The Gift Of The Prophet
John 9:1-17
Intro: Head that I bought as a senior in H.S.
-made fart sounds
-some would consider this gross
-Time when consumption of gross items rose
-Nickelodeon’s slime; "You can’t do that on Television"
-‘snot’ purchased out of gumball machines
Behavior/ Items which many would consider odd.
Q: Have you ever known anyone who was odd? Strange?
Text: Man blind from birth
-Jesus spits, makes mud, puts it in the man’s eyes
-This is not everyday behavior
When Christ normally healed, He did so in accordance with a person’s faith.
-Centurion
-Woman with a hemorrhage
-Bartimaeus
Outside the Physical
-Demon possessed boy, "If you can", "If I can?! All things are possible to him who believes" (Mark 9:23)
In all these instances, and more, healing arose out of faith
And yet, now Christ does something strange; not because of the man’s faith, "but that the works of God might be made manifest in him." (John 9:3, RSV)
Transition: God is going to use spit and mud to make Himself known to this man.
After his experience, his healing the Pharisees question the man as to his impressions of Christ
The man simply responds that Christ is a prophet
Our First Impressions to the Word "Prophet"
• soothsayer
• preacher
• fortune teller
Our impressions can give an inaccurate, misleading picture of what a prophet truly is
I. Prophet-Purpose of
Deuteronomy 18:15-18 15 Instead, he will choose one of your own people to be a prophet just like me, and you must do what that prophet says. 16 You were asking for a prophet the day you were gathered at Mount Sinai and said to the Lord, "Please don’t let us hear your voice or see this terrible fire again—if we do, we will die!"
17 Then the Lord told me:
Moses, they have said the right thing. 18 So when I want to speak to them, I will choose one of them to be a prophet like you. I will give my message to that prophet, who will tell the people exactly what I have said. (CEV)
Deuteronomy 18:18 and I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him. (RSV)
A prophet is a spokesperson for God; the very voice of God Himself
-intermediary between God and Humanity
Terms for Prophet
1. Nabi (prophet) "One who calls"; "One who is called"
-generally spoke of the right and wrong to the people
2. Hozeh (visionary)
-those who see and interpret the plans of God
3. Ro eh (seer) *archaic by the time of the O.T.
-one who sees, or beholds God’s direction
The prophet’s purpose, or duty was to be a guardian, or protector of the covenant between God and his people. He or she was given special insight into the intricacies of the covenant.
*Like a Referee -both sides are to play fair and by the rules
II. Prophet-Characteristics of
Eight Characteristics which give a picture of what the prophet looked like.
(Adapted from Chuck Swindoll)
1. God’s Mouthpiece
2. Uncompromising Individualism
-though none go with me, still I will follow
-Elijah on Mt. Carmel
3. Rugged Determination
-no matter the cost the word of God will be spoken
-Ezekiel 2
4. Prayer
-constantly connected to God
5. Iconoclast
-critics of that which is seen as revered, or holy
-topics which no one else would touch- the prophet boldly breaks them down in the name of truth
6. Temperamental to Indifference
-to the prophet apathy was the greatest sin
7. Absolute Obedience
8. Revealer of Future Events
III. Christ-Character of a Prophet
In Christ we find the fullness of each of these characteristics
1. God’s Mouthpiece
John 12:49-50 49 I don’t speak on my own authority. The Father who sent me gave me his own instructions as to what I should say. 50 And I know his instructions lead to eternal life; so I say whatever the Father tells me to say!" (The New Living Translation)
2. Uncompromising Individualism
When the teachings of Jesus became difficult to understand and live by many turned away from following him.
Jesus said, "My food is to do the will of Him who sent me and to accomplish His work."
(John 4:34)
3. Rugged determination
Matthew 27:13-14 Then Pilate said to Him, "Do You not hear how many things they testify against You?" But He answered him not one word, so that the governor marveled greatly. (NKJV)
4. Prayer
"I can do nothing of my own authority" John 5:19, 30
5. Iconoclast
"You have heard it said, BUT I say to you..."
"Lord of the Sabbath"
6. Temperamental to Indifference
made charges against the Pharisees for not ministering to the people
7. Absolute Obedience
Temptation: "Serve God and Him only"
8. Revealer of Future Events
The coming Kingdom
IV. Christ-Our Prophet
Our intermediary with the Father
Malachi 4:5 "Look, I am sending you the prophet Elijah before the great and dreadful day of the Lord arrives.
