Jesus the Prophet. We don’t often think of Jesus as a prophet. Now this idea that Jesus was a prophet, is not something we think about that very much. I mean, Jesus being a priest and king – we’ve got that pretty well down. But Jesus being a prophet? That doesn’t seem to be a popular topic.But Jesus was a prophet because God had promised to Moses ““I will raise up for them a prophet like you…” (Deuteronomy 18:18-19). Jesus was the prophet that God had promised. A prophet LIKE Moses. But there was a significant difference between the two men. While Jesus was like Moses, He was also GREATER than Moses.Hebrews 3:3 says, ““Jesus has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses.” All through the book of Hebrews we are repeatedly told that Jesus is better than anything else. Jesus offered a better hope (7:19); A better covenant (7:22; 8:6); and a better sacrifice (9:22).Now that is quite a statement for the Jews to accept. They thought Moses was a far better prophet and leader than anyone else. He delivered to them the Law from God—which they referred to as “The Law of Moses.” However the writer of Hebrews called the people to look to Jesus, not Moses because, while Moses was great, Jesus was far greater.By definition a prophet was someone who declared God’s will to His people. And in Deuteronomy 18:15 God tells Moses, “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.” God repeated this on the Mount of Transfiguration, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him” (Matthew 17:5).Prophets had a message from God. But what message, as a Prophet, did Jesus come to give us? Most prophets preached repentance, that they must turn away from their sin. Prophets preached God’s judgment. Jesus preached these things.But what prophet ever said, “Come unto ME, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For MY yoke is easy, and MY burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30).No prophet before Jesus ever said anything like that. But Jesus could, because there was something about Jesus ...
