Mark 1:2-3 (NKJV) 2 As it is written in the Prophets: “Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, Who will prepare Your way before You.”
3 “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the LORD; Make His paths straight.’ “
After introducing us to Jesus – the Son of God – Mark tells us that Jesus also was introduced by another – in fact by two other prophets: by Isaiah’s prophecy that a “voice crying in the desert” would announce the coming of the Lord (Isaiah 40:3), and by identifying John the Baptist as that person who would announce the presence of God in the person of Jesus Christ (Mk 1:2-3). Jesus said that John was the greatest prophet of the Old Testament era (Matt 11:11, 14). John the Baptist held the prophet’s role by becoming a voice for the Lord. But he fulfilled that role by pointing the people of his time to Jesus – the Lord and Son of God! Perhaps this is why Jesus said that he was the greatest prophet of his day.
Are there still prophets of God today? I believe there are because God has given a message to be proclaimed throughout His church. The New Testament speaks of several men who exercised prophetic gifts of the Spirit, and the gift of prophecy was specifically encouraged for the life of the church by the apostle Paul (1Cor 12:10, 14:1-5, 14:23-25, 14:29-32). The prophet’s voice was needed in the New Testament church – and it is still needed today! Let those who speak for God speak with the voice and unction of the Holy Spirit – just as when John the Baptist preached by pointing people to Jesus (John 1:29, 34)! For there is salvation in no other name than Jesus the Lord (Acts 4:12).
The OT prophets pointed Israel to their coming Messiah, the NT prophets pointed people to Jesus the Messiah and Son of God, and today the church must continue its prophetic role to the nations by pointing people to Jesus who is Lord – risen and reigning with God the Father until every enemy has become a footstool for His feet (Ps 110:1). For there will come a day when every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father (Phil 2:9-11).
If you have been entrusted by the Lord to speak to His people, then let your voice be that of a prophet of God! And point them to Jesus!
