Who is The Prophet?

     “Are you the Prophet?”

    As we read through the gospels, there are several places where this question comes up. For instance, the Jewish leaders sent priests and Levites to John the Baptist, asking, basically, “Are you the Messiah, are you Elijah, are you the Prophet?” His answer was a flat and final, “No.” [John 1:21] After the feeding of the 5000, Jesus faced the same suggestion: “Surely this is the Prophet.” [John 6:14] On the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles, Jesus stood up in the temple courts and, in a loud voice, invited people to come to him for a life-giving drink. And what did some people say? “Surely this man is the Prophet.” [John 7:40]

     There are several other Gospel passages that refer to either John the Baptist or Jesus as “a” prophet, but these are the only ones that specify “the” Prophet. It seems like the entire populace knew about this Prophet…leaders, priests, Levites, Pharisees, and “crowd”…but he was distinct from the Messiah. Where did this notion come from?

     The answer is simple and straightforward when we dig into Moses’ writings. [Deuteronomy 18:15-19] This passage gives the picture twice, once from Moses’ perspective and once from God’s, and is well worth quoting:

     "The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your fellow Israelites. You must listen to him…"

     ”I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their fellow Israelites, and I will put my words in his mouth. He will tell them everything I command him. I myself will call to account anyone who does not listen to my words that the prophet speaks in my name.”

    It turns out that some of those well-fed 5000 and some of those in the temple courts were right. The ultimate key to identifying The Prophet was “listening to his words.” And the Apostle John begins to lay out that identification in the very first verse of his gospel: “In the beginning was the Word…” Later on, Jesus comments on His own speech: “The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life.” [John 6:63] Peter confirms who The Prophet is when he says, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” [John 6:68]

Sad to say, others took a different view: “No, he deceives the people.” [7:12] It seems like the temple guard were convinced; they went back to their superiors without arresting Jesus and were blamed for being deceived, just like the “mob” around them. [John 7:47] Jesus gave credit to His Father for the words He was speaking, just like Moses prophesied: “My teaching is not my own. It comes from the one who sent me.” [John 7:16]

There is only one conclusion that Scripture allows us—Jesus is The Prophet. He is like Moses in countless details (outlined to some extent in Hebrews chapters 3 and 11) yet he is far, far superior to Moses. Moses never claimed any great powers, yet Jesus declared, “Before Abraham was born, I am!” [John 8:58] The superiority of Jesus over Moses is breath-taking. The best thing we can do is worship.