The calling of humanity to serve as royal priests who both represent God to the world and steward creation with justice and wisdom. This role was first given to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. As God’s image-bearers, they were called to rule and reflect God’s presence throughout creation. However, their failure to resist deception led to exile and the spread of human violence and brokenness.
Yet, the story doesn’t end in failure. God promises that one day, a descendant of the woman would come—one who would crush the deceiver and restore the blessings lost in Eden. This promised figure would fulfill the priestly role Adam and Eve abandoned, but in a new and deeper way: not only as a ruler and representative but also as a willing sacrifice. As Israel’s story unfolds, figures like Abraham, Moses, and David each point toward this coming priest. Each played a pivotal role in God’s plan and showed glimpses of what a faithful royal priest could be. Yet none fully embodied the calling. Their lives served as signposts, pointing forward to someone greater.
This leads us to Jesus of Nazareth.
At the time of Jesus, the land of Israel was under Roman occupation, but its religious life was centered in Jerusalem under the authority of the Temple priests. The high priest held unique power, as he alone could enter the Most Holy Place—separated by a massive curtain woven with cherubim, echoing the guardian imagery from Eden. It is against this backdrop that Jesus appears, first seen being baptized in the Jordan River. In that moment, the heavens open and God’s voice declares: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” These words echo three significant Old Testament roles: the messianic king from David’s line, the beloved son like Isaac, and the suffering servant of Isaiah who bears the sins of the people.
Jesus’ baptism thus marks the beginning of his ministry as the ultimate royal priest. He begins to act in priestly ways—healing the impure, forgiving sins, and reconciling people with God. He does all this not in the Temple, but among the people, often in the margins of society. In doing so, Jesus challenges the religious system and its leaders, especially the high priest Caiaphas.
In one pivotal moment, Jesus climbs a mountain and is transfigured before his disciples, radiating glory and dressed in pure white—symbolizing divine holiness and evoking the image of the heavenly high priest seen in Moses’ visions. From that mountaintop, Jesus turns toward Jerusalem, fully aware that his confrontation with the religious powers will lead to his death. When he arrives, he publicly challenges the priestly establishment, including by disrupting the sacrificial economy of the Temple. When questioned about his authority, he responds by quoting Psalm 110, where David speaks of a Lord who will rule as a priest forever. In doing so, Jesus identifies himself as this eternal priest.
The tension climaxes when Jesus is arrested and brought before Caiaphas, the high priest. Asked if he is the Anointed One—the royal priest—Jesus again references Psalm 110 and declares that he will be seen seated at God’s right hand, a clear claim to divine authority.
Paradoxically, Jesus’ path to priestly kingship leads to the cross. According to the pattern seen in Israel’s Scriptures, the true priest must offer himself as a sacrifice. And as Jesus dies, the Temple curtain—the symbolic barrier between God and humanity—is torn in two. This powerful moment signals that God’s presence is no longer confined to a sacred building. The way to Eden, once guarded and closed, is now open.
After his resurrection, Jesus commissions his followers to spread the good news: that he is the reigning king and priest, restoring humanity’s lost calling. The Apostle Paul describes Jesus as the “new Adam,” offering all people the chance to return to their original vocation—serving as royal priests who reflect God’s love and justice in the world.
In Jesus, the story comes full circle. He is the faithful royal priest who defeats evil not by force but through self-giving love. And through him, a new priesthood is born—not of lineage or ritual, but of spirit and transformation. This new community, made up of his followers, carries forward the mission to bring Eden’s blessings to all creation.
Author
kay.alli@legalview.co.uk