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.
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’ 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.
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
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.
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
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.
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