The Prophetic Ministry of Jesus Christ

Throughout history God has revealed Himself via His Word and Spirit to people. When He does, He urges the taught-one to teach others. In the Old Testament era, learners were called “sons of the prophets” (בְּנֵֽי־הַנְּבִיאִ֥ים). In the New Testament era, we learners are called disciples.

The Hebrew term “sons of the prophets” occurs eleven times in the books of 1-2 Kings... all during the period of Elijah and especially Elisha! The disciples of Elijah and Elisha were from various places just as the disciples of Jesus came from various locations. [1]

After Elijah was taken up into heaven, his disciple, Elisha, received his anointing. After Jesus was taken up into heaven, His disciples received His anointing. And the disciples of Jesus led others to receive His Holy Spirit anointing including Gentiles. [2]

Groups acting in concert and designated by “prophets” appear throughout the Old Testament and in the New Testament. The Books of Acts mentions prophets as active in the church. Judas and Silas, Agabus and the four daughters of Phillip are mentioned specifically. [3]

The New Testament does not use the term “sons of the prophets” but Paul called Timothy “my true son in the faith.” He was not Paul’s biological son. He was Paul’s disciple. Paul was mentoring him. Timothy’s mother and grandmother were believers but his father was not. [4]

Among the sons of the prophets in the Old Testament, some were married. They shared a common table. Some of their work was done at the command of the master. Sometimes they sought his approval before doing something, yet they could act on their own. They erected community buildings. [5]

In the New Testament, Jesus sent His disciples out to preach the Gospel. Peter’s mother-in-law is mentioned so we know that he was married. Jesus sat and ate with His disciples. [6]

The Lord wants to a close relationship with you and me. If we are not close with Him, He is not to blame. He wants to disciple us. He wants to reveal the meaning of the Scriptures to us so that we can reveal their meaning to others. The difference between a supposed Christian-in-name-only and a disciple is a matter of stewardship of time, talent and treasure.

“They were unfaithful to the God of their fathers and played the harlot after the gods of the peoples of the land, whom God had destroyed before them. So the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Pul king of Assyria, that is, Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria. He carried the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh into captivity.” [7]

They were unfaithful to God and lost their blessings. Does “unfaithful to God” describe you and me? In what ways are we being faithful to Him?

“The wicked in his proud countenance does not seek God; God is in none of his thoughts.” [8]

The wicked refers to the guilty before God. Not having God in our thoughts is wicked.

King David cried out to God when he saw a decline of faithfulness among his people. Are we crying out to God for our family members, relatives, friends and acquaintances who are unfaithful to God? They don’t attend church anymore! They don’t read the Bible or pray! God is not in their thoughts!

“Help, Lord, for the godly man ceases! For the faithful disappear from among the sons of men. They speak idly everyone with his neighbor...” saying, “who is lord over us?” [9]

They speak words that are meaningless but “The Words of the Lord are pure words, like silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.” [10]

The Lord urges us, “Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh, and strength to your bones. Honor the Lord with your possessions, and with the 1st fruits of all your increase; so your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine.” [11]

Let God have His rightful place in your life. Let Him be your Abba Father! “My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor detest His correction; for whom the Lord loves He corrects, just as a father the son in whom he delights.” [12]

God in His love for us is patient and longsuffering with sinners, but there comes a point when He, “He scorns the scornful but gives grace to the humble.” If an individual or group of people continuously reject Him, He will take His grace to others who will gladly receive Him. Those who receive the Lord inherit glory and those who reject Him inherit shame. “The wise shall inherit glory, but shame shall be the legacy of fools.” [13]

Rejection of the Lord and rejection of His ways is a sign of spiritual blindness which is a work of Satan. “If our Gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. “ [14]

We, who are the Lord’s disciples and His proclaimers, are in a relationship with Him because of His great grace which He lavished on us when He died for our sins on the cross, when He resurrected from the dead for our resurrection, and when He filled and anointed us with His precious indwelling Holy Spirit. As Paul wrote, “We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.” [15]

Do you want to be a prodigy of the Prophet above all prophets, namely, Jesus Christ? Tell Him so. Follow Him as He leads you!

[1] 2 Kings 2:3,5, 8, 14-15, 4:38, 5:22; Mt 9:1; John 1:44; Luke 5:1
[2] 2 Kings 2:13-14; Acts 1:8-9, 2:4, 8:17, 10:44, 19:6
[3] Jeremiah 26:7, 8, 11, Acts 11:27, 13:1, Acts 15:32, Acts 21:10
[4] Acts 16:1; 1 Timothy 1:2; 2 Timothy 1:5
[5] 1 Kings 20:35; 2 Kings 2:16-18, 4:1, 38-44, 6:1ff, 9:1
[6] Matthew 8:14, 11:1, 26:26-27
[7] 1 Chronicles 5:25-26
[8] Psalm 10:4
[9] Psalm 12:1-4
[10] Psalm 12:6
[11] Proverbs 3:7-10
[12] Proverbs 3:11-12
[13] Proverbs 3:34-35
[14] 2 Corinthians 4:3-4
[15] 2 Corinthians 4:7

See also: Bibliography R. B. Y. Scott, The Relevance of the Prophets (1942), 46-49; H. H. Rowley, The Servant of the Lord (1952), 97-134.