28 Jesus the Prophet

Luke has placed the first main section of Jesus’ teaching at the end of chapter 6 called the ‘Sermon on the Plain’. Following this, the focus of chapter 7 is the central question "Are you the expected one?". Luke has placed this after the first main section of teaching about the Kingdom of God. Between this teaching and before the important question, he has included two miracles. These provide a context for the response to the question, enabling a report of what has been seen and heard, seeing miracles and hearing the gospel.

There is also some deeper significance in the choice of these miracles as examples. They underline the prophetic role, with Jesus taking over the mantle from John the Baptist, John being the last prophet of the old age and Jesus the prophet ushering in the new age of the Kingdom of God.

Jesus goes back to Capernaum and it is as though he re-commences his ministry to underline his prophetic purpose.

After Jesus proclaims his prophetic role (repeated in his response to John’s disciples) he refers to two miracles carried out by the prophets Elijah and Elisha. The two miracles carried out by Jesus, explained here, are similar to those carried out by Elijah and Elisha.

The centurion as a man of authority asking Jesus to heal his servant has parallels to the healing of Naaman an army commander by Elisha, where in this case it was a servant who helped him.

The resurrection of the boy by Jesus has similarities with Elijah at Zarapheth and Elisha at Shunem. Each helps a grieving widow following the death of an only son. This is a picture of despair, no future, no-one to inherit. The resurrection of the child brings new life, new hope, a future.

The miracles confirm the prophetic credentials. "Now I know that you are a man of God and that the word of the Lord in your mouth is truth". "Then she went in and fell at his feet and bowed herself to the ground", "A great prophet has arisen among us", "God has visited His people".

In the times of Elijah and Elisha, God spoke and acted through His prophets. This continued until John the Baptist the last of the prophets heralding the arrival of the 'great prophet'.

Jesus is a prophet like Elijah and Elisha. The people recognise that there is power behind the words.

Jesus expresses a greater confidence and authority. He heals the servant without having to be there, then stops a funeral procession and raises the dead child with only a word.

What Jesus states, he demonstrates.

The person in authority is the one who recognises the greater authority of Jesus. There is a marked contrast to the religious leaders of the day who do not recognise or exercise authority correctly!

Jesus is the new prophet, re-interpreting the Old Testament. He touches a dead body which should make him unclean, but resurrection makes it clean.

Jesus demonstrates power over death.

Miracles are signs that point to the Kingdom of God. Sometimes they help to demonstrate what faith is about. However, at other times Jesus just acts out of compassion. Here he instigates faith where there is none.

Jesus demonstrates the Kingdom of God but not by identifying himself as the King. In this context it is not John the Baptist who is the prophet and Jesus the king. Jesus is the great prophet bringing God's word to the people, embodying the word in himself, in all he says and does. He is the ultimate prophet, the Word of God made flesh.

The question “Are you the expected one?” is significant. There were many who claimed to be the Messiah, but although Jesus fulfilled the requirements, his lifestyle and actions seemed to be radically different from that to be expected. E.g. see Lifestyle Choices.

The expected one was ‘the coming one’ prophesied in the Old Testament, clearly visible to those who have faith. The coming one was associated with the ‘Son of Man’. See Study Son of Man.

We sometimes think we need to seek out Jesus. However Jesus is the coming one, he actively seeks us out, he comes to us.

In the early church the people used to proclaim ‘Maranatha’. It means something like ‘Our Lord, come’. It is the call that ends the bible wording (Revelation chapter 22 verse 20). Our hope is that Jesus is coming again to fully establish the Kingdom of God on earth.

Background

Luke chapter 7 verses 1 to 28 - When he (Jesus) had completed all his discourse in the hearing of the people, he went to Capernaum. And a centurion's slave, who was highly regarded by him, was sick and about to die. When he heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders asking him to come and save the life of his slave. When they came to Jesus, they earnestly implored him, saying, "He is worthy for you to grant this to him; for he loves our nation and it was he who built us our synagogue." Now Jesus started on his way with them; and when he was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends, saying to him, "Lord, do not trouble yourself further, for I am not worthy for you to come under my roof; for this reason I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you, but just say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I also am a man placed under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to this one, 'Go!' and he goes, and to another, 'Come!' and he comes, and to my slave, 'Do this!' and he does it." Now when Jesus heard this, he marvelled at him, and turned and said to the crowd that was following him, "I say to you, not even in Israel have I found such great faith." When those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the slave in good health. Soon afterwards he went to a city called Nain; and his disciples were going along with him, accompanied by a large crowd. Now as he approached the gate of the city, a dead man was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow; and a sizeable crowd from the city was with her. When the Lord saw her, he felt compassion for her, and said to her, "Do not weep." And he came up and touched the coffin; and the bearers came to a halt. And he said, "Young man, I say to you, arise!" The dead man sat up and began to speak. And Jesus gave him back to his mother. Fear gripped them all, and they began glorifying God, saying, "A great prophet has arisen among us!" and, "God has visited His people!" This report concerning him went out all over Judea and in all the surrounding district.

The disciples of John reported to him about all these things. Summoning two of his disciples, John sent them to the Lord, saying, "Are you the expected one, or do we look for someone else?"

When the men came to him, they said, "John the Baptist has sent us to you, to ask, 'Are you the expected one, or do we look for someone else?' " At that very time he cured many people of diseases and afflictions and evil spirits; and he gave sight to many who were blind. And he answered and said to them, "Go and report to John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have the gospel preached to them. Blessed is he who does not take offence at me." When the messengers of John had left, he began to speak to the crowds about John, "What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? But what did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Those who are splendidly clothed and live in luxury are found in royal palaces! But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and one who is more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written, 'Behold, I send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.' "I say to you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he”.

Luke has placed the first main section of Jesus’ teaching at the end of chapter 6 called the ‘Sermon on the Plain’. Following this, the focus of chapter 7 is the central question in verse 19 "Are you the expected one?". Luke has placed this after the first main section of teaching about the Kingdom of God (chapter 6 verses 20 to 49). Between this teaching and before the important question, he has included two miracles. This provides a context for the response to the question, enabling a report of what has been seen and heard (chapter 7 verse 22), seeing miracles and hearing the gospel.

Jesus goes back to Capernaum (chapter 7 verse 1; 4 verse 31) and it is as though he re-commences his ministry to underline his prophetic purpose.

After Jesus proclaims his prophetic role (Luke chapter 4 verses 18,19) (repeated in his response to John in chapter 7 verse 22) he refers to two miracles carried out by the prophets Elijah and Elisha (chapter 4 verses 24 to 27). The two miracles carried out by Jesus recorded in chapter 7 verses 2 to 17 are similar to those carried out by Elijah and Elisha.

The centurion as a man of authority asking Jesus to heal his servant (chapter 7 verses 2 to 10) has parallels to the healing of Naaman an army commander by Elisha (2 Kings chapter 5; Luke chapter 4 verse 27) where in this case it was a servant who helped him.

The resurrection of the boy by Jesus (chapter 7 verses 11 to 17) has similarities with Elijah at Zarapheth (1 Kings chapter 17 verses 1 to 24, Luke chapter 4 verse 26) and Elisha at Shunem (2 Kings chapter 4 verses 8 to 37).

The miracles confirm the prophetic credentials. "Now I know that you are a man of God and that the word of the Lord in your mouth is truth" (1 Kings chapter 17 verse 24). "Then she went in and fell at his feet and bowed herself to the ground" (2 Kings chapter 4 verse 37). "A great prophet has arisen among us", "God has visited His people" (Luke chapter 7 verse 16).

In the times of Elijah and Elisha, God spoke and acted through His prophets. This continued until John the Baptist the last of the prophets heralding the arrival of the 'great prophet' (Luke chapter 3 verses 15,16).

He heals the servant without having to be there (Luke chapter 7 verses 7 to 10), then stops a funeral procession and raises the dead child with only a word (chapter 7 verse 14).

What Jesus states (in Luke 4 verse 18) he demonstrates in Luke 7.

The person in authority is the one who recognises the greater authority of Jesus (chapter 7 verses 8 to 10). There is a marked contrast to the religious leaders of the day who do not recognise or exercise authority correctly! (chapter 7 verse 30).

Miracles are signs that point to the Kingdom of God. Sometimes they help to demonstrate what faith is about (chapter 7 verse 9). However, at other times Jesus just acts out of compassion (chapter 7 verse 13) Here he instigates faith where there is none (verses 16, 22).

Jesus demonstrates the Kingdom of God but not by identifying himself as the King. It is not John the Baptist who is the prophet and Jesus the king. Jesus is the great prophet bringing God's word to the people, embodying the word in himself, in all he says and does. He is the ultimate prophet, the Word of God made flesh (John chapter 1 verses 6 to 15).

The expected one was ‘the coming one’ prophesied in the Old Testament, clearly visible to those who have faith (Isaiah chapter 59 verses 20,21; Habakkuk chapter 2 verses 1 to 4; ; Hebrews chapter 10 verses 37,38; chapter 11). The coming one was associated with the ‘Son of Man’ (Daniel chapter 7 verses 13,14). See Study Son of Man.

In the early church the people used to proclaim ‘Maranatha’. It means something like ‘Our Lord, come’ (1 Corinthians chapter 11 verse 26; chapter 16 verse 22). It is the call that ends the bible wording (Revelation chapter 22 verse 20). Our hope is that Jesus is coming again to fully establish the Kingdom of God on earth.