January 18 | Zechariah 6:9-15
DAILY READING
Zechariah 6:9-15
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REFLECTION
Our Priestly King
by Mary Kate Hipp
As a little girl, I was OBSESSED with princesses. I am pretty sure I was convinced I was Sleeping Beauty (maybe that explains the daily naps I still take). I even played games that involved a prince having to come to save me, just like Sleeping Beauty, and everything. So it was pretty amazing to little Mary Kate when I found out that Jesus is my King--it was like I was a real princess! My Father is the King who is clothed in splendor, His dominion and authority never end, and He is the King of Kings!
Now, I can confidently say that as a little girl I never dreamt of a Priest coming like I did a King. In fact, since I'm not Catholic, I never even thought I needed a Priest! In the church, we do not often talk about this "name" of God either. However, Zechariah is telling of this great Priest, Jesus, whom we desperately need. Hebrews 7 provides a bit of clarity pertaining to Jesus being our Priest--check it out! The Old Covenant promised a line of Priests coming from the tribe of Levi. These priests were ordained by God to present offerings for atonement among other things. Priests were incredibly important to the Jewish people. Jesus is our superior priest who requires no sacrifice, but Himself for the atonement of our sins. He is able to save us once and for all. We are not burdened by the sacrificial laws of the Old Covenant with Him as our Priest. He "is holy, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens" (Hebrews 7:26). He is the only Priest we could ever dream of. He is the only Priest we could ever need.
Jesus is not just our King, nor is He just our Priest. He is our Priestly King. He is both the King of Kings and the superior Priest, the only one who can save us completely. I can lay all my sins before my Priestly-King and He is able to make atonement for my sins and accept me into His Kingdom where He reigns over me! Wow, praise Jesus!