“… Jesus of Nazareth, who was a Prophet, mighty in deed and word …” (Luke 24:19).
In the Old Testament, God appointed men to be prophets, priests, and kings. While one person may have filled one or even perhaps at times two of these offices, no one executed all three. Only in Christ are the three offices of prophet, priest, and king perfectly and completely fulfilled.
According to the Scriptures, a prophet is one who speaks for another. God called Aaron a prophet for Moses (Ex. 7:1) because he would speak on Moses’ behalf. God communicates to the prophet, and the prophet in turn proclaims the message to the people. God said Jeremiah would be His mouth as he spoke to the people (Jer. 15:19). A prophet, therefore, speaks in the name of God and by His authority (Deut. 18:18–19). Unlike a teacher who can expound on the Word of God and proclaim it by His authority, a prophet is inspired by God. Anyone who receives revelation from God is a prophet. That revelation comprises instruction, blessings and curses, and future predictions.
We find a number of prophets in the Old Testament—Moses, Isaiah, Elijah, Jeremiah. The Messiah was predicted to be a prophet who would proclaim the mind of God to man. Jesus fulfilled this prophecy when He proclaimed that the word He spoke was not His own but His Father’s (John 14:24). Luke confirms the prophetic role of Christ: “… Jesus of Nazareth who was a prophet mighty in deed and word …” (Luke 24:19).
How did and does Christ execute His prophetic office? First, He is the eternal Word. He is the embodiment of knowledge and truth. Being the truth, in Him dwell all wisdom, knowledge, and understanding. Second, He made known this knowledge to His people in the Old Testament era through prophets who spoke His Word. Third, He executed this office while on earth through the proclamation of woes and blessings, through instruction of the law, discourses, and parables concerning the kingdom. Fourth, since His ascension into heaven He performs the same office through the revelation of the Gospel, by the influence of the Holy Spirit who illuminates the truth of the Scriptures in the hearts of men and who renders it effectual unto salvation.
God created man in His own image, in knowledge, holiness, and righteousness. These attributes correspond with the offices of prophet, priest, and king. How as a new creature in Christ do you reflect the office of prophet? Read Colossians 3:10. How committed are you in growing in knowledge so you can declare the truth?
