June 18

The Lord, thy God, will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto Him ye shall hearken. Deuteronomy 18:15.

In the first of the Ninety-five Theses which Luther wrote against papal indulgences, he voiced the glorious truth: "Our Lord and Master Jesus Christ has said." We, too, refuse to obey Antichrist as universal lord and master. We rather confess in our Lutheran Catechism: "I believe that Jesus Christ, true God, begotten of the Father from eternity, and also true man, born of the Virgin Mary, is my Lord." Why is He our Lord? Because God has exalted Him above all heavens to sit at the right hand of God. But the Pope "exalted himself above all that is called God." And Christ is our Lord because He has redeemed us. The Pope cannot redeem a single soul. Christ alone has redeemed us to bring us from death to life. He is our Lord. His very names indicate what He has done for the whole human race. He is called Jesus because He is the only Savior of all mankind. And He is called Christ, that is, the Anointed, because, like kings, priests, and prophets of old, He was anointed with the Holy Ghost and with power to be our Prophet, Priest, and King.

As a Prophet He proclaims salvation by preaching the Gospel. He is the Prophet of whom Moses spoke. For centuries Israel eagerly awaited, and ardently hoped for, the coming of this Prophet. And when He finally came into the world, vast multitudes flocked to hear Him. As unto children He taught them the heavenly truths and often explained them in parables that they might all the better understand them. And He taught His hearers as one having authority; and they admired His authority, wisdom, and eloquence, saying: "Never man spake like this man." After He had raised the widow's son, they said, "A great prophet is risen up among us," and, "God hath visited His people." When He had fed the five thousand, they said, "This is of a truth that Prophet that should come into the world."

And after His ascension He did not cease to exercise His prophetic office, but committed to the Church, to those believing in Him, the ministry of reconciliation, that by the preaching of the Gospel His redemption might be made known to every creature.

Prayer.

O Lord Jesus Christ, Thou only-begotten Son of God, Thou Prophet who was to come, we give Thee most hearty thanks that Thou didst by word and deed reveal and proclaim to men the eternal counsel of God and by the preaching of the Gospel still dost exercise Thy prophetic office for our salvation. Thou causest to be made known even now the glad tidings: "God so loved the world that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." We praise Thee for Thy goodness all our days. Amen.

What hast Thou left ungranted To give me glad relief! When soul and body panted In utmost depth of grief, In deepest degradation, Devoid of joy and peace, Then Thou, my soul's Salvation, Didst come to bring release.