The Perfect Prophet

I grew up in a religious group in which people claimed to have the gift of prophecy. They were not prophets, but their bold declarations penetrated quiet times in the services and ended with “thus saith the Lord.” A brief pause followed to allow congregants to take in what had been “revealed.” Their utterances were often vague or general, but any assertion that a person’s words come from God Himself is a weighty claim.

Through Moses, one of God’s most important prophets, God warned that “the prophet who presumes to speak a word in My name, which I have not commanded him to speak… that prophet shall die” (Deuteronomy 18:20). Moses then revealed how to know a true prophet of God: “When a prophet speaks in the name of the Lᴏʀᴅ, if the thing does not happen or come to pass, that is the thing which the Lᴏʀᴅ has not spoken” (v. 22). A true prophet’s words must hold 100% accuracy, or “the prophet has spoken it presumptuously” (v. 22).

Speaking God’s Truth

God’s high standard for the prophets through whom He reveals His Word appears repeatedly throughout the Bible. But of all the great prophets, there is one who stands out above them all: Jesus Christ, the perfect prophet.

Biblically, a prophet is someone moved by the Spirit of God to speak the truth that God has revealed to him. It may include teaching, rebuke, judgment, or predictions concerning the future.

Depending on the criteria used, commentators posit that Scripture specifically names between 48 and 88 prophets of God. These prophets and others are grouped in identifiable settings, such as the 70 elders of Israel (Numbers 11:24–25), the 100 rescued by Obadiah (1 Kings 18:4), and the prophets at Ramah (1 Samuel 19:20).

Some of the named ones are well known to us: Moses, “whom the Lᴏʀᴅ knew face to face” (Deuteronomy 34:10); Elijah and Elisha, who performed many great miracles; Isaiah, who prophesied the redemptive work of Messiah; Jeremiah, the “weeping prophet”; Ezekiel, who documented the promised return of the Jews to the land of Israel; Daniel, to whom God revealed a succession of kingdoms that were yet to come on the earth; and King David, “a man after [God’s] own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14), to name a few.

When the anointed One came, He would be more than just another prophet. He would be the Prophet, the Priest, and the King.

All these prophets contributed to the great story of God’s redemption of mankind through the promised Savior, Israel’s Messiah, Jesus. Collectively, their prophecies revealed that when the anointed One came, He would be more than just another prophet. He would be the Prophet, the Priest, and the King.

The Subject and Fulfillment of Prophecy

Following the Exodus from Egypt and with his own ministry coming to an end, Moses prophesied of Jesus, “The Lᴏʀᴅ your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your midst, from your brethren. Him you shall hear” (Deuteronomy 18:15). Then, God said, “I … will put My words in His mouth, and He shall speak to them all that I command Him. And it shall be that whoever will not hear My words, which He speaks in my name, I will require it of him” (vv. 18–19). For more than 1,400 years after, the Old Testament prophets spoke of His coming while the faithful of each generation anticipated His advent.

When Jesus was born, several prophecies converged in an irrefutable demonstration that He was the One they had been awaiting. He was born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14), in the town of Bethlehem (Micah 5:2), at the specific time revealed to Daniel (Daniel 9:25). King Herod tried to kill the Child by putting to death all baby boys up to two years of age, causing great agony among mothers in Bethlehem near Ramah (Matthew 2:18; cf. Jeremiah 31:15). And when He was about to commence His ministry, John the Baptist prepared the way for Him as foretold (Isaiah 40:3; Malachi 3:1).

Jesus was the Prophet foretold by Moses and raised up by God.

From the time He was born, Jesus uniquely fulfilled many specific prophecies. And that was just the start! His teaching, compassion, wisdom, love, example, and life fulfilled so much more that had been prophesied and demonstrated the very heart of God towards mankind. No wonder Peter’s experience of Christ led him to write, “We have the prophetic word confirmed” (2 Peter 1:19); and to John it was revealed that “the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy” (Revelation 19:10). Jesus was both the subject and fulfillment of biblical prophecy.

Jesus was the Prophet foretold by Moses and raised up by God, and He repeatedly reminded His listeners that His message came directly from the Father, saying, “My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me” (John 7:16; cf. 8:28; 17:8). To His disciples, He revealed many things including His impending death and resurrection (Matthew 16:21), Judas’ betrayal (26:21–25), Peter’s denial (v. 34), and even what the owner of a donkey He needed on Palm Sunday would say to them (21:2–3). In His public ministry, the crowds widely recognized Him as a prophet (16:14; 21:11; John 7:40); specifically, the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4:19) and the blind man healed near the pool of Siloam (9:17) recognized His role.

The Prophet Unlike Any Other

Jesus was indeed a prophet, but He differed from all who had come before Him in significant ways:

• He is the perfect Prophet. The article “Jesus the Prophet” sums up this point well: “Jesus replaces the prophets not because He is entirely different from the prophets; He replaces them because He is the Prophet par excellence, the fulfillment of all that the prophets anticipated.”

While many other prophets performed miracles in God’s name, Jesus’ authority was superior to them all.

• He challenged the traditions and interpretations of the religious leaders of the day, repeatedly using two contrasting declarations: “You have heard that it was said. … But I say to you” (Matthew 5). He uniquely cut through formal pronouncements to reveal their underlying truths.

• He spoke as One with authority: over people (Mark 1:17–20), as a teacher (vv. 21–22), over evil spirits (vv. 23–27), over sickness (vv. 40–42), and to forgive sins (2:3–12). While many other prophets performed miracles in God’s name, Jesus’ authority was superior to them all.

• Unlike other prophets, He does not point to another when declaring the way of salvation. It rests upon Him alone (John 14:6)

• His disciples recognized Jesus was the incarnate Word of God: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And the word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:1, 14). This could be said of no other prophet.

God’s revelation of Himself and His story of redemption involved many prophets and faithful servants over centuries. Some performed mighty miracles, some revealed amazing things still yet to come to pass, some suffered greatly and were despised and hunted by their enemies. But, Jesus, the perfect Prophet, is both the fulfillment of all that has been revealed and God’s last great Prophet.

The writer to the Hebrews phrased it well: “God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son” (Hebrews 1:1–2). We thank God for His indescribable gift: Jesus, our Savior, the perfect Prophet.

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Is There a Purpose for the Law Today?

In his letter to the Ephesian believers, Paul argued that salvation comes through faith in Christ alone, apart from any legalistic requirements (Eph. 2:8-9).

Years earlier Paul had shared this same doctrine in his letter to the churches in Galatia. Many Galatian believers had trusted Christ for their salvation but had fallen prey to the Judaizers. Judaizers were legalists who added Law-keeping as a prerequisite for salvation in Christ. Such beliefs could not be tolerated, for to add the works of the law was to teach error and corrupt the gospel of salvation in Christ alone.

In Galatians 3:19–22, Paul addresses the Law and its significance in regards to salvation.

Why Was the Law Added?

Paul asked the logical rhetorical question, “What purpose then does the law serve?” (Gal. 3:19). That is, why was the Law added?

First, “It was added because of transgressions” (v. 19). The word added has the idea of being placed alongside the covenant of promise, meaning that the Law was supplementary and subordinate to it and in no way added conditions for salvation. The Law’s purpose was to reveal sin as a transgression. Instead of providing righteousness for sinners, the Law magnified sin’s guilt and made people aware that they could not be saved by keeping the Law. Thus, the Law could not in any way change the permanent provisions of the covenant.

Second, the Law was to be temporary: “It was added…till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made” (v. 19). After Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection, the Law was abrogated, but the covenant of promise remained.

Third, God made the covenant of promise with Abraham directly, but the Mosaic Law “was appointed through angels by the hand of a mediator” (v. 19). The Law came through a third party—God gave it to angels, who gave it to Moses, who in turn gave it to Israel. Thus, numerous parties mediated the Law, whereas the covenant of promise had no mediator because “God is one” (Gal. 3:20). He confirmed it by Himself (Gen. 15:12–17). Therefore, the covenant of promise is superior to the Mosaic Law.

Does the Law Conflict With God’s Promises?

This brought up another question in the minds of the Judaizers—a question that Paul had already anticipated: “Is the law then against [contrary to or in conflict with] the promises of God?” (Gal. 3:21). Paul’s answer was swift and succinct: “Certainly not!” (v. 21). Law and promise are not in conflict; they have distinct functions and purposes.

The Law was never designed to provide salvation for mankind. Paul said, “For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law” (v. 21). In other words, if there were a law that gave eternal life to a person that kept it, then the covenant of promise would no longer be in effect. Thus, God’s grace would have played no role in salvation, and Christ’s death would have been meaningless because it would have no power to save anyone. Yet this was not the case, because life came by the covenant of promise through Christ rather than through the Law.

The Law had a greater purpose than to condemn people; it locked them up to “faith in Jesus Christ” as the only means by which the promise of salvation might be granted to them.

In fact, the opposite is true. Rather than giving life to mankind, the Law “confined [shut up] all under sin” (Gal. 3:22). The Law imprisoned everyone under its curse and condemnation (Rom. 3:9, 19–20, 23; 7:9–14). However, the Law had a greater purpose than to condemn people; it locked them up to “faith in Jesus Christ” (v. 22) as the only means by which the promise of salvation might be granted to them (Rom. 7:24–25).

Paul clearly indicated that law and grace are not in conflict with each other; they simply have different functions. The Law is a revelation of the sinner’s legal standing and as such condemns him. It cannot therefore justify him, as the Judaizers claim.

How Can We Learn From the Law?

The Law provided a powerful case for self-examination. It functioned as a mirror to show people that they were unholy, guilty sinners who could not be saved by keeping the Law. It functioned as a disciplinarian to reveal the holiness of God and restrict Israel for its own good until Christ (the Son of promise) came to free those who would become children of God the Father (heirs of the promise) through faith in Christ alone.

The Law has served its purpose in pointing people to Christ, and it is through Him alone that we can receive salvation!

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Peace Buried Deep In The Heart of My Soul

Peace. The hippies sang about it. Congress tries to legislate it. And the United Nations wants to mediate it. And yet, in 2016, we look at our world and, if we are honest with ourselves, we see that our generation is no closer to achieving peace than any of the previous generations were. Civil war rages in Syria. ISIS wreaks havoc on all who stand in their way throughout the Middle East. Race riots and school shootings have erupted in the United States.

Peace remains an elusive desire for mankind—technology may advance, law books may grow thicker, but true peace between nations and neighbors has yet to be seen.

The peace that the Lord Jesus offers those who trust in Him is a penetrating peace. Unlike the peace the world tries to establish, the peace of God is planted within the heart of the individual. It is a peace that passes all understanding (Philippians 4:7), the kind of peace that can look a pink slip or a grim diagnosis in the eye, not absent of questions or concerns, but a settled confidence in the One who knows the number of hairs on our heads and who takes notice even when a sparrow falls to the ground.

“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” –John 14:27

As a little boy, when my heart was troubled by things like bad dreams and scary dogs, my first reaction was to run to my dad. I didn’t know how or why he could make everything okay again, but I knew that he could and he would.

Our heavenly Father is the same. Jesus tells us not to be troubled or afraid because His peace is with us. Notice there are no qualifiers to Jesus’ statement about not being afraid. He doesn’t say, “…unless the stock market crashes,” “…unless you hear the word ‘cancer,’” “…unless you can’t see a way out of your dire circumstances.”

Jesus’ words are those of the all-knowing God, the One who knows the beginning from the end. Before we were even born, God knew the trials we would go through. He knew how wicked our culture would be. And yet He gave the charge—“Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

In the world we are living in today, it is easy to be anxious about our circumstances, about the future of this world. But as followers of the risen Messiah, the peace of God is a “new birthright,” something we have access to through Jesus. It is our privilege and responsibility, not only to receive that peace, but to tell the tempest-tossed world how they might have it too.

What a treasure I have in this wonderful peace,
Buried deep in the heart of my soul;
So secure that no power can mine it away,
While the years of eternity roll.
–W.D. Cornell
(Public Domain)

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Mike's Story (Lam. 3:22-23)

It was a day like any other to begin with. Our daughter Alison drove our youngest grandson Micah to school. Caleb, our oldest grandson went to work. We (John & Dorothy) were into the first week of vacation. One evening during the last week of October, we received a phone call from Mike & Alison (our daughter & son-in-law) and they asked if we were sitting down.

It was the phone call no one wants to hear. Mike told us that he had gone for blood work that morning, due to some shortness of breath, and severe leg pains that he had been experiencing. By 5 pm that same day he was called into his doctor’s office, and informed he had acute myeloid leukemia. He was told that he should enter hospital immediately, and begin an aggressive regime of 24/7 chemo. Up until that time, he and Alison had been very health conscious, with daily workouts, and healthy eating. We jokingly used to tease Mike saying we thought he was enrolled in the ABC program – Alison’s Boot Camp!

Mike completed the aggressive chemo, but unfortunately the side effects were devastating, and he remarked afterwards that he felt like “he had walked through the valley of the shadow of death.” However, God was faithful and brought him through. He is currently on maintenance chemo awaiting a stem cell transplant. Two blessings have emerged even in the midst of this fiery trial. Only 20% of people with this cancer go into remission after the initial chemo and he was one of those 20%. Secondly his brother was tested to see if he could possibly be a donor for the stem cell transplant. Mike was told that again a sibling match is only 20%. A couple of nights ago, Mike and Alison had a visit from several of the oncologists and the chemo charge nurse. They were worried as they felt the team was bringing them bad news. However, the news had just come in regarding the donor (Mike’s brother Jeff) and it was a 100% match!! There were tears of happiness and much joy, with the doctors and nurse also crying.

As the song “God on the Mountain states, “Life is easy when you’re up on the mountain, but then things change when you are down in the valley and that’s when faith is really put to the test.” Mike told me, “John, we have to be faithful to God in the bad times as well as the good times.” So many believers from all over the world have communicated with us, that they have been in prayer for this situation, and as a family, we have surely experienced the power of that prayer.

On a daily basis, we have exchanged Scripture verses and hymns with one another. During the long days at the hospital Alison and Mike read these verses to one another and play the hymns and songs and have found great encouragement from them. God has brought Mike along on this journey, and even though he has the final leg of the journey to complete, his faith has never wavered, and has remained strong. He posted this on Facebook today: “Once again we are humbled at God’s goodness and care, we are overwhelmed with an overflowing heart.”

“The faithful love of the LORD never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning” (Lamentations 3:22-23).

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All Things New (Rev. 21:5)

Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new” (Rev. 21:5).

New Year’s symbolizes a chance to start anew. It’s a time when many people make resolutions to start a new diet or workout schedule, to spend more time with family and friends, to read through the entire Bible, etc. This New Year’s, I resolve to start a two-year Bible-reading plan and spend plenty of quality time with my husband. That’s right. Husband.

This New Year’s will mark a brand new beginning for me. On January 9 I will marry the love of my life. Words can’t describe my excitement for this new chapter in my life. I am thankful to the Lord because, as the psalmist said, “He has heard my voice and my supplications . . . [and] has inclined His ear to me” (Ps. 116:1–2).

Before my fiancé Rich walked into my life, I began to grow weary waiting on the Lord. I remember driving in my car, listening to “Even So Come” by Kristian Stanfill on the radio, identifying with every word, the gist of which was that we should be waiting for Christ’s return as a bride waits for her bridegroom.

I knew what longing for a bridegroom felt like. Then it hit me: That’s how I should also long for the return of Christ for His bride, the church. And that’s how I should long for the day when He will make “all things new.” I understood the anticipation for our Lord’s coming that the songwriter was trying to convey. Christians should long to be united with Christ when He returns to rapture His church, and we should long for the day when He will create anew this sin-cursed world:

Now I [the apostle John] saw a new heaven and new earth. . . . [and] the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying, . . . for the former things have passed away. Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new” (Rev. 21:1–2, 4–5).

I look forward to my wedding day. But I know a far greater day than that will come—when New Jerusalem comes down from heaven, and all believers in Messiah Jesus, both Jew and Gentile, will dwell together forever in the new heaven and new earth. I yearn for that day when Jesus will “make all things new.” He will put an end to evil, wipe away our tears, and establish justice and peace once and for all.

So this holiday, as we celebrate a new year and a new beginning, let’s look forward to that future day, which will overshadow all New Year’s celebrations—when our Bridegroom makes everything new.

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The Incarnation: Grace Upon Grace (John 1:16)

I think that too often when we look at the Law in the Old Testament we, as Christians today, consider it a burden. The Law is something we don’t understand completely and feels too heavy or onerous. Yet, the Law was never designed to be burdensome or a stumbling block for the believer in the Old Testament. Instead, the Law was supposed to be a light and a guide in a very dark world. While many may look at the Law with disdain, God’s provision of the Law was an amazing moment in human history, it was a true moment of His grace. Have you ever heard that before, that the Law was grace?

Prior to God’s giving of the Law, God had not communed with His creation in such an intimate way since the days of Adam and Eve. After Adam and Eve’s disobedience toward God, God banished them from His presence because of their sin, but He wasn’t through with them. When God wrote the Law and presented it to Moses, it was first time since the fall He spoke to His people in such a clear and concise way. The Law was a letter from God to His people Israel that describes who God is and what He desires from His people, and how His people should treat one another.

The moment God spoke to His people through the Law, this act of speaking or revelation is nothing but His grace! Why? Because God spoke and told us about Himself! I believe whenever God speaks in the Bible it’s an act of His grace that He so generously shares with us.

The apostle John picks up on this idea of God’s grace and applies it to the birth of Christ in John 1:14–16, saying, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth…. And of His fullness we have all received, and grace [upon] grace” (ESV).

I believe John is trying to convey the fullness of the meaning and purpose for the coming of Jesus, the Son of God, when He came to Earth. When God spoke to His people Israel through the Law, it was grace, even though it was engraved on tablets, it was grace because He revealed Himself to them. But, when Jesus came the very God that engraved the Law on the tablets came to physically walk among His creation in a very intimate way, it’s grace upon grace. A letter from God is enough to understand Him, but to walk with God is to know and experience Him! It’s grace upon grace.

This Christmas season stop and remember, the manger scene is more than just a “baby Jesus,” it’s God with us, grace upon grace!

Merry Christmas!