Prophetic Acts
Prophetic Acts
Jesus acted like a prophet in various ways. Like one prophetic figure a generation later (Joshua ben Hananiah) or like Jeremiah centuries earlier, Jesus announced judgment on the temple. Like Jeremiah, he offered a dramatic symbolic action to draw attention to the temple’s problematic status.
Likewise, Jesus chose twelve disciples as the nucleus for a renewal movement. This action is consistent with a prophet of restoration who anticipated God’s restoration of his people, as evidenced in his promise that the twelve would sit on twelve thrones judging Israel. He also announced judgment on Israel, and offered various sayings that were more characteristic of prophets than sages.