Hear Him!

"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)

This was one of the foremost prophecies of the Old Testament respecting the coming of Jesus Christ, the Messias. He would be called "that prophet whom Moses wrote about." Thus, when the Lord Jesus Christ "arrived on the scene," he was recognized by many as being "that prophet."

"And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No...And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet?" (John 1: 21, 25)

"Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph." (John 1: 45)

"Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world." (John 6: 14)

"Many of the people therefore, when they heard this saying, said, Of a truth this is the Prophet." (John 7: 40)

The message that Jesus of Nazareth is "that prophet" continued to be proclaimed after the death and resurrection of Jesus, and forming the heart of the gospel message that was delivered by the Jewish apostles to their unbelieving Jewish brothers in the Hebrew nation. So the apostle Paul, when on trial for his preaching of Jesus as "that prophet," said in his defense:

"Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come." (Acts 26: 22)

Even before Paul was converted to Christ, Peter and the other first apostles had been declaring Jesus as "that prophet."

"For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you. And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people." (Acts 3: 22, 23)

"This is that Moses, which said unto the children of Israel, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear." (Acts 7: 37)

One of the chief aspects of the prophecy of Moses was his command that all "hear" and obey God's Messiah. "HEAR HIM!" Or, "listen to him," or "pay attention to what he says to you!" Or, perhaps - "hear ye, hear ye, the Lord Messiah speaks!"

What will be the fate of those who do hear the Messiah? What will be the destiny of those who reject hearing the Messiah? What did the prophecy say? "Whoever will not hear that prophet shall be destroyed from among the people."

This message of "hear him" is so important that Lord God, the Father, did himself utter this message to the people, with audible voice, perhaps on more than one occasion.

"Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid." (Matthew 17: 4-6)

"Hear ye him!" In other words, Lord God was saying to Peter - "Shut up! Quit talking and listen to what my Son is saying!" Peter was talking when he ought to have been listening! Who was he to usurp the time and presume to speak when a far superior person and speaker is in his midst!

But, Peter acted here, as he did on other occasions, in a hasty spirit, putting his tongue in motion without first engaging his spiritual brains, speaking on this occasion when "he knew not what to say"! (Mark 9: 6)

"The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things." (John 4: 25)

Not only did those in Israel, who looked for "that prophet," God's Messiah, know their obligation to "hear" and obey this Lord Messiah, but they expected him to speak great and marvellous things, out of God like wisdom. "He will tell us all things." And Peter, after the resurrection of Christ, says to him "Lord, you know all things." (John 21: 17)

"His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it." (John 2: 5)

That was certainly good advice from Mary, the mother of Jesus! It was not only good for the occasion when it was uttered, but good and appropriate for every situation. Lord God says to all men - "Hear My Son!" And - "Whatever he tells you to do, do it!"

"Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net." (Luke 5: 4, 5)

Here was an occasion where the faith and obedience of Peter, to the words of Christ his Lord, was truly "put to the test." Here is where he was tested to see if he is "walking by faith," or "walking by sight."

He had toiled all night and had not caught a single fish! Yet, the Master says - "Now go back out there and catch the biggest catch ever!" What is he to do? Trust his logic? Trust his feelings? No, it was to trust the word and wisdom of his Lord and Master!

"Nevertheless at your word," or "because it is you who are bidding me," I will do it, even though it makes no sense scientifically. I will "hear him"!

But, how do we hear? Do we hear superficially, hear without believing and without heeding? Jesus said - "Take heed therefore how ye hear" (Luke 8: 18). And - "He that hath ears to hear, let him hear." (Matthew 11: 15) He queried others, asking them -

"Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word." (John 8: 43)

They heard audibly what he was saying to them. They heard it, however, only on the lowest level. They did not really hear as to perceive and understand, and so as to accept as true. They were hearing Christ, but they were "just not getting it."

"Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him." (Luke 15: 1)

"And he taught daily in the temple...for all the people were very attentive to hear him." (Luke 19: 47, 48)

"And all the people came early in the morning to him in the temple, for to hear him." (Luke 21: 38)

All should follow the example of the people mentioned in these verses! We should all be eager to hear the Lord of Heaven and Earth as he speaks to us! How tragic that the words of the King of kings is ignored, and slighted, and unheeded!

"Doth our law judge any man, before it hear him, and know what he doeth?" (John 7: 51)

Is this not what many do in regard to the message of the gospel? Do they not often reject it before they have given it a full and complete and attentive hearing? Why do men reject the Bible without first reading it?

"And many of them said, He hath a devil, and is mad; why hear ye him?" (John 10: 20)

That is still the judgment of many who do hear the words of Christ. Yet, the record remains that "whoever does not hear that prophet will be destroyed."

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life." (John 5: 24)

"He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me." (Luke 10: 16)