Was Jesus more than a prophet?

There are many people who believe that Jesus Christ was a good man. By others, He is considered a prophet. Was Jesus a prophet, or are there indications that He was more than that?

What exactly is a prophet?

A prophet is someone who speaks to people on behalf of God. He explains what God wants and calls people to follow God’s will. Often a prophet warns people of the consequences of their bad deeds. Prophets also announce events that will occur in the future.

The message of the prophets always contains a message of hope. The message usually includes a call to stop sinful behavior and to live the way God wants. A prophet’s message was often not warmly received. Generally speaking, “being a prophet” was on the list of the most dangerous professions.

How do you recognize a true prophet?

Not everyone who claims to be speaking the words of God is also a prophet. God has several ways in which true prophets can be recognized. A prophet often receives predictions that also come true in the near future. For example, the prophet Moses predicted that plagues would come upon Egypt. Not long after, ten terrible plagues struck Egypt. In addition, prophets also receive predictions about events that would not happen until (long) after the prophet has died.

Prophets were usually normal people, such as shepherds, farmers, priests, or writers. Each of them was appointed by God for their task. They were all men and women who had a special trust in God. Righteous people with a special connection to God.

Predictions

In the Bible, we can find reports about many prophets. Many of them announce the coming of a savior (“a Messiah”). Someone who would free humanity from the disastrous consequences of their sins.

In the gospel of Luke we can read that this Savior is born. His name is Jesus. He was born of a virgin (Mary), who became pregnant by God’s Spirit (see Luke 1), as prophesied by the prophet Isaiah:

But the Lord will still show you this sign: The young woman is pregnant and will give birth to a son. She will name him Immanuel. Isaiah 7:14

By His birth and during His life, hundreds of prophecies of the Prophets came true. He would be a descendant of David (Jeremiah 23:5 and Isaiah 11:1). His birthplace Bethlehem was prophesied by the prophet Micah (Micah 5:1). The Messiah would come, riding on a donkey (Zechariah 9:9). He would be betrayed for 30 pieces of silver (Zechariah 11:13). David predicts in the Psalms that His hands and feet will be pierced (Psalm 22:17). All of these predictions became a reality during the life of Jesus Christ. There are so many of them that there can be no coincidence or manipulation.

Was Jesus a prophet?

His disciples and many of the people who hear Jesus speaking consider Him to be a prophet, but also to be the long-expected Messiah (Savior);

Jesus said, “What are you talking about?” They said, “It’s about Jesus, the one from Nazareth. To God and to all the people he was a great prophet. He said and did many powerful things. Luke 24:19

We believe in you. We know that you are the Holy One from God.” John 6:69

After Jesus had raised a young man from the dead, He is seen as a prophet by those who are present:

Everyone was filled with fear. They began praising God and said, “A great prophet is here with us!” and “God is taking care of his people.” Luke 7:16

When He goes to Jerusalem just before He will die on the cross, He is welcomed by a large crowd. These people are also convinced that He is a prophet….

Jesus said, “What are you talking about?” They said, “It’s about Jesus, the one from Nazareth. To God and to all the people he was a great prophet. He said and did many powerful things. Luke 24:19

Jesus claims to be a prophet only once;

So they had a problem accepting him. But Jesus said to them, “People everywhere give honor to a prophet, but in his own town or in his own home a prophet does not get any honor.” Matthew 13:57 (see also Luke 4:24 and Luke 13:33)

Healings and miracles

In the gospels (the eyewitness reports of His followers) we can read that He does all kind of things that no ordinary person can do;

• He turns water into wine
• He heals a young man who is sick in bed miles away
• He heals a man who was paralyzed from birth
• He feeds more than 5,000 people
• He walks on water
• He heals blind people
• He raises several people from the dead (including Lazarus)
• He himself rises from the dead

He shows that He is above the laws of nature and has the power to heal people and even to bring them back from the dead.

Was Jesus a great prophet and teacher, one who is a good example for us, or was He more than all that?

Jesus was more than a prophet

Jesus Christ is also called “The Word”. John (one of Jesus’ followers), begins his eyewhitness report with the following words;

In the beginning, before the earth was made, the Word was there. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was there with God in the beginning. Everything was made through him, and nothing was made without him. In him there was life, and that life was light for the people of the world. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not defeated it. There was a man named John, who was sent by God. He came to tell people about the light. Through him all people could hear about the light and believe. John was not the light. But he came to tell people about the light. The true light was coming into the world. This is the true light that gives light to all people.

The Word was already in the world. The world was made through him, but the world did not know him. He came to the world that was his own. And his own people did not accept him. But some people did accept him. They believed in him, and he gave them the right to become children of God. They became God’s children, but not in the way babies are usually born. It was not because of any human desire or plan. They were born from God himself. The Word became a man and lived among us. We saw his divine greatness—the greatness that belongs to the only Son of the Father. The Word was full of grace and truth. John told people about him. He said loudly, “This is the one I was talking about when I said, ‘The one who is coming after me is greater than I am, because he was living before I was even born.’” Yes, the Word was full of grace and truth, and from him we all received one blessing after another. That is, the law was given to us through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

No one has ever seen God. The only Son is the one who has shown us what God is like. He is himself God and is very close to the Father. John 1:1-18

All the prophets before Jesus had given signs. Now those predictions have become a reality: God Himself is coming to earth to carry out His great plan. The plan of salvation by which He made it possible for God to love people without our sins getting in the way. You can read more about this in the main story on this website.

Jesus forgives sins

Jesus not only heals people, but He also forgives their sins. We can see this in the following examples;

When Jesus saw how much faith they had, he said to the paralyzed man, “Young man, your sins are forgiven.” Mark 2:5

Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” Luke 7:48

Jesus makes it very clear here that He does not forgive on behalf of God; He forgives the sins of these people on His own authority . No human being can do that. Jesus shows that He Himself is God and has the authority to forgive sins.

By doing so, He claims to be Godly.

The religious leaders wanted Jesus to die because they feared losing their power. They want Him to be judged by the Roman occupiers, but they cannot find any good charges against Him. The only charge they can find is that Jesus claims to be the Son of God, something that something that could be considered an insult to God. Jesus confirms this claim when He is brought to the High Priest (the religious leader);

But Jesus said nothing to answer him. The high priest asked Jesus another question: “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the blessed God?” Jesus answered, “Yes, I am the Son of God. And in the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right side of God All-Powerful. And you will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven.” Mark 14:61-62

The title “I AM” is the title God uses for Himself. It is an obvious confirmation that Jesus claims to be God Himself;

Then God said to Moses, “Tell them, ‘I AM WHO I AM.’ When you go to the Israelites, tell them, ‘I AM’ sent me to you.” Exodus 3:14

His followers died for the good news

You might think that Jesus was someone with megalomania who believed that He was godly.

He might even have convinced some people of that. However, all the evidence of the fact that He was no ordinary man was so obvious to His followers that they found their lives less important than sharing the good news of Jesus with others. The news that God has come to earth to save us.

Except for John, the other 11 disciples of Jesus were martyred and killed for sharing the good news of Jesus. And not only these 11, but many others find their lives less important than their trust in Jesus. When His message was based on lies or doubtful facts, His disciples and many more followers would not have risked their lives to share the good news of salvation.

More about Jesus Christ

• You can read more about Jesus Christ in this article
• Read about why He is called the Son of God in this article

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