Here is a message that proves a godly great-grandfather has a great influence for good for many generations.

A TRIBUTE TO THE UNKNOWN PRIEST

It is good to reflect upon the lives of people who have lived before us and to honor them for the sacrifices they have made for the good of their families, their nation and mankind.

The life of a certain priest has benefited many generations. Yet, his name is only known to God. He has no recorded genealogy. His name is not mentioned in the Holy Writ. Nevertheless, traces of his life can be noticed in the scriptures when a person really looks for them.

We know that he was a Son of Aaron and a descendant of Phinehas because of this promise that God made to Phinehas:

"Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, hath turned my wrath away from the children of Israel, ... Wherefore say, Behold, I give unto him my covenant of peace:

**And he shall have it, and his seed after him, even the covenant of an everlasting priesthood;** because he was zealous for his God, and made an atonement for the children of Israel." Numbers 25:11-13 (KJV)

In the service of God, all men do not have the same ministries. Zacharias and the unknown priest were both sons of Aaron. Zacharias executed the priest's office before God in the order of his course; and once, he even had the privilege of burning incense in the Temple of the Lord.

But -- the life of the unknown priest remains in obscurity. Like thousands of God's true servants, not a single mention is made of his service or prayers. We don't even know where he lived --but wherever he was, he was a messenger of the LORD of hosts:

"For the priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts." Mal 2:7 (KJV)

The unknown priest was an ancestor of John the Baptist and surely had a direct, or indirect, influence on the life of John the Baptist and his cousin Jesus Christ. Did John and Jesus benefit from his life-work of teaching The Commandments of God diligently unto his children? I think so. Now you can decide ...

JOHN THE BAPTIST
The prophet, who announced the good tidings that the kingdom of heaven was at hand, knew from the scriptures when to expect the kingdom. John's voice preached repentance and told evil-doers to bring the fruits of an amended life --because his lips kept knowledge and the law was in his mouth -- for he was a messenger of the LORD of hosts.

From the scriptures, John knew that there must be an atonement for sin. So when He saw the Spirit descending and remaining on Jesus, he said: "Behold, the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world." Indeed, John the Baptist was a man of the Word.

JESUS CHRIST
As a twelve-year-old boy, Jesus astonished the doctors in the temple with his understanding and answers. In the wilderness, Jesus resisted the tempter with the words "It is written...". Yes, the seed of the woman knew that he came to fulfill the words of the law and prophets that spoke of his death and resurrection.

Jesus Christ established the New Covenant with an everlasting priesthood (after the order of Melchisedic) when he fulfilled the promise that God made to Phinehas and became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him.

Donna Kupp

How God Kept His Promise to Phinehas

Even though the genealogies of the Bible seem impossible to trace, the scriptures still contain evidence that God kept His promises to Eve, Abraham, David and Phinehas.

Many Bible commentators believe that the genealogy of Luke 3:23-38 is that of the virgin Mary. If so, it would fulfill the promises that God made to Eve, Abraham, and David.  If the promise to David was fulfilled through the lineage of Mary's father from David; then, the promise to Phinehas can be fulfilled through the lineage of Mary's mother from Phinehas. This possible genealogy of Mary's mother descending from Phinehas agrees with some New Testament scriptures:

Aaron
(Missing generations)
Phinehas
(Missing generations)
[The Unknown Priest]
(The priest had two daughters)
(The Mother of Elizabeth marries a son of Aaron. See Luke 1:5

(The Mother of Mary marries a Son of David )

Elizabeth and Mary are cousins. (See Luke 1:36)

Elizabeth and Zacharias were the parents of John The Baptist
Mary and The Holy Spirit of God were the parents of Jesus Christ

Through Mary's mother's side of the family, the unknown priest would be the great-grandfather of John the Baptist and Jesus Christ.

(There are many unknown priests in the kingdom of God. We may never know the results of their work until we walk with Jesus.)

dk