Jesus the Prophet

This is typically the Sunday we look at John the Baptist preparing the way for Jesus. What he was doing was the role of prophet: Bringing God’s words to prepare the people for God’s plan. But this week instead of looking at John as a prophet, I want to spend a little time examining Jesus as a prophet. Why do we care that Christ is a prophet? How does it affect us? What does a prophet do? You can see an overwhelming list of what a prophet does at www.learnthebible.org/christ-a-prophet.html.

The best definition I found of prophet was from Abiding Word, Volume 2, page 128: “God spoke to the prophet and the prophet reported to the people.” Without knowing the mind of God, we wouldn’t have scripture, we wouldn’t have God’s chastisement against sin, we wouldn’t have assurance of God’s love and forgiveness.

Let’s back up and look at Jesus’ three roles we’ve been talking about.

King/ David/ Jesus has:/ An everlasting Kingdom/ Which is our hope of a heavenly kingdom.

Priest/ Melchizedek/ Jesus has:/ A Perfect Priesthood with no beginning or end/ Which is our hope of redemption.

Prophet/ Moses/ Jesus has:/ Constant and perfect communication with God/ Which is our hope of a right relationship with God.

Jesus’ Kingdom is connected with His relationship with His Father. We are adopted as sons into the Kingdom of God.

Jesus’ Priesthood is connected with Himself as Ultimate Sacrifice. We are seen by God as clean because of Christ’s perfect sacrifice.

Jesus as a prophet is connected with His relationship with the Holy Spirit. We are connected to God because of Christ’s role as a prophet through the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit speaks God’s words to us just as a prophet would.

Now let’s look at how Christ’s kingdom, priestly sacrifice, and communication compares with that of the world.

God’s government versus the world’s government

If Noah had lived in the United States today the story may have gone something like this:

And the Lord spoke to Noah and said, "In one year, I am going to make it rain and cover the whole earth with water until all flesh is destroyed. But I want you to save the righteous people and two of every kind of living thing on earth. Therefore, I am commanding you to build an Ark." In a flash of lightning, God delivered the specifications for an Ark. In fear and trembling, Noah took the plans and agreed to build the ark. "Remember," said the Lord, "you must complete the Ark and bring everything aboard in one year."

Exactly one year later, fierce storm clouds covered the earth and all the seas of the earth went into a tumult. The Lord saw that Noah was sitting in his front yard weeping. "Noah!" He shouted. "Where is the Ark?"

"Lord, please forgive me," cried Noah. "I did my best, but there were big problems.

First, I had to get a permit for construction, and your plans did not meet the building codes. I had to hire an engineering firm and redraw the plans.

Then I got into a fight with OSHA over whether or not the Ark needed a sprinkler system and approved floatation devices.

Then, my neighbor objected, claiming I was violating zoning ordinances by building the Ark in my front yard, so I had to get a variance from the city planning commission.
Then, I had problems getting enough wood for the Ark, because there was a ban on cutting trees to protect the Spotted Owl. I finally convinced the U.S. Forest Service that I really needed the wood to save the owls. However, the Fish and Wildlife Service won't let me take the 2 owls.

The carpenters formed a union and went on strike. I had to negotiate a settlement with the National Labor Relations Board before anyone would pick up a saw or hammer. Now, I have 16 carpenters on the Ark, but still no owls.

When I started rounding up the other animals, an animal rights group sued me. They objected to me taking only two of each kind aboard. This suit is pending.

Meanwhile, the EPA notified me that I could not complete the Ark without filing an environmental impact statement on your proposed flood. They didn't take very kindly to the idea that they had no jurisdiction over the conduct of the Creator of the Universe.

Then, the Army Corps of Engineers demanded a map of the proposed flood plain. I sent them a globe.

Right now, I am trying to resolve a complaint filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission that I am practicing discrimination by not taking atheists aboard.

The IRS has seized my assets, claiming that I'm building the Ark in preparation to flee the country to avoid paying taxes. I just got a notice from the state that I owe them some kind of user tax and failed to register the Ark as a 'recreational water craft'.

And finally, the ACLU got the courts to issue an injunction against further construction of the Ark, saying that since God is flooding the earth, it's a religious event, and, therefore unconstitutional. I really don't think I can finish the Ark for another five or six years." (http://www.basicjokes.com/)

And that’s why we put our hope in a heavenly kingdom and not an earthly kingdom when we worship Jesus the King.

Our idea of sacrifice versus God’s idea of sacrifice

Last week, we looked at Jesus the priest and His perfect sacrifice.

Do you know why God asked Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac when he was twelve years old?

Because if he had been a teenager, it wouldn’t have been a sacrifice.

Speaking of sacrifice, listen to this illustration.

After a few of the usual Sunday evening hymns, the church's pastor slowly stood up, walked over to the pulpit and, before he gave his sermon for the evening, briefly introduced a guest minister who was in the service that evening.

In the introduction, the pastor told the congregation that the minister was one of his dearest childhood friends and that he wanted him to have a few moments to greet the church and share whatever he felt would be appropriate for the service.

With that, an elderly man stepped up to the pulpit and began to speak. "A father, his son, and a friend of his son were sailing off the Pacific coast," he began, "when a fast-approaching storm blocked any attempt to get back to the shore. The waves were so high, that even though the father was an experienced sailor, he could not keep the boat upright and the three were swept into the ocean as the boat capsized."

The old man hesitated for a moment, making eye contact with two teenagers who were, for the first time since the service began, looking somewhat interested in his story. The aged minister continued with his story, "Grabbing a rescue line, the father had to make the most excruciating decision of his life: To which boy would he throw the other end of the life line. He only had seconds to make the decision. The father knew that his son was a Christian and he also knew that his son's friend was not. The agony of his decision could not be matched by the torrent of waves. As the father yelled out, 'I love you, Son!' he threw out the life line to his son's friend. By the time the father had pulled the friend back to the capsized boat, his son had disappeared beneath the raging swells into the black of night. His body was never recovered."

By this time, the two teenagers were sitting up straight in the pew, anxiously waiting for the next words to come out of the old minister's mouth.

"The father," he continued, "knew his son would step into eternity with Jesus and he could not bear the thought of his son's friend stepping into an eternity without Jesus. Therefore, he sacrificed his son to save the son's friend. How great is the love of God that He should do the same for us. Our Heavenly Father sacrificed His only begotten Son that we could be saved. I urge you to accept His offer to rescue you and take a hold of the life line He is throwing out to you in this service."

With that, the old man turned and sat back down in his chair as silence filled the room. The pastor again walked slowly to the pulpit and delivered a brief sermon with an invitation at the end. However, no one responded to the appeal.

Within minutes after the service ended, the two teenagers were at the old man's side. "That was a nice story," politely stated one of them, "But I don't think it was very realistic for a father to give up his only son's life in hopes that the other boy would become a Christian."

"Well, you've got a point there," the old man replied glancing down at his worn bible. A big smile broadened his narrow face. He once again looked up at the boys and said, "It sure isn't very realistic, is it? But I'm standing here today to tell you that story gives me a glimpse of what it must have been like for God to give up His son for me. You see...I was that father and your pastor was my son's friend." (www.maineiac.com/inspirational/sacrifice.html)

And that’s why we put our hope of redemption in the perfect sacrifice when we worship Jesus the Priest.

Communication with people versus Communication with God

Most of us have now learned to live with voice mail as a necessary part of our lives. What if God communicated with us with voice mail? Imagine praying and hearing the following:

Thank you for calling heaven.
For English press 1
For Spanish press 2
For all other languages, press 3

Please select one of the following options:
Press 1 for request
Press 2 for thanksgiving
Press 3 for complaints
Press 4 for all others

I am sorry, all our Angels and Saints are busy helping other sinners right now. However, your prayer is important to us and we will answer it in the order it was received. Please stay on the line.

If you would like to speak to:
God, press 1
Jesus, press 2
Holy Spirit, press 3

To find a loved one that has been assigned to heaven press 5, then enter his social security # followed by the pound sign.
(If you receive a negative response, please hang up and dial area code 666.)

For reservations to heaven, please enter JOHN followed by the numbers, 3 16.

For answers to nagging questions about dinosaurs, life and other planets, please wait until you arrive in heaven for the specifics.

Our computers show that you have already been prayed for today, please hang up and call again tomorrow.

The office is now closed for the weekend to observe a religious holiday.

If you are calling after hours and need emergency assistance, please contact your local pastor.

Thank you and have a heavenly day.

Aren’t you glad that our hope of a right relationship with God doesn’t depend on voice mail?! And the constant communication with God that Jesus opened up for us through the Holy Spirit is why we worship Jesus the Prophet.

King/ David/ Everlasting Kingdom/ Our hope of a heavenly kingdom/ Connected to God

Priest/ Melchizedek/ Perfect Priesthood with no beginning or end/ Our hope of redemption/ Connected to Jesus

Prophet/ Moses/ Constant and perfect communication with God/ Our hope of a right relationship with God/ Connected to the Holy Spirit

So as we say the Apostle’s Creed together, as we affirm our belief in God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, I want us to remember where our hope of a heavenly kingdom comes from, where our hope of redemption comes from, and where our hope of a right relationship with God comes from.

Jesus the Great High Priest

Confessions of A Perfectionist by Maggie McCauley: Once a perfectionist always a perfectionist? It's a hard habit to break away from because it has so many rewards—all that recognition, accomplishment, pride, self esteem, value, kudos, and neatness! Yes, but there are as many negatives as there are positives—all the pressure to perform, expectations, stress, lost time, procrastination, frustration, and sleepless nights!

I lived the life of a perfectionist for many years until I realized that it was actually making me very unhappy. It caused a great deal of anger and frustration with family, friends, and co-workers, not to mention myself. My expectations were far above what anyone could achieve. I couldn't meet them!

Do you ever feel this way in your spiritual life? We’re supposed to praise God everyday (Psalm 145:2), search the Scriptures daily (Acts 17:11), and pray without ceasing (1 Thess. 5:17). We’re also supposed to rejoice always (v.16), give thanks for everything (v.18) and examine everything carefully (v.21). To top this all off, Jesus tells us in Mt. 5:48 to be perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect. This is the problem of serving an awesome, mighty and holy God!

You’ve got to be kidding, right God? I mean, you know that we are just made of dust right (Psalm 103::14)? Who are we that we could live up to such high standards?

James 2:10 “For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all.” We need help!

This is what the solution to the problem of perfection looked like for the ancient Israelites:

1. Once a year the Israelites would send the High Priest in the tabernacle, through the veil and into the Holy of Holies.
2. First he would cleanse himself with pure water.
3. Then he had to make an atonement sacrifice for himself and his household first.
4. Blood was sprinkled everywhere and on everything.
5. Then two goats were brought before the Lord on behalf of all the people. One was sacrificed, with blood sprinkled everywhere again. The other goat was sent out into the wilderness with all the people’s sins upon him. That goat was the scapegoat (or goat of removal).
6. If the High Priest didn’t do it perfectly, he would die- just like Aaron’s two sons died in Lev. 10:1-2. Talk about a high pressure job!
7. Also, not anyone could be High Priest. You had to meet two qualifications according to Hebrews 5:1-2.

I. THE QUALITIES REQUIRED IN HIGH PRIESTS (1-4)

A. DIVINE APPOINTMENT (1,4)- Only God can rightfully select a high priest, even as God called Aaron - e.g., Exo 28,29; Lev 8,9; Num 16-18

B. HUMAN SYMPATHY (1-3)·

• A high priest is selected "from among men"·
• This helps to ensure a spirit of "compassion"...·
• A high priest who knew his own weakness would be more likely to be understanding of his brethren.·
• It also explains why the high priest in the OT offered sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people - cf. Lev 16:11·
• Thus a high priest would need to be well acquainted with the "human condition" (i.e., the struggle against temptation)

Why don’t we see this happening today? It is because Jesus has met the qualifications to be our great High Priest. [The parallel between high priests in the OT and Jesus as our High Priest does not hold true in every minute detail (e.g., He 7:26-27). But certainly in the most fundamental ways Jesus has the qualities to be our High Priest, as we now consider...]

II. CHRIST'S QUALIFICATIONS AS HIGH PRIEST (5-8)

A. DIVINELY APPOINTED (5,6)

1. Christ was Divinely called to serve as High Priest, just as Aaron was
2. As evidence of His calling, two Messianic prophecies are offered...

a. His position as God's Son - cf. Ps 2:7·

• As God's Son, sitting and ruling at the right hand of God·
• (cf. Ps 110:1-3), His calling as a priest is only natural

b. As prophesied in Ps 110:4, the Messiah would be "a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek."

c. Here we begin to learn the distinct nature of Christ's priesthood.

d. Thus His priesthood would be different from the Aaronic or Levitical priesthood.

B. SYMPATHETIC BECAUSE OF HIS OWN SUFFERINGS (7,8)

1. While "in the days of His flesh", Christ...

a. "offered prayers and supplications with vehement cries and tears"

b. He prayed "to Him who was able to save Him from death"

c. He was heard "because of His godly fear"

2. That Jesus would have "godly fear" and offer such prayers provides insight into the extent of His temptations and sufferings in the flesh - cf. also He 2:18; 4:15

3. Even though He was God's Son, by the things which He suffered "He learned obedience" - what does this mean?

a. He knew obedience as the Son of God

b. Perhaps it means He came to know what obedience involved as one "in the flesh" (i.e., the challenge of obedience in the midst of suffering, temptations, etc.)

4. Through His suffering, Jesus certainly understands the "human condition" which qualifies Him to serve as High Priest .

http://www.ccel.org/contrib/exec_outlines/he/he_11.htm

I had to lay this foundation so we could more fully understand what our passage in Hebrews 10 is saying. Notice the all-encompassing work of Christ. He is the perfect sacrifice, the temple veil, and the perfect High Priest.

First, in v.19 we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus. He is the once-for-all perfect sacrifice.

Second, in v.20 the veil that separated us from the holy presence of God was torn away by the tearing of Christ’s flesh. This gives new understanding to John 14:6 where Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” The only way to get to the Holy of Holies (where the Father dwells) is to go through the veil of Christ’s flesh.

Third, v.21 tells us about Jesus as our great priest.

What does all this mean for us? 3 things:

1. We can draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith (v.22). Drawing near to a holy perfect God is not something to be taken lightly. Yet, v.19 says we enter His presence with confidence. And v.22 says we have full assurance of faith. How can this be? As we come up for Jesus’ blood this morning at the Lord’s Supper, and as we swallow it down, I want us to picture that blood being sprinkled over our dirty hearts and making them clean. As we come forward this morning, I want us to remember our baptism, our confession of ultimate trust and belief in the Lord as being washed with pure water- just like the High Priest had to be cleansed before coming before Holy God. And then, draw near to God. Draw near to Him because He is always near to us.

2. And hold fast the confession of our hope (v.23). His holiness can be scary, but not if we claim our confidence in Christ. Don’t come before Holy God with our filthy good deeds and attempts at perfection. They won’t cut it. Cover ourselves with Christ’s blood. Claim His sacrifice on our behalf. The only reason we can have hope is that He who promised is faithful. We can hope for good weather. We can hope for a Packers win. We can hope for good health. But don’t put our hope in passing shadows. Hope in the Faithful Promiser. Hope in the Alpha & Omega. Hope in the perfect sacrifice and the perfect priest.

3. As we take communion this morning, we bind ourselves together as a community trusting in the same One. Not only as a community here in La Grange, but we bind ourselves as a worldwide community with all others who have put their hope and trust in the Great High Priest Jesus. As a local and a global community, we are called to stimulate one another to love and good deeds. One teacher told me that stimulate here means “irritate to action.” Sometimes being pushed and encouraged towards love and good deeds won’t always be pleasant for us. But then, it’s not about us, is it?

The veil is torn through Christ’s flesh. The blood of Christ is sprinkled over our hearts. Come now with confidence. Come to the new and living way. Come draw near with full assurance. Come confess your hope without wavering. Come to the Faithful Promiser. Come together as a community- a community of love, good deeds, a touch of irritation, and encouragement.