In Deuteronomy 18, Moses speaks of a prophet like himself who will come to guide the people, a prophecy that Jewish tradition associates with the Messiah. This prophecy finds its fulfillment in Jesus, who, like Moses, communicated God's words to humanity. Understanding this connection enriches our comprehension of Jesus' role as God's ultimate spokesman. Jesus' life, teachings, and miracles all affirm His identity as this promised prophet, bridging the gap between God and humanity. The recognition of Jesus as the fulfillment of this prophecy invites us to listen to His words with the same reverence and obedience that the Israelites were called to have for Moses. [02:43]
Deuteronomy 18:18-19 (ESV): "I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. And I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him. And whoever will not listen to my words that he shall speak in my name, I myself will require it of him."
Reflection: How does recognizing Jesus as the prophet like Moses change the way you listen to His teachings today?
Day 2: The Mystery of Jesus' Dual Nature
The scriptures affirm that Jesus is both fully God and fully man, a profound mystery that is central to His role as the mediator between God and humanity. This dual nature is essential for bridging the gap caused by sin, allowing Jesus to fully represent both God and man. Passages from Philippians and John highlight this truth, emphasizing that Jesus' divine and human natures are not contradictory but complementary. This understanding invites us to marvel at the mystery of the Incarnation and to appreciate the depth of God's love in sending His Son to live among us and to redeem us. [10:18]
Colossians 2:9-10 (ESV): "For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority."
Reflection: In what ways does the mystery of Jesus being both God and man impact your relationship with Him today?
Day 3: The Divine Authority of Jesus' Words
Jesus consistently declared that His teachings were not His own but were from the Father who sent Him. This emphasizes the divine authority of His words and the importance of our response to them. Recognizing Jesus' teachings as carrying the weight of divine authority challenges us to align our lives with His words and to take seriously the implications of His teachings for our lives. Our response to Jesus' words is crucial, as it determines our relationship with God and our eternal destiny. [12:33]
John 12:49-50 (ESV): "For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment—what to say and what to speak. And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told me."
Reflection: What is one teaching of Jesus that you find challenging to follow, and how can you begin to align your life with it today?
Day 4: The Question of Christ's Identity
The question "What do you think of Christ? Whose son is He?" challenges us to consider Jesus' true identity. Recognizing Him as the Son of God and the promised Messiah is vital for our faith and salvation. This question is not merely academic but has eternal implications, as our understanding of Jesus' identity shapes our response to Him and our relationship with God. Embracing Jesus as the Messiah invites us to trust in His promises and to follow Him wholeheartedly. [17:07]
Matthew 16:15-16 (ESV): "He said to them, 'But who do you say that I am?' Simon Peter replied, 'You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.'"
Reflection: How does your understanding of Jesus' identity as the Son of God influence your daily decisions and actions?
Day 5: The Eternal Consequences of Our Response
Our acceptance or rejection of Jesus as Savior and Lord is the central issue at the judgment seat of Christ. Embracing Him leads to eternal life, while rejection results in separation from God. This truth underscores the importance of our response to Jesus and the urgency of embracing the salvation He offers. The Bible warns of the consequences of rejecting Jesus, emphasizing that one day we will all stand before Him. Let us choose to be friends of God, embracing the peace, joy, and hope that come from walking with Him. [23:40]
2 Corinthians 5:10 (ESV): "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil."
Reflection: What steps can you take today to ensure that your response to Jesus is one of acceptance and trust in His salvation?
Sermon Summary
In today's message, we explored the profound prophecy found in Deuteronomy 18, where Moses foretold the coming of a prophet like himself, a figure who would speak God's words to the people. This prophecy is widely recognized by Jewish tradition as referring to the Messiah. However, the Jewish rejection of Jesus as the Messiah is often based on the claim that Jesus professed to be the Son of God, which they argue contradicts Moses' prophecy of a prophet like himself. Yet, the scriptures, including Psalms and Isaiah, affirm the Messiah's divine sonship, presenting Jesus as both fully God and fully man.
Jesus' life and teachings consistently demonstrated that He was indeed the promised prophet. He declared that His doctrine was not His own but from the Father who sent Him. His miracles, teachings, and fulfillment of prophecies all point to His divine nature and mission. The New Testament further supports this, with passages from Philippians and John emphasizing Jesus' dual nature as both God and man, and His role as the ultimate spokesman for God.
The critical question posed to us is: What do we think of Christ? Whose son is He? This question is not merely academic but has eternal implications. If Jesus is the Son of God, the promised Messiah, then His words carry the weight of divine authority, and our response to Him determines our eternal destiny. The Bible warns of the consequences of rejecting Jesus, emphasizing that one day we will all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. The issue at that judgment will not be our sins, for they have been atoned for by Christ, but rather our acceptance or rejection of Him as Savior and Lord.
In conclusion, the call is to heed the words of Jesus, to recognize Him as the promised prophet, and to embrace the salvation He offers. This is not a matter to be taken lightly, as it determines our relationship with God and our eternal future. Let us choose to be friends of God, embracing the peace, joy, and hope that come from walking with Him.
Key Takeaways
1. The Prophecy of a Coming Prophet: Deuteronomy 18 foretells a prophet like Moses, recognized by Jewish tradition as the Messiah. This prophecy is fulfilled in Jesus, who, like Moses, speaks God's words to the people. Understanding this connection deepens our appreciation of Jesus' role as God's ultimate spokesman. [02:43]
2. Jesus' Dual Nature: Jesus is both fully God and fully man, a mystery affirmed by scriptures such as Philippians and John. This dual nature is essential for His role as the mediator between God and humanity, bridging the gap caused by sin. [10:18]
3. The Authority of Jesus' Words: Jesus consistently declared that His teachings were from the Father, emphasizing the divine authority of His words. Our response to His teachings is crucial, as it determines our relationship with God and our eternal destiny. [12:33]
4. The Question of Christ's Identity: The question "What do you think of Christ? Whose son is He?" challenges us to consider Jesus' true identity. Recognizing Him as the Son of God and the promised Messiah is vital for our faith and salvation. [17:07]
5. The Eternal Consequences of Our Response: Our acceptance or rejection of Jesus as Savior and Lord is the central issue at the judgment seat of Christ. Embracing Him leads to eternal life, while rejection results in separation from God. [23:40] ** [23:40]
What does Deuteronomy 18:15-19 say about the prophet that God will raise up, and how does this relate to Moses? [02:05]
In Psalm 2:7, what declaration does the Lord make about His Son, and how does this relate to the identity of the Messiah? [07:25]
How does Isaiah 9:6 describe the nature and titles of the child to be born, and what significance do these titles hold? [08:17]
According to the sermon, how did Jesus demonstrate that He was the promised prophet like Moses? [13:26]
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Interpretation Questions:
How does the prophecy in Deuteronomy 18:15-19 deepen our understanding of Jesus' role as God's spokesman? [19:24]
What is the significance of Jesus being both fully God and fully man, as described in the sermon and supported by Philippians and John? [10:18]
How does the Jewish interpretation of Moses' prophecy differ from the Christian understanding, and what are the implications of this difference? [06:31]
Why is the question "What do you think of Christ? Whose son is He?" so crucial to our faith and salvation? [17:07]
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Application Questions:
Reflect on the prophecy in Deuteronomy 18:15-19. How does recognizing Jesus as the promised prophet affect your daily walk with God? [19:24]
Considering Jesus' dual nature as both God and man, how does this understanding influence your relationship with Him and your approach to prayer? [10:18]
The sermon emphasizes the authority of Jesus' words. How can you ensure that you are heeding His teachings in your life? What changes might you need to make? [12:33]
The question of Christ's identity is central to the sermon. How do you personally answer the question, "Whose son is He?" and how does this belief shape your actions and decisions? [17:07]
The sermon warns of the eternal consequences of our response to Jesus. How does this perspective impact your priorities and the way you share your faith with others? [23:40]
Reflect on the idea of being a friend of God versus an adversary. What steps can you take to deepen your friendship with God this week? [25:57]
The sermon concludes with an invitation to embrace the peace, joy, and hope found in walking with God. What specific actions can you take to experience these blessings more fully in your life? [28:42]
Sermon Clips
The Lord your God will raise up unto thee a prophet from the midst of thee of your brothers like unto me unto him you shall hearken according to all that you desired of the Lord your God in Horeb in the day of the assembly saying, let me not hear again the voice of the Lord my God neither let me see this great fire anymore that I die not. [00:01:50]
The rabbis and the Jews accept that as a Prophecy of the Messiah in fact the rabbis today say that the reason why they reject the claim of Jesus as being the Messiah is because Jesus claimed to be the son of God and they said Moses said it would be a man like unto himself and thus because Jesus claimed to be the Son of God they reject his claim as being the Messiah. [00:06:11]
He said I will declare the decree of the Lord, the Lord has said unto me, Thou Art my son this day have I begotten thee. This is equivalent to Jesus saying to Nicodemus, for God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believes in him would not perish but have everlasting life. [00:07:14]
Paul writing to Timothy said great is the mystery of godliness for God was manifested in the flesh so Jesus is both God and man, fully God fully man, great is the mystery of godliness God was manifested in the flesh, in the beginning, John tells us was the word, the word was with God, and the Word was God. [00:10:11]
Listen to what Jesus said, my Doctrine is not mine, but him who sent me, when you have lifted up the son of man then you will know that I am, and that I do nothing of myself, but as the father hath taught me I speak those things, again, but now you seek to kill me a man that has told you the truth which I have heard of God. [00:11:54]
Jesus was declaring to them that he was the prophet that God had promised through Moses that he was speaking to them God's word, he became God's spokesman to man in these last days, Jesus made this claim you cannot deny that, if Jesus was not the promised prophet the promised Messiah, he cannot be considered just a good man. [00:13:28]
If he is not the Son of God those are fraudulent claims, those are lies, and how could you hold up a fraud and a liar to be a great example, a brilliant philosopher, no he was one of the other, he was either a fake and a fraud or he was indeed the promised Prophet that God promised through Moses he was indeed the Son of God the Messiah the savior of the world. [00:15:23]
What do you think of Christ, whose son is he, a very probing question I'd like to ask you that question this morning what do you think of Christ, whose son is he, multiple choice, he was either the son of God, or the son of some Rogue, in Nazareth, whose son is he, throughout his lifetime he claimed to be the son of God. [00:16:51]
God who at different times and in various ways spoke to the fathers has in these last days spoken unto us by his own son, whom he has appointed as the heir of all things and it was by him that he made the universe, the son is the brightness of his glory an exact image of his being he sustains All Things by his powerful word. [00:18:13]
The Bible tells us that one day we will all stand before the Judgment seat of Christ to be judged, you're going to have to answer to God concerning your relationship with Jesus Christ, Jesus said when the Holy Spirit comes he's going to testify of sin, of righteousness and of judgment, of sin because they didn't believe in me. [00:22:32]
The issue will be whether or not you believed that Jesus Christ was the son of God and you obeyed or hearkened to his word that's the issue, and that's what you will answer for, because you see Christ died for the sins of the world, they are all taken care of through the death of Christ, there is only one issue that you'll have to respond to. [00:23:14]
If the word that was spoken by Moses was steadfast and every transgression and Disobedience received a just recompense of reward, how will you escape if you neglect the great salvation that has been offered to you through Jesus Christ, the answer is there will be no Escape only that fearful certain looking forward to the Judgment of God. [00:25:19]