Jeremiah 26

In this chapter Jeremiah has a lot of great parallels to Jesus. It is a story chapter, rather than a prophecy chapter. You should read it for yourself and find your own parallels, but look at a few that I found:

1) They knew where their message came from.

The LORD gave me every word that I have spoken.
Jeremiah 26:12

For I did not speak on My own initiative, but the Father Himself who sent Me has given Me a commandment as to what to say and what to speak. John 12:49

2) They stood out from the crowd of false teachers.

Then the officials and the people said to the priests and prophets, “This man does not deserve the death sentence, for he has spoken to us in the name of the LORD our God.” Jeremiah 26:16

The crowd watched and the leaders scoffed. “He saved others,” they said, “let him save himself if he is really God’s Messiah, the Chosen One. ” … One of the criminals hanging beside him scoffed, “So you’re the Messiah, are you? Prove it by saving yourself– and us, too, while you’re at it!”  But the other criminal protested, “Don’t you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die?  We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong.”
Luke 23:35, 39-41

3) They were not afraid to tell it like it was.

“Say to them, ‘This is what the LORD says: If you will not listen to me and obey my word I have given you, and if you will not listen to my servants, the prophets– for I sent them again and again to warn you, but you would not listen to them– then I will destroy this Temple as I destroyed Shiloh, the place where the Tabernacle was located. And I will make Jerusalem an object of cursing in every nation on earth.’” Jeremiah 26:4-6

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones God’s messengers! How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings, but you wouldn’t let me.  And now, look, your house is abandoned and desolate.  For I tell you this, you will never see me again until you say, ‘Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord!’”  As Jesus was leaving the Temple grounds, his disciples pointed out to him the various Temple buildings.  But he responded, “Do you see all these buildings? I tell you the truth, they will be completely demolished. Not one stone will be left on top of another!” Matthew 23:37 – 24:2

Jeremiah was a Christ-follower.  And if he could imitate Jesus, before Jesus was even born, we have no excuse.  Following Him begins with knowing Him. How well do you know Him?

Until next time,

Dan’l