Why is Jesus called the prophet?
Was Jesus a prophet?
The Bible tells us that he is THE Prophet, the One greater than Moses.
A prophet reveals and speaks for God.
What did Jesus reveal to us?
Table of Contents:
1. Jesus was seen as a prophet
‘Jesus the Prophet’ – is this an image we have of Jesus?
The word ‘prophet’ can create a picture in our mind, of a rugged man, dressed in rough clothes, and shouting out warnings from God.
Jesus didn’t really fit that picture.
But, it is interesting to see that the people of that time, saw Jesus as a prophet.
When Jesus raised a dead young man from out of his coffin, the crowd were all filled with awe and praised God and said:
A great prophet has appeared among us, God has come to help his people.”
Luke 7:12-16 NIV
Then when Jesus entered Jerusalem, with the crowds shouting hosanna the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?” the crowds answered,
This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”
Matthew 21:9-11 NIV
Whether the people agreed with Jesus or not, they did see him as a prophet.
What is a prophet?
What does the word ‘prophet’ mean? An on-line dictionary says:
The definition of a prophet is someone who teaches or spreads the word of God, or is someone who claims to make predictions about what will happen in the future.
‘Prophet’ Your Dictionary 1
An example of a prophet was Moses, who heard God deliver the Ten Commandments.”
That’s okay, but I prefer the Oxford Dictionary book version that states:
One who foretells future events, a revealer, or interpreter of the Divine will.”
Oxford English Dictionary 2
In other words, a prophet is someone who reveals God′s will and purposes, who reveals what is on God′s heart.
Do you think that is a description of what Jesus did while on this earth?
And is this what he still does?
Well yes, Jesus said:
When someone looks at Me, they see the One who sent Me.
John 12:45 NIV
I have come into the world as a light.”
And Jesus said:
For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but to do the will of Him who sent Me.“
John 6:38 NIV
And if that is not enough, one of Jesus′ Names is: ‘The Word of God.’
He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God.”
Revelation 19:13 NIV
So, yes Jesus is a prophet and he does reveal what God′s will and purposes are.
2. The special Prophet
Throughout history, most of the Jews have looked out for a very special Prophet, and some are still looking even today.
In Deuteronomy Moses said:
The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me, from among your own people; you must listen to everything He tells you.”
Deuteronomy 18:14 NIV
They even believed that this prophet would be born in Bethlehem, which became a stumbling block to some of them because Jesus lived in Nazareth in Galilee.
When the crowds were discussing whether Jesus was THE Prophet or not, the Pharisees said to the crowd:
Are you from Galilee too?
John 7:52 NIV
Look into it, and you will find that the Prophet, does not come out of Galilee!”
Earlier, the people in the crowd were saying:
How can the Messiah come from Galilee?
John 7:41-42 NIV
Does not Scripture say that the Messiah will come from David’s descendants and from Bethlehem, the town where David lived?”
They were referring to the prophet Micah who wrote:
But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.”
Micah 5:2 NIV
If their minds hadn’t been so hostile towards Jesus, they would have discovered, that Jesus was in fact born in Bethlehem.
So back to the Deuteronomy passage, this is Moses speaking, teaching them what God had said:
The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your fellow Israelites.
Deuteronomy 18:14 & 18-19 NIV
You must listen to him…
‘I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their fellow Israelites, and I will put my words in his mouth.
He will tell them everything I command him.
I myself will call to account anyone who does not listen to my words that the prophet speaks in my name.’ “
From these verses, we can see that the Prophet would be raised up from among them.
This speaks of Christ′s birth, He was One of their nation, a Jew.
He lived among them, Emmanuel – God with us. God living among His people.
3. Jesus a prophet greater than Moses
Christians believe that Jesus was and is greater than Moses.
Moses speaking in Deuteronomy 18:14 said that the Prophet that was to come (Jesus) would be like himself.
So let′s look at some of the similarities in respect of:
- being a lawgiver
- leading out of slavery
- creating new worship
a) Jesus is greater than Moses, both were Lawgivers:
The prophet Moses was a lawgiver, and Jesus the Prophet, was also a lawgiver.
Perhaps we don′t tend to see Jesus as a lawgiver, but Paul wrote:
Carry each other′s burdens, and in this way, you will fulfil the Law of Christ.”
Galations 6:2 NIV
And also:
..let them acknowledge that what I am writing is the Lord′s command.”
1 Corinthians 14:37 NIV
Yes, Jesus is also the Lawgiver.
But Jesus’ laws were not there for us to try to obey, so as to get to heaven. Because Paul writes:
Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life has set me free from the law of sin and death.”
Romans 8:1-2 NIV
In the quote above where it says: “the law of the Spirit of life” that means Christ′s Law.
Where it says: “the law of sin and death” that means the Law given by Moses.
b) Jesus is greater than Moses, both lead out of slavery:
Moses led the people out of the slavery of Egypt.
Jesus leads His people out of the slavery of Satan. Jesus said:
If you hold to My teaching, you are really My disciples.
John 8:31 NIV
Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
The crowd answered Jesus:
We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone.
John 8:33 NIV
How can You say that we shall be set free?”
Jesus replied,
I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.”
John 8:34 NIV
Multitudes of people are slaves to sin, and to Satan, and they just don′t realise it.
It is the Truth that breaks the chains of our slavery.
The Truth is the Word of God.
The words in the Bible are God-breathed, and they have the power to set people free. Paul wrote:
…you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.”
Galations 4:7 NIV
Moses led the people out of Egypt, but Jesus not only leads people out of the slavery of sin, but also INTO sonship, and an eternal inheritance!
c) Jesus is greater than Moses, both created new worship:
Moses was the founder of a new era of worship and of serving God, where the people were taught:
- to have a fearful reverence
- that God was too Holy to approach
- only one person was allowed to approach God and that once a year, and that was for the High Priest only.
All this was ushered in by miraculous signs and wonders.
But Jesus was the founder of a better era of worship and of serving God, where He:
- opened up a way into the Presence of God
- for all of His followers, at any time, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
This new era was also ushered in with wonderful, and miraculous signs.
d) Jesus is greater than Moses conclusion:
So, what is the conclusion in looking at the similarities between Moses, and the Prophet the Lord Jesus Christ?
It is summed up in Hebrews:
Moses was faithful in all God′s house.
Hebrews 3:2 NIV
Jesus has been found worthy of greater honour than Moses, just as the builder of a house has greater honour than the house itself.
Moses was faithful as a servant in all God′s house.
But Christ is faithful as a Son over God′s house…”
Moses was a great leader, but Jesus far outshines him, because:
The Son is the radiance of God′s Glory, and the exact representation of His Being, sustaining all things by His powerful Word.”
Hebrews 1:3 NIV
Here’s the full Deuteronomy passage:
The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own brothers.
Deuteronomy 18:14-19 NIV
You must listen to him – I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers;
I will put my words in his mouth, and he will tell them everything I command him.
If anyone does not listen to my words that the prophet speaks in my name, I myself will call him to account.”
See the next article: Jesus Speaking Prophet how does God speak to us?
Is God at war with mankind? It looks like it when we see that he drove out Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden, exterminated the world in Noah’s flood and destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.
Seeing what God sees – Jesus the Prophet.
What is acceptable worship – Jesus the High Priest
When was Jesus born, we’ll look at some indicators like when was the temple built, when was the Roman census, etc.
The non-Christian evidence for the historical Jesus.
See a timeline 600 years back from Jesus to his birth.
Jesus is the High Priest, should God forgive everyone?
Jesus the Prayer Warrior.
Look at the planetary and star information to see if any corresponds to the Star of Bethlehem.
References and credits – open in new tabs:
Moses image: thanks to GSP 100,000 clipart CD.
Wise men image: thanks to The Pictorial Dictionary published
by The Educational Book Company, London ↩