There is something that the Lord says which is of utmost importance when it comes to Yeshua. These words, “Listen to Him” were given at the Transfiguration.
In the past, Israel did not listen to Moses, nor did they listen to the prophets who were standing there as witnesses. When the Messiah comes, God says, you should listen then, because after Him, there will be no other who can save man. Let us follow the history of these words. It is a quotation of a prophecy of the coming of the Messiah given by Moses in Deuteronomy 18:15 and 19.
“The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your countrymen, you shall listen to him.‘ It shall come about that whoever will not listen to My words which he shall speak in My name, I Myself will require it of him.
It is a stern warning speaking about the coming Messiah. What was the context of the prophecy? Moses was about 120 years old, and his departure was imminent. That would create problems for the Israelites. What were they going to do once he was gone? Who was going to act as mediator for them? Who would be able to speak to God and report back His words? Who would be able to pray for them when they sinned, and when God was about to judge them?
Deuteronomy 34:10 makes clear that “since then there has not arisen in Israel a prophet like Moses, whom YHWH knew face to face.” It was not Joshua, it was not Isaiah, nor Ezekiel, but Yeshua Himself. Only the Messiah could replace Moses and even more, take on the sins of all the people. He is the last link of a long chain of attempts to bring man to realize that he cannot make it by himself: To Him you shall listen.
The Condition for Salvation
What happens if one does not listen to the Messiah? I will require it of him. That is, “I will require. I will seek. I will search the reason.” These words reveal that judgement is in view.
It is evocative of the white throne judgment at the end of time when everyone who refused the message of the gospel will be standing in front of that throne. The question they will be asked is, “Why didn’t you believe in Yeshua?”
Peter himself gives us a powerful commentary on the words “I will require it of him”, and its impact on one’s eternal future. In one of his speeches in Acts 3:22-23, he recalls this prophecy. Look at his explanation.
“For Moses truly said to the fathers, ‘The LORD your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brethren. Him you shall hear in all things, whatever He says to you. ‘And it shall be that every soul who will not hear that Prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.”
Peter goes straight to the point here, pointing to the person who does not hear or obey the word of Yeshua. The Greek word for hear is the root of the word obey, as it is in Hebrew. Those who do not obey, he says, will be utterly destroyed. It is an interpretation of the words I will require it of him. These are strong words which no one should disregard. Utterly destroy is one word in the Greek (exolethreuo) and only used here or in secular Greek. It means to eliminate by destruction, to destroy, or to put to death. The Septuagint uses it to describe how people from a city were completely destroyed.
All of this raises the questions, “Who is the Messiah of Israel to you? Where are you going to spend eternity?”
Salvation in None Other
Note what is said in the next verse in Mark, right after the Lord spoke from the cloud.
All at once they looked around and saw no one with them anymore, except Jesus alone. v.9
It is the last words which are very significant — except Jesus alone. As the vision ends, they were left with only Jesus because after the Law, after the prophets, all is gone except Yeshua.
…there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved. Acts 4:12
These are words from Peter, who must have been very impacted by that vision. He said them when he finally and fully understood that Yeshua is the only and true Jewish Messiah.