Jesus is Prophet like unto Moses; do we heed His words?

Weekly Devotion

"I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him." Deuteronomy 18:18-19

When God gave the 10 Commandments on Mt. Sinai and the people saw the lightning and heard the thunderings, they told Moses: "Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die" (Exodus 20:18-19).

In accordance with their words, God promised to raise up a Prophet from among them like unto Moses who would be the mediator of a new covenant with God. He would be the mediator between God and His people by fulfilling all righteousness for us and then suffering and dying on the cross to make full atonement for the sins of all.

And, as God promised, He would put His words in the mouth of this Prophet like unto Moses and this Prophet would speak all that God commanded Him.

We know that Prophet, "like unto" Moses, is none other than Jesus Christ, God's only-begotten Son sent into this world to make atonement for our sins and redeem us. As the Apostle John writes, "For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him" (John 1:17-18; cf. Acts 3:19-26; 7:37; John 5:45-47; 3:14-15; 6:14; 7:40).

And, Jesus' preaching and teaching are none other than the teaching of God the Father in heaven. His message to the people of this world is God's message to us in this fallen world (cf. John 14:24). Jesus condemned sin and demanded perfect righteousness -- greater than that of the scribes and Pharisees and perfect like God the Father in heaven (cf. Matthew 5:20; 5:48) -- but Jesus also offered God's mercy and forgiveness to all who look to Him in faith (John 3:14ff.; Luke 24:46-47; John 5:24; 8:24; Mark 16:15-16). Jesus provided that righteousness by His perfect life and He atoned for our sins by His perfect sacrifice in the cross. And to all who look to Jesus and His cross in faith is imputed the perfect righteousness of Christ (cf. Romans 3:21-26).

And what is the result of not heeding Jesus' words and repenting of sin and rebellion against God and looking in faith to Jesus and His cross for mercy and forgiveness? It is as Moses wrote: "And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him." And Jesus said, "He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day" (John 12:48; cf. v. 44-50; Matthew 17:5).

The question for us to consider today is what do we do with Jesus' words? Do we believe that He is, as He claimed to be, the eternal Son of God in human flesh come into this world to be lifted up and die on the cross for the sins of the world? Do we believe that He rose again and gives life to all who believe in His name? Do we repent of our sinful and rebellious ways -- our disobedience to God's commandments -- and look to Him for pardon, forgiveness and life everlasting?

If so, we have the promise of forgiveness and life eternal in His name. It is as Jesus said, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life" (John 5:24; John 3:16, 36; Mark 16:15-16). If not, His words -- the words given Him by God the Father -- will judge and condemn us on the Last Day! Cf. 2 Thessalonians 1:6-10; John 3:18,36; Mark 16:15-16.

Dear Lord Jesus, our God and Savior, grant us faith to hear and heed Your words that we might repent of our sins and iniquities and trust in You and Your cross for mercy and forgiveness and life everlasting. Amen.

[Devotion by Randy Moll. Scripture quotations are from the King James Version of the Bible.]

Editorial on 01/31/2018