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JESUS
The Prophet Like Moses |
Deuteronomy 18:15-19 - Jehovah thy God will raise up unto thee a prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken;[16] according to all that thou desiredst of Jehovah thy God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, Let me not hear again the voice of Jehovah my God, neither let me see this great fire any more, that I die not.[17] And Jehovah said unto me, They have well said that which they have spoken.[18] I will raise them up a prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee; and I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.[19] 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.
Jesus evidently referred to this promise by his words recorded at John 5:46. Many of Jesus' words show that he was that prophet like Moses said that Jehovah would raise up. Jesus is recorded as saying: "The words that I tell you, I speak not from myself; but the Father living in me does his works." (John 14:10) and Jesus stated: "The word which you hear isn't mine, but the Father's who sent me." (John 14:24) In effect, Jesus was saying that he was the promised prophet who was to speak Jehovah's words, as Jehovah had stated: "I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command." (Deuteronomy 18:18) In this, Jesus presented Jehovah as only one person, and at the same time he distinguishes himself from being Jehovah who raised him up to be this prophet.
Jehovah also said that this prophet was to "speak in my name" (Deuteronomy 18:19), that is, that the prophet was to speak in the name of Jehovah. This is similar to another prophecy found at:
Psalms 118:26 - Blessed be he that cometh in the name of Jehovah: We have blessed you out of the house of Jehovah.
The speaks of the Messiah as coming in the name of Jehovah. Jesus claimed to be this one when he said to Jerusalem: "You will not see me from now on, until you will say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of [Jehovah].'" (Matthew 23:39; Luke 13:35) Rather than claiming to be Jehovah, Jesus claimed to be the one whom Jehovah had raised up who would speak in the name of Jehovah.
We should note, however, that the extant manuscripts of the New Testament do not show Jesus as having coming in the name as foretold in Deuteronomy 18, but rather they have Jesus claiming to have come in the name of KURIOS (a transliteration of the Greek), meaning "Lord". Translators add "the" before "Lord" to make read "the Lord". Did Jesus change the eternal Holy Name of God to Kurios? We do not believe that he did, nor do we believe that he join with the disobedient Jews who wished to do so. There is nothing in the Bible that authorizes anyone to change God's eternal Holy Name to any other word that does not even mean the same thing. We believe that neither Jesus nor his apostles changed the Holy Name to KURIOS, but that this was done by later copyists. So far, this is the only explanation we have seen that makes sense, in harmony with the scriptures. We have more about this in our studies related to God's Holy Name in the New Testament.
Isaiah 11:1 - And there shall come forth a shoot out of the stock of Jesse, and a branch out of his roots shall bear fruit.
Isaiah 11:2 - And the Spirit of Jehovah shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of Jehovah.
Isaiah 11:3 - And his delight shall be in the fear of Jehovah; and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither decide after the hearing of his ears. -- American Standard Version.
We should note that the promised Messiah was not presented as being Jehovah, but rather that the Spirit of Jehovah would rest upon the Messiah, and that the Messiah was to delight in the fear (or reverence) of Jehovah. The Messiah (Christ) is definitely not being presented as being Jehovah, but is being distinguished from being Jehovah. Of course, many have put a lot of faith in the extra-Biblical idea that Jesus is two natures at the same, one nature being that of the Supreme Being, Jehovah, and another nature of being a human being, Jesus. The reality if that the Bible nowhere ever presents such an idea. Some scriptures are often presented to supposedly support the idea, but none of the scriptures actually say what is being claimed. In all such scriptures, one has to create a lot of assumptions aside from what is actually written, and then overlay the assumption upon the scriptures to make them appear to be supporting what they call the "
dual natures" or "hypostatic union" of the Messiah.
We should also note that the word "spirit" is presented as being a person of Jehovah, but we read that Jehovah's "spirit" was to rest upon the Messiah. The spirit is described with six words (1) wisdom, (2) understanding, (3) counsel, (4) might, (5) knowledge, and (6) fear (reverence).
(God willing, we intend to comment on the scriptures below):
Isaiah 53:1-12 - Who hath believed our message? and to whom hath the arm of Jehovah been revealed?[2] For he grew up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.[3] He was despised, and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and as one from whom men hide their face he was despised; and we esteemed him not.[4] Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows; yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.[5] But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.[6] All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and Jehovah hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.[7] He was oppressed, yet when he was afflicted he opened not his mouth; as a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and as a sheep that before its shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth.[8] By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who [among them] considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living for the transgression of my people to whom the stroke [was due]?[9] And they made his grave with the wicked, and with a rich man in his death; although he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.[10] Yet it pleased Jehovah to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see [his] seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of Jehovah shall prosper in his hand.[11] He shall see of the travail of his soul, [and] shall be satisfied: by the knowledge of himself shall my righteous servant justify many; and he shall bear their iniquities.[12] Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he poured out his soul unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors: yet he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
Isaiah 61:1-2 - The Spirit of the Lord Jehovah is upon me; because Jehovah hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening [of the prison] to them that are bound;[2] to proclaim the year of Jehovah's favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn.
Matthew 7:24 - Every one therefore that heareth these words of mine, and doeth them, shall be likened unto a wise man, who built his house upon the rock.
Matthew 10:40 - He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.
Matthew 20:28 - even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
Matthew 21:9 - And the multitudes that went before him, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed [is] he that cometh in the name of [Jehovah]; Hosanna in the highest.
Mark 8:38 - For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of man also shall be ashamed of him, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.
Mark 9:37 - Whosoever shall receive one of such little children in my name, receiveth me: and whosoever receiveth me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me.
Mark 10:45 - For the Son of man also came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
Mark 11:9 - And they that went before, and they that followed, cried, Hosanna; Blessed [is] he that cometh in the name of [Jehovah].
Luke 4:18 - The Spirit of [Jehovah] is upon me, Because he anointed me to preach good tidings to the poor: He hath sent me to proclaim release to the captives, And recovering of sight to the blind, To set at liberty them that are bruised.
Luke 9:48 - and said unto them, Whosoever shall receive this little child in my name receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me receiveth him that sent me: for he that is least among you all, the same is great
Luke 13:35 - Behold, your house is left unto you [desolate]: and I say unto you, Ye shall not see me, until ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of [Jehovah].
John 1:29 - On the morrow he seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold, the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sin of the world!
John 3:17 - For God sent not the Son into the world to judge the world; but that the world should be saved through him.
John 4:34 - Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to accomplish his work.
John 5:24 - Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth him that sent me, hath eternal life, and cometh not into judgment, but hath passed out of death into life.
John 5:30 - I can of myself do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is righteous; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.
John 5:36 - But the witness which I have is greater than [that of] John; for the works which the Father hath given me to accomplish, the very works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me.
John 5:43 - I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.
John 6:38 - For I am come down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.
John 6:44 - No man can come to me, except the Father that sent me draw him: and I will raise him up in the last day.
John 7:16 - Jesus therefore answered them and said, My teaching is not mine, but his that sent me.
John 7:28 - Jesus therefore cried in the temple, teaching and saying, Ye both know me, and know whence I am; and I am not come of myself, but he that sent me is true, whom ye know not.
John 7:29 - I know him; because I am from him, and he sent me.
John 8:26 - I have many things to speak and to judge concerning you: howbeit he that sent me is true; and the things which I heard from him, these speak I unto the world.
John 8:29 - And he that sent me is with me; he hath not left me alone; for I do always the things that are pleasing to him.
John 12:13 - took the branches of the palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried out, Hosanna: Blessed [is] he that cometh in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel.
John 14:6 - Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life: no one cometh unto the Father, but by me.
John 14:10 - Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I say unto you I speak not from myself: but the Father abiding in me doeth his works.
John 14:24 - He that loveth me not keepeth not my words: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's who sent me.
John 12:44 - And Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me.
John 12:49 - For I spake not from myself; but the Father that sent me, he hath given me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.
John 13:20 - Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.
Acts 2:26-36 - Therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; Moreover my flesh also shall dwell in hope:[27] Because thou wilt not leave my soul unto Hades, Neither wilt thou give thy Holy One to see corruption.[28] Thou madest known unto me the ways of life; Thou shalt make me full of gladness with thy countenance.[29] Brethren, I may say unto you freely of the patriarch David, that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us unto this day.[30] Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins he would set [one] upon his throne;[31] he foreseeing [this] spake of the resurrection of the Christ, that neither was he left unto Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption.[32] This Jesus did God raise up, whereof we all are witnesses.[33] Being therefore by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he hath poured forth this, which ye see and hear.[34] For David ascended not into the heavens: but he saith himself, [Jehovah] said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,[35] Till I make thine enemies the footstool of thy feet.[36] Let all the house of Israel therefore know assuredly, that God hath made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom ye crucified.
Acts 3:13-26 - The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Servant Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied before the face of Pilate, when he had determined to release him.[14] But ye denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted unto you,[15] and killed the Prince of life; whom God raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.[16] And by faith in his name hath his name made this man strong, whom ye behold and know: yea, the faith which is through him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.[17] And now, brethren, I know that in ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers.[18] But the things which God foreshowed by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ should suffer, he thus fulfilled.[19] Repent ye therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, that so there may come seasons of refreshing from the presence of [Jehovah];[20] and that he may send the Christ who hath been appointed for you, [even] Jesus:[21] whom the heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, whereof God spake by the mouth of His holy prophets that have been from of old.[22] Moses indeed said, A prophet shall [Jehovah] God raise up unto you from among your brethren, like unto me. To him shall ye hearken in all things whatsoever he shall speak unto you.[23] And it shall be, that every soul that shall not hearken to that prophet, shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.[24] Yea and all the prophets from Samuel and them that followed after, as many as have spoken, they also told of these days.[25] Ye are the sons of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with your fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.[26] Unto you first God, having raised up his Servant, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from your iniquities.
Romans 5:6 - For while we were yet weak, in due season Christ died for the ungodly.
Romans 5:12-19 - Therefore, as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin; and so death passed unto all men, for that all sinned:--[13] for until the law sin was in the world; but sin is not imputed when there is no law.[14] Nevertheless death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the likeness of Adam's transgression, who is a figure of him that was to come.[15] But not as the trespass, so also [is] the free gift. For if by the trespass of the one the many died, much more did the grace of God, and the gift by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, abound unto the many.[16] And not as through one that sinned, [so] is the gift: for the judgment [came] of one unto condemnation, but the free gift [came] of many trespasses unto justification.[17] For if, by the trespass of the one, death reigned through the one; much more shall they that receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one, [even] Jesus Christ.[18] So then as through one trespass [the judgment came] unto all men to condemnation; even so through one act of righteousness [the free gift came] unto all men to justification of life.[19] For as through the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the one shall the many be made righteous.
1 Corinthians 15:3 - For I delivered unto you first of all that which also I received: that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures.
2 Corinthians 5:21 - Him who knew no sin he made [to be] sin on our behalf; that we might become the righteousness of God in him.
1 John 4:9-10 - Herein was the love of God manifested in us, that God hath sent his only begotten Son into the world that we might live through him.[10] Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son [to be] the propitiation for our sins.
1 John 4:14 - And we have beheld and bear witness that the Father hath sent the Son [to be] the Saviour of the world.
