Christ Our Prophet
Jared Mellinger
Hebrews 1:1-4
December 31, 2023
Sermon Audio
Sermon Recap PDF
Sermon Theme: This sermon considers specifically what it means that Christ is our prophet. What does it mean to you, what does it mean to the believer, what does it mean to the church that Christ is our prophet?
“We see in the introduction of Hebrews that Jesus is the prophet, priest, and king. He is the prophet, for God’s final word is spoken by him and in him. He is the priest by whom final cleansing of sins is accomplished. He is the king who reigns at God’s right hand.” –Thomas Schreiner
“The threefold office of Christ shows us the comprehensive nature of both sin’s corruption and Christ’s salvation.” — Stephen Wellum
I. God is a speaking God
“Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets” — Hebrews 1:1
- God has not only created people, but God graciously communicates with those He has made.
- He has spoken not just on occasion, according to verse one, but many times and in many ways, recorded for us in God’s word.
- Through the Old Testament prophets from Moses all the way to Malachi, God was speaking. God was authoritatively making Himself known and revealing His will through the prophets.
- The Prophet was a messenger and representative of God, and prophets saw things that others did not see. And they represented God to the people by speaking the authoritative word of God.
II. We are all truth denying people
- We are all naturally blind; we are all naturally in darkness (see Romans 1). This is why we need a prophet. We need someone from the outside to take the initiative toward us, to open our blind eyes.
- This is why God, in His great kindness, has spoken a final word—a continuation of what He spoke through the prophets, yes, but in another sense, altogether different from anything He had ever spoken. He spoke a final word at so great a cost to Himself.
- He has spoken a word that is far greater than any word He had ever spoken before, making Himself known to all the world long ago.
- At many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets (verse 2). But in these last days, He has spoken to us how? By His Son. God spoke first by the prophets, and He spoke finally by His Son.
III. Christ is the final prophet
- If we want to learn the truth, if we want to learn what the truth is is we must look to Jesus.
“Christ, in his office of prophet, imparts all true knowledge of God and enables us to receive it.” — Mark Jones
- How can we really know what God is like? We look to Jesus and consider Him.
- To those who are weak and weary, to those aware of their own weakness, exhaustion, and sorrow in life — know that you will not find a more tender teacher and patient prophet than what we have in the Lord Jesus Christ (Is.50:4).
- This is what Jesus specializes in: sustaining the weary with a word. It is one of the most glorious aspects of his prophetic ministry. As you spend time in God’s word and dwell upon his truth in this coming year, Christ will be working in that, sustaining and strengthening your soul by giving words to those who are weary.
- Christ continues his prophetic ministry today, teaching us through his Word, through the word of God, through the Scriptures.
Conclusion
“What a glorious Savior he is! …Truly, in Christ alone all our needs are met completely and perfectly. Our need for truth is found in him as the final prophet and revelation of God. Our need for a righteous standing before God is achieved by him as our priestly representative, substitute, and new covenant head. Our need to have our rebel hearts subdued, our enemies defeated, and the new creation inaugurated and ultimately consummated is accomplished by him alone as our conquering king. Christ’s threefold office brings into focus the glory of his person and his saving work.” — Stephen Wellum
- What does it mean to be a church today that embraces Christ as Prophet and follows him in his prophetic office? One major aspect is that we hold fast to God’s inerrant and inspired Word. It means we are a people of the Word. We hide this Word in our hearts, commit to reading and studying it. The church sees itself as a pillar of truth and is willing to stand upon it even when unpopular.
- Trusting in God’s Word over our understanding is part of this commitment. We desire to be taught.
- We want to learn, grow, and absorb his Word during Sunday sermons, gatherings, and weekly Bible readings. Through all this, the word of Christ dwells richly in us.
- We should eagerly seek instruction in Christian doctrine to deepen our knowledge of God and understand Christian living. As we aim to follow Christ as a prophet, it means we’ll share this truth with others. He’s revealed truth to us, and because we desire this joy to spread, we’ll share the truth he’s graciously made known to us.