Excerpts from THE REAL KOSHER JESUS by Michael L. Brown, PhD:

"The authors of the Dead Sea Scrolls...deeply religious Jews...were looking for two Messianic figures, called the Messiahs of Aaron and Israel.  In addition to this, an important first-century CE document called the Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs also spoke about this priestly Messiah (from the tribe of Levi) along with the expected royal Messiah (from the tribe of Judah), describing both in highly exalted terms."

"Everyone who believes in the biblical Messiah accepts the royal prophecies as referring to Him, recognizing that He will be a King. But what about the prophecies that speak of an individual who will suffer and even die? What do these verses have to do with the Messiah? The answer is that the prophecies of suffering and death point to the priestly ministry of the Messiah, since it was the duty of the High Priest to intercede for his people and make atonement for their sins." 

 

"What then is the biblical background to this concept of a priestly Messiah?  According to Psalm 110:4, the Lord made an emphatic oath that the Davidic king in Jerusalem was to be a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.  As written in the Psalm, 'The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind: You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.'  To repeat: the king was told that he would be a priest forever."

 

Jesus Messiah, Name above all Names. 

Blessed Redeemer, Emmanuel. 

The rescue for sinners,

the ransom from heaven,

Jesus Messiah, Lord of all!

He came the first time as the Lamb of God.  The second time He will come as the Lion of Judah!  Blessings!