Advent Sunday Week 3: The Prophet in the Manger
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And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one on earth could bleach them. And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. And Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” For he did not know what to say, for they were terrified. And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is my beloved Son; listen to him.” — Mark 9:2-7
You will always have people talking to you. Whether it’s through the daily dose of news, magazine articles, Youtube celebrities, advertisements that pop up in social media, or just friends, family, or even on occasion a total stranger, people always have something to say—be it opinion or information, good or bad, trustworthy or false.
God’s prophets communicated God’s word to God’s people.
Words and communication are so important that God had a special group of individuals whose job it was to communicate God’s word to God’s people so they might know what God’s will was for them. These people were called prophets. Their job was so serious that if they told false information concerning God’s message, they were to be severely punished.
With all the information out there and the many messages we receive on a constant basis, God knows that it is vital we receive his message because his message holds life and liberty for all those who hear it and accept it.
The baby in the manger was the perfect prophet of God to whom the Old Testament prophets pointed.
Over the years there were many good prophets, like Moses and Elijah in the Old Testament. Yet, a certain little baby was born in Bethlehem who was the perfect prophet of God. In fact, in the Gospel of John, this baby is called the Word:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1)
Jesus is God revealed in human flesh. And not only was Jesus the revelation of God in the flesh, but he also spoke God’s word faithfully and lived out God’s commandments perfectly.
Jesus was the perfect prophet to whom the godly Old Testament prophets pointed, and in the Gospels we learn about his birth, life, and work telling sinners about the grace and goodness of God. Jesus, the perfect prophet speaking God the Father’s message, was the good message itself.
We need to listen to God’s Son, for salvation only comes through him.
Jesus preached that God the Father had provided a way to salvation, and that he (Jesus) was that way:
“I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)
As you go through this Advent season, many voices will try to get your attention. But these voices can often be distractions from focusing on the one voice that really matters: the voice of Jesus Christ. Because Jesus Christ is God, we find his word to us in the Bible—God’s word.
So as your busy holiday takes shape, remember the command of God the Father from heaven and listen to God’s Son. Spend time reading God’s word, thinking about God’s word, singing about God and his goodness, and praying to God. In this way, the voice of God, the voice of the one who was born in the manger, won’t get lost during this Christmas season.
Click below to read the entire Advent Sunday series!
Part 1: Advent Sunday Week 1: The Story of a Warrior Child
This article was originally published on December 12, 2020.
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