I have referred to the mediatorship of Jesus Christ as the “meat and potatoes” of the Christian faith, the solid food that all of Christ’s people should seek after. There have been excellent books written on this subject, but it is important that new books come out to ensure that God’s people embrace this vital doctrine. I am delighted to say that we have such a work for the 21st century, one that deserves to be alongside the great works on this subject from the past. Prophet, Priest, and King: The Roles of Christ in the Bible and Our Roles Today by Richard P. Belcher Jr. is an in-depth exploration of this subject.

What makes Belcher’s book so special is that he takes a biblical-theological approach to the subject. Starting in Genesis 1, Belcher examines the three offices as the Bible shows them in action. We see how in the Garden Adam was a king, a priest, and a prophet, and how the Fall disrupted matters. Belcher continues through the Old Testament, showing how those who were prophets, priests, and kings operated, and then he sets forth Christ as the Great Prophet, our Great High Priest, and our Great King.

As he does this, Belcher lays out in depth important facts that we may altogether miss. For example, we may easily miss the fact that it was the responsibility of the priests to teach the people of Israel how to distinguish between the holy and the common and between the clean and unclean. This was a vital everyday matter as it related to the very food that the people ate. If the food they ate was unclean, they were unclean. If the animals offered in sacrifice were blemished, they would pollute the altar of the Lord.

The latter part of the book I found especially intriguing as it lays out how we who are in Christ are in our own way prophets, priests, and kings. We are prophets as we faithfully handle the Word of God, apply it in our daily lives, and teach it at home. The pastor and elders in our public worship act as priests as they call us to worship, lead us in confession of sin and prayer, carry out oversight in the administration of the Lord’s Supper, and pronounce the benediction. We act individually as priests as we offer up sacrifices of praise, offer up our lives as living sacrifices, pray, and in taking the gospel to all nations. As kings we are to exercise dominion over God’s creation as his stewards. It is said in Proverbs 25:2 that “It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out.” The exploration of God’s creation, from the deepest oceans to the farthest reaches of space, is a work that glorifies God. And, of course, it is our  duty as   kings to fight for  that which is right and just, to protect children from harmful influences, and to do all to the glory of God.

This is a book filled with solid spiritual food, well worth reading. I can truly say that this book was a blessing to read, and I am sure that you would be blessed as you read it.