Ichthus Ministries Daily Devotions — I Know That My Redeemer Lives

I Know That My Redeemer Lives

♫ "He lives to bless me with His love; He lives to plead for me above; He lives my hungry soul to feed; He lives to help in time of need.

"He lives, my kind, wise, heav'nly Friend; He lives and loves me to the end; He lives, and while He lives, I'll sing; He lives, my Prophet, Priest, and King." ♫

There are many ways to describe and proclaim what our living Redeemer has done for us. He is the Lamb of God who came to take away the sins of the world. He is the Good Shepherd who laid down His life to save His sheep. Another way to speak of our Savior's work is to recognize and worship Him as our Prophet, our Priest, and our King.

The Old Testament prophets revealed the Word and will of God for His people and foretold the days when God would fulfill His covenant promises. Moses spoke of a prophet still to come: "The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers—it is to him you shall listen" (Deuteronomy 18:15). Jesus is that promised Prophet. He is the Word made flesh and the Wisdom of God (see 1 Corinthians 1:30), who reveals to us His Father's will. Jesus said, "This is the will of My Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in Him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day" (John 6:40). Jesus is our Prophet, our "kind, wise heavenly Friend."

Jesus is much more than just another prophet. He is our Prophet and our Priest. As our great High Priest, Jesus offered up Himself as the sacrifice for the sins of the world. He entered into heaven, "not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of His own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption" (Hebrews 9:12b). As our High Priest, Jesus "lives to plead" for us above. He intercedes for us before the Father, always holding us up in prayer before the throne of grace. As our High Priest, Jesus lives our hungry souls to feed, inviting us to His Holy Supper, nourishing our faith with His body and blood, given and shed for the forgiveness of our sins.

Our Savior is also our King. After offering Himself as the perfect sacrifice for our sins, Jesus was raised from the dead and exalted in glory to the Father's right hand. To Jesus has been given "all authority in heaven and on earth" (Matthew 28:18b). In a world that is so unstable, subject to disaster and constantly shifting in its claims and alliances, we have this unchanging hope—our King reigns. "He lives to help in time of need." Jesus our King rules now and lives to bless us with His love. He lives and loves us to the end, when He will return in glory as King of kings and Lord of lords. Until then, we live to serve others in His Name and to honor Him with our praise: "He lives and while He lives, I'll sing; He lives my Prophet, Priest and King!"

Lord Jesus, our Prophet, Priest, and King, lead us to live as Your servants, reflecting Your love to others so that they too may be brought by faith into Your kingdom. Amen.

This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Carol Geisler. It is based on the hymn, "I Know That My Redeemer Lives."

Reflection Questions:

1. What's the last really big promise someone has made to you?

2. What did Jesus do as our High Priest that no other priest could do?

3. When you share Jesus with others, do you mention His priestly function on our behalf? (To better understand this role of Jesus, read Hebrews 5-10.)

Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).
There are many ways to describe and proclaim what our living Redeemer has done for us.