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Jesus - A Greater Prophet than Moses

Beacon Baptist / Gregory N. Barkman
The Truth Network Radio
December 29, 2024 7:00 am

Jesus - A Greater Prophet than Moses

Beacon Baptist / Gregory N. Barkman

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December 29, 2024 7:00 am

Jesus Christ is the prophet of whom Moses spoke in Deuteronomy 18. Pastor Mike Karns expounds this Old Testament incarnation text.

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A trust is I read from Deuteronomy chapter 18 that you saw the clear allusions to the Lord Jesus Christ. Moses is the author of the Pentateuch and he is the author of this book of Deuteronomy and it is Moses who is speaking. And he says there in verse 15, The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your midst, from your brethren. Him you shall hear. And then those words are very similarly repeated there in verse 18. I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brethren.

And then these additional words and we'll put my words in his mouth and he shall speak to them all that I command him. We don't give, I think, a lot of attention to this third office that the Lord Jesus Christ fulfills. There were three offices there in the Old Testament you're aware of the prophet, the priest and the king.

And there was sometimes some overlap, but most of the time there wasn't. So a prophet wasn't a priest and a king. A prophet wasn't a king. A king wasn't a priest and a prophet. You understand where sometimes it was a little bit of overlap, but only in the Lord Jesus Christ are those three offices fulfilled. Those offices in the Old Testament, they are types.

And again, they're pointing forward. They're shadows of something greater, and that greater is the Lord Jesus Christ, who fulfills all three of those offices in his own person. But as I said, we don't, we often, we talk during the incarnation of Christ being the priest, because what did he do in his priestly office? He came and not only offered a sacrifice, but he offered himself as the sacrifice. And what did the angels proclaim?

They proclaimed a king had come in the Lord Jesus Christ coming to this earth. But we don't often speak of Christ as a prophet, and I've thought about why that might be. And there's probably a number of reasons, but I think one is because those who are liberal and not believers will say, Well, Jesus was just a prophet. And we're quick to say, Well, no, he isn't a prophet like Muhammad. He's not a prophet like, you know, some other man-made prophet. And I think we give too much away when we say that, because Jesus Christ is a prophet. He was God's appointed prophet.

And for us to discount that because we're reacting against the world, and those who are skeptical and none are liberal, we are really denying the truth because Jesus came and fulfilled the prophetic office. I want you to see that what God is saying to Moses for the people, Moses is God's spokesman. He's speaking on behalf of God to the people. And Moses had received this message and he is speaking.

The Lord, your God, will raise up for you a prophet, not prophets, but a prophet. And we don't have the name here of who he's referring to. Is he talking about Elijah? Is he talking about Malachi? Is he talking about Jeremiah? Is he talking about Isaiah? Is he talking about John the Baptist? I mean, who's he talking about?

And if all we had was these words in Deuteronomy chapter 18, we would be maybe a little puzzled. Who was he making reference to? But when we consult the New Testament and we see New Testament writers, Acts chapter 3, Gospel of John, Gospel of Mark, we see them quoting this passage. We know, oh, he's talking about the Lord Jesus Christ.

That's who he's referring to. So this morning, I'd like for us to think about our Savior. Let me give you one verse because sometimes people say, well, where does the Bible say that Jesus is the fulfillment of these Old Testament offices? Here's just one verse.

I could give you dozens of verses, but here's one verse. It's concise and it speaks of how he is the fulfillment of all three of those offices. And it's Revelation chapter 1 and verse 5. He's called the faithful witness. That's his prophetic office.

He's called the firstborn of the dead. That's his priestly office. And he is the ruler of the kings on the earth.

That's his kingly office. So Revelation 1.5 very neatly speaks of Jesus Christ as the fulfillment of all three of those Old Testament offices. So here's my outline for this morning. I want you to see, number one, the promise of a prophet. Number two, the nature of this prophet. Number three, the accountability to this prophet. And number four, the validation of this prophet.

So let's walk through this together. I had, reading through my Bible months ago, came across this. And as I read through it and I got thinking about this and thought, that's about the Lord Jesus Christ. I've never heard anybody ever go to Deuteronomy 18 and speak and preach. I've never heard a message on this. And I thought, well, Lord willing, I'm going to preach on that at Christmas time.

Well, here it is. We're post-Christmas, but that's why you're hearing this message today. Again, Moses is speaking. The identity of this person is not given, but the New Testament on many occasions quotes and draws from these words and apply them to the Lord Jesus Christ. Philip, no doubt, has this Deuteronomy passage in mind when he said to Nathanael in John chapter 1 in verse 45, quote, we have found him of whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote. Stephen, in Acts chapter 7 and verse 37, saw the promise of the prophet like unto Moses fulfilled in Christ when he said, quote, this is that Moses who said to the children of Israel, the Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brethren. Him you shall hear.

That's unmistakable, right? And again, it's another reminder of a good hermeneutical principle that scripture is intended to interpret scripture and the New Testament often sheds light on the Old Testament. We are understanding what this Old Testament text is meant for us, how we're to understand it based on New Testament revelation. The scriptures are progressive and we need to understand and realize that. The Lord Jesus Christ himself applies this promise of Moses to himself. Listen to John.

I welcome you to I don't there's no right wrong way to do this. You notice how Pastor Barkman will photocopy a passage that he wants to read rather than take the time to turn in the scriptures to it. And that's fine. I'd rather have you open your Bible and turn to John chapter 5.

So I think that helps keep you engaged. John chapter 5, listen to what Jesus himself says, beginning at verse 39 of John chapter 5. He says to the religious leaders, you search the scriptures for in them you think you have eternal life and these are they which testify of me.

But you are not willing to come to me that you may have life. I do not receive honor from men, but I know you that you do not have the love of God in you. I have come in my Father's name and you do not receive me. If another comes in his own name, him you will receive. How can you believe who receive honor from another and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God? Do not think that I shall accuse you to the Father.

There is one who accuses you. Moses, in whom you trust, for if you believed Moses, you would believe me for he wrote about me. And we would say, well, where did Moses write about him? Right here in Deuteronomy chapter 18.

So, one more place before we move on. We are in John, just turn over to John chapter 12. John 12, beginning at verse 46. Again, these are the words of Christ.

Jesus said, I have come as a light into the world that whoever believes in me should not abide in darkness. And if anyone hears my words and does not believe, I do not judge him for I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. He who rejects me and does not receive my words has that which judges him. The word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day, for I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me gave me a command what I should say and what I should speak. And I know that he commands, I know that he commands, his command is everlasting life, therefore, whatever I speak, just as the Father has told me, so I speak. Jesus is saying, I didn't come with my own message. I came with a message from God the Father. I'm a prophet. I'm God's spokesman.

And he's more than that. He is the living word, right? So the New Testament makes it crystal clear that Jesus is that prophet whom God raised up that Moses spoke of in Deuteronomy 18, the promise of a prophet. But let's think number two about the nature of this prophet.

So what are we told about the Lord Jesus here in Deuteronomy chapter 18 as we think about the nature of this prophet? Well, first of all, we're told that he will be a prophet like Moses. Notice the words, the Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me, Moses is saying.

From your midst, from your brethren, him you shall hear. And again in verse 18, I will raise up for them a prophet like you. So Jesus will be a prophet like Moses. So we have to ask the question, what does that mean? How is Jesus a prophet like Moses?

Well, there's a number of things we could say. Number one is Moses did not speak on his own authority, but he only spoke those things that he was instructed to say. So Christ, likewise, in John chapter 7 verse 16, this is what he said, quote, my doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.

So said Jesus. The prophet was the mouthpiece of God to the people. And Jesus would do more than bring a message from God. He would bring God to his people and his people to God.

Just as Moses delivered the people of Israel from Egyptian bondage, in order to receive God's word at Sinai, so Jesus has come to deliver his people, not from Egyptian bondage, but from sin, the grave, and death, in order that God's word, his word might be written on our hearts, is that great new covenant blessing. And we're speaking about the nature of this prophet, that Moses prophesied that God would raise up and give to the people. He will be a prophet, number one, like Moses.

He will be a mediator like Moses. Notice verse 16. Again, this prophet will be according to all you desired of the Lord, your God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, let me not hear again the voice of the Lord my God, nor let me see this great fire any more, lest I die. So the people saw the manifestation of God, the fire and the thundering from Mount Horeb, and they said to Moses, this terrifies us. We don't want to hear from God personally. You go and you hear from God, and you come and bring the message to us.

Again, so you know that I'm telling you the truth. Listen to Exodus chapter 20. This is being referred to there in that Deuteronomy 18 passage. Exodus 20 verse 18.

Now all the people witnessed the thunderings, the lightning flashes, the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking, and when the people saw it, they trembled and stood afar off. Then they said to Moses, you speak with us and we will hear, but let not God speak with us, lest we die. And Moses said to the people, do not fear, for God has come to test you, and that his fear may be before you, so that you may not sin. So the people stood afar off, but Moses drew near the thick darkness where God was. So Jesus is a prophet like Moses in that he is one who stands between sinful men and a holy God. Notice what is the commentary that's given concerning their fear and their reluctance to hear from God one-on-one and have Moses be their mediator. Verse 17 says, and the Lord said to me, this again, Moses speaking, and the Lord said to me, what they have spoken is good. What is good? What is good that they have a fear of God?

That is a good thing. So Moses not only spoke as a prophet to the people on God's behalf, he stood as the mediator between them and God. 1 Timothy 2 and verse 5 declares, there is one mediator between God and men, the man, Christ Jesus. And as we're thinking about the nature of this prophet, that is the nature of the Lord Jesus being revealed, he is not only a messenger, he is not only a prophet like Moses and a mediator like Moses, he is a messenger like Moses. Moses conveyed the will of God for the people concerning how they were to obey, how they were to follow, how they were to worship God. And therefore Jesus said, I am the way, I am the truth, I am the life, no man comes to the Father but by me. Jesus revealed the will of God to the people of God with promised blessings for faith and obedience and warnings of judgment for unbelief and disobedience. Some say, well, the people said and thought that Jesus was a prophet, did Jesus ever take that title to himself?

Oh, absolutely he did. And I'll just give you a few references, we won't take the time this morning to look at them, but Matthew 21, 11, Luke 7, 16, John 4, 19, Mark 6, 4. In fact, Jesus said this in Mark chapter 6 in verse 4 where he was rejected in Nazareth, his hometown, and he said this, a prophet is not without honor except in his own country among his own relatives and in his own house.

He was referring to himself. You remember the woman at the well in John chapter 4, the Samaritan woman. She said, sir, I perceive that you are a prophet. Well, when you read on down through there, Jesus didn't say, well, let me correct you, I'm not a prophet.

No, she was right, he was a prophet. So, he is a prophet like Moses in that he was God's messenger. But God's messenger in a very unique way. John 1, 1 says, in the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word was God. Jesus did not simply speak the word of God as a mere human prophet, but is himself the word made flesh. Moses couldn't claim that. We're reminded of the words of the Hebrew penman in Hebrews chapter 1.

In the past, God has spoken to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways. But in these last days, he has spoken to us by his son whom he appointed heir of all things and through whom also he made the universe. So, Jesus is unique.

He stands alone in that regard. He is the incarnate word. He is the word that became flesh. So, we've seen, number one, the promise of a prophet. We've seen, number two, the nature of this prophet and three things about the nature of this prophet. He's a prophet like Moses. He's a mediator like Moses.

He's a messenger like Moses. This brings us to the accountability to this prophet. The accountability to this prophet. Notice again, verse 15, the Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your midst, from your brethren. Him you shall hear. Here's the accountability.

Him you shall hear. The accountability to this prophet. This is powerfully, powerfully illustrated in the synoptic gospels. All three gospel accounts in the synoptics record this event.

And what event am I talking about? I'm talking about the amount of transfiguration. Matthew chapter 17, Mark chapter 9, Luke chapter 9.

And because it is a dramatic demonstration of this very point. Turn to Matthew chapter 17. Matthew 17. It says there at the beginning of verse 1, Now after six days, Jesus took Peter, James, and John, his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves, and he was transfigured before them.

His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them talking with him. Why these two Old Testament figures? Why not Joseph?

Why not David? Why Moses and Elijah? Because Moses and Elijah represent the law and the prophets. So here is Jesus being transfigured on the Mount of Transfiguration in the presence of Peter, James, and John, and Moses and Elijah appear. And it says appeared to them talking with him. So Moses and Elijah are having a conversation with Jesus. Matthew tells us that. Mark tells us that. Luke tells us that. But Luke is the only one who tells us what this conversation was about. Luke says they had a conversation about Jesus's exodus, a veiled reference to his death.

Well, why that? Among all the things they could be talking about, why was Moses and Elijah interested in talking about the death of the Lord Jesus Christ? Well, because they were in need of the redemptive work that would be accomplished on Calvary as much as you and I would be. They had an interest in it.

That's why they were talking about that. But let's go on. Verse 4, then Peter answered and said to Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, let us make here three tabernacles, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah. While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud saying, this is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased. Hear him. Do you hear the echoes of Deuteronomy 18?

Hear him. And not only the words get this dramatic illustration. And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were greatly afraid. But Jesus came and touched them and said, arise and do not be afraid. And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.

What is being communicated with this? Moses and Elijah had their place in God's redemptive economy, but they have no purpose anymore now that Jesus is on the scene. Jesus is the fulfillment of the Old Testament law. He is the one the prophets pointed to and Jesus is on the scene and you have no more need of Moses and Elijah. Hear Jesus and hear him and him only is what is being demonstrated here.

It's powerful. We're talking about the accountability to this prophet. Where else do I want to take you?

Well, I've got a couple places I want to take you. The charge here, again back to Deuteronomy 18, the Lord, again, this is Moses speaking and he says to the people, the Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your midst, from your brethren, him you shall hear. Him you shall hear. The charge is to hear and believe. The charge is to hear and obey. And Jesus said in John chapter 3 and verse 36, He that believeth not the Son. He that believeth not the Son, the wrath of God abideth on him. This is not take it or leave it with no consequences.

This is accountability to the tenth level, to the hundredth level. Your very life depends upon it. Your very eternal destiny depends upon it. You cannot brush this off. You cannot blow this off.

You cannot say, hey, not interested. Well, you may not be interested, but there are serious consequences for unbelief and disobedience. These are not empty threats. Turn to 2 Thessalonians chapter 1. 2 Thessalonians chapter 1. I want to break in at middle of verse 7.

It says there, 2 Thessalonians chapter 1 verse 7, When the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, taking vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, these shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power. Wow. There are serious consequences. These are not idle threats. Some people think, well, he's just like my dad.

Talk, talk, talk, talk, talk, but he never followed through with anything. Hey, the God of the Bible is not like your father. These are not idle threats. You disbelieve. You disobey the gospel. There is eternal destruction awaiting you.

These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power. What happened there? Paul's writing to the church at Thessalonica. I think he's writing to the church at Thessalonica before A.D. 70. And what happened at A.D. 70? The city of Jerusalem was ransacked and pillaged and laid to the ground. And the temple was destroyed.

Why? It was God's judgment on the nation for rejecting the Messiah. That's what happened. You think God is just bluffing? You think these are empty threats?

No, not on your life. I'm careful about the gory details because of the audience here this morning, but you go back and read about the historians. You read about Josephus and what took place at A.D. 70. It's shocking, the judgment that fell on the nation for rejecting the Messiah. Well, one more point here.

What is that? It is the validation of this prophet. And what is the validation of this prophet? Again, back to Deuteronomy 18. Deuteronomy 18.

Again, here's this warning. Here's this accountability to the prophet. Verse 18, I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brethren and 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. Those are words of judgment.

Those are threatenings, warnings. I will require it of him. But here's the validation of the prophet. But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in my name which I have not commanded him to speak or who speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die.

And if you say in your heart, how shall we know the word which the Lord has not spoken? When a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the thing does not happen or come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord has not spoken, the prophet has spoken it presumptuously, you shall not be afraid of him. Moses says there's no reason to fear a false prophet.

Did you notice that? The prophet has spoken it presumptuously, you shall not be afraid of him. No reason to fear a false prophet and you will know that false prophet because when they prophesy certain things and they do not come to pass, that is a false prophet. The implication is you better fear God's true and heaven-sent prophet who is vindicated and validated in that everything he prophesies will come to pass. What did Jesus prophesy about? Well, he spoke of his death and his resurrection to his disciples on numerous occasions with detail. He prophesied of Judas's betrayal and Peter's denial. Did those come to pass? Absolutely.

He predicted the coming of the Holy Spirit and the persecution of his followers. Did that happen? Absolutely. He prophesied of the destruction of the temple.

Did that happen? Absolutely. And he prophesied of his second coming. He performed many healings and miracles to confirm and to validate that he was who he claimed to be. But there is a chief difference between Jesus and Moses.

What is that chief difference? Well, what does the Bible tell us? The law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. The law kills, but the Spirit gives life. Jesus said in John 6 verse 63, the words that I have spoken to you are Spirit and life.

Moses couldn't say that. Jesus could say that the words that I have spoken to you are Spirit and they are life. I'm going to close with this passage from Acts chapter 3 and it's a sobering passage. So turn there with me Acts chapter 3. Peter is preaching. He's preaching in Solomon's portico.

Let's begin at verse 11. Now as the lame man who was healed held on to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the porch, which is called Solomon's, greatly amazed. So when Peter saw it, he responded to the people, men of Israel.

Why do you marvel at this? Or why look so intently at us as though by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate when he was determined to let him go. But you denied the Holy One and the just and asked for a murderer to be granted to you and killed the prince of life, whom God raised from the dead of which we are witnesses. Was Peter a fearless preacher or what?

Wow. Verse 16. And his name through faith in his name has made this man strong whom you see and know.

Yes, the faith which comes through him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all. Yet now, brethren, I know that you did it in ignorance as did also your rulers. But those things which God foretold by the mouth of all his prophets that the Christ would suffer, he has thus fulfilled. Repent, therefore, and be converted that your sins may be blotted out so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord and that he may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began. And notice he's going to quote in verse 22, Matthew chapter 8, or not Matthew, Deuteronomy 18.

Notice the words. For Moses truly said to the fathers, The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brethren. Him you shall hear in all things whatever he says to you, and it shall be that every soul who will not hear that prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.

Yes, and all the prophets from Samuel and those who follow, as many as have spoken, have also foretold these days. We are sons of the prophets and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying to Abraham, And in your seed and in all the families of the earth shall be blessed. To you first God, having raised up his servant Jesus, sent him to bless you in turning away every one of you from your iniquities.

What did Peter say? Peter's words revealed a significant difference between his, the ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ, his prophetic ministry, and Moses. Only the words of Jesus bring salvation. Again, notice verse 22 and 23. For Moses truly said to the fathers, The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brethren. Him you shall hear in all things whatever he says to you, and it shall be that every soul who will not hear that prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people. Hear the words of Jesus, obey the words of Jesus, believe the words of Jesus, and you shall live. Disbelieve, disobey, utter destruction. That's what God said through Moses in Deuteronomy 18, and that's what he said in Acts chapter 3.

And what is the proof that this is to be taken seriously? The hearers that Peter was preaching to, those who failed to repent, lost their lives. Jerusalem was destroyed.

The temple was destroyed. God brought judgment, and he is serious. So on this last Sunday of 2024, understand the wages of sin is death. Understand that unbelievers are under the wrath and the condemnation of Almighty God. And as Martin Lloyd-Jones said, if I could say one word to an audience, and my last opportunity to preach, I would say flee the wrath to come. It's one thing to flee the wrath to come, but flee where? Run from the wrath to come, but run where? Flee where?

Flee to the Lord Jesus Christ. Why him? Because he bore the wrath of God in your place.

Can you imagine the judgment, the wrath you deserved, Jesus willingly, voluntarily took upon himself on the cross of Calvary. He was rejected. He was despised. He suffered the wrath of God in our place, so that those who believe upon him never will.

There's no better news than that, folks. Jesus paid the penalty for our sin. He bore God's wrath. He satisfied divine justice.

And those of us who are new covenant people have every reason to rejoice and to be thankful and to worship him and live for him. Live for him who died for you. That's the message on this last Sunday of 2024. And if you're here this morning and you're outside of Christ, may God help you to see yourself as you really are.

You say, why? I'm not God's enemy. I haven't done anything to warrant God's wrath. You don't understand the revealed will of God. God has said, you stand in a place of condemnation and the only thing that remains is the execution of the sentence.

How do I avoid that? Run to Jesus. Find refuge in him. Cast yourself upon his mercy. And the good news is, Jesus said, all, all who come unto me, I will in no wise cast out.

Let's pray. Father, thank you for your son, the Lord Jesus Christ, that great prophet who came, a prophet like Moses, and yet so much different than Moses, not a sinner, the sinless prophet sent from God, sent from heaven itself. Thank you for the word of God that warns us of danger. Thank you for the word of God that thrills our hearts and tells us of the remedy that you have provided through your son for sinners. We thank you that Jesus is indeed the way, the truth, and the life, and all who come to him, all who come to you through him will be saved. Father, cause your word to find lodgement in every heart this morning. Whatever our condition would be, may we not be the same as we came into this place. Holy Spirit of God, we are dependent upon you to bring about God-honoring change in our lives. We're not interested in just hearing a message and saying, well, that was good. No, we're interested in hearing a message and having our lives changed and transformed by it. Do that for our good. Do that for your own glory. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
Whisper: medium.en / 2025-01-02 18:59:23 / 2025-01-02 19:12:54 / 14

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