“Jesus is like Moses”

Who was the first preacher of the good news after it became fact,
that is, after the crucifixion and the resurrection? Of course, it was Jesus Himself. On the road to Emmaus, “beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.” Luke 24:27. Later, Peter, in the temple, quoted Moses: “The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you must listen to everything he tells you.” Acts 3:22 (quoting Moses in Deuteronomy 18:15).

Later still, Stephen, in his speech to the Sanhedrin, recounted Israel’s history then said about Moses, “This is the same Moses whom they had rejected with the words, ‘Who made you ruler and judge?’ He was sent to be their ruler and deliverer by God himself.” “This is that Moses who told the Israelites, ‘God will send you a prophet like me from your own people.’ ” Acts 7:35,37.

This verse is the key—“a prophet like me!” There are dozens of prophecies and clear parallels with Moses, but Scripture goes much deeper than simply spelling out the details for readers to itemize and check off their lists. The story of Jesus is built right into the fabric of Scripture and the very life of Moses is a prophecy of Christ, not necessarily in the details but in the parallels and contrasts.

To get us started, here are a few parallels:

They both came under the sentence of death in infancy. You remember the children of Israel in Egypt. God blessed their families and the population grew until they became a threat to Pharaoh and the Egyptians. The king of Egypt told the Hebrew midwives, “if it is a boy, kill him.” Ex.1:16. He got even more specific: “Every boy that is born, you must throw into the Nile.” Ex.1:22. And what is the most famous story of Jesus, right after His birth? Probably Herod’s order to kill! “Kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old or under.” Mt.2:16.

They both interceded for their people. The Israelites in the wilderness had tempted God once too often so He decided to wipe them out: “I may destroy them…and I will make you into a nation stronger and more numerous than they.” Deut.9:14. Moses turned down God’s offer! “Please forgive their sin—but if not, then blot me out of the book you have written.” Ex.32:32. Now we turn to our Lord, in John 17, especially verse 24. “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am.” He prayed for all His people: He wouldn’t give up any of us and He eventually “became obedient unto death— even death on a cross!” Phil.2:8.

They both showed the glory of God. Moses went up Mount Sinai and talked with God face to face. Deut.34:10. When he came back, his face shone to such a degree that he had to wear a veil to hide the fading of God’s glory in himself. Ex.34:29,35. On the other hand, we get a glimpse of the Lord’s glory on the Mount of Transfiguration. Lk.9:29. “As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning.” Then Paul tells us that “God…hath shined in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” 2 Cor.4:6. Moses’ glory was reflected, but Jesus’ glory is His own and will never fade. In a sense God’s glory is reflected and “bounces off” Moses but it emanates from Jesus because that is His nature.

When we compare Christ’s life to Moses’, we find parallels that no impostor could ever match. The amazing thing is that they aren’t spelled out in advance— we see them only as we look back. In every instance we have to conclude, as the book of Hebrews does, “Jesus has been found worthy of greater honour than Moses.” Heb.3:3.

Next time we will look at a few contrasts. In the meantime, here are two more examples to think about:

• The people wanted to stone them both. Ex. 17:4; Jn.8:59.

• They were both cradled in very different and unusual places. Ex.2:3; Luke 2:12. 