It is clearly expressed in the Sacred Scriptures that Jesus would minister from a fourfold viewpoint. 1. First, His ministry was divine. That is, as Son of God, He was co-Creator. (See Gen. 1 :1 ; John 1 :1 to 3, 10; Eph. 3:9; Heb. 1 :1, 2.) All things in heaven and in earth were created by Him. As co-Creator. He performed divine ministry in bringing all things into existence, according to the Father’s will. Not only were all things created by Him, but they also were made for Him. (See Col. 1:16.) The Saviour therefore could say in fact:
1. Christ's second ministry is that of man. Says the apostle:All things that the Father hath are Mine."
He shall receive of Mine, and shall show it unto you."
All Mine are Thine, and Thine are Mine." John 16:15, 14; 17:10.
'It pleased the Father that in Him should all fullness dwell." Col. 1 :10.
"That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgment of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ ; in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge."
"For in Him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily."
"And ye are complete in Him, which is the head of all principality and power." Col. 2:2, 3, 9, 10.
"Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men : and being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself." Phil. 2 :5-8.
"Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise took part of the same." Heb. 2:5.
Seven centuries before Christ came into the world as a man, it was forecast of Him that He should take upon Himself human flesh. It is written: "Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." Isa. 9:6.
As to how this divine Person should become man, the Scripture foretold: "Therefore the Lord Himself shall give you a sign: Behold, a [Hebrew, the] virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call His name Immanuel." Isa. 7:14. The Hebrew word in this text for "a virgin" is Ha-Al-Mao. Hebrew writers profess that this Hebrew word is applied to young married women, and not to virgins, or unmarried persons. However, the Scripture does not sustain such a position. The same word, Ha-Al-Mao, is applied to Rebekah, Isaac's prospective bride. Gen. 25: 21. This same word, Ha-Al-Maa, is used when referring to Moses' sister, Miriam. Ex. 2:8.
2. The third form of ministry by our Lord is His high priesthood. That Jesus was to become a high priest is evident from Psalms
3. The Saviour applies Psalms 110:I to Himself when speaking with the people in regard to the Messiah, David's Son. (See Mark 52:35-37.) Verse 4 of this same psalm declares that our Lord was to be a priest after the order of Melchizedek. Of His priesthood, which must be a royal priesthood, we read:
"Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is the Branch; and He shall grow up out of His place, and He shall build the temple of the Lord : even He shall build the temple of the Lord ; and He shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon His throne ; and He shall be a priest upon His throne : and the counsel of peace shall be between them both." Zech. 6:i2, 13.
It is an ancient belief among the Hebrew people that the Branch spoken of in Zechariah 6:12 is Messiah, Son of David. The same term, Branch (Hebrew, Tsamach), is used in Jeremiah 23:5; 33:15, and invariably applies to the Messiah. (See also Zech. 3:8.) In all these scriptures this word, Branch (Hebrew, Tsamach), is universally accepted as referring to Messiah. Messiah, therefore, at some time in His experience, is to become man's high priest. He could not have been a high priest when He was on earth in His ministry as a man, for the Scripture declares: "If He were on earth, He should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law." Heb. 8 :4. The law of the priesthood was the gift of God to the tribe of Levi.
It is written:
"The Lord said unto Aaron, Thou and thy sons and thy father's house with thee shall bear the iniquity of the sanctuary: and thou and thy sons with thee shall bear the iniquity of your priesthood.
"And thy brethren also of the tribe of Levi, the tribe of thy father, bring thou with thee, that they may be joined unto thee, and minister unto thee. . . .
"And I, behold, I have taken your brethren the Levites from among the children of Israel : to you they are given as a gift for the Lord, to do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation.
"Therefore thou and thy sons with thee shall keep your priest's office for everything of the altar, and within the veil; and ye shall serve: I have given your priest's office unto you as a service of gift." Num. 18:5-7.
Our Lord did not come to earth through the tribe of Levi. He was a descendant of the tribe of Judah, for it is written: "It is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda ; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood." Heb. 7 :14. On one occasion Uzziah, king of Judah, attempted to conduct the priest's office in offering incense in the temple, and he was smitten with leprosy. He was a leper to the day of his death. (See 2 Chron. 26:16-21.) Our Lord, therefore, could not have ministered as a high priest until after He completed His work on earth as a man. So, prior to His humiliation as a man, He ministered as Deity, divine Son of the living God. During His ministry on this earth, He lived and died for man. He came to earth to be our Sin Bearer, our Sacrifice, our Atonement.
4. His fourth form of ministry is His return to earth as King of kings and Lord of lords. (See Rev. 17:14; 19:16.) At that time He returns to earth to take over the kingdoms of this world. (See Rev. 11:15.) On that occasion He gathers to Himself His faithful ones who have been benefited and blessed by His ministry as Son of man, and as man's High Priest. There is one outstanding period in our Lord's ministry in which He was to be our Intercessor and Advocate, man's High Priest. And such He is at the present time. We may say with the apostle Paul, and we may say it with all our heart:
"We have not a 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." Heb. 4:15, 16.
Truly we may give thanks unto the Lord for providing for us such a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God.