Prophet, Priest, and King

Nathanael answered him, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!" (John 1:49)

In question 22 of Spurgeon's catechism, he asks the question: "What offices does Christ execute as our Redeemer?"  The answer is: "Christ as our Redeemer executes the offices of a prophet, (Acts 3:22) of a priest, (Hebrews 5:6) and of a king, (Psalm 2:6) both in his state of humiliation and exaltation."  Throughout the Old Testament the people of God were at various times led and governed by either prophets (such as Moses and Elijah), priests (such as Aaron), and and/or kings (such as David and Solomon).  Sometimes by all three.  What is clear from the New Testament is that each of these offices were designed and intended to point God's people forward to their ultimate prophet, priest, and king who is Jesus Christ.  All of the prophets, priests, and kings who came before Christ were flawed and sinful and could neither perfectly nor truly lead God's people in the way they should be led.  Only Christ can do that.  As prophet, Christ speaks the words of God to us and only the words of God.  As Priest, Christ ministers on behalf of God's people, intercedes for them before the throne of grace, and offers for them and for their sins the one and ultimate atoning sacrifice for their sins.  And as king, Christ defends, protects, and defeats the enemies of God's people.  This should come as no surprise since Christ tells us in Luke 24:44 that all of the Old Testament is about him and points forward to him.