Jesus - The Prophet Like Moses
a December series on how the Old Testament points us to Jesus
Scripture Reading: Deuteronomy 18:15
The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers – it is to him you shall listen…
There is a significant continuity between the Old Testament and the New. Despite the foolish suggestion of Andy Stanley, we do not need to unhitch ourselves from the Old Testament. Deuteronomy 18 is a great example of how the Old Testament was leading us toward the New and it was a part of God’s purpose from the beginning.
In this verse, Moses makes the astounding prophecy that God would raise up another prophet who would be like Moses. What was unique about Moses that set him apart?
· Moses acted as a mediator between God and His people.
· Moses performed signs and wonders in Egypt as a prelude to God’s deliverance that came about on the morning after the Passover in which a lamb was slain.
· Moses was the man who led the people out of bondage across the Red Sea.
· Moses was allowed to speak to God in close proximity and intimacy.
Jesus was like Moses in all of these ways, only He surpassed Moses in every respect as well. Are we right to read Jesus into this text as the fulfillment of this prophecy? Well, that is exactly what Peter does in his sermon found in Acts chapter three. There he quotes from Deuteronomy and says that Moses was talking about Jesus.
Stephen does the same thing in Acts chapter seven. He points to Exodus 18 and says Jesus is the Prophet Moses was saying would come.
Reading the story of the Mount of Transfiguration sheds more light on the language God used in speaking to the disciples about Jesus. He said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased, listen to him.” This would have reminded these Jewish men of Moses’ prophecy about the Prophet who would come and to whom Moses said, “It is to him you shall listen.”
Jesus is The Prophet. Listen to Him.
Father, give us faith to see Jesus as the Prophet whom Moses foretold. Then, give us ears to hear him speak and the courage to obey all that He said and continues to say.
