The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him shall you hearken.  According to all that you desired of the Lord thy God in Horeb (Mt Sinai where the Ten Commandments were spoken audibly by God) in the day of the assembly, saying, let us not hear again the voice of the Lord our God, neither let us see this great fire any more, that we die not.  And the Lord said unto me, they have well-spoken that which they have spoken.  I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.  And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him. Deuteronomy 18:15-19

Jesus Christ is the Prophet Moses was foretelling would come to the children of Israel at a future time.  They were to be looking for this Prophet as they understood clearly that Moses words were inspired by God.  When Jesus walked among them, many indeed wondered if he was that Prophet, (John 1:21 & 7:40).  A man speaking God’s words was predicted to come because the people were frightened at the prospect of God continuing to audibly speak to them as he did when he thundered the Ten Commandments from Mount Sinai, (Exodus 20).  Thus, God graciously offered up himself in a form that would not terrify his children.  God became a man and dwelt among them, (John 1:14). 

And Moses said that the Prophet would be like him.  How does that look?  Are there similarities between Moses and Jesus that will reveal our Lord as the Prophet Moses spoke of?  The answer of course is that there are many. 

Both Moses & Jesus had earthly kings determined to kill them shortly after their births.  In Moses’ case, God comically delivered him by having Pharaoh’s own daughter find him in the very river in which he was destined to be drowned.  As for Jesus, Herod became enraged after he learned from the Magi and the Jewish scribes that the prophesied King had been born in Bethlehem.  In his fear of losing the crown he had all of the baby boys of the region executed in a pathetic attempt to thwart God plans.  But his cruelty was too late as God had earlier warned Joseph to take Jesus & his mother and flee to Egypt until after Herod had died.  

Both Moses & Jesus were (will be) presented to the Jews twice.  In both of their first comings, they were rejected and left from the presence of the Jews.  Moses escaped to Midian & of course Jesus ascended to Heaven.  Jesus told the Jews as he was being rejected by them, “You shall not see me henceforth, until you say, blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord,” (Matthew 23:39).  Upon their second arrivals the Jews have revered Moses & will revere our Lord.  Moses led the children out of Egypt, Jesus will rescue the children out of the clutches of Satan & the Antichrist. 

The Bible reports that both were very meek, (Numbers 12:3, Matthew 11:29).  Both were envied, (Numbers 12:1-2, Matthew 27:18).  Moses’ face glowed when he returned from the Mount.  Jesus, upon the mount, was transfigured, shinning as the Sun!  Moses rose in glory to the second in all of Egypt; Jesus as the second person of the Trinity also is bestowed with glory & honor.  Moses ushered in the First Covenant, that of the Law; Jesus opened the way for the New Covenant, the covenant of grace.  Moses was a shepherd for his father-in-law Jethro.  Jesus is the Good Shepherd for his Father, God Almighty.  On numerous occasions, Moses interceded for the people.  We understand that Jesus is at the right hand of God interceding for us, (Hebrews 7:25).  Moses parted the Red Sea; Jesus calmed the Galilean Sea. Moses smote the rock & out gushed water; Jesus was the Rock that was smitten and out gushed forth torrents of living water!  Moses lifted up the Brazen Serpent in the wilderness and the people lived; Jesus told Nicodemus that he too would be lifted up as that serpent was, and the people would live.  Moses fed the people manna from Heaven; Jesus, the true bread from Heaven, multiplied bread to his followers and ultimately gave his body as bread for our souls.  This incomplete list of the similitudes between Moses & Jesus continues to be missed by the Jews.  On a day not too far away, the veil will be lifted though, and they will see and understand that Jesus is the Prophet of which Moses spoke, (Romans 11:26).

The Bible speaks often of the office a of prophet, which is a called a gift.  It is empowered by God’s Spirit.  Prophecy is either forthtelling or foretelling the Word of God.  A prophet most often will speak God’s word to the people, that is, forthtell it.  But when we think of a Prophet with a capital “P,” we are thinking about the ability to accurately predict future occurrences by the Spirit of God.  In the Old Testament, this was the way a true prophet could be discerned from one who was false.

And if you say in your heart, how shall we know the word which the Lord hath spoken?  When a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord has not spoken, but the prophet has spoken it presumptuously:  You shall not be afraid of him. Deuteronomy 18:21-22

The penalty for being a false prophet was severe…death!

But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die. Deuteronomy 18:20

Thus, we understand that the Revealer of Secrets uses prophecy to unveil to mankind that he is the one true God.  All other gods (devils) cannot foretell the future, they can only guess at it, leaving themselves with a track record that is far from 100%.  In fact, God sort of brags about his prophetic ability to predict the future in Isaiah’s inspired words.  

Produce your cause, saith the Lord; bring forth your strong reasons, saith the King of Jacob.  Let them bring them forth, and show us what shall happen:  Let them show the former things, what they be, that we may consider them; or declare us things for to come.  Show the things that are to come hereafter, that we may know that ye are gods:  Yea, do good, or do evil, that we may be dismayed, and behold it together.  Behold, ye are of nothing, and your work of naught:  An abomination is he that chooses you. Isaiah 41:21-24

Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare:  Before they spring forth, I tell you of them. Isaiah 42:9

Thus saith the Lord, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker, ask me of things to come concerning my sons, and concerning the work of my hands command ye me.  … For thus saith the Lord that created the heavens…I have not spoken in secret. Isaiah 45:11, 18a, 19a

It’s as if God is daring us to prove him in this arena of prophecy!

Remember the former things of old:  For I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me.  Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, my counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure. Isaiah 46:9-10

I have even from the beginning declared it to thee, before it came to pass, I showed it thee:  Lest thou shouldest say, Mine idol hath done them, and my graven image, and my molten image, hath commanded them.  …For mine own sake, even for mine own sake, will I do it:  For how should my name be polluted?  And I will not give my glory unto another. Isaiah 48:5, 11

There it is!  God taunts other gods to foretell the future.  He says that the fact that they cannot reveals to all that those gods are nothing!  The Almighty declares that he will reveal things before they come to pass.  The Holy One of Israel actually tells us to ask him of things to come.  He states that he has not spoken in secret and that he has declared the end from the beginning!

Why?

So that mankind would know that it’s him, and not another.  Not an idol or the work of men’s hands.  And also, to know that it is him and not mere coincidence or randomness!  For he alone is to receive all glory and honor, blessing and power.  Today, and in eternity to come!

Now, in this book we have been discussing at length Jesus’ operation of the office of a prophet.  That is, he constantly is speaking forth (forthtelling) the word of God.  In fact, we understand that he is the Word of God, (John 1:14 & Revelation 19:13).  But, here in this chapter we want to consider Jesus the Prophet. Jesus, the One who foretells the future.

Early in the Savior’s ministry, revival was breaking out wherever he traveled.  People were being healed, devils were being cast out and joy was filling the people’s hearts.  Of course, whenever a move of God occurs there will be pushback from the powers of the darkness of this world.  In this case, the god of this world mobilized the religious leaders to come against Jesus.  While celebrating the Passover in Jerusalem, they commanded that he tell them by what authority he was doing these works and teaching these precepts.  “If you have authority from God, show us a sign.”  To that he gave a stirring personal prophecy which in his humanness must have been quite a painful revelation to him.  He said, “destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up,” (John 2:19).  Standing upon the Temple Mount, Jesus metaphorically revealed that he would be physically destroyed by them and three days later be resurrected back to life.  Apparently, this prophecy sailed over the Pharisees heads as their response questioned the destruction of the actual Temple, not the temple of his body as John explained to his readers.

Later, as pressure was building greater and greater from the religious legalists, they again asked Jesus for a sign validating his claims as to speaking the words of God.  Words that came against the many commandments of men, such as the Sabbath laws, which they were propagating.  Once again, the Lord prophesied exactingly about his death & resurrection, this time by using the sign of Jonah.

An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonah:  For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. Matthew 12:39-40

Not coincidentally, Jonah told the men on the ship sailing for Tarshish that he needed to be thrown overboard, he needed to die, for the men to be saved, (Jonah 1:12).  So too, Jesus was adding that not only would he die and be raised back to life after three days, as was Jonah, but that his death would also save others, as did Jonah’s.  In Jesus’ case, his death would not just save a few, but would save all of mankind, (John 3:16).

Not only did our Lord predict his demise and revival to those opposed to him, but also to his followers.

He said unto them, but whom say ye that I am? (Still the most important question for all men & women, for all time!). Peter answering said, the Christ of God.  And he straightly charged them, and commanded them to tell no man that thing; saying, the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and the chief priests and scribes, and be slain, and be raised the third day. Luke 9:20-21

This must have been particularly painful to Jesus as he well knew they were focused onto prophesies of glory that were destined to be fulfilled at a much later time.  In a day long after their lives were lived.  Thus, he knew they would not get to see the promise of glory they were looking to and believing for…at least not in that day!

Jesus understood that the time he was living in was a day of unbelief by the Jews.  He realized that because of their rejection of him terrible things were in store for the children of Israel.  He hoped to shake them out of their blindness by sharing what the scriptures said of him as well as predicting who they would follow in the future and what would soon happen to them.

Search the scriptures; for in them you think you have eternal life:  And they are they which testify of me. John 5:39

Like John 3:16, this is one of the key verses in all of God Word which unlocks so much else.  In this case, Jesus is revealing to his detractors that the Old Testament is about him.  It’s more than just Jewish history & poetry, more than laws & precepts, as it speaks of our wonderful Savior on nearly every page.  People, pictures, prophecy & poems, picture, typify, proclaim and sing of him.  From Adam to Esther, from the Tree of Life to the Passover sacrifice, from Micah 2 to Isaiah 53, from Psalm 22 to the Song of Solomon, Jesus is illustrated in vivid pictures and types in a way that even little children can comprehend.  All that was and is needed is for the child of God to look for him.  This is the way we today, need to read the Old Testament, that is, considering where & how he is pictured on every page!  This is what “turned on” the early church after their “Road to Emmaus” experience.  They finally realized that the Old Testament is all about Jesus!

And you will not come to me that you might have life.  I receive not honor from men.  But I know you, that you have not the love of God in you.  I am come in my Father’s name, and you receive me not:  If another shall come in his own name, him you shall receive. John 5:40-43

Bible scholars teach that during the time of Jacob’s Trouble (Jerimiah 30:4-7), the Jews will initially follow after the charismatic world leader that John in the Revelation of Jesus Christ calls the Beast.  We also know this figure that the Jews will call “lord,” as the Antichrist.  Jesus predicted to the Jews who were rejecting him that their nation would be duped into following a false messiah.  One who does not seek God’s honor, but his own.

How can you believe, which receive honor one of another, and seek not the honor that comes from God only?  Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father:  There is one that accuses you, even Moses, in whom you trust.  For had you believed Moses, you would have believed me:  For he wrote of me. John 5:44-46

Game, set, match!  “You’re going to seek a false messiah and you didn’t listen to Moses. For I am that Prophet, like him, of which he spoke.”

Later, when the Redeemer made his triumphal entry into Jerusalem on his fateful last week, he prophesied serious repercussions which would happen to Jerusalem & the Jews because they did not recognize the time of God’s visitation unto them. 

And when he had come near the city, and wept over it, saying, if you had known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto your peace!  But now they are hid from your eyes. Luke 19: 41-42

Jesus cried these words of grief over Jerusalem on Palm Sunday.  He was saddened because this day was prophesied to the Jews in their scriptures (Psalm 118:19-26 & Daniel 9:25) and he realized they did not understand it’s meaning.  He saw what they did not, that it was hid from their eyes!

For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep you on every side, and shall lay you with the ground, and your children within you; and they shall not leave in you one stone upon another; because you knew not the time of your visitation. Luke 19:43-44

The One the Bible calls Emmanuel, God with us, was among them, and they knew it not!  Consequently, the repercussion of their unbelief, their denial & their blindness was that Jerusalem would be destroyed.  The City of the Great King would be leveled.  Indeed, that did happen less than forty years later as General Titus and his Roman legions compassed Jerusalem and after a long siege broke through and leveled the city.  Jesus predicted this disaster was the direct consequence of their rejection of his saving grace.

Not only did that Prophet speak of the destruction of Jerusalem but he also exactingly foretold of the demise of the place where God’s glory resided.  He told his followers that the Temple would also come to ruin.

And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple:  And his disciples came to him for to show him the buildings of the temple. Matthew 24:1

In context, this remark comes after Jesus had a very difficult encounter with the Jewish leaders.  It was most uncomfortable to the disciples to be part of, as their Master laid all of the past sins of the Jews squarely upon that very generation.  As they were leaving the Temple Mount his disciples were trying to spin some positivity into the encounter.  “Look how beautiful our religion is Jesus, there must be some good that you see.  Look at these beautiful buildings that glorify God.”  To this, Jesus gave the stirring prophecy of the Temple’s total destruction.

And Jesus said unto them, see you not all these things?  Truly I say unto you, there shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.  Matthew 24:2

Titus had commanded his men to spare the Temple when they broke through the walls and entered the city.  But we know, that was not meant to be for Jesus had prophesied to the contrary.  History records that a lone soldier tossed a torch into the Temple which started a conflagration so hot that the gold overlay of the Temple melted between the huge stones.  To get the gold, the soldiers tossed the Temple.  Literally, no stone was left unturned.  No stone was left upon another.  Just as Jesus had said would occur.

The Prophet spoke one last word against the Jews as they were in the process of killing him.  As he was carrying his cross on the Via Delarosa, the Sorrowful Way, he prophesied very bad news to the daughters of Jerusalem because of the deeds of their fathers on that day.

And there followed him a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented him.  But Jesus turning unto them said, daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children. Luke 23: 27-28

This is so sad to me.  The women of Jerusalem, innocent bystanders if you will, are going to be part of the carnage, part of the curse that was going to come down on the Jews because of the sins of the fathers.  And the children too!  Yes, sin stinks.  Often, we think we can pay the price of rebellion & stubbornness when we decide to willfully miss the mark.  But what I, what we, fail to factor into the equation is the collateral damage to others.  Damage to our families, our kids & even our grandkids!  Generational curses that are put into motion.

For, behold, the days are coming, in which they shall say, blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the breasts that never gave suck. Luke 23:29

This is terrible!  For a woman of Jerusalem two thousand years ago, baring and raising children was her one desire.  Women did not have multiple irons in the fire as they do in our day.  So, for Jesus to say that the future was going to be so bad, because of the deeds of this day, that it would be a curse to bare children and to nurse children, the situation would have to be nothing short of a disaster!

Read on, for that is indeed what happened!

Then they shall begin to say unto the mountains, fall on us; and to the hills, cover us.  For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry? Luke 23:30-31

The King was in their midst and they slew him.  What could they expect to happen after? As we noted, less than one generation later Jerusalem was leveled.  Some of the Jews fled to Masada, where after a three-year siege, they committed mass suicide over being taken by the Romans.  Subsequently, Emperors inspired by the god of the is world were very heavy upon the Jews.  Millions were killed, persecuted and scattered during the rule of the Romans.  Later, the Ottoman Turks, under the religion of Islam, kept their thumb over the few Jews that were left in what was now called Palestine.  Most of the Jews migrated in the first millennium to Russia and Eastern Europe.  There they were also persecuted and killed.  The Jews of Europe in these latter days have been particularly singled out, as our recent history so very well documents.  For nearly two thousand years the Jews have suffered as an ethnic group.  The reason?  It may be hard to hear, but Jesus clearly states it was because they rejected him.  Like we stated earlier, the most important question that all must answer is “who do you say that I am?”  Just like the Jews, if you, if I, reject his gracious offer of forgiveness and salvation, if I step over his dead body, if you will, I am speeding headlong against the immovable object.  Against the irresistible force.  Nothing of lasting good will ever come to the person, people group, political viewpoint or governmental providence that pits itself against Jesus of Nazareth.  This was true for the Jewish nation two thousand years ago and it is true for our nation today.  If America, which calls itself a God-fearing nation, continues to flaunt God’s laws & precepts, we too can expect him to withdraw his blessing from us.  Not because he is mean & vindictive but because he is just.  He has clearly stated that whatsoever a man sows, he can expect to reap.  If we as a nation sow unbelief, strife and falsehoods, what can we expect to come of that?  History shows us very clearly.  Nations and people groups who have rejected God’s message of peace don’t last long.  In the case of the Jews, a miracle has occurred in the face of their unbelief secondary to promises God made to the Patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac & Jacob.  He promised them that he would not allow them to be destroyed completely.  He would chastise them if they sinned, as he has done, but would also revive them in the latter days, as he is doing.  Those with eyes to see will note that this is indeed happening right before us.  For we have witnessed the return of the Jews to Israel and the formation of the Jewish state.

For us in America, what can we do to mitigate the crop we have planted from springing forth to our destruction.  God is so gracious, as his word plainly tells us how to return back to him. 

If my people, which are called by my name (That’s us Christians!), shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then I will hear from heaven, and forgive their sin, and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14

Four things we believers, his people, need to do to save our land.  Humble ourselves, pray for the nation, lean in to him and repent of our sins.  Sins of sowing discord among the brethren, sins of neglect of the poor & needy, sins of pride & partisanship.

The Welsh revival of 1904 was centered upon this verse.  Evangelist Evan Roberts taught four responses to this verse.  Responses you & I should also make.  Confess sin & make restitution.  Forsake sin.  Respond to the Spirit promptly. Profess Jesus Christ publicly.

His word also tells us how to stay in the place of grace where his blessings pour forth.

But you, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking forward for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. Jude 20-21

The key verse in this entire little book is to keep ourselves in the love of God.  That is, to stay in the place where God’s blessings are not hindered to flow down upon us.  As we have discussed, sin & unbelief are the inhibitors.  The medicine is threefold.  Build ourselves up in our faith, that is, stay in God’s Word.  Pray in the Spirit, meaning let the Spirit lead my prayers.  And look for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, that is, look for his return, live for heaven.

Ok, so the Jews of Jesus day were living in the greatest generation in the history of the world and they didn’t get it.  They missed the First Coming of the Messiah.  They had many signs which they didn’t see, didn’t comprehend, didn’t look for.  Don’t let that happen to us dear reader.  We too have signs of the soon coming of the Lord.  Of his Second Coming.  We will talk about many of these cyphers in our next chapter, entitled “The Last Days.”  I don’t want to be surprised, I don’t want you taken aback on that day, not too far away, when we hear the Shout, the Voice & the Trump of God calling us to meet our Lord in the air, (1 Thessalonians 4:16).  I want us to be ready! 

Summary:

1. Moses prophesied that one like him would arrive.  The people were instructed to look for and to listen to him.

2. A prophet is one who forthtells and / or foretells the Word of God.

3. Jesus used the Old Testament pictures of the Temple and of Jonah to reveal that he would die and be resurrected three days later.

4. Jesus taught that the Old Testament speaks of him in people, pictures, prophecies & poems.

5. Jesus prophesied that Jerusalem and the Temple would be razed because of the Jews collective unbelief in and rejection of him.

6. Jesus also taught there would be a generational curse upon the Jews because of their unbelief in him.

For Further Study:

1. The scribes knew the King would be born in Bethlehem from Micah’s prophecy.  But how did the Magi know that a great King in Israel had been born?

2. Considering the biblical definition of a prophet.  Do you know any personally?

3. Fulfilled prophecy is one way we know that the Bible is inspired.  Can you think of other proofs?

4. How is Jesus like Moses?  Can you think of other Old Testament characters who picture Christ?

5. Do you find prophecy interesting or perplexing?

6. How can you tell if a prophecy is from God or another source?

7. The Almighty declares that he will reveal things before they come to pass.  Can you think of any prophecies which he has declared which have yet to come to pass?

8. What is the most important question of all time?

9. Have you ever had a sin lead to collateral damage you were not counting upon?

10. Do you think recent events in our World are the result of our collective moving away from God or just a coincidence?

11. What does the Bible say we can & should do to mitigate any judgement upon our Land secondary to our collective rebellion & unbelief?