Articles
JESUS: A MAN OF MANY HATS
Every company has a “man or woman of many hats” who seems to fill so many roles that it is sometimes difficult to know their primary responsibility. Mothers fill many roles for their families; tutor, nurse, psychiatrist, chef, chauffeur, editor (in my case at least), etcetera – most while working a full-time job. Jesus is a Man who wears many hats for the Christian, providing us with a holy Example. Oh, I do not want to imagine life without our Savior filling these many roles.
OUR CHIEF SHEPHERD
The role of an elder in the Lord’s church is often a thankless job. It is not a glorified posi-tion or a distinguished title – it is “a noble task” (1 Timothy 3:1). It is a labor of love that in-volves heartbreak, stress, and many sleepless nights over the lives of the flock the eldership oversees. A role that Jesus knows very well. It is also rewarding –the faithful elder will receive “the unfading crown” (1 Peter 5:4). Thank God for the example Christ provides for elders and the godly men that follow His example.
OUR HIGH PRIEST
Peter referred to Christians as a “royal priesthood” (1 Peter 2:9). John wrote that Christ made us “priests to His God and Father” (Revelation 1:6). What a fantastic opportunity and privilege for us to offer sacrifice to our God. Christ gave Himself as a sacrifice, a priestly act. We are to do the same. “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye pre-sent your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable ser-vice” (Romans 12:1-2; KJV). Thank God for the example Christ provides for us as priests in His Kingdom (Hebrews 4:15).
OUR MEDIATOR
Paul solidifies that there is one God (contrasted to polytheistic teachings throughout the world), and there is only one way to God – through our Mediator, “the Man Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:5). A mediator sets out to reconcile two parties that were in disagreement. Sin puts us in enmity with God, and the only Source of reconciliation is Jesus Christ (Romans 5:10). Christ, being the full nature of God and man, sits at the right hand of God. Through Him, we approach the throne of grace (Hebrews 4:16) because He intercedes for us (Romans 8:34). Thank God for our Mediator, who has orchestrated a resolution to the conflict we created and given us the hope of an eternal inheritance (Hebrews 9:15).
OUR JUDGE
How disheartening to stand before a corrupt judge – a man willing to take a bribe and disregard the letter of the law for personal gain. Jesus, how-ever, is a “righteous judge” that gives unto the faithful a “crown of right-eousness” (2 Timothy 4:8). He is a judge of all men (2 Corinthians 5:10) who will dole out the reward or punishment to each individual without prej-udice or bias. Thank God for a Judge Whose judgments are “true and right-eous” (Revelation 16:7; King James Version).
OUR OFFERING
“Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). Jesus epitomized this statement when He kept His silence during many bogus trials, endured the beatings and scourging at the hands of His enemies, and hanged on the cross without retaliation (Matthew 26:53). He did all this with the salvation of mankind on His mind (Hebrews 12:2). Paul wrote, “And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God” (Ephesians 5:2). Thank God that Jesus loved you and me enough to offer Himself for our sins. May we, without hesitation, give our lives back to Him with the same fervor and insistence.
“Thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:57).
- Josh Walker
