The name Jesus means one who saves— a savior. But God’s plan for saving the world from sin and death is so comprehensive that in order to help us understand all its implications God, through his Word, has given Jesus many and varied titles, each giving some particular viewpoint regarding the salvation brought by him to the dying race. One of these titles is “priest.”

When we think of the title “priest” we are not to have in mind the misuse of this term by various denominational groups, but we should go back to the Old Testament and note the significance attached to its original use. God appointed priests to serve the nation of Israel in matters of worship. Their work was twofold—they offered sacrifice, and then extended blessings to the people, based upon the offering of sacrifice.

Thus it is with Jesus. He has already served as priest for the offering of sacrifice, and later will extend to the world the blessing of life everlasting, made available by the sacrifice he offered. In the case of the priests of Israel, they offered animals in typical sacrifice, but Jesus offered himself as the great antitypical sacrifice.

Jesus is also appointed by God to be King of earth, and in Hebrews 6:20; 7:1,2 the apostle combines these two offices in the person of Jesus. Thus we are reminded that he will rule over the people and bless them. Concerning this priestly King the prophet wrote:

“All kings shall fall down before him: all nations shall serve him. For he shall deliver the needy when he crieth; the poor also, and him that hath no helper. He shall spare the poor and needy, and shall save the souls of the needy. He shall redeem their soul from deceit and violence: and precious shall their blood be in his sight.”—Ps. 72:11-14

A prophecy of this kind can be appreciated only in the light of God’s promise that Jesus shall reign over the earth for a thousand years. It is not a matter of waiting for the people to accept his kingship before he can rule. There is a definite time in the plan of God for the Kingdom to be set up in the earth. In a prophecy concerning Jesus as the new King of earth, we are told that first he will dash the nations to pieces as “a potter’s vessel.”—Ps. 2:5-12