Jesus often foretold that He would be killed by the Jewish and Roman leaders (Matthew 16:4; 17:12,23; 20:18-19; 26:2). His death, He said, would be by crucifixion, in which a person was nailed to a wooden cross and left to die in great pain. He explained that His death would allow people to be forgiven of their sins (Matthew 20:28; 26:28). Yet, along with predictions of His death, Jesus promised that His greatest “sign” would be to return from death in just three days (Matthew 12:38-40; 17:23; John 2:19-22).
As is well-recorded by history, Jesus actually went on to fulfill that promise (Matthew 28; John 20; Acts 2)! Not even the greatest prophet, priest or king had ever dared to make such a promise for himself. And certainly none had been able to raise himself from the grave. Jesus, by God’s power, both predicted it and accomplished it. Could there be any doubt that the Prophet foretold by Moses had finally arrived?
Peter was one of the eyewitnesses of these things. He had once fled from the enemies who killed Jesus. But after Jesus had returned from death, Peter knew that death was not to be feared any longer. With the help of God’s Spirit, Peter stood before the same enemies and boldly declared,
”And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled… Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you. And it shall be that every soul who does not listen to that prophet shall be destroyed from the people.’ And all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those who came after him, also proclaimed these days (Acts 3:17-18; 22-24).
Peter quoted from the very passage we have studied—Deuteronomy 18. That passage, he said, looked ahead to Jesus Christ. Indeed, all the “prophets” had pointed forward to this one great Prophet! Since Jesus is the Prophet like Moses, He is now the Mediator between God and men (1 Timothy 2:5). That is why we are told, “listen to him in whatever he tells you” (Acts 3:22).
What if we fail to listen to Jesus? We miss God’s most important message for life. We bring on ourselves this terrible result:
And it shall be that every soul who does not listen to that prophet shall be destroyed from the people (Acts 3:23).
Such a person can no longer belong with God and His people! This is a serious matter. Our lives depend on listening carefully to the Prophet like Moses.
Let’s Sum Up
God’s fiery presence is too great for us. We cannot bear to see and hear Him in a direct way. Therefore God speaks to us through a go-between (a mediator). For the Jews at Sinai that mediator was Moses. At that time God promised Another to come, a Prophet like Moses. The New Testament proves that this new Mediator is Jesus Christ. His message must be treated with full respect if we are to have life with God and His people.
Lord Most High, You dwell in light far too bright and glorious for us. In Your love for us, You planned ahead to meet our need for a mediator. How we thank You for sending the greatest Prophet and Mediator, Jesus Christ! Help us to be open to the words You gave to Him for us…