The Person of Christ: His Offices 1.Christ the Prophet.

Notes from Myer Pearlman: Knowing the Doctrines of the Bible

Memorize:

1Ti 2:5  For there is but one God and but one Mediator between God and men--Christ Jesus, Himself man;

1Ti 2:6  who gave Himself as the redemption price for all--a fact testified to at its own appointed time, WNT

Introduction

In the Old Testament Age there were three classes of mediators between God and His people.: the prophet, the priest and the king. As the perfect Mediator (see 1 Tim 2:5 above), Christ embodies in Himself all three of these offices.

Jesus is the Christ-Prophet, to enlighten the nations;He is the Christ - Priest, to offer Himself as a sacrifice for the sins of the nations; and He is the Christ-King to rule over the nations.

1. Christ the Prophet.

The Old Testament Prophet was God’s earthly Agent or Representative. He revealed God’s Will in relation to the present and the future. Christ’s purpose as Prophet of God was to enlighten Israel and the nations as was testified in the prophets of the Old Testament.

Isa 42:1  Behold My Servant, whom I uphold; My Elect, in whom My soul delights. I have put My Spirit on Him; He shall bring out judgment to the nations.

Rom 15:8  My meaning is that Christ has become a servant to the people of Israel in vindication of God's truthfulness-- in showing how sure are the promises made to our forefathers--

Rom 15:9  and that the Gentiles also have glorified God in acknowledgment of His mercy. So it is written, "FOR THIS REASON I WILL PRAISE THEE AMONG THE GENTILES, AND SING PSALMS IN HONOUR OF THY NAME."

Rom 15:10  And again the Psalmist says, "BE GLAD, YE GENTILES, IN COMPANY WITH HIS PEOPLE."

Jesus was regarded as a prophet in the Gospels.

Mar 6:15  Others asserted that He was Elijah. Others again said, "He is a Prophet, like one of the great Prophets."

Joh 4:16  "Go and call your husband," said Jesus; "and come back."

Joh 4:17  "I have no husband," she replied. "You rightly say that you have no husband," said Jesus;

Joh 4:18  "for you have had five husbands, and the man you have at present is not your husband. You have spoken the truth in saying that."

Joh 4:19  "Sir," replied the woman, "I see that you are a Prophet.

Joh 6:14  Thereupon the people, having seen the miracle He had performed, said, "This is indeed the Prophet who was to come into the world."

Mar 1:27  And all were amazed and awe-struck, so they began to ask one another, "What does this mean? Here is a new sort of teaching--and a tone of authority! And even to foul spirits he issues orders and they obey him!"

Mar 1:28  And His fame spread at once everywhere in all that part of Galilee.

Because Jesus was a Prophet : G4396 προφήτης prophētēs

Thayer Definition:

1) in Greek writings, an interpreter of oracles or of other hidden things

2) one who, moved by the Spirit of God and hence his organ or spokesman, solemnly declares to men what he has received by inspiration, especially concerning future events, and in particular such as relate to the cause and kingdom of God and to human salvation

2a) the OT prophets, having foretold the kingdom, deeds and death, of Jesus the Messiah.

2b) of John the Baptist, the herald of Jesus the Messiah

2c) of the illustrious prophet, the Jews expected before the advent of the Messiah

2d) the Messiah

2e) of men filled with the Spirit of God, who by God’s authority and command in words of weight pleads the cause of God and urges salvation of men

2f) of prophets that appeared in the apostolic age among Christians

2f1) they are associated with the apostles

2f2) they discerned and did what is best for the Christian cause, foretelling certain future events. (Act_11:27)

2f3) in the religious assemblies of the Christians, they were moved by the Holy Spirit to speak, having power to instruct, comfort, encourage, rebuke, convict, and stimulate, their hearers

1. Jesus Preached Salvation.

The Prophets  of Israel exerted their most important ministry in times of crisis, when rulers, statesmen and priests were confused in judgment and impotent to act. It was then that the prophet stepped forth and with Divine authority pointed the way out of their difficulties, saying, “This is the way, walk ye in it.”

The Lord Jesus appeared at a time when there was great agitation and restlessness in Israel caused by a yearning for national deliverance - war with Rome or peace with God. They made a wrong choice and suffered disastrous consequences of national destruction.

Luk 19:41  When He came into full view of the city, He wept aloud over it, and exclaimed,

Luk 19:42  "O that at this time thou hadst known--yes even thou--what makes peace possible! But now it is hid from thine eyes.

Luk 19:43  For the time is coming upon thee when thy foes will throw up around thee earthworks and a wall, investing thee and hemming thee in on every side.

Luk 19:44  And they will dash thee to the ground and thy children within thee, and will not leave one stone upon another within thee; because thou hast not recognized the time of thy visitation."

Mat 26:52  "Put back your sword again," said Jesus, "for all who draw the sword shall perish by the sword.

As their rebellious forefathers tried to force their way into Canaan Numbers 14:40-45, so the jews in AD 68, tried to force their deliverance from Rome. Their rebellion was quenched in blood, Jerusalem and the temple were destroyed and the wandering Jew began his painful trek through the centuries of Pogroms and Holocausts.

Jesus showed the way of deliverance from the guilt of sin and sin’s power not only to the nation of israel but also to the Individual.

Those who came with the Question, “What must I do to be saved?” received definite instruction and this always included a command to follow Him. He not only showed the way but made the Way of Salvation by His death upon the Cross.

b. Jesus announced the Kingdom.

Al the OT Prophets spoke of the time when all mankind should come under the sway of God’s Law -- this was understood as “the Kingdom of God”. This was an outstanding theme of our Lord’s Preaching. “Repent for the Kingdom of God is near (at hand). Matthew 4:17.

Jesus enlarged on this theme by describing the Nature of the Kingdom of Heaven, its membership, conditions for entrance, its spiritual history following His ascension in the Kingdom Parables of Matthew 13 and the manner of its establishment on earth.

c. Jesus Predicted the Future.

Prophecy follows the principle that history does not move with aimless feet but is under the control of Almighty God who knows the end from the beginning. He reveals the course of History to His prophets, thus enabling them to predict the future.

As a prophet Christ foresaw the Triumph of His cause and kingdom through the fleeting changes in human History. Note Matthew 24 and 25.

The Ascended Christ continues His prophet ministry through His Body, the church, to whom He has promised inspiration. Joh 14:26  But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send at my request, will teach you everything, and will bring to your memories all that I have said to you.

Joh 16:13  But when He has come--the Spirit of Truth--He will guide you into all the truth. For He will not speak as Himself originating what He says, but all that He hears He will speak, and He will make known the future to you.

He has imparted to the church the Gift of prophecy

1Co 12:10  to another the exercise of miraculous powers; to another the gift of prophecy; to another the power of discriminating between prophetic utterances; to another varieties of the gift of 'tongues;' to another the interpretation of tongues.

Jud 1:3  Dear friends, since I am eager to begin a letter to you on the subject of our common salvation, I find myself constrained to write and cheer you on to the vigorous defense of the faith delivered once for all to God's people.

Eph 4:11  And He Himself appointed some to be Apostles, some to be Prophets, some to be evangelists, some to be pastors and teachers,

Eph 4:12  in order fully to equip His people for the work of serving--for the building up of Christ's body--

Eph 4:13  till we all of us arrive at oneness in faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God, and at mature manhood and the stature of full-grown men in Christ.

see also 1 Cor 14:3.