“Jesus is greater than Moses”

     Back in May, we looked at a few of the ways that Jesus is like Moses: they were “almost” killed in infancy; they both interceded for their people; and they both showed the glory of God in their faces. Now we want to go one step further—we want to note how Jesus is still “like” Moses, but greater. Three examples should make the point:

     They both produced water from a rock. The children of Israel camped at Rephidim but there was no water so they started to grumble and quarrel. They were ready to stone Moses, so God intervened: “I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it for the people to drink.” Ex.17:6.  —A physical solution to a physical problem. But when did Jesus ever do such a thing? Was it at Cana, when He turned water into wine? I don’t think so. Now we move into the spiritual realm. The apostle Paul tells us that “they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ.” 1 Cor.10:4. Christ Himself is the Rock and he gave the Samaritan woman “living water” (John 4:10) —water that would cause her to “never thirst again!”

     They both provided a source of healing on a “tree”. As the Israelites travelled up the Red Sea road to bypass Edom, they started to grumble again: “There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!” Num.21:4-5. Then the Lord sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died. When they repented, Moses prayed for the people and the Lord said, “Make a snake and put it on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live.” Num.21:8.—A unique instance of physical healing, but what is the greater parallel with Jesus? Again we move into the spiritual realm: “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.” John 3:14-15

     They both went up through clouds and promised to return. In the days of the exodus, “Moses went up on the mountain, the cloud covered it, and the glory of the Lord settled on Mount Sinai.” Ex.24:14-18. His parting words were, “Wait here for us until we come back to you.” Moses stayed on the mountain 40 days and 40 nights and he came back to a real mess and a total loss of faith by the people—“this fellow Moses…we don’t know what has happened to him.” Ex.32:1,27. What a parallel we have in Jesus—He too went up into a cloud (Acts 1:9) and two men dressed in white promised, “This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.” Acts 1:11. He, Himself, promised, “I will come back and take you to be with me.” John 14:3. And what will be the attitude of people when the Lord returns?—“When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” Lk 18:8. We know from Rev.2,3 that He will, but it may be very weak and hidden. In any case, “we will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.” 1 Thess.4:17, 18.

     I hope that these great comparisons will encourage us. Three more suggestions worth looking at (out of many) are (i) the Spirit on them passed to others. [Moses in Num.11:1,17 and the Lord in Acts 2:1-18—God, of course “gives the Spirit without limit.” John 3:3.] (ii) they both participated in an “exodus”. [Moses, in Ex.12:31, and the Lord, when He died on the cross and ascended to heaven, and will lead many others there as well. Lk.9:31] and (iii) they both provided bread from heaven. [Moses, for physical life, John 6:31-32, Ex.16:12, and Jesus for our eternal life. He is the Bread from Heaven. John 6:32-51]

     Once again we have to say, “Jesus has been found worthy of greater honour than Moses.” Heb.3:3.  Ì