Conclusion
Conclusion
Various prophetic figures appeared in Jesus’ day, including sign-prophets portending imminent deliverance and miracle-working charismatics somewhat in the mold of Elijah. Jesus differs from extant examples of both models (focusing on healings and exorcisms), but does function as an eschatological prophet working Elijah-like signs and depending on divine intervention for deliverance. Biblical models of a new Elijah and new Moses may contribute to his construction of his prophetic calling.
Jesus also appears as a prophet in his sayings about judgment on Israel, particularly the Temple, hence (as in the denunciations of some of his Jewish contemporaries) the ruling priestly elite in Jerusalem who had corrupted it. (That Jesus prophetically challenged the elite is also consistent with his martyr’s death in Jerusalem.) Many of Jesus’ sayings also seem to address the end of the age (or minimally the present order in some dramatic sense). These sayings are sufficiently well-documented to show that Jesus did not content himself merely with uttering wisdom sayings, but also spoke of the future.
Not only what Jesus said, but also what he did, revealed his prophetic character; he engaged in various prophetic acts. These included acting against commerce in the outer court of the Temple, an act that coheres well with his prophecy of judgment against the Temple. He founded a restoration movement within Israel, as symbolized by his choice of twelve leaders for the new community; some evidence even suggests that he spoke of the new community itself and Peter’s foundational role in its formation. That he envisioned his twelve key followers as ruling Israel in the future suggests that he also envisioned a role for himself in the kingdom. Some more explicit material, treated in our next chapter, makes this final point even likelier.