Chapter 3 - Primary Subjects of Prophecy
A Person Known as the Messiah
There is no more of an important or primary person of prophecy in the Bible than the Messiah, in fact for the diligent reader, He can be found on every page. The apostle John records Jesus speaking to a group of Jews, “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me.” (John 5:39) The Bible is about Jesus and His offer of salvation to all people. Jesus is saying that the sole reason of the Bible is to save souls! And it is through prophecy that clarifies and verifies that the message and offer of salvation through Jesus is from God and is indeed very real. John also wrote, “For the essence of prophecy is to give a clear witness for Jesus.” (Revelation 19:10b, NLT)
Just as prophecy is unique to the Bible, so it is unique to Christ. No prophecies foretold the coming of Buddha, Muhammad, Zoroaster, Confucius, Joseph Smith, Mary Baker Eddy, the currently popular Hindu gurus who have invaded the West, or any other religious leader, all of whom lack the credentials which distinguish Jesus Christ. Yet there are more than 300 Old Testament prophecies which identify Israel’s Messiah. Centuries before His coming, the Hebrew prophets set forth numerous and specific criteria which had to be met by the Messiah. The fulfillment of these prophecies in minute detail in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth demonstrates indisputably that He is the promised One, the true and only Savior.[1]
The word ‘Messiah’ is a transliteration of the Hebrew word ‘Māšiyah’[2], a noun meaning ‘anointed one’.
In the OT, the word is used in its literal sense, meaning one who has been anointed (Sept.: 1 Sam. 24:7; Lam. 4:20). Usually it has a more specific application, meaning the Anointed One who was the supreme Deliverer promised from the beginning (Sept.: Gen. 3:15). A long series of prophecies about Christ runs through the whole history of Israel from Abraham (Sept.: Gen. 12:3; 22:18), Jacob (Sept.: Gen. 49:10), Balaam (Sept.: Num. 24:17), Moses (Sept.: Deut. 18:15, 18), and Nathan (Sept.: 2 Sam. 7:16); through the psalmists and the prophets (Sept.: Ps. 2; 16; 22; 40; 45; 110; Is. 7:10–16; 9:1–7; 11; 13; 53; 61; Jer. 23:5, 6; Mic. 5:2; Mal. 3:1–4); to His immediate precursor, John the Baptist. The character of these prophecies is very definite. The lineage from which Messiah should descend was foretold (Sept.: Gen. 49:10; Is. 11:1) as well as the place in which He should be born (Sept.: Mic. 5:2) and the time of His appearance (Sept.: Dan. 9:20, 25; Hag. 2:7; Mal. 3:1)[3]
The Greek word ‘Christós’[4] also refers to someone that was anointed and is also used as a specific title. When Jesus is called “the Christ” or “Jesus Christ,” the term is synonymous with the title of ‘Messiah’.
The first prophecy regarding a coming Messiah can be found in Genesis 3:15, “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.” Here God is speaking to the serpent (the devil, Satan, see Hebrews 2:14) and tells him that there will be an offspring of the woman that will “bruise your head” (Hebrew ’yešûp’,[5] to crush; ‘ḵā’,[6] you or your; ‘rō(’)š’,[7] a head, a person, a leader, etc.), referring to a human (the Messiah) that will one day destroy him. God also tells the devil that he will be successful in crushing the Messiah’s heel (Hebrew ‘ā·qēḇ’,[8] a heel, back side), often thought to be a reference to His crucifixion.
Later in Genesis we read about Jacob (Israel) blessing his sons just prior to his death. As noted above regarding Jacob being a prophet, to his third son Judah, he tells him that the Messiah will come from his lineage. We read, “Judah, your brothers shall praise you; your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies; your father’s sons shall bow down before you. Judah is a lion’s cub; from the prey, my son, you have gone up. He stooped down; he crouched as a lion and as a lioness; who dares rouse him? The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until tribute comes to him; and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples. Binding his foal to the vine and his donkey’s colt to the choice vine, he has washed his garments in wine and his vesture in the blood of grapes. His eyes are darker than wine, and his teeth whiter than milk.” (Genesis 49:8-12) There are at least twelve key points about the Messiah in this blessing from Jacob: 1) Will be on the neck of His enemies, as He will be victorious in war. 2) His brothers will one day bow down to Him, demonstrating His preeminence over the other tribes. 3) Will be a lion’s cub, full of vitality. 4) From the prey, has gone up, will be successful in killing and devouring its prey. 5) He is seen stooped down, who dares to rouse Him?, He is identified as the lion of the tribe of Judah. 6) The scepter shall not depart, the scepter represents kingship, referring to the ongoing right to rule. 7) The ruler’s staff will also not depart, His reign will never end. 8) Until tribute comes to Him. This verse is a difficult verse to translate. The Hebrew word ’šî·lō(h)’[9] only appears this one time in the Bible. Even though many attempt to render the word as a noun (referring to either a person or location), it is likely a possessive pronoun and should possibly be translated “Until He come whose right it is,” just as it is similarly translated in the Septuagint[10] and found in the Dead Sea Scrolls.[11] 9) To Him the obedience of all people, no exceptions (see Isaiah 45:23; Romans 14:11; Philippians 2:10-11; Revelation 5:13). 10) Binding His foal (typically a young male donkey) and His female donkey to a choice vine. Like the previous verse, this and the following verse can be interpreted in a number of ways. From showing abundance and strength having a vine strong enough to tie these powerful animals onto, to being a reference to the prophecy of Zechariah 9:9. 11) He has washed His garments in wine and His vesture (another word for garment of clothing) in the blood of grapes. Interpreted from being a reference to the Messiah coming to judge, to that of the wine representing His own blood shed for our salvation, as represented during His last Passover meal in the upper room. 12) His eyes are darker than wine and His teeth are whiter than milk. Focusing on His appearance, His eyes will be dark and His teeth bright white. Some believe that these reflect the abundance of wine and dairy products during His reign. Others point out the contrast between the dark eyes and the white teeth, explaining that the darkness once seen in judgment can be made white through His words. While this five-verse prophecy in Jacob’s blessing has largely been fulfilled in Jesus’ past and present, there is much that points to His future reign as King (during the Millennium) with some elements that will remain a mystery to fully understand until then.
It is important to understand that there was only one Passover, and that every observance since then has been a memorial of that event (see Exodus 13:3). Both Passover and all the memorial celebrations in history prophetically point to Jesus. Passover was the tenth and final plague God used to persuade Pharaoh to release the people of Israel (see Exodus chapter twelve). Just like other models found in the Old Testament that point to various events and people that will play a major role later in Scripture, Passover is a model of God’s plan of redemption. Which includes precise timing, as evidenced by Jesus dying on the day of Passover and rose to life again on the day of the Feast of Firstfruits, making it clear that each of the festivals established in the Old Testament are important to God.
In choosing a lamb for the Passover it was to be without blemish. Jesus had no blemishes of any kind; He led a completely sinless life. So that His life could qualify to be a substitute for believers. When Jesus first approached John the Baptist, John loudly proclaimed: “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29) connecting Jesus to Passover, being the ultimate Passover Lamb (see also Isaiah 53:7; John 1:36; Acts 8:32; Hebrews 10:4-14; 1 Peter 1:19 and Revelation 5:6).
In the story of the Passover, the lamb’s blood was used to shield/protect the firstborn of that house from being killed. Jesus’ blood provides a substitutionary atonement, a covering (see Leviticus 17:11; Romans 3:25; 5:9; Hebrews 9:22) that prevents all believers from dying the second death (see Revelation 2:11; 20:6; 21:8).
The book of Psalms is often overlooked as a book containing any prophecy, let alone referring to the Messiah. In reality chapter 22 contains some of the most important prophecies regarding Jesus in the Old Testament, second, perhaps, to only Isaiah chapter 53 (see below). We can also find several other chapters and verses that are often considered and identified as being ‘Messianic’.
Chapter 22 begins with the same words Jesus first cried out from the cross, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (see Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34). Was Jesus simply quoting the Psalm or was He truly calling out to His Father? It is important to note that this is the one and only time in Jesus’ ministry on earth that He called His Father as, “My God.” Why would He change how He addresses His Father? Paul tells us that Jesus was made “to be sin” (see 2 Corinthians 5:21), representing humanity He was calling out on our behalf! Being made to be sin undoubtedly separated Jesus from His Father while He was on the cross. Yet still holy, being without sin Himself, He was able to rescue and deliver those who cry to Him for salvation (see Psalm 22:3-5). While on the cross He was scorned and despised, people mocked Him and walked by disgusted by what Jesus said and taught. Some even cried out, “He trusts in God, let Him deliver Him!” (See Matthew 27:39-43; Mark 15:29-32; Luke 23:35-36). Being surrounded by His enemies, these ‘bulls’ await eagerly to gore Him and destroy Him, just like a ravening and roaring lion (see Psalm 22:6-13). After being tortured and now hanging on the cross His physical condition is described as being poured out like water, bones out of joint, heart like wax, and His strength is gone, ready to die (see Psalm 22:14-15). Being encircled by evildoers who pierced His hands and feet, they stare at Him and divide His garments by casting lots among themselves (see Psalm 22:16-17; Matthew 27:35; Luke 23:34; John 19:24). God the Father rescued Jesus from horns of the “wild oxen,” pointing to His resurrection and how He did not despise being afflicted. All praise belongs to Him (see Psalm 22:18-30). The Psalm has an interesting ending, “that He has done it.” (Psalm 22:31), in Hebrew it is one word (‘ā·śā(h)’)[12] which essentially means “it is finished!” (see John 19:30), remember Jesus did all the work for our salvation.
There are a number of individual verses in the book of Psalms that have been identified as being prophetic regarding the life and time of the Messiah, including: “Give me not up to the will of my adversaries; for false witnesses have risen against me, and they breathe out violence.” (Psalm 27:12, see also Psalm 35:11) Jesus was accused by false witnesses (see Matthew 26:59-61; Mark 14:57-59). “He keeps all his bones; not one of them is broken.” (Psalm 34:20) Unlike the two others that were crucified at the same time as Jesus, none of His bones were broken (see John 19:36). “Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me.” (Psalm 41:9) Jesus was betrayed by one of his own disciples (see Matthew 26:14-16; Mark 14:17-21; Luke 22:21-23; John 13:18-19). “They gave me poison for food, and for my thirst they gave me sour wine to drink.” (Psalm 69:21) Jesus was given vinegar (sour wine) mixed with gall while on the cross (see Matthew 27:34, 48; Mark 15:36; Luke 23:36). “I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings from of old.” (Psalm 78:2) At one point in Jesus’ ministry, while speaking publicly, He began to only teach in parables (see Matthew 13:35). “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.” (Psalm 118:22) Jesus referred to Himself as the cornerstone, someone with authority over the kingdom of God, as He is the foundation of the new covenant. The Jewish leaders rejected His claim as the Messiah and ultimately put Him to death for making such an outrageous statement (see Matthew 21:42; Mark 12:10-11; Luke 20;17, see also Isaiah 28:16; Ephesians 2:20; 1 Peter 2:4-7).
The book of Isaiah not only has several prophetic references to Jesus, it contains some of the more popular and often-quoted prophetic verses about Him in the Bible, especially during Christmas. As discussed earlier in the Introduction, prophecy can be given that will be fulfilled centuries later. Many of Isaiah’s prophecies refer to ’signs’ that were fulfilled well beyond the person being given the prophecy own lifetime. Perhaps the most famous of these prophecies is this one given to King Ahaz, “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” (Isaiah 7:14, to understand context the entire episode should be read, see Isaiah 7:1-25) Another prophecy about the Messiah can be found two chapters later where Isaiah notes that a great deliverer will arrive, “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.” (Isaiah 9:6-7) Fast-forwarding through many prophecies that range from warnings to kings (including information about Satan) and pending destruction to the promise of Israel’s restoration, we come to a section that is so informative about the coming Messiah that many call it the “Holy of Holies in the Old Testament,” Isaiah 52:13-53:12.
In Isaiah 52:14 we read that the Messiah’s appearance was so marred that He barely looked human. In the story about two of Jesus’ disciples walking to Emmaus after His crucifixion, we read that they did not recognize Him until they saw His hands (see Luke 24:13-35). He was marred beyond recognition. The apostle Paul connected these verses of Isaiah to Jesus when he wrote, “For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to bring the Gentiles to obedience—by word and deed, by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God—so that from Jerusalem and all the way around to Illyricum I have fulfilled the ministry of the gospel of Christ; and thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else’s foundation, but as it is written, “Those who have never been told of him will see, and those who have never heard will understand.” (Romans 15:18-21) Quoting Isaiah 52:15, Paul acknowledges that the gospel message of salvation through Jesus is available to all people. Isaiah notes that the Messiah will not be anything special with no majesty or beauty (see Isaiah 53:2) and that He was despised and rejected, familiar with grief, and as a result He certainly was not esteemed (see Isaiah 53:3). The text that follows in chapter 53 presents in detail the mission of the Messiah:
Verse 4: “Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.” As referenced in Matthew 8:17, Jesus healed many people proving He was from God, yet He was ultimately killed. Isaiah notes that He was smitten by God, which is true, as this was His primary mission to die for our sins. Remember John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son…” He truly carried all of humanity’s sorrows to the cross, so we don’t have to!
Verse 5: “But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.” Jesus was crucified for our sins, He lived a sinless life, suffered, died and rose to life again so that all those who repent and accept Jesus will find peace and eternal life with Him. In heaven there will be no pain, disease or any other ailment.
Verse 6: “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” As a result of sin, mankind has moved away from God, each wandering doing their own thing. Instead of eternal condemnation for that sin, God laid the ‘iniquity’ (Hebrew ‘ā·wōn’,[13] evil, guilt, punishment) of all people on Jesus (see 2 Corinthians 5:21).
Verse 7: “He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth.” Jesus was flogged and suffered much before being crucified, yet He never said a word. “But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed.” (Matthew 27:14, see also Mark 15:2-5)
Verse 8: “By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people?” Jesus was subjected to six different and mostly illegal ’trials’ during the evening before He was executed. There was no consideration that He had any descendants, cutting off His lineage to continue living, He was to be killed for sin of His people.
Verse 9: “And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth.” Jesus was buried in a tomb that belonged to Joseph Arimathea, a rich man (see Matthew 27:57-60; Mark 15:42-46; Luke 23:50-53; John 19:38-42). Even though Jesus never did anything illegal, violent, or deceptive, He was still sentenced to death.
Verse 10: “Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.” It was the plan of God for Jesus to die, His coming to earth was planned from the beginning of time. This was not a mistake or a last-minute decision on God’s part. Due to Jesus’ victory on the cross, believers are adopted as children of God. As a result of being His offspring, Christians are co-heirs with Jesus (see Romans 8:12-17). With Jesus alive, God’s plan of salvation will prosper in His hands forever.
Verse 11: “Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities.” Looking back after all of His suffering, His death, and His resurrection was over, Jesus’ efforts satisfied God’s law providing believers to be accounted as being righteous (Hebrew ‘yǎs·dîq’,[14] to be put right, to be innocent, see Romans 5:17-18).
Verse 12: “Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.” Jesus will receive those that accept Him as their Savior because He died for their sins and continually intercedes for them (see Romans 8:34; Hebrews 7:25; 1 John 2:1).
In Isaiah chapter 55, we read an invitation from God to, “Come, everyone who thirsts” (Isaiah 55:1a). This chapter points to coming Messiah, the “Holy One of Israel” (see Isaiah 55:5), as promised to David, who brings salvation to all who seek Him. This chapter includes several truths that are vital to understand, even for us today: 1) Call upon God while He can be found (see verse 6). It is important to accept Jesus’ offer of salvation before the day of judgment. 2) God will forgive all sin if they will abandon their ways and turn to Him (see verse 7a). 3) His compassion of humanity is beyond our comprehension (see verse 7b), as His thoughts and His ways are not fully understandable by mankind’s thoughts or ways (see verses 8-9). 4) He promises, “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:10-11) Chapter 55 concludes with the ultimate promise and an answer to why God had compassion and sent His Son: “You will live in joy and peace. The mountains and hills will burst into song, and the trees of the field will clap their hands! Where once there were thorns, cypress trees will grow. Where nettles grew, myrtles will sprout up. These events will bring great honor to the LORD’s name; they will be an everlasting sign of his power and love.” (Isaiah 55:12-13, NLT)
In the gospel according to Luke, he records a time when Jesus read from the scroll of Isaiah in the synagogue of His home town of Nazareth. He read Isaiah 61:1 and part of verse two before He stopped. He read, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” (Luke 4:18-19) This statement effectively summarizes the mission of His ‘first coming’, where through His healing ministry, His death, and His resurrection, He was able to set captives free. Jesus stopped at a comma in Isaiah, the second half of verse two goes on to say, “and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn.” Referring to a time in the future, His ‘second coming’. The period known as the “day of vengeance” will occur in the end times.[15] Perhaps retribution is needed to comfort all who mourn. Note the use of the phrase, “to proclaim good news,” we too are called to proclaim the good news, the gospel message, especially to the poor in spirit (see Matthew 5:3; Mark 16:15-16).
The Role and Titles of the Messiah
In the Bible we read that the Messiah is “The King of Israel” (see Matthew 27:11; Mark 15:2, 26, 32; Luke 23:2; John 1:49; 12:13; 18:33-38), a title that when used in Old Testament prophecy typically points to His millennial kingdom on earth; “The Savior of the world” (see Luke 2:11; John 4:42; Acts 5:31; 13:23; Ephesians 5:23; Philippians 3:20; 1 Timothy 1:1; 2:3; 4:10; 2 Timothy 1:10; Titus 1:4; 2:10, 13; 3:4, 6; 2 Peter 1:1, 11; 2:20; 3:2, 18; 1 John 4:14; Jude 25); “The Son of David” (being in the lineage of King David, a Messianic title, from a promise given to David, see 2 Samuel 7:12-13; Matthew 1:1; 9:27; 12:23; 15:22; 20:30-31; 21:9, 15; 22:42-45; Mark 10:48; 12:35-37; Luke 1:32, 69; 18:38-39; John 7:42; Romans 1:3; 2 Timothy 2:8; Revelation 5:5; 22:16); and the “Son of the Living God” (see Matthew 16:16; Luke 4:41). We also read that Jesus is that Messiah, the Christ (see Matthew 1:1, 16-18; 2:4; 16:16, 20; Mark 1:1; 8:29; Luke 2:11, 26-32; 4:41; 23:2; John 4:25-26; 11:27; 17:3; 20:31; Acts 2:38; 3:20; Romans 8:11; 1 Corinthians 3:11; 1 John 2:22; 4:2-3; 5:1, 6; 2 John 1:7; Revelation 11:15; 12:10, plus several hundred more verses found in the New Testament that refer to Jesus as being the Christ). Jesus identified Himself as the “Son of man,” (see below, “The Messiah Had to be a Man”) and connected Himself to the Old Testament reference of being the Rock (or Stone, see Genesis 49:24; Deuteronomy 32:4, 15, 18, 30, 31, 37; 1 Samuel 2:2; 2 Samuel 22:3, 32, 47; 23:3; Psalm 18:2, 31, 46; 19:14; 28:1; 31:2; 61:2; 62:2, 6, 7; 71:3; 78:35; 89:26; 92:15; 94:22; 95:1; 118:22; 144:1; Isaiah 2:10, 19, 21; 8:14; 17:10; 26:4; 28:16; 30:29; 44:8; Daniel 2:34, 35, 45; Habakkuk 1:12) and Cornerstone (see Psalm 118:22; Isaiah 28:16; Zechariah 10:4) when “Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: “ ‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes’?” (Matthew 21:42, see also Acts 4:11; Romans 9:33; Ephesians 2:20; 1 Peter 2:6) We also find several references to a ‘Branch’, or more specifically a ‘Righteous Branch’ (see Isaiah 11:1; Jeremiah 23:5; 33:15; Zechariah 3:8; 6:12), that points to the future lineage of King David referring to Jesus, who is from Nazareth, a town whose name means ‘branch’ (the Hebrew root of the name Nazareth is ’nē’·ṣěr’,[16] which refers to a genealogical branch).
So why did God need to send humanity a King, a Savior, the Son of David, the Son of God, the Christ? While many will reject this answer, it is what the Bible teaches, because He loves us! Never forget what John recorded in his gospel account, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16, see also Romans 5:8; Ephesians 2:4; 2 Thessalonians 2:16; 1 John 3:1; 4:9-10) That may answer the motivation but still does not answer the ‘why’ question. The quickest and simplest answer is that no one can save themselves or others. Sin is pervasive in humanity, it is like an incurable disease and since avoiding eternal condemnation requires being completely sin-free it is impossible for mankind to change that destination on their own. Salvation from God is our only hope. God sent His Son to live a sinless life, suffer, die and rise to life again so that through Jesus, salvation can be offered. While some may not like the idea of being ‘salvaged’, the sooner they accept Jesus’ offer, the sooner they can be assured of eternal life with Him. God knew that mankind could never save themselves and since He loves us and wants to fellowship with us, He sent His Son to provide a way out of eternal condemnation, it’s up to us to choose.
During His ministry on earth Jesus made several promises, these include prophecies that were both given and fulfilled in the gospels as well as several that would not be fulfilled until well into the future. Since He clearly demonstrated through His healing, His miracles, and all those fulfilled prophecies, that He is truly God, there is no reason to believe that those still yet-future promises will not be fulfilled. Most notable of His near-term prophecies (those that were fulfilled and recorded in the gospel accounts) were those regarding His rejection and execution (for example see Matthew 16:21-28; 20:17-19; 21:33-45; Mark 8:31-9:1; 10:32-34; 12:1-12; Luke 9:21-27; 18:31-34; 20:9-18; John 3:14-16; 12:32-34) and subsequent resurrection (see John 2:13-22, see also Matthew 16:21; 20:19; Mark 8:31; 10:34; Luke 9:22; 18:33). Regarding the resurrection we read in Paul’s first epistle to the church in Corinth, where he emphasizes the importance of Jesus’ resurrection and how it authenticated the promise of our future resurrection, we read: “But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power.” (1 Corinthians 15:20-24) Jesus also predicted the betrayal of one of His own disciples (see Matthew 26:21-25; Mark 14:18-21; Luke 22:21-23; John 13:21-38) and the rejection by Simon-Peter (see Matthew 26:33-35; Mark 14:29-31; Luke 22:31-34; John 13:37-38).
Jesus taught on several themes including salvation and the coming kingdom of God (see Matthew 4:17; Mark 1:15; Luke 4:14-15, note that Matthew referred to the same kingdom as the “kingdom of heaven”). Jesus said anyone who acknowledges Him before others will be acknowledged before His Father (see Matthew 10:32-33). That salvation is available through Him (see Luke 12:13-40; John 3:16-18, 36; 5:24-29; 8:21-59; 10:1-24, 27-30; 11:25-26). He also stated that those who will come to Him will never thirst (see John 6:35-51), nor hunger (see John 6:51-58) and will have rest (see Matthew 11:28-30). At one time He noted that whoever loses his life for His sake will find it (see Matthew 10:37-39; John 12:20-26). He also offered incentives and advice for godly living (see Matthew 5:21-26; 6:1-8, 14, 33; 7:12; 10:40-42; 12:32-37; Mark 3:28-30), but warned that living for Him has consequences (see Matthew 16:24-27; Mark 8:34-38; Luke 9:23-27). Perhaps second only to the promise of salvation is the promise that He will never abandon or forsake us (see Matthew 18:19-20; John 7:37-39; 8:12-20) and that He always listening to our prayers (see Matthew 7:7-11; Luke 11:1-13; John 14:13-14; 15:7, 16). Even though He is in heaven, He promised that we would never be alone (see John 14:15-31; 15:26-27; 16:7-11). Jesus sternly warned about false teachers and false prophets (see John 5:41-44) and extensively taught and prophesied about the end days, these prophecies will be reviewed later in this book.
According to the law in order to qualify as a redeemer of mankind, a person would first need to be a ‘kinsman’ of Adam, a human being (see Revelation 5:1-14) and secondly live their total life without sinning. The title of “Son of Man,” points to Jesus’ humility and humanity, who truly suffered and died as a human being (see Matthew 8:20; 9:6; 10:23; 11:19; 12:8, 32, 40; 13:37, 41; 16:13, 27-28; 17:9, 12, 22; 19:28; 20:18, 28; 24:27, 30, 37, 39, 44; 25:31; 26:2, 24, 45, 64: Mark 2:10, 28; 8:31, 38; 9:9, 12, 31; 10:33, 45; 13:26; 14:21, 41, 62; Luke 6:5, 22; 7:34; 9:22, 26, 44, 58; 11:30; 12:8, 10, 40; 17:22, 24, 26, 30; 18:8, 31; 19:10; 21:27, 36; 22:48, 69; 24:7; John 1:51; 3:13-14; 5:27; 6:27, 53, 62; 8:28; 9:35; 12:23, 34; 13:31, see also Mark 15:39; Luke 23:4, 47; John 9:16; 1 Corinthians 15:20-28; Philippians 2:1-11; 1 Timothy 2:5). The great news is, that He is also God and was able to conquer death for everyone who believes in Him.
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[1] Hunt, D. (1994). A woman rides the beast. Harvest House Publishers.
[2] Strong’s Hebrew 4899.
[3] Zodhiates, S. (2000). In The complete word study dictionary: New Testament (electronic ed.). AMG Publishers.
[4] Strong’s Greek 5547.
[5] Strong’s Hebrew 7779.
[6] Strong’s Hebrew 859.
[7] Strong’s Hebrew 7218.
[8] Strong’s Hebrew 6119.
[9] Strong’s Hebrew 7886.
[10] See Appendix regarding the Septuagint.
[11] Fruchtenbaum, A. G. (2008). Ariel’s Bible commentary: the book of Genesis (1st ed., pp. 639–640). Ariel Ministries.
[12] Strong’s Hebrew 6213.
[13] Strong’s Hebrew 5771.
[14] Strong’s Hebrew 6663.
[15] See Considerations under commentary for Revelation 19:5.
[16] Strong’s Hebrew 5342.