Prophet

INTRODUCTION: I think I figured out why I love Christmas lights so much. I know you have heard me talk about this often, especially this time of year. There’s two things you know about me. I love Hark the Herald Angels Sing, my favorite Christmas hymn (and possibly my favorite hymn of all time) and I love Christmas lights. And the reason for it, I think, is the simplicity of something shining in the darkness. The colors. The thrill of looking around while I drive and spotting a house that has a nice display. Last year we went to the OBX to a light display in their botanical gardens over there, and on the way back, crossing one of the bridges, I saw a huge display of white lights to the right. I figured we might not be out this way again during the Christmas season, and I turned there and was not disappointed. It was like daytime on that property.

And I think that’s why intrigues me. Those little lights come together and really penetrate the darkness and give me excitement. Revealing around it what was once enshrouded in darkness.

Jesus as prophet, the light of the world, reveals ourselves, Himself, salvation, and is the light of the world.

READ HEBREWS 1:1-4

CTS: Listen to Jesus, the prophet who perfectly reveals.

Background: The Offices

Commonly stated in the doctrine of Jesus is that his ministry is defined in three offices that are found in Scripture. These three were coined early on as prophet, priest, and king. I like what one theologian says as well, which I will combine to help us grasp what each office is about. Jesus reveals, rules, and reconicles. We will be spending the next few weeks as we continue to come to grips with the incarnation and the identity of this Jesus, whose birth we celebrate every year in this Christmas season. To further understand Jesus and his work is the intention behind this sermon.

What is a prophet?

The first office mentioned is that of prophet and will be the focus of this sermon. Well, what is a prophet and what do they do? Biblical scholars have defined a prophet as a spokesman for someone else. We have seen this already in Exodus when Aaron himself was described as Moses’ “prophet” in Exodus 7:1-2

Exodus 7:1–2 ESV

1 And the Lord said to Moses, “See, I have made you like God to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron shall be your prophet. 2 You shall speak all that I command you, and your brother Aaron shall tell Pharaoh to let the people of Israel go out of his land.

Moses was considered a prophet himself. And throughout the Old Testament we see different people take the role of prophet. Ezekiel, Jeremiah, Jonah, Elijah, and many others were given direct communication and expected to be the mouthpiece of God. One biblical scholar says it like this:

A prophet...is one who speaks in the name of God. He must, however, be the immediate organ of God. - Charles Hodge

Now, to not be confused with the office of prophet and us today, prophecy comes directly from the Lord himself. Moses, the prophets of the OT, and prophets of the NT were receiving and preaching a direct revelation from God. Prophets are no longer needed today because the Word Jesus Christ has been revealed, preached by the apostles, and now we have in written form the clear revelation of the fullness of the Gospel called the Bible.

Ok, so we now have a background on what the office or prophet is. So why is one of the offices of Jesus prophet?

I. Jesus the Prophet of Judgment

If you spend any time with the prophets of the Old Testament, you’ll find out that God specifically calls them to preach His message of judgment. God takes sin seriously throughout the Bible. He began with a message of judgment for Adam and Eve, promised judgment against the Serpent (which is good news by the way as well!). Over and over again, God has said that sin brings death, and he makes it clear that a life lived not in accordance to the His standards, His law, and not living holy, brings about judgment.

Israel over and over again turned their backs on God through sin and idolatry. The message of the prophets was very much one of doom and judgment.

Jesus comes as the prophet himself, bearing God’s message because He is God, which is clearly established in him being Emmanuel, God with us. So he is the proclaimer of God’s Word because He is the Word. And this word includes judgment. We see it in his teachings, where he clearly points out sin for what it is (Sermon on the Mount). He points out the hypocrisy of the religious leaders and their self-righteousness. He cleanses the temple and declares their sin of making what was supposed to be a house of prayer, a place to engage in worship with the Father, a place of commerce and taking advantage of the disadvantaged.

And the result of this sin was often declared by Jesus. Woe to the cities from Matt 11:20-24

Matthew 11:20–24 ESV

20 Then he began to denounce the cities where most of his mighty works had been done, because they did not repent. 21 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22 But I tell you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you. 23 And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You will be brought down to Hades. For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. 24 But I tell you that it will be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom than for you.”

He pronounced judgment on those that do not know him, that do not walk through the narrow door of Himself, that they would experience a place described where there would be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Luke 13:22–30 ESV

22 He went on his way through towns and villages, teaching and journeying toward Jerusalem. 23 And someone said to him, “Lord, will those who are saved be few?” And he said to them, 24 “Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. 25 When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, open to us,’ then he will answer you, ‘I do not know where you come from.’ 26 Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’ 27 But he will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of evil!’ 28 In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God but you yourselves cast out. 29 And people will come from east and west, and from north and south, and recline at table in the kingdom of God. 30 And behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.”

Jesus clearly pronounces that there is a sin problem, and that without the proper remedy, without reconciliation, judgment will fall on those that do not know God and that are in their sin. Let’s make no mistake. Jesus bears the news of judgment over sin, whether we like it or not, or the world tries to deny it. Jesus spoke more about hell than he did about heaven. That is the bad news, the judgment we deserve. He did this because He is prophet. And make no mistake, this message is intrinsic to his own nature. He proclaims these things not just as a prophet. He is God and he is especially revealing revelation. He reveals the Father for He has been with the Father as the Son.

But Jesus doesn’t stop there and leave us in judgment. The prophets did speak judgment, but they also spoke of salvation. Jesus perfectly embodies the prophet by speaking both judgment and salvation.

II. Jesus the Prophet of Salvation

But as every prophet spoke judgment, there was always a message of good news, redemption, and reconciliation between God and man. The result of our sin deserves death. We are enemies of God, yet Jesus comes and declares the message of full and final redemption, to make us at peace with God.

What is that message? The prospect of judgment seems insurmountable. How can we see the kingdom of God if we are facing judgment for our sins? Nicodemus was confused about the nature of Jesus, and Jesus replies that in order to see the kingdom, you must have something happen to you.

John 3:3 ESV

3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

How are we born again? Jesus reveals that in order to see the kingdom, you must believe in Him.

John 12:44–50 ESV

44 And Jesus cried out and said, “Whoever believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me. 45 And whoever sees me sees him who sent me. 46 I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. 47 If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. 48 The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day. 49 For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment—what to say and what to speak. 50 And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told me.”

Believe in who He is, that He is the Son of God, and that in Him is resurrection life found. Later on, Jesus declares Himself to be the way, the truth, and the life. Want to come to the Father? Jesus further reveals, no one comes to the Father but by Him.

John summarizes this very message within the third chapter, with one of the most famous verses in all the Bible. But people often don’t view it properly. They don’t view it with judgment in mind. But hear what the Good News is in full, the message that Jesus proclaims to the world.

John 3:16–21 ESV

16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. 20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. 21 But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”

We deserve judgment, yet Jesus is the means of our salvation. Let us see why!

III. Jesus the Better Prophet

A. Reveals like Moses (Deut 18:15-18)

Moses himself was identified as a prophet, which we just read in Deuteronomy 18. Moses’ own ministry was being a messenger of God’s Word. As we have been noticing throughout the book of Exodus so far, Moses is a picture of the ministry of Christ, and like Moses, the better Moses Jesus delivers his people (from sin

Colossians 1:13–14 ESV

13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Like Moses, the greater Moses Jesus initiates a new covenant, which was foretold by the prophets.

Ezekiel 36:26–28 ESV

26 And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules. 28 You shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers, and you shall be my people, and I will be your God.

B. Reveals by His nature (Heb 1:1-4, John 1:9)

By virtue of who Jesus is, he is not only a prophet, but is the very message itself. God speaks through Jesus, the heir of all things. He is the Creator. He is God! So not only is he God’s messenger, He is God himself. And God gives Himself to be the very message of salvation. God came down, became like us, died for us, rose for us, all because of his steadfast mercy and love.

The superiority of Jesus continues. He is the better Moses. He is the better prophet. He is light, and in him there is no darkness. The true light of the world.

C. Reveals by His own sacrificial work

This greater covenant, the circumcision of the heart, is made possible by the judgment for our sins being poured out on the Son, and through this pouring out, He delivers us to salvation. Jesus, the better prophet of judgment takes on judgment for us. Jesus, the better prophet of salvation gives us salvation by taking the judgment we deserve for our sins. This is why Jesus is the better prophet.

D. Reveals through His church (Matt 28:20, John 14:26)

JEsus then continues to be the prophet that reveals, commissioning his followers, his church, to then go and continue the proclamation of the Good News he revealed in himself, his teachings, his death, burial, and resurrection. The news that faith in him saves.

Matthew 28:20 ESV

20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

E. Reveals His future reign (1 Cor 13:12, 1 John 3:2)

Through his own teachings and the teachings of his followers, now given to us in inspired Scripture, we are promised that He will come again, with two purposes. With judgment fully brought forth and sin completely eradicated and for those that know Him to experience their deliverance in full, a resurrection unto life everlasting. That is what we wait for, and hope for, for Jesus the perfect prophet revealed it to be so.

1 John 3:2 ESV

2 Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.

1 Corinthians 13:12 ESV

12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.

Are we letting Jesus speak into our lives?

But Jesus didn’t just do this then. He does this now as well. He reveals Himself, righteousness, sin, and the consequences of it. He reveals to the world His good news. He reveals to his own believers, his church, as he sanctifies them of their sin and makes them more like himself.

Jesus is still in the business of prophetically revealing God’s message. He is still revealing sin and righteousness. He is still revealing grace. We would do well to listen.

But what can we do to listen to him today, in his church?

Let him prophetically speak into your life by examining yourself

Jesus speaks to our sin as prophet, so listen to His Word that reveals our hearts and our sin.

Jesus speaks salvation from our sin, so look to Him, the merciful and gracious Savior who desires to transform us.

Let him speak into your life by examining each other

Jesus speaks to the church, revealing our sin through His Word

We hold one another accountable to sin, in humility, and point one another to the hope of the Gospel towards a life of transformation (church discipline)

Let him speak through His Word and speak His word

Don’t neglect it in the home

Don’t neglect in the church

Don’t neglect in culture

Jesus is the light of the world, the revealer of our sin, judgement, yet in grace, the revealer of the good news of redemption, salvation, and eternal life. The revealer of life that is good rather than evil The revealer of life in a world full of death and destruction. Jesus is better than any Christmas light display. Jesus, the light of the world, reveals His glory, and His salvation.