Nearly five years ago I refuted a frequent Muslim argument that the Bible in Deuteronomy 18 is a prediction about Muhammad. I looked specifically at the argument as it was presented in A Brief Illustrated Guide to Understanding Islam.
Among other things the booklet asserted concerning Deuteronomy 18 that:
So, this prophecy refers to Muhammad and not to Jesus, because Muhammad is more like Moses than Jesus.” (Page 34)
I followed up with a second post in which I further established the Christian claim that Deuteronomy 18 is not a prediction about Muhammad since it is instead a predication about Jesus Christ. I did this by noting the parallel between the account of Moses in Exodus with the account of Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew. In our current post I want to further reinforce my point that the Bible in the New Testament presents Jesus as the parallel “New Moses” by looking at further parallels from the first few chapters of the book of Mark. Readers might want to start with the first two posts I have linked before proceeding onward in order to get the maximum force of the argument.
After reading this ask yourself this question: Doesn’t biblical Messianic prophecies and Messianic typology make you more certain in your faith with the truth of Christianity and also increase your awe with the glory of God manifested through Jesus Christ?
The following are ways Jesus was like Moses:
- The miracles Moses performed with the plague demonstrates God’s desire to save Israel from Egypt through Moses in Exodus 7-12. Likewise the miracles Jesus performed demonstrates God’s desire to save Israel of their sins through Jesus in Mark 1-4.
- Moses dealt with the hardened heart of Pharaoh in Exodus 7:13, 7:22, 8:19, 9:17, 9:7, 9:35. Likewise Jesus dealt with the hardened heart of the Pharisees in Mark 4:4.
- With the hardened hearts of Pharaoh that Moses faced it climaxed to show the power of God to save Israel. Likewise the hardened hearts of the Pharisees climaxed to show the power of God to save sinners.
- Moses brought the twelve tribes of Israel miraculously through the Red Sea in Exodus 14. Likewise Jesus brought the twelve disciples miraculously through the stormy sea in Mark 4:35-41.
- Through Moses God destroyed Pharaoh’s army in the sea as recorded in Exodus 15:3-4. Likewise Jesus had demonic “legion” (Mark 5:9) enter pigs and destroyed in the sea as recorded in Mark 5:13.
- Moses spent 40 days and 40 nights neither drinking nor eating before going forth with a teaching ministry to the people in Deuteronomy 9:9-11. Likewise Jesus spent 40 days and 40 nights neither drinking nor eating before going forth with a teaching ministry to the people in Mark 1:12-13 (cf. Matthew 4:1-11).
- Moses healed a leper in Numbers 12:9-16. Jesus healed a leper in Mark 1:40-45.
Yes, Jesus was like Moses…but Jesus was also greater than Moses!
- Jesus’ healing with the Leper shows Jesus is greater.
- Unlike Moses’ healing Jesus’ healing is right away! That is, unlike Moses’ healing Jesus’ healing happen just by Jesus speaking!
- Unlike Moses’ healing Jesus’ healing didn’t require praying to God the Father!
- Unlike Moses’ healing Jesus heals by touching a Leper! He can touch a leper and still be clean!
- Unlike Moses’ and Elisha’s healing Jesus transfers his cleanliness to the unclean!
- Moses delivered God’s law of the Sabbath to the people in Exodus 20:8-11. But Jesus declares the Son of Man (which is Himself) as the Lord of the Sabbath in Mark 2:28.
- Jesus has the ability to forgive sins (Mark 2:5, 10-11). Moses of course cannot forgive sins.
I am pretty sure I haven’t exhaust the typology and prophecies in the book of Mark but I do know the more I study the Old Testament the more amazed I am with the New Testament and also the amazing awe at the “intelligent design” of Christianity fullfilling the Old Testament. What an amazing self-evidencing Bible.
When a new believer reads through the entire Bible, it’s a LOT of very deep (sometimes overwhelming and seemingly disconnected) information. But with a few more read throughs, the interconnection starts to click in. I just have to read a good book on OT typology!
The deep interconnections are amazing and is to me a self-evidencing proof of the Bible! If you ever read a book on typology you gotta review it on your blog yeah? I have yet to read a book length treatment on typology!
I’m definitely going to make reading a typology book a priority before summer.
I read both parts and totally agree. No one can dispute the connection of Jesus throughout ALL the Old Testament. Yet, If I dug deep enough and manipulated my personal history just enough, I could also do as the Muslims and make a convincing comparison between myself and Jesus. Of course, to those who know the Word, it would be a sham. However, to those who are unlearned or gullible, I could be the next David Koresh. Sobering thought, isn’t it.
Patrick that’s a good comment to add to this post and I hope others read it as well; because of sin we can easily twists the Word and easily be decieved though objectively it points to Christ. There ought be great humility when it comes to Christian knowing the truth which I know you would say “Amen”
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Thanks for the reblog!
Yes Moses did amazing miracles through Christ but we too can have that same gift. And no one can ever compare Jesus Christ with any human. He is our Lord and Saviour !!
“And no one can ever compare Jesus Christ with any human.” Amen! He is indeed as you said Lord and Savior! By the way I noted you spelled it as “Saviour,” I imagine that’s British English or…something else? God bless you!
Yes in Canada , we use our in Saviour
Muhammad was not the successor to Moses but was a counterfeit Moses inspired by Satan.
Clyde thank you for that link; you got a point there about Muhammad being a counterfeit Moses. It is so good to hear from you brother Clyde
[…] via Deuteronomy 18, Messianic Prophecy: How Jesus was like Moses Part 2 […]
This quarter our Sunday evening training course has been all about fulfillment of OT prophecy and it’s been very useful. As Tom said,though, it’s difficult at times
Awesome! I’m encourage to hear the Sunday evening training course is dealing with OT fulfilled prophecies! Those really encourage my own faith and seeing that it is true makes me more robust in living out my faith! Hope that would be the case too with your church, that is my prayer!
Until and unless you define the “essence” of God, your words and the words of the Bible are totally meaningless
The essence of God is in everything. Some things that describe him in the bible are in my post https://walkinghumbly.blog/2018/02/14/god-is-love/ Do you really believe that you can understand God by your limited brain? If you think you are smarter than the creator of the universe, you have some serious issues of Narcissism.
I can and have defined God; I do not have to know everything It knows to understand that It knows it. You are having trouble seeing the trees for the forest.
Hilary,
” I do not have to know everything It knows to understand that It knows it.”–>Phyllis Rogers and I or any Christians for that matter would see it the same way so I don’t how your original objection hold much weight in light of your rejoinder?
If you can’t define God, you
don’t know God. You know absolutely nothing you cant define.
Since you are an atheist, why would you be trolling Christian site to put your two cents worth in? Do you really think you will impress anyone here or lead us away from our Lord? You are an ant. Don’t forget that.
Beverly, I have nominated you for the Leibster Award. You may read it here: https://wordpress.com/view/walkinghumbly.blog
[…] 2.) Deuteronomy 18, Messianic Prophecy: How Jesus was like Moses Part 2 […]
I am more Christian than any you have ever known. I know the “real” Jesus; you have been duped into accepting the Zodiac jesus. You will never know Jesus until you read my little book. I define God and all Its Attributes; the only way to know anything or anybody.
So many good Messianic prophecies
We were just talking about this in tonight’s Bible study! But you went in-depth here 🤗❤
The Father authored the plan, the Son executed the plan, the Holy Spirit communicates the plan.
Best proof for Jesus is the Old Testament 🙏🙏🙏 . Praise the Lord , Amen .
I am enjoying all the great parallels you posted here. The whole Bible should be taken literally, where it’s meant to be taken literally. Yes, this is a common error of nonbelievers. But when good hermeneutics are applied it yields powerful evidence for the Bible such as found here
Look like you put hard work into tracking these parallels
❤️❤️❤️❤️ AMEN ❤️❤️❤️❤️
I have accepted Jesus as my personal savior. Amen🙏
Amazing, it really does look like Jesus fits the bill
This is fantastic! Thank you for the parallels Mr. Jim!🙂
I am this day years old when I learned about these parallels!
I mostly lurk here, but these prophecies are too incredible not to say “wow’”
Walter is doing a series on Friday nights at church. I’ll pass this along to him!
Thanks be to God Amen Hallelujah 🌺🌻🥀🌸🏵️🌼🌹💐💕💞🌷🙏😇🙏❤️❣️💗💓💚💘💜🤎
Fascinating! Thank you for sharing. I have Jewish and Muslim friends I want to share this to
The question I always have and never get an answer for is, can the Jews point this to anyone else that fulfilled this more than Jesus?
Lol now why would you disrespect Muslim apologists with so much truth like that 😂
The Bible, what’s in it, everything real 😍
The Muslim troll Quez Ajibade Adelowo need to see this.