Christians are often surprised to hear that Jesus is called an apostle. But it is true. The Greek word for “to send” is ἀποστέλλω, apostello. So, apostles are the “sent ones.” Since Jesus was sent by God the Father (John 6:39), we could say that Jesus is an Apostle of God the Father. But not only that, He is our High Priest (Heb. 3:1). Both are significant. As the One who is sent of God the Father (Apostle), He represents the Father to us (John 14:9). As the one who is the High Priest, He represents us to God by interceding for us (Heb. 6:20; 7:25).

“Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest of our confession,” (Heb. 3:1).

Also, note that Jesus sent the 12 disciples into the world. They are were called apostles.

“So Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you,” (John 20:21).

Jesus an apostle

But Jesus has a higher designation than a mere messenger. He is God in flesh (John 1:1, 14; Heb. 1:8), the son of God (John 3:16). Therefore, Jesus is superior to the angels (Heb. 1:4-14).  He is the perfect representation of God to us.

“And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power…” (Heb. 1:3).

Jesus is the one sent from God the Father (John 6:38). He is the only begotten of the Father (John 3:16) who came to reveal God the Father to us (Matt. 11:27). He gave us the Father’s words (John 17:8), and He did the works that the Father gave Him to do (John 5:36).  And finally, Jesus said that He does what He sees the Father doing (John 5:19).  So, in all of this, Jesus is the Apostle of God the Father.

Jesus an Apostle of our Confession

How is Jesus the Apostle of our confession?  The word “confession” occurs six times in the New Testament:

1. 2 Cor. 9:13, “confession of the gospel of Christ”
2. 1 Tim. 6:12, “…the good confession…”
3. 1 Tim. 6:13, “…testified the good confession before Pontius Pilate.”
4. Heb. 3:1, “…Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest of our confession.”
5. Heb. 4:14, “…let us hold fast our confession.”
6. Heb. 10:23, “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope…”

So, the confession seems to deal with the gospel of Jesus, the confession of who Jesus is and what He did on the cross.