My father, Ray White, is a self-taught scriptorian. He has written extensive studies on the Old and New Testament. I will be posting them here on occasion. If you'd like to read them all, they are available at www.valueplaza.com
JESUS WHO IS CALLED CHRIST (Matthew 1:16)
Matthew 1:16 And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.
The Roman historian Eusebius wrote in his work The History of the Church: “Both Jesus and Christ were names honoured even by God’s beloved prophets of old…for in describing God’s high priest…(Moses) called him Christ…Moses (also foresaw) the title Jesus (which he bestowed) on the man…who would after his own death succeed to the supreme authority."
This is an incredible thing-if Eusebius is right. Is he? Let’s make his case for him.
Did Moses call the high priest Christ? Yes, he did. Leviticus 4:5 "The priest that is anointed." Christ means “anointed.”
Did Moses call his successor Jesus? Yes, he did. Numbers 13:16 "And Moses called Oshea the son of Nun Jehoshua." Jesus is the Greek translation of the Hebrew word Joshua who became Israel’s second head of state, succeeding Moses.
So, Moses transferred authority to two men: priestly authority to Aaron and civil authority to Joshua, both prophets acting under God’s authority and direction. So there was a division of power, a separation of church and state. Priests were not kings and kings were not priests, not in the nation of Israel. They were separate authorities.
Then who was Messiah? The Hebrew word for anointed is translated to Messiah in only one place. Daniel 9:25 "Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times."
:26 "And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself…"
The title “Messiah the Prince” means “the priest with royalty.”
Now we arrive at the question: But if in Israel kings were not priests and priests were not kings, when was there ever a priest who was also a king? And the answer is: Melchizedek.
Genesis 14:18 "Melchizedek king of Salem…priest of the most high God.”
There was no separation of church and state in Salem. The priest was the king. What does this have to do with Messiah? Everything. Because King David wrote in Psalms 110:4 "The Lord hath sworn and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek."
When Messiah comes, he will not be a priest of Aaron, a priest without civil authority. But a priest like Melchizedek with all civil authority: a priest who is also a king.
Centuries after David, a baby was born in Bethlehem, whom God named Jesus Christ ― Joshua the anointed, a priest who rules, a priest who brings men to God and a king who rules men for God. His is a royal priesthood.
This royal priesthood, he gave to us.
Revelation 4:10 "And hath made us unto our God kings and priests."
1 Peter 2:9 "Ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation."
The words “a holy nation” are striking. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to be a holy nation under a godly government, to live free of crime and in peace? That will happen, but only when Jesus Christ returns and begins his eternal rule.
