Christ's Three-Fold Office in Zechariah 1:7-17

The catechism of Baptist pastor Benjamin Keach (1640-1704) teaches us that Christ holds a three-fold office. 

Q. 27. What offices does Christ execute as our Redeemer?
A. Christ, as our Redeemer, executes the offices of a prophet, of a priest, and of a king, both in His estate of humiliation and exaltation.

We see these three offices on display in the first of Zechariah’s “night visions.”

“I saw at night, and behold, a man was riding on a red horse, and he was standing among the myrtle trees which were in the ravine, with red, sorrel and white horses behind him. Then I said, ‘My lord, what are these?’ And the angel who was speaking with me said to me, ‘I will show you what these are.’ And the man who was standing among the myrtle trees answered and said, ‘These are those whom the LORD has sent to patrol the earth.’ So they answered the angel of the LORD who was standing among the myrtle trees and said, ‘We have patrolled the earth, and behold, all the earth is peaceful and quiet’” (Zechariah 1:8-11). 

Zechariah sees “a man” who is also “the angel of the LORD.” In the Old Testament, the “angel of the LORD” speaks as the LORD, and those who encounter him declare that they have seen the LORD (Genesis 16:10,13; 22:11-12,15-18; 31:11-13; 48:15-16; Exodus 3:2,6; Judges 6:22; 13:21-22). It has traditionally been taught that this “angel of the LORD” is a pre-incarnate appearing of God the Son. In His incarnation it will be said of Him that He is the “image of the invisible God” (Colossians 1:13; see also John 1:14; 14:9; Hebrews 1:3). Further, He “explains” the Father to us (John 1:18; see also John 3:34; 8:28,38). The Son is eternally divine, and is not a creature – He is, in other words, not an “angel” in the sense of the created heavenly beings that also have that name. The title “angel” means “messenger.” The Son reveals the nature and will of the Father to us in His very Person. When Zechariah sees this “angel of the LORD,” the prophet is seeing the Son. Further, the three-fold office of Christ is imaged in this vision, as well.

First, we see Christ as King. The angelic horsemen sent on patrol throughout the earth report to Him Who commands the heavenly armies of God (Matthew 13:41; 16:27; 24:31; 25:31; Mark 8:38; 13:27; Luke 9:26; 2 Thessalonians 1:7; Jude 14-15; Revelation 19:11-16).

Q. 30. How does Christ execute the office of a king?
A. Christ executes the office of a king, in subduing us to Himself, in ruling and defending us, and in restraining and conquering all His and our enemies. 

After receiving the report of the angelic patrols, the “angel of the LORD” speaks to the “LORD of hosts” on behalf of the covenant people. 

“Then the angel of the Lord said, ‘O LORD of hosts, how long will You have no compassion for Jerusalem and the cities of Judah, with which You have been indignant these seventy years?’” (Zechariah 1:12).

Not only is Christ a King, but He is our Priest, interceding on behalf of His people before the Father (Romans 8:34; Hebrews 7:25). All that we need is given from the Father through our Mediator (1 Timothy 2:5), the Son, by the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit.

Q. 29. How does Christ execute the office of a priest?
A. Christ executes the office of a priest, in His once offering up of Himself, a sacrifice to satisfy divine justice, and reconcile us to God, and in making continual intercession for us.

The “angel of the LORD” then receives a message of grace and comfort from the “LORD of hosts.”

“The LORD answered the angel who was speaking with me with gracious words, comforting words. So the angel who was speaking with me said to me, ‘Proclaim, saying, “Thus says the Lord of hosts, ‘I am exceedingly jealous for Jerusalem and Zion. But I am very angry with the nations who are at ease; for while I was only a little angry, they furthered the disaster.’ Therefore thus says the Lord, ‘I will return to Jerusalem with compassion; My house will be built in it,’ declares the Lord of hosts, ‘and a measuring line will be stretched over Jerusalem.’” Again, proclaim, saying, “Thus says the Lord of hosts, ‘My cities will again overflow with prosperity, and the Lord will again comfort Zion and again choose Jerusalem’”’” (Zechariah 1:13-17). 

He is King, and Priest, but He has also given us the final, all-sufficient revelation of God to us through the Spirit-inspired apostolic authors of the New Testament (Hebrews 1:1). He is our Prophet. 

Q. 28. How does Christ execute the office of a prophet?
A. Christ executes the office of a prophet, in revealing to us, by this Word and Spirit, the will of God for our salvation. 

In February of 519 B.C., a prophet from the priestly family of Israel had visions one night. In the first vision he saw a darkness deeper than the surrounding night (the Hebrew word here translated “ravine” usually refers to the depths of the sea). God’s people were in difficult straits at this time, discouraged and overwhelmed. In this darkness, though, the prophet saw One Who is Immanuel, God-with-us. This One is the King Who will command all the powers of heaven and earth to the ultimate good of His people in His perfect timing. This One is the Priest Who intercedes day and night for those who have found salvation through faith in Him alone. This One is the Prophet Who has given us the gracious, comforting Word that is so sufficient no further Word need be given.

This is our Lord Jesus.

“This office of mediator between God and humanity is appropriate for Christ alone, Who is the prophet, priest, and king of the church of God. This office may not be transferred from Him to anyone else, either in whole or in part. The number and character of these offices is essential. Because we are ignorant, we need His prophetic office. Because we are alienated from God and imperfect in the best of our service, we need His priestly office to reconcile us and present us to God as acceptable. Because we are hostile and utterly unable to return to God, and so that we can be rescued and made secure from our spiritual enemies, we need His kingly office to convince, subdue, draw, sustain, deliver, and preserve us for His heavenly kingdom” (The 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith in Modern English, 8.9-10).

Be Encouraged to Ministry by the King-Priest

“Take even silver, and gold, and make crowns, and set them upon the head of Joshua, the son of Jehozadak the high Priest, and speak unto him, saying, ‘Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, and saith, “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”’” (Zechariah 6:11-13, Geneva Bible).

In the midst of a pretty discouraging time for God’s covenant people, He highlighted one of His faithful servants by the preaching of the prophet, using Jehozadak’s dedication to the Lord’s ministry as an illustration of the coming King-Priest Jesus Christ, the object of their faith, the hope of their confession, and their righteously-ruling Savior. “For this Melchizedek was King of Salem, the Priest of the most high God...after the similitude of Melchizedek, there is risen up another Priest, which is not made Priest after the Law of the carnal commandment, but after the power of the endless life. For He testifieth thus, ‘Thou art a Priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek’...this Man, because He endureth ever, hath a Priesthood, which cannot pass from one to another. Wherefore, He is able also perfectly to save them that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth, to make intercession for them. For such an high Priest it became us to have, which is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens” (Hebrews 7:1,15-17,24-26).

Is He your Savior (Priest) and Lord (King) today?

May His rule and mediation/intercession/ministry be evident in your life to His glory! “Therefore give even all diligence thereunto: join moreover virtue with your faith: and with virtue, knowledge: And with knowledge, temperance: and with temperance, patience: and with patience, godliness: And with godliness, brotherly kindness: and with brotherly kindness, love. For if these things be among you, and abound, they will make you that ye neither shall be idle, nor unfruitful in the acknowledging of our Lord Jesus Christ...wherefore, brethren, give rather diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall. For by this means an entering shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ...grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ: to Him be glory both now and for evermore. Amen” (2 Peter 1:5-8,10,11; 3:18).

Our faithfulness to the King-Priest Jesus may not give us great victories clearly seen by the entire Christ-hating world, but He may use your service to point His people to His own glory. By ministering to His people, you minister to Him. We serve not ourselves, but His kingdom, when we grow in knowledge/imitation of His character in obedience to His commands over our lives. He is building His Temple through you, brothers and sisters. Get your eyes off the discouragements of the world and onto Him. See your King-Priest and allow Him to fill more and more of your vision, words, thoughts, motivations, actions, and purpose. Exalt Him with all you are by faith. May you be Jehozadak wherever He has you...an illustration of His own eternal and powerful ministry in the midst of a dark and overwhelming world.

To Him be the glory both now and forevermore!

Gather to Our High Priest

“My covenant was with him in life and peace, and I gave him fear, and he feared me, and was afraid before my Name. The Law of truth was in his mouth, and there was no iniquity found in his lips: he walked with me in peace and equity, and did turn away many from iniquity. For the Priest’s lips should preserve knowledge, and they should seek the Law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts” (Malachi 2:5-7, Geneva Bible).

“Seeing therefore, brethren, that by the blood of Jesus we may be bold to enter into the Holy place, by the new and living way, which he hath prepared for us, through the veil, that is, his flesh: and seeing that we have an high Priest, which is over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in assurance of faith, our hearts being pure from an evil conscience, and washed in our bodies with pure water, let us keep the profession of our hope, without wavering, (for he is faithful that promised.) And let us consider one another, to provoke unto love, and to good works. Not forsaking the fellowship that we have among ourselves, as the manner of some is: but let us exhort one another, and that so much the more, because ye see that the day draweth near” (Hebrews 10:19-25).

Gather by the blood of God (Acts 20:28), hear the Word of God, and minister to His house (“Whose house we are,” 3:6).