Fifth Sunday after Trinity – Saturday

The Lord, 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. – Deuteronomy 18:15.

The work, for which our Lord Jesus came into the world, was to redeem and save us. For this purpose, He was sent by the Father. To accomplish this work, He was anointed into a three-fold office: that of Prophet, Priest, and King. Thus, He is called “the Anointed,” the “Messiah,” the “Christ.” He is the great Prophet, whose coming Moses foretold to the people of Israel in the words of Scripture quoted above.

As our Prophet, He revealed Himself to be the Son of God and Redeemer of the world by His preaching and miracles. And He did this in a way that no other prophet could do. For “no man hath seen God at any time; the only-begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, He hath declared Him” (John 1:18). Of Him the Father says: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye Him” (Matthew 17:5).

And how does He fulfill the duties of His prophetic office still today? He does this through the mouths of those who preach His Word. He ordered His disciples and apostles to preach His Word and, by inspiration of the Holy Ghost, to put it down in writing. And what has thus been written, His Word. is to be proclaimed on earth to the end of days. And to His servants, who proclaim this His Word, He says: “He that heareth you heareth Me; and he that despiseth you despiseth Me; and he that despiseth Me despiseth Him that sent Me” (Luke10:16).

So, at all times, He, He alone, is the Prophet, the One whose Word is being proclaimed. Even in the Old Testament, He was the Prophet, He, the Son of God, who was to become man. For the prophets, who prophesied of the grace that should come, did this by “the Spirit of Christ that was in them” (I Peter 1:11).

My dear Christian, Jesus Christ is your only Prophet, or Preacher. Continue to listen to no other one! Continue to accept no one besides Him! Continue to hear His Word only, His Word, I say, and nothing else!

PRAYER – Lord Jesus, help me, a poor sinner, to continue to listen to no one, no matter who he is or whence he comes, in everything pertaining to my salvation, but to Thee only. Thou art the Great Prophet come from heaven. Thy Word is the infallible Truth. To this Word, let me continue to cling, O Jesus; let me continue to trust in it; let me continue to depend on it in life and death. Amen.

O God, how sin’s dread works abound;

throughout the earth no rest is found;

and falsehood’s spirit wide has spread;

and error boldly rears its head.

—

A trusty weapon is Thy Word,

Thy Church’s buckler, shield, and sword.

Oh, let us in its power confide,

that we may seek no other guide!

(Hymn 292, st. 5 and 8; TLH)