Pastor's Weekly Word

Once when Jesus was praying alone, with only the disciples near him, he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” (Luke 9:18)

We often talk about Jesus as the one who brings the New Covenant, reestablishing our relationship with the God of the Old Covenant that Moses brought the people. What we don’t often recall is how strikingly similar these two biblical figures really are. Here are some of them:

1. Pharaoh killed all the male babies in Egypt at the time of Moses birth. Herod killed all the male babies in Bethlehem at the time of Jesus’ birth.
2. They both flee when they’re lives are in danger, Moses from Egypt to Israel and back, Jesus from Israel to Egypt and back.
3. Moses goes up the mountain to receive the Ten Commandments (Law). Jesus goes up the mountain to give the people a new law in his sermon on the mount.
4. Through blood, Moses was the mediator of the old covenant. Through blood Jesus is the mediator of the new covenant.
5. Moses fasted 40 days and 40 nights while on the mountain. Jesus fasted for 40 days and 40 nights while in the desert.
6. Moses told the people to go into the land and observe all the commandments. Jesus told the disciples to go into the world and teach and observe the commandments.

When Jesus asked the disciples, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” they gave numerous answers: John the Baptist, Elijah, one of the prophets. In other words, people were talking about him, and we still are. His life, so closely tied to the one who led the Israelites out of bondage, gives us pause. His sacrifice, so selfless in its offering, gives us pause. His resurrection, so mysterious and hope-filled, gives us pause. We are still captivated by the life of Jesus Christ, so much so that after many years of debate and prayerful argument, the church, with a loud resounding “yes”, affirmed that Jesus is not just another Moses, not just another great figure, but God in the flesh.