#DailyDevotion Who Is Jesus, Yeshua Of Nazareth?

Mark 6:14 King Herod heard of it, for Jesus’ name had become known. Some said, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead. That is why these miraculous powers are at work in him.” 15 But others said, “He is Elijah.” And others said, “He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.” 16 But when Herod heard of it, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised.”

There is always the question, “Who is Jesus?” That is how the death of John the Baptist’s death comes into the gospel of Mark. Jesus of Nazareth comes suddenly on the scene doing miracles and teaching boldly out of nowhere and it was making people wonder about who he actually was.

Some thought he might be Elijah. Elijah was predicted to come before he restoration of Israel. Elijah was a mighty prophet who did miracles who was caught up to heaven. Here Jesus was doing many miracles, healing the sick, the lame, leapers and even raising the dead. If there were a candidate for Elijah, Jesus could have been him. But Jesus tells us that John the Baptist fulfilled the prophecy concerning Elijah’s return here: Mar 9:13 “But I tell you that Elijah has come, and they did to him whatever they pleased, as it is written of him.”

Is Jesus a prophet like one of the prophets of old? Indeed, Jesus is a prophet for he proclaimed the word of the Lord faithfully. But Jesus is more than just a prophet like the prophets of old.  Jesus is the ‘the’ prophet foretold by Moses. Deu 18:15 “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—18-19 I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. And I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him.  (19)  And whoever will not listen to my words that he shall speak in my name, I myself will require it of him.” Jesus is this prophet. He is like Moses because he speaks directly to the Father and the Father gives him directly what to speak. Joh 12:49-50 “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.  (50)  And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told me.” Like Moses, Jesus institutes a new covenant, but this one is not made with the blood of bulls and goats but with his own blood. By this covenant God makes for himself a people of every language, tribe, people and nation.

Is Jesus John the Baptist raised from the dead? No, but John was a mighty prophet who called Israel to repentance and pointed to Israel the way of leveling the hills and filling the valleys, he pointed us to Jesus saying, Joh 1:29 …“Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! That is who Jesus is. He is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world by paying the penalty for that sin in his death on the cross. All who look to Jesus, believe in his name, and trust his work on the cross satisfied the penalty for sin receive eternal life and the resurrection of the righteous.

Heavenly Father, we thank you for sending your Son Jesus Christ to be the prophet who speaks your word to us and offered himself as our atoning sacrifice for sin. Grant us faith always to believe this good news and live our lives in faith towards you and love towards our fellow man. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.