## Understanding the Bible

#### Chapter 5- Bible Themes: Messiah

As we have seen, God's Word reveals both the Holiness of God and the sinfulness of man. Man is in bondage to sin and under God's judgment.

But before man fell into sin, even before "the foundation of the world," God knew man's need and made preparation to send a Redeemer who would save His people from the guilt and power of their sins. (cp. 1Pet 1:18-21; Eph 1:3-4)

This Redeemer is often referred to as "the Messiah." "Messiah" is a Hebrew word meaning "anointed." "Christ" is a Greek word with the same meaning. In the OT, men were anointed with oil when they were appointed to the offices of prophet, priest, or king. Prophecies concerning the Messiah foretold that he would fill all three of these offices (eg., prophet: Deu 18:15-19 , priest: Psa 110:4 , king: 2Sam 7:7-13). As Jesus began His ministry, he was anointed with the Holy Spirit (Mat 3:16,17; Joh 1:32-34). He fulfilled the role of Prophet in His teaching. He is Priest in His sacrificial death and in His present ministry of intercession. He will enter fully into His role as King, at His second coming.

The OT contains at least 333 prophecies concerning the Messiah. Many of these were fulfilled at Christ's first coming. The remainder await His return. Let's look first at a few of the prophecies which have been fulfilled.

Prophecies of Messiah's First Coming (an incomplete list)
Subject | OT Prophecy | NT Fulfillment
--- | --- | ---
He would come - - as the seed of the woman | Gen 3:15 | Gal 4:4; 1Joh 3:8
- as the seed of Abraham | Gen 22:18 | Mat 1:1
- as the seed of Isaac | Gen 21:12 | Mat 1:2; Heb 11:17-19
- as the seed of Jacob & Judah | Gen 28:14; Gen 49:10 | Mat 1:2-3; Heb 7:14; Rev 5:5
- as the seed of David | 2Sam 7:12-13; Jer 23:5 | Mat 1:1
- at a set time | Gen 49:10 | Gal 4:4
- at a specific time | Dan 9:25-26 | Luk 2:1-6; 3:1,21-22
- at a specific place | Mic 5:2 | Mat 2:1-6; Luk 2:1-7
He would be - - Born of a virgin (1) | Isa 7:14; cp. Gen 3:15 | Mat 1:18-23; Luk 1:34
- Emmanuel: "God with us" | Isa 9:6; Mic 5:2 | Luk 1:35
- Adored by great persons | Psa 72:10 | Mat 2:1-2,11
- Called out of Egypt | Hos 11:1 | Mat 2:14,15
- Preceded by a forerunner | Mal 3:1 | Luk 1:17; Mark 1:2,4,7
- Anointed by the Spirit | Isa 11:2; Isa 61:1 | Mat 3:16; Luk 4:16-21; Acts 10:38
- A King, heir to David's throne | Isa 9:7; 2Sam 7:12-13; Jer 23:5 | Luk 1:32-33
- A Lord, superior to David | Psa 110:1 | Luk 20:41-44
- A Prophet like Moses | Deu 18:15,18-19 | Acts 3:20-22
- A Priest after the order of Melchizedek | Psa 110:4 | Heb 5:5,6
His ministry in Galilee | Isa 9:1-2 | Mat 4:12-16,23
His entry into Jerusalem | Zech 9:9 | Mat 21:1-5; Mark 11:7-11
His humility and compassion | Isa 42:2,3 | Mat 12:15-20
His miracles | Isa 35:5-6 | Mat 11:4-6
His guilelessness | Isa 53:9 | 1Pet 2:22
His reproach | Psa 69:9 | Rom 15:3
He was rejected by His people | Psa 69:8; Isa 53:3 | Joh 1:11; Joh 5:43; Joh 7:3,5
He was hated by men | Psa 69:4; Isa 49:7 | Joh 15:24-25
He was rejected by the rulers | Psa 118:22 | Mat 21:42
Jews & Gentiles both were against Him | Psa 2:1-2 | Acts 4:24-27
He was betrayed by a friend | Psa 41:9 | Joh 13:18-21
He was sold for 30 pieces of silver | Zech 11:12 | Mat 26:14-15
His price purchased the potter's field | Zech 11:13 | Mat 27:3-7
He was a man of sorrows | Isa 53:3 | Mat 26:38-39; Luk 22:42-44
He was forsaken by His disciples | Zech 13:7 | Mat 26:56
He was silent before accusers | Isa 53:7 | Mat 26:62,63; Mat 27:12-14
He was smitten | Mic 5:1 | Mat 27:30
He was spit upon & beaten | Isa 50:6 | Mark 14:65; Joh 19:1
He was crucified - | Psa 22:16 | Joh 19:17-18; cp. Joh 20:25
- His garments were divided by lot | Psa 22:18 | Mat 27:35
- He was numbered with transgressors | Isa 53:12 | Mark 15:27-28
- He made intercession for His murderers | Isa 53:12 | Luk 23:34
- He was mocked as He died | Psa 22:7-8 | Mat 27:39-44
- He was given vinegar | Psa 69:21 | Mat 27:34
- His suffering was intense | Psa 22:14-15 | Joh 19:28; cp. Luk 22:42-44
- He was forsaken by God | Psa 22:1 | Mat 27:46
- He yielded to death | Isa 53:12 | Mat 27:50; Luk 23:46
- His bones were not broken | Ex 12:46; Psa 34:20 | Joh 19:33,36
- He was pierced (3) | Isa 53:5; Zech 12:10 | Joh 19:34,37
His death: a vicarious sacrifice (2) | Isa 53:4-6,10-11 | Mat 20:28; Rom 5:6-8; 1Pet 2:24
He was buried with the rich | Isa 53:9 | Mat 27:57-60
His resurrection | Psa 16:10,11; Isa 53:10,11 | Acts 2:29-32; Mark 16:6,7
His ascension | Psa 68:18 | Luk 24:51
His place at God's right hand | Psa 110:1 | Heb 1:3; Mark 16:19
His priestly office in heaven | Zech 6:13 | Rom 8:34
He is the foundation stone | Isa 28:16 | 1Pet 2:5-7
Gentiles would be converted because of Him | Isa 11:10; Isa 42:1 | Acts 10:45

Notes to table above:

1. Virgin- The hebrew word for "virgin" (Almah) is used seven times in the Bible (Gen 24:43; Ex 2:8; Psa 68:25; Prov 30:19; Song 1:3; 6:8; Isa 7:14). In context, these passages are referring to young women who are virgins. In the third century B.C., the Jewish scriptures were translated into Greek by Hebrew scholars. When the scholars came to the Hebrew word "almah", they used the Greek word for virgin "parthenos." Matthew (Mat 1:23), quoting Isa 7:14 from the Greek Septuagint translation, used this word (parthenos) for virgin.
   Rashi (1040-1150 A.D.), the great medieval Jewish commentator, known for his opposition to Christianity stated, "Behold the 'Almah' shall conceive and bear a son and shall call his name Immanuel. This means that our Creator shall be with us. And this is the sign: the one who will conceive is a girl who never in her life has had intercourse with any man. Upon this one shall the Holy Spirit have power." (Buksbazen, "Isaiah the Prophet", Vol 2, p. 150, as quoted by David M. Levy, in "How Would you Recognize the Messiah?", The Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry.)
2. The sacrificial nature of Messiah's death is clearly shown in Isaiah 53. For a more complete discussion of this important passage, see Isaiah 53: Of Whom Does the Prophet Speak?, by Victor Buksbazen (accessed from the Resource Menu).
3. Pierced- Other OT passages also use this word in regard to Messiah's sufferings. Compare Psa 22:16, and Isa 53:5 (where the word "wounded" is literally "pierced"). These passages predicted Messiah's death by crucifixion, long before this method of execution was known to the Jewish people. (Isaiah wrote about 700 B.C., David wrote about 1000 B.C.)

Many of the above passages apply to both the first and second appearings of the Messiah. Consider the following note (at Acts 1:11) from the "Scofield Reference Bible" (Oxford University Press, 1917):

The two Advents- Summary:

1. The O.T. foreview of the coming Messiah is in two aspects- that of rejection and suffering (as, e.g. in Isa 53), and that of earthly glory and power (as, e.g. in Isa 11; Jer 23; Eze 37). Often these two aspects blend in one passage (e.g. Psa 2). The prophets themselves were perplexed by this seeming contradiction (1Pet 1:10,11). It was solved by partial fulfillment. In due time the Messiah, born of a virgin according to Isaiah, appeared among men and began His ministry by announcing the predicted kingdom as "at hand" (Mat 4:17). The rejection of King and kingdom followed.
2. Thereupon the rejected King announced His approaching crucifixion, resurrection, departure, and return (Mat 12:38-40; Mat 16:1-4,21,27; Luk 12:35-46; Luk 17:20-36; Luk 18:31-34; Luk 19:12-27; Mat 24; Mat 25).
3. He uttered predictions concerning the course of events between His departure and return (Mat 13:1-50; Mat 16:18; Mat 24:4-26).
4. This promised return of Christ becomes a prominent theme in the Acts, Epistles, and Revelation.

Taken together, the N.T. teachings concerning the return of Jesus Christ may be summarized as follows:

1. That return is an event, not a process, and is personal and corporeal [ie., He will return bodily] (Mat 23:39; Mat 24:30; Mat 25:31; Mark 14:62; Luk 17:24; Joh 14:3; Acts 1:11; Php 3:20; 1The 4:14-17).
2. His coming has a threefold relation: to the church, to Israel, and to the nations.
   1. To the church, the descent of the Lord into the air to raise the sleeping and change the living saints is set forth as a constant expectation and hope (Mat 24:36,44,48-51; Mat 25:13; 1Cor 15:51,52; Php 3:20; 1The 1:10; 1The 4:14-17; 1Tim 6:14; Titus 2:13; Rev 22:20).
   2. To Israel, the return of the Lord is predicted to accomplish the yet unfulfilled prophecies of her national regathering, conversion, and establishment in peace and power under the Davidic Covenant (Acts 15:14-17 with Zech 14:1-9)
   3. To the Gentile nations, the return of Christ is predicted to bring the destruction of the present political world-system (Dan 2:34,35; Rev 19:11); the judgment of Mat 25:31-46, followed by world-wide Gentile conversion and participation in the blessings of the kingdom (Isa 2:2-4; Isa 11:10; Zech 8:3,20,23; Zech 14:16-21.

For further discussion of the first and second comings of Messiah, see "The Two Advents of Christ" (chapter 3 of Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth by C.I. Scofield).

For more on prophecies about the Messiah, see the separate study in the Psalms of the Messiah.

Go to Understanding the Bible, Lesson #6 - Major Bible Doctrines (in brief).

Limited permission is granted to copy & distribute these notes from www.theBookwurm.com

Go to The Book opening page.