Great Doctrines of the Bible—God the Father, God the Son/ Martyn Lloyd Jones

26. Christ the Prophet 

Prophet is “‘a man of God’, a messenger from God, one who has been given a word to speak by God” (292). In addition to foretelling, prophets “were sent by God to warn people, to chastise and rebuke them, to remind them of the character of the law, and of God’s promise” (292). 

Jones tells us that we “need a prophet because we need to be delivered and saved from the ignorance of sin” (291). Here, Christ “represents God with us; He speaks for God and from God to us” (292). 

Christ is the Prophet. Look at Deuteronomy “The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers—it is to him you shall listen” (18:15). The Gospel of John tells us, “When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, ‘This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!’” (6:14). Jesus Christ also claimed to be a prophet (Luke 13:33). In John we read, “For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment—what to say and what to speak. And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told me” (12:49-50). 

It is essential that Jesus Christ exercised the prophetic function “even before the incarnation, even before He came into this world” (See John 1:9) (293). There is light in the world, such as glimmers of moral and intelligent enlightenment. Lord Jesus also came as the Angel of the Covenant to teach, instruct and warm (Isaiah 9:6) (294). Lord Jesus Christ also exercised the prophetic function here on earth after the incarnation (See John 8:12). He is the light of the world who came to teach. After His ascension, He exercised His prophetic function through the Holy Spirit. Finally, “He will continue in this prophetic office until He has ultimately presented us spotless before God” (295).