5. A Movement of Priests

Apr 13

The fifth of ten studies from Everywhere: How God Multiplies Disciples and Churches.

In Rajasthan, India, I met an eighty-year-old grandmother who cannot read or write. Yet she shares her story, proclaims the gospel, prays for the sick, recites Scripture, makes disciples, baptizes them, and teaches them to follow Christ. I also met a young woman who has been doing the same work alongside her father since she was twelve. From an illiterate grandmother to a daughter who began as a girl, whole families embody the priesthood of believers. This is what sets movements apart: Everyone joins in the work.

When Jesus called fishermen to be his disciples, he called them to follow him and fish for others (Matthew 4:18–20). He gave them something to do. These men were ordinary and unqualified. The woman at the well became the first missionary to her Samaritan village (John 4). The demoniac was the first missionary to the Decapolis (Luke 8:38–39).

God chose all Israel to be a kingdom of priests, a holy nation that, through their obedience to the covenant, would bear witness to him throughout the world (Exodus 19:4–6). Tragically, Israel fell well short of God’s intention. Jesus fulfilled God’s plan for Israel and established a renewed Israel, composed of Jews and Gentiles who put their faith in the Messiah (Ephesians 2).

Christ is our Priest, and all believers share in his priesthood through union with him. There is no priestly class. Jesus gave the Great Commission to every disciple. Our Priest and risen Lord gave us the authority to make disciples of the nations by going, baptizing, and teaching them to obey everything he has commanded (Matthew 28:16–20).

The royal priesthood is evident in Acts as the priests of the new covenant baptize, pray, worship, read and obey the Scriptures, love one another, celebrate the Lord’s Supper, give sacrificially, and proclaim the gospel from Jerusalem to the world (Acts 2:36–47).

This is what Peter means when he says, “You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light” (1 Peter 2:9).

In John’s vision of heaven, he sees the Lamb that was slain who, with his blood, has purchased people from every tribe and language and people and nation. For what purpose? That they would be a kingdom and priests to serve our God forever (Revelation 5:9–10).

The gospel goes out in the power of the Spirit through these royal priests as God gathers his people from every tribe and language. For all eternity, they will be a kingdom of priests, God’s chosen people, proclaiming his glory.