in Jesus- He prays for us and with us. Jesus prays for us when we are in need so our needs are met. In John 17, we see Jesus making intercession for those who belong to Him and those who will belong to Him (like you and me). Jesus helps us all to be one, to grow and mature.
I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine…. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world. John 17:(, 15-24 (KJV)
Advocate
My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. I John 2:1-2 (KJV)
An advocate is a defense attorney- in this case in the courts of Heaven, One who speaks to the Father in our defense. Jesus defends our case before God. This passage says that Jesus is our propitiation, which means substitute. Some translations render it atoning sacrifice. As Advocate, Jesus reminds the Father that He was the Substitute, the sacrifice that took the punishment for our sins. We deserve judgment, but we get mercy. Jesus defends us and speaks for us, and God honors His Son’s sacrifice. This does not give us a license to sin. Instead, it should make us love Jesus more and desire to please Him by not sinning.
Mediator
For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. I Timothy 2:5-6 (KJV)
A mediator is a go-between; one who stands in the middle and brings two parties together. This says that there is only one Mediator. Why? Becuase only Jesus died and paid the price to save us. Jesus stands as surety for our debt since He alone paid for our sins. He possessed both the attributes of God and man. No one else ever did this or could do it. That’s how he became the one and only Mediator.
Be encouraged today. You have a Friend in Heaven. Jesus provides all you need on earth until you see Him face-to-face in Heaven.
