PROPHET, PRIEST, AND KING

“For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground...”  

(Isaiah 53:2,  NKJV).

“Joseph is a fruitful bough, a fruitful bough by a well; his branches run over the wall.” 
(Gen. 49:22, NKJV).

“Rod budded, blossomed, and yielded fruit.” 
(Num. 17:8).

Firstly, the phrase “a tender plant” speaks of the birth of Christ. It speaks of newness of life. Now the term, “a root out of dry ground” speaks of Christ as that divine life which sprang forth from the dry, arid, deadness of humanity under the curse of sin. (See  Isa. 53:2; Matt. 1:18; John 3:3, 7; Rom. 5:12).  Secondly, we have “Joseph is a fruitful bough, a fruitful bough by a well; his branches run over the wall.” (Gen. 49:22, NKJV). The words, “a fruitful bough” carries with it three truths from this text. (1.) To begin with, the “bough” was “fruitful.” (2.) The green leaves speak of life; (3.) whereas, the fruit speaks of what that life produces. Its fruit is produced for one purpose to give sustenance and life to others. Joseph was a fruitful bough because the hand of the Lord was with him in delivering the world at that time from starvation. No wonder the Pharaoh called him, “Zaphnath-paaneah” [One translation of this Egyptian name is “Savior of the world,”] (see Gen. 42:45, 55-57). Thirdly, Aaron’s “rod budded, blossomed, and yielded fruit.” (Num. 17:8). This of course, spoke of the chosen one, the high priest Aaron chosen by God among the other Jewish candidates for the office of high priest. Aaron represents the greater High Priest to come. 

Are not all three of these points revealing of Christ’s person? First, the “tender plant” reminds us of Christ’s birth and genealogy. He is the seed of king David. So here we have Jesus’ royal lineage as the King who will sit on David’s throne.  Second, we have Joseph as a type of Christ described as “a fruitful bough.” Since Joseph was able to interpret dreams, he can be seen as a type of prophet. So here we see Christ pictured in Joseph as a Prophet. Third, we have Aaron’s “rod budded, blossomed, and yielded fruit.” So in Aaron we see Christ pictured as our great High Priest. In Conclusion, we can see from these three points the threefold ministry of Christ as Prophet, Priest, and King. Only the order is in reverse. Why is that? I believe the order refers to the life of Christ. First, the tender plant refers to the birth of Christ into the world; next, the fruitful bough speaks of the life, death, and the resurrection of Christ; lastly, Aaron’s rod that “budded, blossomed, and produced fruit” reveals Christ as our Great High Priest who sits triumphantly in the heavens (see Heb. 4:14-16; 7:25).

Lord, thank You for being our great Prophet, Priest, and King. As we trace Your birth, life, death, and resurrection here on earth, which are recorded in the pages of Scripture, we are comforted with the fact You fulfilled all the Scriptures concerning yourself. We praise, adore, and worship you in Christ Jesus’ most precious name, Amen.