One Minute Video: Messiah Jesus the Royal Priest

The Messiah or anointed one could mean King and Priest. Jesus did both functions in a theocratic world. If I ever translate the New Testament, I may use the term Royal Priest with caps for Jesus. This is how I understand it: God is Israel's king, King David ruled as his representative. Similarly, King Jesus is God's representative (as Son of God –a title David also used in Psalm 2). However, Jesus is born of God's Spirit and, thus, a Son of God and Himself. The religious Jews wanted to stone him because he claimed equality with God despite being a mere man (John 10:33). Thus, Jesus is Israel's King and, in a sense, God the King of Israel. Hence, he is their Shepherd and Savior. Kings and leaders led people, cared for them, and saved them from crisis. Messiah Jesus is also their High Priest and Judge. Therefore, he can forgive or punish. Jesus is the Royal Priest (a vocation of faithful Israel) of the order of Melchizedek.