Jesus and the Prophets

“Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.” Matthew 5:17. A standard Greek lexicon defines the word here translated “fulfill,” as follows: “Universally and absolutely, to fulfill, i.e. to cause God’s will (as made known in the law) to be obeyed as it should be, and God’s promises (given through the prophets) to receive fulfillment: Matthew 5:17.” J. H. Thayer, A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament, page 518. Christ came to demonstrate that it was possible to live the whole of God’s will as expressed in His word. His words in this verse voice the theme of Jesus’ relationship to the prophets during the years of His earthly life. However, there was much more than that to the total relationship.APAY 130.3

Christ’s interest in and contact with the prophets did not begin when He was a man in Galilee and Judea. As a member of the Godhead, before His incarnation, He was responsible, with the co-operation of the Holy Spirit, for every communication that reached the prophets. It was “the Spirit of Christ” in the prophets, Peter declared, that “testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.” 1 Peter 1:11. The predictions Jesus fulfilled during His earthly life and ministry were the exact ones His Spirit had prompted the prophets to record. As a child He had studied them at His mother’s knee as He “increased in wisdom and stature” with the passing years. Luke 2:52. He revealed His respect for the messages of the prophets not only by formal statements, but by repeated reference to the things they had recorded. “And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.” Luke 24:27. “If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.” Luke 16:31.APAY 131.1

The relation becomes closer when we realize that Jesus Himself was a prophet. Speaking prophetically of His imminent rejection at Nazareth, the Saviour said of Himself, “Verily I say unto you, No prophet is accepted in his own country.” Luke 4:24. He abundantly fulfilled all the requirements for a true prophet, even using some of His predictions as verification of His Messiahship. “Now I tell you before it come, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am He.” John 13:19. Among His best-known prophecies are those of the signs of His second advent, recorded in Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21.APAY 131.2

In His rebuke to the scribes and Pharisees in Matthew 23, Jesus assured them that there were more prophets yet to come. Verse 34. He revealed His divinity in His statement that He would send the prophets. “Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city.” The prophetic ministry, originated to communicate with fallen men, was used by the Son of God to perpetuate His own ministry. Now that He had come to earth as a living revelation of the character of His Father, it would be necessary for additional prophets and prophetic writers to herald His first advent, and they would focus particular attention on His second coming. It would need to be made clear that the ceremonial system with its sacrifices had come to an end. Principles would need to be applied in the light of the way demonstrated in the life of the Redeemer. Studied in the light of these developments, Old Testament predictions would take on new meaning, and the significance of the whole would need to be explained to old and new believers. New lands were to be reached with the gospel message, and they would need the word to be brought to them in the light of their situation and problems. Prophets would be needed, and they would be sent to do a special work.APAY 132.1

The association of Jesus with the prophets, personally and through their writings, was intimate. His words indicate clearly that through these same writings we may enjoy an intimate fellowship. Our Bible is made up of the communications sent through the prophets. The word of God presents to us the message the Lord would bring if He were to communicate to each one personally. It is the written word; but the expression “Word” is used in another significant way. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us.” John 1:1, 14. As the Bible is the written expression of the will of God, so Christ is the living manifestation of that will. Thus the messages of the prophets and the life of the Saviour become one in their purpose, theme, and accomplishment. Christ can never be separated from His unique relationship to the prophets.APAY 132.2