JESUS: PROPHET OR MESSIAH?The subject of the prophet-hood and messiah-ship of Jesus Christ has been a controversial stance for centuries. The various beliefs about this matter are the dividing lines of many religions of the world. A group believes that Jesus is a prophet like every other prophetTo avoid logomachies and ensure an unprejudiced understanding of this defense, it would be necessary to clearly define the key words of the title from their origin: prophet and messiah. The word prophet originates from two Greek words pro and phts which mean before and speaker respectively. The two words combine in Old French prophete to mean spokesman. A prophet is now defined as a person regarded as an inspired teacher or proclaimer of the will of God. The word messiah on the other hand is derived from the Hebrew ma which means anointed. The Messiah is now defined as the promised deliverer of the Jewish nation prophesied in the Hebrew Bible. The translation of the Hebrew word ma as Khrists in Greek became the accepted designation and title of Jesus of Nazareth. Christians believe that the Messianic prophecies were fulfilled in the mission, death, and resurrection of Jesus and that He will return to fulfill the rest of the Messianic prophecy. The Bible, being the inerrant would serve as our standard in this defense.JESUS: A PROPHETSince a prophet would mean a spokesman of God, it would be impossible to prove that Jesus is a prophet until we establish records of his life and ministry when He spoke as an inspired teacher or proclaimer of the will of God. But what does the Bible have to say about Jesus Christ as a prophet? The role of the prophet in the Old Testament was to foretell the future and the truths about God. Jesus, of course, did both of these things.(i) A Prophet Inspired By GodJohn 8:28 tells us: Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things. This shows clearly that Jesus was a prophet.(ii) A Proclaimer of The Will of GodJesus spoke forth the truths of God when He spoke to the disciples and the crowds in His well-known Sermon on the Mount. "And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: and he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying ... (Matthew 5:1-2). Jesus extensively taught the conditions for the kingdom of God.(iii) A Prophet Telling of Things to comeHe foretold the future when He spoke of the destruction of Jerusalem. "And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto. For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled." (Luke 21:20-22). This event took place later on in history in the year A.D. 70 when Cestius Gallus came against Jerusalem.(iv) A Prophet Like Unto MosesThe LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken... 17 And the LORD said unto me, ... 18 I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him (Deuteronomy 18:15-18)This is one of the earliest Biblical prophecies; and speaks of a prophet who would be raised up from among the Jewish nation. This prophecy has been established to refer to Jesus Christ, because:(i) Moses was an Israelite and Jesus was an Israelite.(ii) Moses was learned. Jesus could read and write (in fact, he severally quoted many scriptures in the Old Testament for his adversary to read).(iii) Moses had a very strong moral discipline with respect to women. He had only one wife whom he temporarily set aside when she was not willing to obey the Law of God (Exodus 4:25,26). The same with Jesus, in fact Jesus never married.(iv) Nobody knows where Moses grave is till today. In fact, the Bible says God buried him. (Deuteronomy 34:5,6). Nobody is sure of Jesus grave except what people referred to as an empty tomb.(v) Moses was so pure that since he was called to be a prophet, there was not a single recorded case where he prayed for forgiveness of his sins rather he only had reasons to pray for the forgiveness of the sins of Israel (Exodus 32:11-14, 33:12-17). Similarly, Jesus was sinless. He only had to pray for the forgiveness of the sins of others (I Peter 2:21-24, Luke 23:34)(vi) Moses saw God in reality as a special privilege (Exodus 33:18-23). Jesus also saw God, in fact He asserted that He came from Him (John 20:17).(vii) On several occasions, God spoke to Moses directly (Numbers 12:7,8) and the same thing with Jesus (John 12:28, Matthew 3:17, 17:5)(viii) Moses was the meekest person on earth at the time he lived(Numbers 12:3) while Jesus reticently called himself meek and asked all to learn from His meekness (Matthew 11:29).(ix) Moses performed miracles and showed many signs and wonders as a confirmation of his prophetic ministry (Acts 7:22; Exodus 7:10 10:29). Similarly, Jesus performed many miracles, healings and deliverances, which are still happening in Jesus name till today (Acts 10:38; Luke 4:18).(x) Moses came with a revelation of God which was not revealed to anybody before his time. Similarly, Jesus came with a revelation not revealed to anybody before his time.(xi) Moses was sure that his name was in the book of life and therefore was sure of going to heaven even before he died (Exodus 32:32,33). The same thing with Jesus (John 14:2-4). In fact, while on earth He claimed He had power on earth to forgive sins (Luke 5:22-24; 7:47,48) and promised paradise to repentant sinners (Luke 23:43).(xii) Moses bodily appeared on the earth again after his death in his full heavenly glory and regalia (Matthew 17:1-6; Mark 9:1-7; Luke 9:27-31). Jesus also bodily appeared to several people many years after His death and resurrection (I Corinthians 15:3-8; Revelation 1:10-18).(xiii) Both Moses and Jesus had death plots initiated against them while they were babies, and were both rescued by divine intervention (Exodus 1:15-16,22, 2:2-10; Matthew 2:13)(xiv) Moses liberated the Israelites from bondage in Egypt, while Christ liberated believers from the bondage of sin (Exodus; Isaiah 53; John 8:32-36).What more proof do we need to ascertain that Jesus is the Prophet promised by God? This explanation is enough for anyone who is not just interested in argument, but is really interested in knowing the truth.JESUS: NOT A MERE PROPHETHaving established that Jesus Christ was a prophet sent by God the Father, it is notable that Jesus was not just a mere prophet. The accounts of the first century show that Jesus did some things and said some things that a mere prophet could not have said or done. (i) In John 5:23, Jesus said That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him. If Jesus were a mere prophet, he would not have requested for worship just as (or in the same way as) God is worshipped. Because this would be great blasphemy against God. Jesus commanded all believers to honour, revere and worship Him just as they honour, revere and worship God. This shows Jesus is not a mere prophet.(ii) Revelation 5:8-14 makes it clear that all creatures in heaven, including angels and elders will worship Jesus forever saying He is worthy to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing forever. If Jesus were a mere prophet, he would not be worshiped like this in heaven. Since this worship is only due to God, this shows Jesus is not a mere prophet.(iii) Philippians 2:6-11 teaches that Jesus pre-existed with the Father in glory. In fact, it tells us that Jesus lowered himself becoming a man. This also shows Jesus has divine power since personally lowering himself and becoming a man would be something impossible except He had the power and abilities of God. Similarly, in John 8:58 Jesus explains His pre-existence as God. "Jesus said unto them, verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am. Notice, Jesus does not only say He was alive before Abraham was born but that He existed as God before Abraham was born since Jesus applied the I Am title to Himself which belongs to God. This shows Jesus is not a mere prophet.(iv) The Bible reveals that Jesus claimed to have the power to raise Himself from the dead once killed. "Jesus answered and said unto them, destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." (John 2:19). "Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again." (John 10:17) No other prophet has ever claimed to be able to do so. Doesnt being able to raise yourself while dead demonstrate that Jesus was still conscious and possessing the divine power necessary to raise Himself bodily? Isnt this something we would only expect God to be able to do if He became man? This shows Jesus is not a mere prophet.(v) Jesus explicitly declared His equality with God. The Jews answered him, saying, for a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God. (John 10:33) Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God. (John 5:18). If Jesus were a mere prophet, He would not have made himself equal with God. In fact, no other prophet has claimed to be God. This shows that Jesus is not a mere prophet.If Jesus is not a Prophet just like every other prophet, who then is He?JESUS: THE MESSIAHJesus Christ of Nazareth, the son of Mary is the promised Messiah. God had promised a Saviour of the world since the fall of man in the Garden of Eden.