When Did Jesus Christ’s High Priestly Ministry Begin?

Jinu Ninan

In the book Hebrews: A Word-by-Word Study, it was mentioned that Jesus Christ began His ministry as High Priest through His death and resurrection. Consequently, it was noted that He did not perform the office of High Priest while living on earth. As some readers have requested further clarification on this topic, it is explained in detail below.

 

The Timing and Criteria of Christ's High Priesthood

When did the High Priestly ministry of Jesus Christ begin? What are the criteria and qualifications for Christ to become a High Priest?

 

The Word of God teaches that the most important roles of Jesus Christ are: the Sinless Lamb of God, the Priest of the Eternal God, and the Eternal King. While Jesus is the eternal Son of God and is thus eternally King, Priest, and Lamb, the Lord performs each of these ministries according to a specific divine timeline. Scripture clearly teaches that Jesus Christ began His priestly ministry with His death and resurrection.

 

In this regard, it is vital to understand that the Book of Hebrews is the only book in the Bible that introduces Jesus as "High Priest." Therefore, the subject of Christ's High Priesthood must be studied specifically within the context and background of that letter.

 

Biblical Evidence: Ministry Beginning After the Resurrection

1. Fulfillment of Messianic Prophecies

The two Old Testament prophecies quoted in Hebrews regarding Christ’s priesthood (Psalm 2:7 and Psalm 110:1) are fulfilled specifically in connection with His resurrection.

 

Psalm 2:7: "The Lord said to me, 'You are my Son; today I have begotten you.'" The author of Hebrews quotes this in relation to Christ’s High Priestly ministry (Hebrews 5:5). Paul explains the fulfillment of this prophecy in Acts 13:32-33, stating that God fulfilled this promise to the children by raising Jesus from the dead. Thus, the glory of becoming High Priest was received from the Father upon the fulfillment of His resurrection.

 

Psalm 110:1: "The Lord says to my Lord: 'Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool.'" The author of Hebrews explains in Hebrews 10:12 that Christ, after offering one sacrifice for sins, sat down at the right hand of God. This confirms that He performs His High Priestly ministry at the right hand of God after resurrecting and ascending.

 

2. Perfection Through Suffering and Obedience

The author of Hebrews argues that for Jesus to hold the name of High Priest, He had to be "made perfect" through suffering and obedience.

 

Hebrews 5:8-10: Although He was a Son, He learned obedience through what He suffered, and once made perfect, He became the source of eternal salvation and was designated by God as High Priest according to the order of Melchizedek.

 

While Jesus was born sinless and perfect as God, He completed His obedience and reached the "perfection" required for this office through His death on the cross (Philippians 2:8). Only then was He exalted to the right hand of God to intercede for us.

 

3. The Power of an Indestructible Life

To be a High Priest who remains forever and intercedes continually, one must live forever in a human capacity.

 

Hebrews 7:24-25: Because Jesus lives forever, He has a permanent priesthood. He is able to save completely because He always lives to intercede.

 

Jesus became the "One who lives forever" as a Man specifically through His victory over death (Revelation 1:18, Romans 8:34). The mediator between God and men is the "Man Christ Jesus" (1 Timothy 2:5).

 

4. The Heavenly Sanctuary

The High Priestly ministry of Jesus did not take place in an earthly tabernacle, but in the Heavenly Sanctuary.

 

Hebrews 8:2 & 9:11-14: Christ entered the Most Holy Place "once for all" not by the blood of goats, but by His own blood after His sacrifice. This entry into the heavenly realm occurred after His resurrection. Hebrews 8:4 explicitly states: "If He were on earth, He would not be a priest," because the Levitical priesthood was still functioning on earth under the Law.

 

5. The Establishment of the New Covenant

The central theme of Hebrews is the New Covenant established by Christ's blood and His role as the Mediator of that covenant.

 

Hebrews 9:16-17: A covenant (or will) only takes effect after the death of the one who made it. The New Covenant was legally established only through Christ's death.

 

Luke 22:20: At the Last Supper, Jesus identified the cup as the "New Covenant in my blood." Only after the Covenant was ratified by His death could He begin His ministry as the Mediator and High Priest of that New Covenant.

 

6. The Power of an Indestructible Life

The author of Hebrews further asserts that Jesus Christ became a High Priest according to the order of Melchizedek not by legal requirement, but by the power of an indestructible life.

 

Hebrews 7:16: "...who has become a priest not on the basis of a regulation as to his ancestry but on the basis of the power of an indestructible life."

 

In the Epistle to the Ephesians, Paul clarifies that this power is that of the Holy Spirit. It was by this same Spirit that Jesus conquered death and was resurrected. He now sits at the right hand of God, performing His role as High Priest by interceding for us.

 

Ephesians 1:19-20: "...and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms."

 

7. Christ Would Not Be a Priest on Earth

Beyond these indications, the author states explicitly: "If he were on earth, he would not be a priest" (Hebrews 8:4). The reason is clear: while Jesus was on earth, the Law and the Levitical priesthood were still in effect. As long as that system stood, only those appointed under the Law could serve as priests.

 

Jesus' priesthood began only when the Old Covenant and the Levitical system were set aside to make way for the New Covenant. Through His death, Christ "rent the veil" (His body), establishing a new and living way. When God tore the temple curtain, the Old Covenant ended, and Christ’s eternal priesthood in the order of Melchizedek officially began.

 

Hebrews 10:19-21: "...we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God..."

 

8. The Mediator of a New Covenant

The central theme of the Book of Hebrews is the New Covenant established by Christ's blood and His role as its Mediator. The author establishes that Jesus Christ inaugurated this covenant through His death and resurrection and now serves as its Mediator from the right hand of God.

 

Hebrews 8:13: "By calling this covenant 'new,' he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and outdated will soon disappear."

 

It was the shedding of Christ's blood that made the first covenant obsolete, allowing Him to begin His priestly ministry under the New Covenant.

 

9. Necessity of Death for a Covenant

The author of Hebrews explains that for a new covenant (or "will") to be legally established, the death of the one who made it must be proven.

 

Hebrews 9:16-17: "In the case of a will, it is necessary to prove the death of the one who made it, because a will is in force only when somebody has died; it never takes effect while the one who made it is living."

 

As Jesus said during the Last Supper, the cup represented the "New Covenant in my blood" (Luke 22:20). Since the covenant was only ratified by His death, His ministry as the High Priest and Mediator of that specific covenant could only begin after His sacrifice was complete.

 

10. Conclusion

There is not a single verse in the Bible stating that Jesus performed the office of High Priest while He was living on earth. On the contrary, Scripture explains why He was not a priest on earth.

 

As the eternal Son of God, Jesus is eternally King, Priest, and Lamb. However, each ministry has its appointed time and criteria:

 

On Earth: He came as a Servant and the Holy Lamb of God to offer His life as a perfect sacrifice.

 

In Heaven: Having been perfected through suffering and raised by the power of the Spirit, He now sits at the right hand of God, serving as our High Priest and Intercessor.

 

In the Future: He will return as the King of Kings to reign over the earth.

 

This is the clear and systematic teaching of the Word of God regarding the High Priesthood of Jesus Christ.

 

—Jinu Ninan