Podcast Summary: Timothy Keller Sermons Podcast by Gospel in Life

Episode: Jesus as Prophet (Part 2)
Host: Tim Keller
Date: September 12, 2025
Main Passage: Luke 24:44–53

Overview

This episode explores a core dimension of Jesus’ identity: His prophetic ministry. Tim Keller examines how Jesus, as "the Revealer," actively pursues humanity to reveal truth and open minds. The sermon unpacks what it means for Jesus to illuminate spiritual understanding—not merely as a historical figure or teacher, but as the living Prophet who still transforms hearts through the Holy Spirit today. Keller’s message revolves around three essential questions: What does Jesus do as a prophet? Why does He do it? And how does He do it?

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Redefining Christianity: Not Just Belief, but a Force That Finds You

• [01:20] Keller challenges the common notion that Christianity is just a set of beliefs or ethics one chooses to adopt.
  • "The Bible says that Christianity is not something that you...just decide to do, but rather it’s always something that comes at you. It’s a force."
• Real Christian experience begins when Jesus "comes after you," stirring up questions and realizations you cannot manufacture yourself.
  • "You don’t understand real Christianity unless you’ve had that same sense... of something having come after you." [03:14]

2. Jesus as Prophet: The Revealer, Not Just the Redeemer

• [06:10] Jesus does not simply provide salvation and leave it at that. He is active, pursuing, and revealing.
  • "He’s not just a priest, he’s a prophet. He’s not just a redeemer; he’s a revealer."
• Distinction between external word (historical teachings of Jesus) and internal word (present work of the Spirit, opening hearts).
  • Example: Jesus taught disciples about the law and prophets (external word), but only later "opened their minds" to understand it (internal word). [12:50]

3. Past and Ongoing Ministry: External and Internal Revelation

• [12:50] Jesus’ prophetic role has two aspects:
  • Earthly Prophetic Ministry: His historical teaching and spoken words.
  • Heavenly Prophetic Ministry: His present work, through the Holy Spirit, illuminating the Scriptures to believers' hearts.
• Analogy from George Herbert: "Heaven lies flat in thee [the Scriptures], subject to every mountain’s bended knee." [14:40]
  • "He’s put what you need for heaven...into propositions, into words...but He also comes to us spiritually."

4. Illumination Requires Both Light and Sight

• [17:50] Just like vision requires a working eye and light, spiritual illumination needs both revealed truth (external word) and the ability to perceive its value (internal word).
• Counselling example: Merely being told new information is not enough—there must be a breakthrough of insight for transformation.

5. Spiritual Blindness and the Need for Divine Intervention

• [24:00]
  • The Greek word for "opened" in Luke 24 ("dianoigo") implies breaking open—a forceful, supernatural act.
  • "Luke will not talk about the human mind like a door… He talks about the human mind like a mountain—layers and layers of obstacles to the truth."
  • Like cataracts clouding an eye, spiritual blindness blocks appreciation of the value of Christ.
• Not Just Ignorance, But Lack of Appreciation:
  • One can intellectually assent to truth but not be personally moved by it or changed by it.
    • "Spiritual blindness is not the inability to see the truth, but it’s the inability to value it, to appreciate it." [25:30]
  • Analogy: Stock analyst who knows flat facts but recognizes the true value in a stock others don’t see (e.g., realizing the value of Microsoft in its early days). [28:20]

6. True Christian Experience: From Facts to Personal Connection

• [35:50]
  • Becoming a Christian is not about learning new facts, but finally seeing their significance and value.
  • Personal pronouns become real: not "Jesus died for sins," but "Jesus died for my sins."
    • "A Christian sees the blood of Jesus running after you, coming after you." [38:30]

7. How Does Jesus Bring Illumination? Connections and Gradual Growth

• [37:35]
  • The Greek for "understand" means "to assemble a puzzle."
  • Christian faith becomes real when scattered facts and Bible stories suddenly connect personally and powerfully.
    • "Becoming a Christian means... you’ve always had the pieces, but you’ve never seen the connection of the pieces to each other—and especially to you."
  • Illumination is holistic: it involves mind, will, and emotions. The disciples’ response is both worship and obedience, infused with joy. [46:12]

8. Marks of Spiritual Illumination

• [45:50]
  1. Newness and Surprise:
     • "Sometimes a light surprises the Christian as he sings... Does that happen to you? If not, you’re still spiritually blind."
  2. Engagement of the Whole Person:
     • Not purely intellectual—true understanding leads to joy, worship, and new action.
  3. Gradual, Unfolding Light:
     • "It’s always gradual... there’s always an increase. A person who’s truly illuminated sees it as a gradual thing." [48:35]

9. Application: Illumination Is Power, Not Just Knowledge

• [50:15]
  • Mere knowledge ("I know what’s right, but I can’t do it") is insufficient. Power follows true internalization of the truth.
    • Example: If you really understand there’s a spider crawling down your head, you’ll act—inward conviction produces response.
  • Illustration: Self-control over sexual urges comes from knowing ("You are not your own, you are bought with a price… your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit") [52:59]
    • "Power comes with the knowledge. You’re a whole being. God doesn’t separate you out… The more you know, the more you’ll be able."

10. Ongoing Spiritual Growth and the Necessity of Repeated Illumination

• [56:30]
  • Spiritual blindness can return, like ice reforming on water or cataracts clouding again—therefore, Christians must continually return to Christ for fresh illumination.
  • "Illumination is growing. The truth of God is like a great ocean, and we’re all like little children paddling around… we haven’t even begun."

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

| Timestamp | Quote | Attribution | |-----------|-------|-------------| | 01:58 | “It’s not something that you pick up. It’s something that picks you up… It comes at you. It’s a force.” | Tim Keller | | 06:40 | “He is not just a priest, he’s a prophet. He’s not just a redeemer, he’s a revealer.” | Tim Keller | | 14:40 | “Heaven lies flat in thee, subject to every mountain’s bended knee.” (George Herbert, on Scripture) | Quoted by Tim Keller | | 25:30 | “Spiritual blindness isn’t the inability to see the truth but the inability to value it, to appreciate it.” | Tim Keller | | 38:30 | “A Christian sees the blood of Jesus running after you, coming after you.” | Tim Keller (paraphrasing Jack Miller) | | 45:55 | “Sometimes a light surprises the Christian as he sings. It is the Sun who rises with healing in his wings.” | Quoting William Cowper’s hymn | | 52:59 | “You are not your own. You’re bought with a price.… Know ye not that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, therefore flee sexual immorality?” | Tim Keller (paraphrasing Paul, 1 Corinthians 6) | | 56:30 | “Illumination is growing. The truth of God is like a great ocean, and we’re all like little children paddling around on the outskirts…” | Tim Keller |

Important Timestamps

• 01:00–05:00 — Introduction: Christianity as a force that pursues you.
• 06:00–16:00 — Jesus as Prophet: External vs. internal word; prophetic ministry explained.
• 17:00–27:00 — Analogy of light/sight; human blindness and the necessity of the divine breakthrough.
• 28:00–33:00 — Storytelling: Two women counseled, same truth, different impact—illustrates illumination.
• 35:00–39:00 — Illustration: Stock analyst; transformation from knowledge to appreciation.
• 40:00–46:00 — Marks of illumination: newness, engagement of the whole person, gradual growth.
• 48:00–53:00 — Application: You must return for ongoing illumination; true knowledge brings power.

Conclusion and Application

• Real Christianity is not discovering new information, but having the truths of Jesus connect with you—mind, heart, will—through ongoing divine illumination.
• Those who think they "fully see" may in fact be blind; humility and openness to the ongoing work of Jesus as Prophet are essential.
• Keller closes by urging everyone—those seeking and those seasoned in faith—to ask for continual renewal of spiritual vision:
  • “As soon as you say, I don’t see—at that very second, you’ve begun to see.” [57:30]
• Christians should never be smug or bored—such attitudes suggest spiritual vision is clouding over again.

For Further Reflection:
Keller encourages regular, prayerful engagement with Scripture, not to gain knowledge alone but to seek ongoing breakthroughs of spiritual understanding, allowing Christ to keep illuminating one's heart afresh day by day.