There must have been excitement in Philip’s voice when he said to Nathanael, “We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write…” (John 1:45). Not only did Moses write of Jesus in various passages throughout the Pentateuch, he also prefigured (foreshadowed) the Christ personally. Both of these realities are brought out in Deuteronomy 18:15-19. The apostle John gives clear evidence in his gospel account that the Jewish people of the first century were looking for the Prophet of Deuteronomy 18. However, it seems there was not a clear consensus as to whether that Prophet and the Messiah would be one and the same (cf. John 1:21, 25; 6:14-15; 7:40-41).
Inspired spokesmen in the early church made it clear that Jesus Christ was that Prophet. In application to Jesus, the apostle Peter quoted the first and last verses in the Deuteronomy passage.
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).
Some time later, in the very sermon that would cost him his life, Stephen quoted the same passage. “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). Stephen had been charged with teaching that Jesus would change the customs delivered to the Jewish people by Moses (Acts 6:14). Using the Deuteronomy passage he pointed out that even Moses himself had said that people would be obligated to follow that Prophet.
Original Context. Moses’ foretelling of the ultimate Prophet is found in a context that indicates the importance of Divine revelation. Israel would be supplanting many nations that had resorted to various forms of witchcraft and divination. Moses taught these were an abomination to the LORD (Deu. 18:12), and that Israel would not do such things. “For these nations, which thou shalt possess, hearkened unto observers of times, and unto diviners: but as for thee, the LORD thy God hath not suffered thee so to do,” (Deu. 18:14). Such a prohibition preceded the great Messianic prophecy of verses fifteen through nineteen. God is the only source of true revelation, and He would one day provide the ultimate revelation through His Son (cf. John 1:17-18). Following the great prophecy, Moses went on to warn Israel about false prophets (Deu. 18:20-22). Jesus would be authenticated not only by His attending miracles (Acts 2:22), but also by His sayings actually coming to pass (cf. Luke 24:5-8; John 2:22; et al.).
Divinely Ordained. The great Prophet foretold by Moses would not be a presumptuous imposter, but would be sent from God Himself. “The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet…” and “I will raise them up a Prophet…” (Deu. 18:15a, 18a). This characteristic sets the Christ in stark contrast to all false prophets who have ever been or will ever be. Unlike the false prophets mentioned by John (1 John 4:1), Jesus was actually sent into the world by God the Father (John 8:42). He was sanctified, or consecrated by God, for His unique role (John 10:36; cf. Heb. 10:5, 7).
A Jewish Prophet. Though Messiah would be “a light to the Gentiles” (Isa. 49:6), Moses made it clear that He would be of the Israelite nation. “…from the midst of thee, of thy brethren…” and “…from among their brethren…” (Deut. 18:15b, 18b). God had promised Abraham that through his seed all families (nations) of the earth would be blessed (Gen. 12:3; 22:18). This promise was channeled through Isaac (Gen. 17:19) and Jacob (cf. Num. 24:17), and further still through Judah and David (Gen. 49:10; 2 Sam. 7:12-13). Simply put, Jesus was born into the Jewish nation and lived as a Jew under the Law of Moses (Gal. 4:4; cf. Rom. 9:4-5). His authority and gospel, however, extend to all nations (Matt. 28:18-20).
Similar to Moses. Moses described the future Prophet as One “like unto me” (Deu. 18:15c). Moses had been interposed as mediator between God and Israel at Sinai (Deu. 5:22-28). The people had requested such an arrangement out of their fear at the terrible spectacle observed on the mount, and God had approved the request, stating that the people had spoken well (Deu. 18:17). In this way the mediation of Moses was a source of relief and consolation to the people. At the same time this arrangement emphasized and honored the utter holiness of God. Sinful Israel needed a mediator in their approach before the sinless God. The same can be said of all humanity. God’s desire is that all men be saved, and He has thus provided one Mediator sufficient to meet the needs of all (1 Tim. 2:4-6).
Jesus Christ is like unto Moses in a number of ways. Certainly He is a Prophet like none other (cf. Num. 12:7-8; Deu. 34:10), being God’s only begotten Son (cf. John 3:35; 5:23; Heb. 1:1-2). He is definitely faithful in all God’s house (cf. Heb. 3:1-6)—even more faithful than Moses (cf. 1 Pet. 2:22). Most importantly, however, He is the mediator of a better testament, the new testament (Heb. 7:22; 8:6; 9:15; cf. Gal. 3:19). All who will be saved today must hear and submit to the words of God given through His Son. “And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him,” (Deu. 18:19). “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him,” (John 3:36).