The Prophet, The Word

Introduction

Ex: Good morning, please open in your Bible’s to John 1:1-18. We spend most of our time there this morning but before we do I want to take you on a big picture tour of the Bible and the theme of a prophet. Over the course of the next three weeks we want to see that Jesus is our Prophet, Priest and King. He is the only one that fulfills all three of these biblical offices. As God related to people from the time of creation to the birth of Christ he used prophets to declare his Word, priests to intercede and mediate between God and man, and kings to rule and govern His people. But in Christ we have the one who delcares what is true and is the very Word of God, the one mediator and intercessor between God and man, and the one who will rule and reign for all time. Jesus is… all the Old Testament pointed to.

So, as we look at our Bible’s we will very briefly in large overview trace the theme of prophet and see how Jesus is the prophet who has come. I want to start in the book of Deuteronomy. A book that comes from a series of speeches given by a man named Moses, who God had used to deliver the people of God out of slavery. They left Egypt were they were once slaves and God took them on a journey through the wilderness and as Moses is speaking these words in Deuteronomy they are preparing to enter the promised land. A land that was promised to their ancestor Abraham. The land of Israel where God intended to make them a people who represent Him to all of the world. As Moses is speaking he says this in Deuteronomy 18:15 ““The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers—it is to him you shall listen—” This is a prophecy about a future prophet. A prophet who would be like Moses.

We given a little more clarity by a writer who finishes the book of Deuteronomy after Moses has died in Deuteronomy 34:10–12 “And there has not arisen a prophet since in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face, none like him for all the signs and the wonders that the Lord sent him to do in the land of Egypt, to Pharaoh and to all his servants and to all his land, and for all the mighty power and all the great deeds of terror that Moses did in the sight of all Israel.” In all of Israel when this phrase was written there was still no prophet who was like Moses. Particularly a prophet who had seen God face to face.

In fact all throughout the rest of the Old Testament the portion of the Bible that is written before the birth of Jesus. There are many prophets that God uses in mighty ways. Prophets like Elijah who calls down fire from heaven, raises a boy from the dead, and is even taken up by God by a chariot of fire. Yet, even Elijah is not consider to be the prophet that Moses spoke of in Deuteronomy 18:15.

When get to the New Testament the Jewish people were still awaiting the prophet. People wonder if John the Baptist a cousin of Jesus is the prophet in John 1:21–23 “And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” So they said to him, “Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.”” . John the Baptist was born to a barren mother after an angel visited his father to announce his birth. He would grow up to be a great preacher and prophet who was to prepare the way for the Messiah, another promised figure from the Old Testament. Another word for Messiah is Christ is means anointed one or chosen one. .They ask in John 7:40-41 “When they heard these words, some of the people said, “This really is the Prophet.” Others said, “This is the Christ...” They didn’t know which one is Jesus. But then Luke 9 Jesus takes Peter and John and James up to a mountain and as Jesus is praying his face is altered and clothes become dazzling white and two men appear and begin to talk to him. Who are they? Moses and Elijah the two extraordinary prophets from the Old Testament. And as this is happening a voice from heaven says this Luke 9:35 “And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him!”” Peter who is present for this event understands that Jesus is the Christ and the prophet foretold about in Deuteronomy 18:15 which is why Peter says this in Acts 3:17–23 ““And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled. Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago. Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you. And it shall be that every soul who does not listen to that prophet shall be destroyed from the people.’

Jesus is the Prophet: Moses foretold, The Jews were waiting for, The Father Confirmed, Peter Preached.

This is the Christmas story, it’s just about Mary and Joesph and a manager. It is the God’s story about how He is fulfilling His promises to His people through His Son. That is what Christmas is all about. And this is the background we need to know as we read John 1:1-18.

Jesus, The Prophet Before Time v.1-5

EX: Jesus is not just the Prophet which Peter concluded for us in Acts 3, but according to John He is the Word. The very Word of God. We don’t know this Word is Jesus until verse 14-18 as John tells the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, but the Word in John 1 is in fact Jesus. And this Word existed before existence itself. Before the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and yet the Word was God. The Word is eternal in that He existed before the beginning. And he is two seemingly contradictory things, but truth all the same. He is distinct for God (with God) and yet United with God because he was with God. This the great mystery we call the Trinity. Jesus, the Son, is God but a separate person from the Father and the Holy Spirit. It’s this Trinitarian reality that makes it possible that Jesus can be the Prophet.

He is fully man and fully God and therefore the Prophet who fulfills all prophecy and declares all truth. Because he is truth in his very nature being God. And is the fulfillment of truth being man. All that is true is contained and made truth according to its foundation in the God. So, we could say there are no lies in God, nothing about him is untrue. We could also say that all truth flows from the nature of God himself. The created world here because all things are made through him and without him was not any thing made that was made. All things created were created through him. The tangible things like trees, rocks, and water. Also, intangible things like philosophy, logic, and laws of physics. You can’t hold these things in your hand, but they exist. Without them the world could not operate. The prophet, the word, Jesus is the reason the world can continue to go on. This is His world, created by and for him.

This is why John can say that in him was life and the life was the light of men. Jesus is the life-giver his action in creation results not just in things being made. But life itself is created. And life is the light of men. That is the life that is in Jesus illuminates man to the reality that there is a God. Jesus’ creative work is a prophetic work. A work that reveals the Godhead and makes clear that the life/light will not be overcome by the darkness. The knowledge of God cannot be diminished by the evil of this world.

But you say, Josh there is evil everywhere denial of God’s existence run rapid in this world. What do you mean that evil will not diminish the light of the knowledge of God. And this is what I mean: the Trinitarian work of God is unstoppable. John will later write this in this book about the Holy Spirit John 16:8–15 “And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.” The Spirit works in the lives of men and women to bring the Gospel to bear on their hearts. He convicts the world of sin and righteousness and judgement. He will judge the world and its ruler, that is Satan. The evil one will not overcome the power of the risen one.

He reveals the truth to sinners in way that a human prophet never could. We can announce the message that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God who died for sin and rose from the dead. But only the prophetic word of Christ through the power of Spirit can enlighten the dead heart and lead it to repentance.

We are to encouraged today that in Jesus there is life and that life is the light of men, and darkness will not overcome it. No matter how lost a soul might be, no one is beyond the reach of the power of Christ. That is what makes Christmas merry.

This truth that The Prophet, the word, has existed for all time and is God, ought to fuel us to bear witness about the light.

The Prophet Uses Us to Proclaim v. 6-13

EX: God planned to use John the Baptist to pave the way for Jesus. John came to bear witness about the light. The light that is the life that is in the Word that is Jesus. He bore witness as the prophet Isaiah said he would. Yet, John knew he was not the Christ, nor Elijah, no the prophet. He says that John 1:21–27 “And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” So they said to him, “Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.” (Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.) They asked him, “Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” John answered them, “I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know, even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.”” John the Baptist proclaimed that Jesus was to come and that Jesus was the Prophet he was the Christ.

John came to bear witness about the light, Jesus. And as he did this we are told that the true light which gives light to everyone was coming into the world. Jesus is the prophet who came to make God known. The one who made the world came into the world in order to reveal God in all His glory. But the world did not know Him. His own people did not receive him. Though the creator came into the world and revealed himself to the people who had the testimony of John the Baptist and all of the prophets of God in the past, they still did not receive him as the prophet. The Jews, by in large rejected Him. Just as they rejected the prophets of old.

John 1:12–13“But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” God has chosen to use human instruments like John the Baptist to bear witness about Jesus. A witness that is rejected by the world and even by many of God’s own people. Yet, while he chooses to use human instruments to bear witness about the light. The human instruments are not what illuminate the hearts of men. The witness of the light is not the light. But light, the true prophet of the Lord that is Jesus, He is the one who gives man the right to become children of God. That those who have believed in his name have done so because of God’s activity.

They don’t believe or become children of God because of anything they have done. It is not by blood, that is to say because they were born Jewish, it not by the will of the flesh, that is to say just being better than other people, and it is not the will of man, that is to say not by their own works and righteousness. But rather they are born of God. That word God in verse 13 packs all of the meaning that John has given us in the previous 12 verses. God and the Word are one.

That is what it means for Jesus to be the prophet that is like Moses. To say that Jesus is face to face with God. He in not just like Moses but he is greater than Moses. The writer of Hebrews writes Hebrews 3:3–6 “For Jesus has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses—as much more glory as the builder of a house has more honor than the house itself. (For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.) Now Moses was faithful in all God’s house as a servant, to testify to the things that were to be spoken later, but Christ is faithful over God’s house as a son. And we are his house, if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope.” Jesus is better than Moses because was a servant where Jesus is a son. Those born of God are the household of God. He cares for us, because we are his father’s house.

Jesus makes himself known. He makes the Trinity known through the supernatural work of His Spirit. He is the prophet, and so when he speaks he must be listened to. If you hear his voice, not a literal voice, but hear the Gospel and you believe it is true, and you receive it as truth that must be lived. It is because the prophet has spoken to your heart.

We read this earlier but I want to read it again Acts 3:17–23 ““And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled. Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago. Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you. And it shall be that every soul who does not listen to that prophet shall be destroyed from the people.’”

Perhaps you are here today, and for the first time you are hearing his voice or perhaps God has been working through our church for some time now. I want to encourage to wait no longer. Repent of your sins and place faith in the one who suffered in your place and rose from the dead. He is the prophet and you are to listen to what he tells you. Everyone soul that does not listen shall be destroyed. Believe in His name and you will be a child of God.

He is the only one who can save you. Because he is the one who has seen God. The one who has seen him face to face. He is the one that gives grace upon grace and has made God known.

The Prophet Has Shone Us His Glory v. 14-18

EX: Jesus being the prophet who illuminates us to the truth is the one who can reveal God’s glory to humankind. Why? Because he is God, and God in His fullness. He lacks none of God. And he has become flesh, that is human, and dwelt among us. The word translated “dwelt” literally means “tabernacled” or “tented” among us. See, while Moses was traveling in the wilderness with the people of Israel God had them create large tabernacle or tent. And it was in this tabernacle that God’s presence would manifest as the people wandered in the wilderness. As a tent is was mobile and therefore God was with the people no matter where they traveled. Now, in Christ Jesus God is with his people. He dwelt among us and by His Spirit who lives within all Christians he continues to dwell among us. He presents himself and makes himself known as he tabernacles/dwells among us.

John explains that in seeing Christ they had seen his glory, glory as the only Son from the Father. He is full of grace and truth. John, the Baptist, bore witness about Him. And now in the fullness of Christ, the one who is truly man and truly God, we have recieved grace upon grace.

Moses the prophet gave the law. That is the first five books of the Bible and the 10 commandments. Commandments that we cannot hope to live up to on our own. But was is the Christmas story, it is God fulfilling His promises to His People through His Son. And so, even though we are lawbreakers. The law of Moses, testifies against all of us. We fall short and sin. In Christ, we have grace and truth. God promised to bless all the families of the earth through Abraham’s seed. Jesus comes from the lineage of Abraham. He is the prophet promised in Deuteronomy 18 and it through him that sinners can receive grace and truth and know God.

Afterall, no one has seen God; the only God. Even Moses the prophet who was said to speak with God face to face couldn’t actually lay eyes on God. In the book Exodus 33 Moses asks to see the glory of God. And God tells Moses I will make my goodness pass before you. And he God says, Exodus 33:20–23 “But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for man shall not see me and live.” And the Lord said, “Behold, there is a place by me where you shall stand on the rock, and while my glory passes by I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by. Then I will take away my hand, and you shall see my back, but my face shall not be seen.”” Moses was able to converse with God “face to face” early in the chapter, but there is something about God’s glory that Moses had not seen. Which is why he asks to see God’s glory. And God tells him, my face in my glory… it’ll kill you. No one can see my face in all its glory.

Jesus is a prophet, a revealer like Moses. But he is better than Moses. Moses cannot see the face of God in all its glory. Even when he would converse with God and even when he was given the 10 commandments which made the face of Moses shine. God concealed parts of his glory.

Yet, what John 1 tells us is that in Jesus human beings saw his glory. No one has ever seen God, the only God. The unique God! But the one who is at the Father’s side, literally in the bosom of the Father. He has made him known. Jesus, as the Son, the one who was with God, and was God in the beginning put on flesh, he became a man. So that we would know God and see his glory.

This is the task of the prophet.

Conclusion

Hebrews 1:1–3 “Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,” The prophets in the OT were just a shadow of something better. God hasn’t just spoken to us through the human prophets. He spoke to us through His Son, the one who is man and God. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature! Paul tells us Colossians 1:19 “For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell,” Jesus, as the prophet has come so that we might know God. He came, so that if you believe in His name you can become a child of God.

This Christmas season I pray we don’t lose sight what it all about. God fulfilling His promises to His people through His Son, and all for His glory. Let’s Pray.