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The messiah, the prophecies and the Talmud
The Messiah, Prophecies, and the Talmud; i.e., how the Messiah is referred to, in addition to the Old Testament, in old Jewish rabbinical commentaries such as the Talmud
Foreword
The coming of the Messiah is an interesting subject about which many prophecies exist. Next we consider various prophecies associated with the coming of the Messiah. The purpose is to go through what has been foretold in the Scriptures – the books of Moses, psalms and prophets – about the coming of the Messiah, the time of His coming, His life, His origins and whether or not these prophecies have already been fulfilled. Our goal is to learn if some of these prophecies have already been fulfilled. We will not restrict our study materials to the Bible, but will also use old commentaries written by various Hebrew rabbis (Midrash, Targum, Zohar, Talmud, etc.) because they are highly regarded by Jews. Surprisingly, we find in these old sources – especially in the oldest – powerful expectation of the Messiah’s coming, and a description of His supernatural features, presented in much the same way as in the New Testament. Consider the follow examples taken from the Talmud. They indicate that prophets prophesied only for the days of the Messiah:
"All prophets prophesied only for the days of the Messiah" (Sanhedrin 99a. p. 670).
"The world was created only for the Messiah." (Sanhedrin 98b. p. 667).
1. The time of the coming of the Messiah
1. The time of the coming of the Messiah
In contemporary Judaism, there is an understanding that the Messiah has not yet come; He has not yet been on Earth. For that reason, they are still waiting for His first coming. Some may also speak of a mere messianic age without belief in a specific Messiah. Illustrative of the view that the Messiah has not yet come is a quote from the twelfth article of faith of the well-known Bible commentator, Rabbi Maimonides. It is attached to the current Sidur prayer book:
"I believe with perfect faith in the coming of the Messiah, and despite being delayed, I shall wait for Him every day, until He comes."
But how is it? Has the Messiah already come, and is there any deadline for His coming in the Bible, and is that time possibly already over? These questions about the time of the coming of the Messiah will be answered in the following lines. It can already be stated in advance that this point in time should have passed a long time ago. This is shown by the following facts:
THE PROPHECY OF DANIEL. First, it is good to pay attention to the prophecy of Daniel, which is one of the most remarkable prophecies regarding the time of the coming of the Messiah. Daniel received this prophecy in the 5th-6th centuries BC. It refers to the city of Jerusalem and its sanctuary, but also to the Anointed One, the Messiah. According to the prophecy, the Messiah should have appeared and also died ("shall Messiah be cut off") at the latest before the city of Jerusalem and its sanctuary were destroyed. The prophecy says:
- (Dan 9:24-26) Seventy weeks are determined on your people and on your holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. 25 Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem to the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and three score and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. 26 And after three score and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and to the end of the war desolations are determined.
When it is now known from history that the Roman Titus and his troops razed Jerusalem and its sanctuary to the ground in 70 AD. - it is still one of the greatest mass destructions in history - the Messiah should have come and also died before that. Likewise, when the prophecy speaks of 70 year-weeks, or 490 years, it also leads to the same time. For even if we take as a starting point any declaration of the Persians about the rebuilding of Jerusalem and its temple, and adds 490 years to it, we always end up with a date before 70 A.D. Daniel's prophecy thus clearly shows that the Messiah should appear and die before AD 70, when the city of Jerusalem and its sanctuary were destroyed. Later dates are not possible in any way.
THE Prophecy of Jacob. The second reference to the time of the coming of the Messiah is found in the blessing of Jacob, which is in the book of Genesis. This prophecy implies that the descendants of Judah would not give up their right to rule over their people or transfer their legislative authority (the Sanhedrin later) to someone else until the Messiah came. The prophecy says:
- (Gen 49:10) The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and to him shall the gathering of the people be.
When it is now known afterwards that Judah lost its national unity, its being a state, and also its right to enact laws in the year 70 destruction, this sets its own time limits for the coming of the Messiah. According to this prophecy, He should have come even before the event in question. Moreover, even before this, in AD 6, the scepter of Judah had experienced a partial displacement. For when the son of King Herod, Archelaus, who was considered the last king of Judah, was deposed and replaced by procurators from Rome, the Sanhedrin also lost some of its powers. Rabbi Rahmon is said to have said then:
When members of the Sanhedrin discovered that they had been deprived of their right to control life and death, they were overwhelmed by general dismay. They covered their heads with ashes and their bodies with burlap, crying out, "Woe to us, the scepter of Judah has been removed, and the Messiah has not yet come."
When a conclusion is drawn from this prophecy as well as from the previous prophecy of Daniel, they set clear time limits for the first coming of the Messiah. According to this prophecy, the Messiah should have been in the world no later than 6 AD, while according to Daniel's prophecy, He should have died before 70 ("shall Messiah be cut off") Both prophecies say that the Messiah should have lived in the first half of the first century at the latest. Dates later than this - e.g. after 70 A.D. - are impossible.
THE DATE OF THE COMING OF THE MESSIAH IN OLD JEWISH SOURCES. When it was stated above that, in the light of the Bible, the first coming of the Messiah should have already taken place, many rabbis have observed the same. According to them, too, the date of the Messiah's arrival should have passed a long time ago. It has been referred to by Maimonides and many other explainers and. It is also mentioned in the Talmud:
The explanation of Maimonides. In this chapter we quoted the statement of Rabbi Maimonides (RaMBaM), Judaism's most respected biblical commentator. He stated in it about the lingering of the coming of the Messiah: "... and despite being delayed, I shall wait for Him every day, until He comes." (This is the notion in modern Judaism in its brevity.) Maimonides has also elsewhere referred to the coming of the Messiah. In explaining Daniel's prophecy in his letter "Igeret Teiman" (chapter 3, 24), he talks about how the end times have already come, but the Messiah has not yet come. He understood well the fact that the times described by Daniel in his prophecy had passed and the Messiah should have already appeared on earth:
"But Daniel has explained to us the depths of the knowledge of the end times. But because they are hidden, our scholars, may their memories be blessed, have prevented from counting the days of the Messiah's coming, so that simple people would not be led astray when they see that times of the end have already come but the Messiah has not arrived. That is why our scholars, blessed be their memories, have said: cursed be he who calculates the end times... but we cannot say that Daniel was mistaken in his calculations..."
In the same context, it is good to include the statement of another Jew, the historian Josephus, from the same book of Daniel. Josephus noted in an interesting way, writing in the first century, how many of Daniel's prophecies had come true exactly. He wrote about the prophecies of Daniel:
"Daniel has prophesied and written about all this years before. Likewise, in his writings we find our nation falling under the yoke of slavery and its destruction by the Romans. All these writings Daniel left behind, at God's command, to give the reader and observer of history a testimony of how much honor God had given him, and to convince the skeptics, who shut out all the possibility of guidance in life, to believe that God is still taking care of the course of the world." (Josephus Antiqv. X. 10 and 11)
The so-called Elijah tradition speaks of the same thing as Maimonides' commentary. According to this tradition, too, the Messiah should have come almost 2000 years ago, but because of the sins of the people, His coming is believed to have been prevented:
"The world will stand for six thousand years: two thousand of them will be desolation, two thousand the time of the Torah and two thousand the days of the Messiah, although for the sake of our sins, which were great, it happened as it happened." (Sanhedrin 97, a)
The Talmud. When we read the Talmud we find several references to how the Messiah should have come already. One of these statements was made by Rabbi Yehuda, who is commonly called just "rabbi". He stated about the times about which Daniel prophesied:
These times have already ended long ago. (Sanhedrin 9. b).
The Midrash of the Lamentations. The fact that the Messiah was already expected during the Second Temple is evident from the Midrash of Lamentations. (The First Temple was built by King Solomon and the Second Temple was built after the exile. It was completed by King Herod until it was destroyed in 70.). It says:
"At the moment the temple was destroyed, the Messiah was born... but the storm wind carried Him away."
THE Origin of the Messiah. After we have discussed the time of the Messiah's arrival and the deadline for it, it is next good to find out what kind of ancestry He should have had. What family must He have come from?The Bible clearly describes the Messiah's lineage. We are told that the Messiah would come from the seed of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Indeed, all three of them received a similar promise. The Messiah would not only be from the Tribe of Judah, but He would be a descendant of its royal branch -- from the house of King David. If a person did not come from this family line, it was impossible for him to be the real Messiah:A promise to Abraham (also Isaac and Jacob got the same promise – Gen 26:4 and 28:14):
- (Gen 22:18) And in your seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because you have obeyed my voice.
Tribe of Judah
- (Micah 5:2) But you, Bethlehem Ephratah, though you be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall he come forth to me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.
The descendant of David – a promise to David
- (2 Sam 7:8,12,13) Now therefore so shall you say to my servant David, Thus said the LORD of hosts, I took you from the sheepcote, from following the sheep, to be ruler over my people, over Israel: 12 And when your days be fulfilled, and you shall sleep with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, which shall proceed out of your bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He shall build an house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom for ever.
WAS JESUS A descendant of DAVID? The Messiah must therefore have come from the seed of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, from the tribe of Judah, and from its royal branch: from the house of King David. If we consider the possibility that Jesus, who lived in the first century, would be the Messiah, it is remarkable that He has had the right kind of royal family tree. E.g. The Talmud (sanhedrin 43 a) did not dispute the claim that Jesus belonged to the tribe of Judah and the lineage of David. The Talmud confirms it:
Jesus, who was of royal origin.
Although there were twelve tribes in Israel, of which Judah was only one, Jesus descended from just this tribe and from its royal branch, from the house of King David. The Gospels do not mention anywhere that somebody was against it. On the contrary, people called Him the son of David, which indicates that they knew Him to be a descendant of King David. If that had not been the case, His opponents could have exploited it and denied His messiahship. However, this did not happen, as we are told. Let's look at some New Testament passages on the subject:
- (Hebr 7:14) For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood.
- (Luke 1:31-33) And, behold, you shall conceive in your womb, and bring forth a son, and shall call his name JESUS. 32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give to him the throne of his father David: 33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
- (Matt 1:1) The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
- (Rom 1:1-3) Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God, 2 (Which he had promised before by his prophets in the holy scriptures,) 3 Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;
- (Matt 15:22) And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried to him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, you son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil.
- ( Rev 22:16) I Jesus have sent my angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.
Thus, there was no doubt about the origin of Jesus among the people in His day. Instead, people were in a state of excitement in another way, as the following practical situation shows:
- (John 10:22-25) And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter. 23 And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon’s porch. 24 Then came the Jews round about him, and said to him, How long do you make us to doubt? If you be the Christ, tell us plainly. 25 Jesus answered them, I told you, and you believed not: the works that I do in my Father’s name, they bear witness of me.
THE Genealogies and the deadline for the coming of the Messiah. If we go back to the timing of the coming of the Messiah, there is one more special reason why He should have appeared before the year 70, when Jerusalem and its temple were destroyed. The reason is that when the temple archives once had genealogies of all the families, from which the family tree of Jesus could also be checked, the genealogies were destroyed in the same destruction. If someone wanted to prove his Messianship after this and that he was from the family of David, it was no longer possible. It didn't work because the only sure and reliable evidence of his family tree had been lost, and no one's family background could be conclusively proven after that. Therefore, the destruction of the genealogies also suggests that the Messiah came before the disaster of the year 70.
When we begin to study the prophecies related to the Messiah and what His life should have been like, perhaps the best starting point is the promise given to Moses, which appears in the book of Deuteronomy. This promise speaks of a very specific prophet whom God promised to raise up from among the people of Israel at a later time. It does not speak of all the prophets of Israel, but only of one whom God would send. This prophet would speak the words of God, and His importance would be so great that if someone did not listen to His words, the person himself would be held accountable before God. God's judgment would be upon him. One special feature also had to be that the person would resemble Moses to some extent and be more important than him. The prophecy says:
- (Deut 18:15,18,19) The LORD your God will raise up to you a Prophet from the middle of you, of your brothers, like to me; to him you shall listen; 18 I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brothers, like to you, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak to them all that I shall command him. 19 And it shall come to pass, that whoever will not listen to my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.
Regarding the previous prophecy and Jesus, it is interesting to note that He said Moses wrote about Him. He spoke of how He was mentioned in the Law of Moses, the prophets and the psalms and how the scriptures testified about Him. Similarly, the apostles believed that Jesus was the fulfillment of a prophet like Moses. In fact, one of the basics of the entire New Testament is that Jesus is seen as the fulfillment of the law and the prophecies (Matt 5:17: “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.) According to the New Testament, He came here to fulfill these things and to do God's will as several verses show. A good question is how reliable are the claims of Jesus and the apostles. Is it reasonable for us to believe them and are they true or not? In any case, when Jesus made the following type of claims about the scriptures being fulfilled in Himself, they must be false or they are true, and show His important position:
- (John 5:39-40) Search the scriptures; for in them you think you have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. 40 And you will not come to me, that you might have life.
- (John 5:45-47) Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuses you, even Moses, in whom you trust. 46 For had you believed Moses, you would have believed me; for he wrote of me. 47 But if you believe not his writings, how shall you believe my words?
- (Luke 24:44-45) And he said to them, These are the words which I spoke to you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. 45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,
- (Acts 3:22,23,26) For Moses truly said to the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up to you of your brothers, like to me; him shall you hear in all things whatever he shall say to you. 23 And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people. 26 To you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.
People expected THE coming of this prophet. One feature that emerges from the texts of the New Testament is that people expected the coming of a prophet like Moses. They understood after reading the old scriptures that such a person should have appeared in those times because the scriptures pointed to it.In the Gospel of John, this expectation comes out well. There is a description of how people came to John the Baptist to ask if he might be this person. They seemed to see some suitable traits in John, but John answered in the negative, however:- (John 1:19-28) And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who are you? 20 And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ. 21 And they asked him, What then? Are you Elias? And he said, I am not. Are you that prophet? And he answered, No. 22 Then said they to him, Who are you? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What say you of yourself? 23 He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias. 24 And they which were sent were of the Pharisees. 25 And they asked him, and said to him, Why baptize you then, if you be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet? 26 John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there stands one among you, whom you know not; 27 He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe’s lace I am not worthy to unloose. 28 These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing.
WAS JESUS A PROPHET LIKE MOSES ABOUT WHOM HAD BEEN FORETOLD?
- (John 1:43-46) The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and found Philip, and said to him, Follow me. 44 Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. 45 Philip found Nathanael, and said to him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. 46 And Nathanael said to him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip said to him, Come and see.
When in the verses above, Philip urged Nathanael to investigate and test whether Jesus is really the person prophesied in the Law of Moses and the prophets, the same applies now. It is also good for us to investigate in the light of the scriptures, whether it is really so, and whether Jesus appears in these old scriptures. It is remarkable, when we study His life, that there really are many Moses-like traits in Him, in character, life, and mission. Let's look at the similarities in a catalog form:
Moses was meek
- (Num 12:3) (Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were on the face of the earth.)
Jesus was meek
- (John 5:41) I receive not honor from men.
- (John 6:14-15) Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world. 15 When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone.
- (John 8:53-55) Are you greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom make you yourself? 54 Jesus answered, If I honor myself, my honor is nothing: it is my Father that honors me; of whom you say, that he is your God: 55 Yet you have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like to you: but I know him, and keep his saying.
- (Matt 11:28-30) Come to me, all you that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke on you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and you shall find rest to your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Moses was faithful
- (Num 12:6-8) And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the LORD will make myself known to him in a vision, and will speak to him in a dream. 7 My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all my house. 8 With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the LORD shall he behold: why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?
Jesus was faithful
- (John 8:28-30) Then said Jesus to them, When you have lifted up the Son of man, then shall you know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father has taught me, I speak these things. 29 And he that sent me is with me: the Father has not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him. 30 As he spoke these words, many believed on him.
- (John 8:55) Yet you have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like to you: but I know him, and keep his saying.
- (Hebr 3:1-6) Why, holy brothers, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus; 2 Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house. 3 For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who has built the house has more honor than the house. 4 For every house is built by some man; but he that built all things is God. 5 And Moses truly was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after; 6 But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end.
When Moses was born, a king gave orders to kill children
- (Exo1:15-16) And the king of Egypt spoke to the Hebrew midwives, of which the name of the one was Shiphrah, and the name of the other Puah: 16 And he said, When you do the office of a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see them on the stools; if it be a son, then you shall kill him: but if it be a daughter, then she shall live.
When Jesus was born, a king gave orders to kill children
- (Matt 2:16) Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men.
Moses grew in wisdom
- (Acts 7:22) And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds.
Jesus grew in wisdom
- (Luke 2:46-47,52) And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the middle of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. 47 And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers. 52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.
Moses went to his brothers, but at first they did not accept him
- (Acts 7:35) This Moses whom they refused, saying, Who made you a ruler and a judge? the same did God send to be a ruler and a deliverer by the hand of the angel which appeared to him in the bush.
At first, Jesus was not accepted, either.
- (John 1:11) He came to his own, and his own received him not.
Moses was a teacher
- (Deut 4:1) Now therefore listen, O Israel, to the statutes and to the judgments, which I teach you, for to do them, that you may live, and go in and possess the land which the LORD God of your fathers gives you.
Jesus was a teacher
- (John 3:1-2) There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: 2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said to him, Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that you do, except God be with him.
- (Matt 5:1-2) And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came to him: 2 And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying: …
Moses was a shepherd
- (Isa 63:11) Then he remembered the days of old, Moses, and his people, saying, Where is he that brought them up out of the sea with the shepherd of his flock? where is he that put his holy Spirit within him?
Jesus was a shepherd
- (John 10:11) I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd gives his life for the sheep.
Moses was as a mediator
- (Exo 20:18-19) And all the people saw the thunder, and the lightning, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off. 19 And they said to Moses, Speak you with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die.
Jesus is the Mediator
- (Hebr 8:6) But now has he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises.
- (Hebr 12:24) And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaks better things that that of Abel.
Moses prayed for people
- (Exo 32:31-32) And Moses returned to the LORD, and said, Oh, this people have sinned a great sin, and have made them gods of gold. 32 Yet now, if you will forgive their sin—; and if not, blot me, I pray you, out of your book which you have written.
Jesus prayed for people
- (Luke 23:34) Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
- (John 17:20) Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;
- (Luke 22:31-32And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: 32 But I have prayed for you, that your faith fail not: and when you are converted, strengthen your brothers.
Moses chose to follow the will of God rather than to seek a glorious position
- (Hebr 11:24-26) By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; 25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; 26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect to the recompense of the reward.
Jesus, too, lowered Himself:
- (Phil 2:5-7) Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took on him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
- (Hebr 12:2) Looking to Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Moses knew God intimately
- (Exo 6:2-3) And God spoke to Moses, and said to him, I am the LORD: 3 And I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them.
- (Num 12:7-8) My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all my house. 8 With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the LORD shall he behold: why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?
Jesus knew God intimately
- (John 8:54-55) Jesus answered, If I honor myself, my honor is nothing: it is my Father that honors me; of whom you say, that he is your God: 55 Yet you have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like to you: but I know him, and keep his saying.
- (John 7:28-30) Then cried Jesus in the temple as he taught, saying, You both know me, and you know from where I am: and I am not come of myself, but he that sent me is true, whom you know not. 29 But I know him: for I am from him, and he has sent me. 30 Then they sought to take him: but no man laid hands on him, because his hour was not yet come.
God provided help and healing for his nation through Moses
- (Exo 15:25-26) And he cried to the LORD; and the LORD showed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet: there he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them, 26 And said, If you will diligently listen to the voice of the LORD your God, and will do that which is right in his sight, and will give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases on you, which I have brought on the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that heals you.
- (Num 21:9) And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it on a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.
God provided help and healing for his nation through Jesus
- (Matt 4:23) And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.
- (Matt 8:16-17) When the even was come, they brought to him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick: 17 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bore our sicknesses.
God fed people through Moses
- (Exo 16:14-15) And when the dew that lay was gone up, behold, on the face of the wilderness there lay a small round thing, as small as the hoar frost on the ground. 15 And when the children of Israel saw it, they said one to another, It is manna: for they knew not what it was. And Moses said to them, This is the bread which the LORD has given you to eat.
God fed people through Jesus
- (Matt 14:19-21) And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and broke, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude. 20 And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full. 21 And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children.
Moses gave people water from a rock
- (Exo 17:5-6) And the LORD said to Moses, Go on before the people, and take with you of the elders of Israel; and your rod, with which you smote the river, take in your hand, and go. 6 Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock in Horeb; and you shall smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.
Jesus gives living water
- (John 7:37-39) In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come to me, and drink. 38 He that believes on me, as the scripture has said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. 39 (But this spoke he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)
- (John 4:10-14) Jesus answered and said to her, If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that said to you, Give me to drink; you would have asked of him, and he would have given you living water. 11 The woman said to him, Sir, you have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from where then have you that living water? 12 Are you greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle? 13 Jesus answered and said to her, Whoever drinks of this water shall thirst again: 14 But whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.
Moses released the people of God from slavery
- (Exo 3:7,10) And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows; 10 Come now therefore, and I will send you to Pharaoh, that you may bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt.
Jesus releases the people of God from the slavery of sin
- (John 8:31-36) Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If you continue in my word, then are you my disciples indeed; 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. 33 They answered him, We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how say you, You shall be made free? 34 Jesus answered them, Truly, truly, I say to you, Whoever commits sin is the servant of sin. 35 And the servant stays not in the house for ever: but the Son stays ever. 36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, you shall be free indeed.
- (Luke 4:17-21) And there was delivered to him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, 18 The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, 19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. 20 And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him. 21 And he began to say to them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.
People followed Moses
- (Exo 32:26) Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the LORD’s side? let him come to me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together to him.
People followed Jesus
- (Matt 16:24-25) Then said Jesus to his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 25 For whoever will save his life shall lose it: and whoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
Moses fasted for 40 days
- (Exo 34:28) And he was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights; he did neither eat bread, nor drink water. And he wrote on the tables the words of the covenant, the ten commandments.
Jesus fasted for 40 days
- (Matt 4:2) And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungered.
Moses’ face shone
- (Exo 34:35) And the children of Israel saw the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses’ face shone: and Moses put the veil on his face again, until he went in to speak with him.
Jesus’ face shone
- (Matt 17:1-2) And after six days Jesus takes Peter, James, and John his brother, and brings them up into an high mountain apart, 2 And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.
Moses did miraculous signs
- (Deut 34:10-12) And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like to Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face, 11 In all the signs and the wonders, which the LORD sent him to do in the land of Egypt to Pharaoh, and to all his servants, and to all his land, 12 And in all that mighty hand, and in all the great terror which Moses showed in the sight of all Israel.
Jesus did miraculous signs
- (John 2:23-25) Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did. 24 But Jesus did not commit himself to them, because he knew all men, 25 And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.
- (John 7:31) And many of the people believed on him, and said, When Christ comes, will he do more miracles than these which this man has done?
- (John 20:30-31) And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: 31 But these are written, that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you might have life through his name.
3. The life of the Messiah in prophecies
- (Acts 8:26-35) And the angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south to the way that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza, which is desert. 27 And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship, 28 Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet. 29 Then the Spirit said to Philip, Go near, and join yourself to this chariot. 30 And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understand you what you read? 31 And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him. 32 The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth: 33 In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth. 34 And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray you, of whom speaks the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man? 35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached to him Jesus.
In the above verses of the Acts of the Apostles, there is an interesting description of the eunuch of Candace, the queen of Ethiopia, who read the prophet Isaiah, but did not fully understand what he read. He did not understand whether the prophet was talking about himself or someone else in the passage of the Bible. Therefore he sought advice from Philip, who came to him. Philip helped him to understand what the writings were referring to. Also now, when we read the prophets, it is good to study what was prophesied about the Messiah in them and what things must have been included in his life. Since there are numerous prophecies associated with the Messiah in the scriptures, it is good to go through them so that we can get a good overall picture of His life. That's why the following lines intend to bring up such predictions. In addition, we will look at what is written about the same things in old Jewish sources and rabbinic commentaries. It may come as a surprise to many that in these sources one can find almost the same description of the Messiah as the New Testament presents about Him. It's not much different from that. Let's go through these prophecies in list form:
AN offspring of THE woman who will crush THE head of satan. One characteristic associated with the Messiah was that He would crush the head of the serpent (Satan) and fulfill the promise attached to the seed of the woman.For when the first human couple lived in paradise and fell into sin because of the serpent, i.e. Satan's lie, there was a promise that the seed of the woman would eventually appear, who would correct the consequences of the fall and bruise the head of serpent. However, it would first require that the wife's seed be wounded in the heel, which would indicate his death.As far as the fulfillment of this promise is concerned, the New Testament indicates clearly that it was fulfilled in Jesus. He crushed the head of Satan on the cross through His death and resurrection. He was the seed of the woman who fulfilled the promise attached to the first prophecy of the Bible:Prophecy:
- (Gen 3:15) And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; it shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.
Fulfillment:
- (Hebr 2:14-15) For as much then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; 15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
- (1 John 3:8) He that commits sin is of the devil; for the devil sins from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
When the New Testament teaches that the Messiah was the person who bruised the head of the serpent, it is interesting that the ancient Jewish sources do the same. In them too, it has been understood that the Messiah is the seed of the woman who finally crushes the head of the serpent and fulfills the promise attached to the seed of the woman. Let's look at some of the explanations attached to Genesis 3:15:
Jonathan Ben Uzziel, considered Rabbi Hillel's wisest student, has explained that the seed of the wife is "the Messiah king who is wounded in the heel."
Radak, or Rabbi David Kimchi, has stated that the verse is related to the Messiah. He also brings up the fact, which was already stated, that the Messiah is descended from David:
In Midrash (Shemot Rabbaa 30), the Fall of man and corruption of all people as a consequence of that Fall were described in an interesting way. The quote explains that the Messiah, who is a descendant of the family of Peres and from the tribe of Judah, will finally fix the situation. The quote also talks about the final situation in which death is defeated forever - just as Paul once wrote (1 Cor 15:26: The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death./ In Revelation 21:3-4 is said the same: “And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away."):
"This is the history of Peres and it has a profound meaning... when the holy God created His world, then there was no angel of death... but when Adam and Eve fell into sin, all the families were corrupted. And when Peres arose, history began to be fulfilled through him, for from him is descended the Messiah, and in His days the holy God will swallow up death, as it has been said: he will destroy death forever."
THE Messiah bore our sins and died for THE sake of THEM. The quote above (Midrash: Shemot Rabbaa 30) states that "… when Adam and Eve fell into sin, all the families were corrupted." In the New Testament we read the same message: that sin entered the world through one man. Paul wrote in Romans 5:12, “Why, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed on all men, for that all have sinned.” However, the good news is that even though people have fallen into sin and sinned, the Scriptures indicate that Jesus has already borne our sins. This is how He fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah 53, which referred to this several times:
Prophecy:
- (Isa 53:5,6,8,11,12) But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was on him; and with his stripes we are healed. 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. 8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. 11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. 12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he has poured out his soul to death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
Fulfillment:
- (1 Peter 2:23,24) Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judges righteously: 24 Who his own self bore our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live to righteousness: by whose stripes you were healed.
- (1 John 3:5) And you know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.
- (John 1:29) The next day John sees Jesus coming to him, and said, Behold the Lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world.
- (1 Cor 15:3) For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures
- (1 Peter 3:18) For Christ also has once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit
The New Testament teaches that the Messiah bore our sins. What do the old Jewish sources teach about the Messiah? They teach the same thing. In Jewish sources we find that one task of the Messiah is to bear our sins, that He is wounded for the sake of our sins, and that He dies for the sake of our sins -- just as the New Testament teaches. Many sources refer to this atonement through the Messiah. We will study some of them below.
Rabbi Elia de Vidas – who lived in the 17th century – wrote simply that the Messiah is wounded for the sake of our sins. If someone will not accept this, he will suffer and carry his own sins:
"So the Messiah suffers for the sake of our sins and He will be wounded; and who does not want for the Messiah to be wounded for the sake of our sins, he will himself suffer and bear his own sins."
In the Lochot Habberit (242 a) we read much the same message about the atonement of the Messiah as found in the New Testament: that He will give His life to death for people (compare Matt 20:28: ... Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered to, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many."):
"He (the Messiah) will give Himself and His life to death, and His blood will reconcile His people.”
Rabbi Maimonides wrote in his commentary (in Midrash rabba, p. 660), that the Messiah took the sins on His shoulders and that He had to suffer because of this. This took place so that no one of Israel would get lost (cmp. John 3:16: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.):
Midrash of the book of Ruth refers to the sufferings of the Messiah and that He has been wounded for the sake of our sins. It explains the verse of book of Ruth 2:14 as follows:
In the Pesikta Rabbat (35-37), which is a part of the midrash literature, it is written about the Messiah's suffering for the sins of the people. Because of them, he was subjected to difficult and great trials and ridicule (compare Matt 26:38-39: Then said he to them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even to death: tarry you here, and watch with me. And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as you will.):
"Our rabbis have taught: once the patriarchs will arrive to Him in the month of Nisan (about the time of the Passover) and say, Ephraim, the Messiah our righteousness, although we are your fathers, You are greater than we, because You have suffered for the sake of the Sins of our children and You have experienced difficult and large trials... You have become an object of laughter and derision among the nations of the world for the sake of Israel, and You have sat in the dark and depth... Your skin has been torn off and your body has dried up like a tree... and Your power is like a pot shard. All this You have suffered for the sake of the sins of our children."
Also in another Midrash (Midrash Bamidbar Rabbaa, par. 12) is found a reference to the idea of atonement (compare 2 Cor 5:19: To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, not imputing their trespasses to them; and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.) It refers to “Metatron,” who is often identified with the Messiah:
THE Messiah bore our illnesses. When the Messiah came to correct the consequences of the Fall, it also included illnesses that did not exist in the original paradise. He took them upon Himself, as prophesied in the book of Isaiah and referred to in the New Testament as well. It happened specifically through Jesus, because He did it for us:Prophecy:
- (Isa 53:4, 5,10) Surely he has borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was on him; and with his stripes we are healed. 10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he has put him to grief: when you shall make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.
Fulfillment:
- (Matt 8:16-17) When the even was come, they brought to him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick: 17 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bore our sicknesses.
- (1 Peter 2:21,24) For even hereunto were you called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow his steps: 24 Who his own self bore our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live to righteousness: by whose stripes you were healed.
Old Jewish sources teach the same as the New Testament. One of the references appears in the book of the Zohar, where the Messiah is said to have taken upon Himself every illness, pain, and all punishment:
have been able to bear Israel's punishment for transgressions of the law; and thus it is written: Surely He took up our infirmities."
From the Talmud of Babylon (Sanhedrin 98), we can find the same subject, that the Messiah took up our diseases:
The so-called Musaf prayer, which is one of the annual prayers of Yom Kippur and apparently dates back to the 9th century, talks about how we can be healthy through the wounds of the Messiah. It also talks about how the Messiah has borne the sins of men:
"The Messiah, our righteousness, has turned away from us. We have been beaten broken and because of that, we have no spokesperson. Our crimes and the yoke of our bad deeds are a heavy burden. But He has been wounded for our sins. He carries our sins on His shoulders, so that we would get forgiveness. And by His wounds we are healed; it has come the time to create an eternal new creation.”
Birth in Bethlehem. When it comes to the birth of the Messiah in Bethlehem, this was realized in Jesus because He was born there. Several Jewish sources have also referred to the birth of the Messiah in this city when explaining verse Micah 5:2 (we will look at them later). They have suggested that the Messiah must have been born in this city of the tribe of Judah; in the same place from which King David also originated (1 Sam 17:12). What is curious, however, is that the city of Bethlehem is not now inhabited by Jews, but only by Arabs. It is an Arab town:
Prophecy:
- (Micah 5:2) But you, Bethlehem Ephratah, though you be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall he come forth to me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.
Fulfillment:
- (Matt 2:1-2) Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, 2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
THE MISSION BEGINS IN GALILEE. One aspect of the Messiah is that He would affect much of the area of Galilee and would give it a new brilliance.That can really be said of Jesus. He lived in that area and made trips elsewhere from there. Also, the word "light," which appears in these and other verses, is often associated with the Messiah in Jewish sources. Light is regarded as one name for the Messiah.
Prophecy:
- (Isa 9:1-2) Nevertheless the dimness shall not be such as was in her vexation, when at the first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, and afterward did more grievously afflict her by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, in Galilee of the nations. 2 The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, on them has the light shined.
Fulfillment:
- (Matt 4:12-17) Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, he departed into Galilee; 13 And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelled in Capernaum, which is on the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim: 14 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, 15 The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles; 16 The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up. 17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Anointed with THE Spirit. The phrase "anointed with the Spirit" can be applied to Jesus better than to anyone else. We read in several Bible passages that Jesus was anointed with the Spirit. He healed sick people, freed people from demons, and helped people in many other ways, just as His disciples did later on.Many old Jewish sources connect Isaiah 11:1-2 and 61:1-3 with the Messiah. Good examples of that are the texts below, which refer also to the family tree of the Messiah.
"This is how Judah benefited, for from him were descended Peres and Esrom, from whom king David and the king Messiah came, he, who will save Israel; look at how many difficulties the Holy God gave, until He raised the king Messiah from Judah, Him, about whom has been written, “The Spirit of the LORD will rest on Him." (Midrash Tanhuma, Bereshit va-jeshev.)
Why do your brothers praise you, Judah (verse 8), because the whole Israel is called Jews according to you, and not only therefore, but also because the Messiah will come from you, He who will save Israel, as has been written, “And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, Isa 11:1." (Midrash Tanhuma, Bereshit vajehi, 64.)
Prophecy:
- (Isa 11:1-2) And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: 2 And the spirit of the LORD shall rest on him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD
- (Isa 42:1) Behold my servant, whom I uphold; my elect, in whom my soul delights; I have put my spirit on him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.
Fulfillment:
- (Matt 3:16) And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, see, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting on him
Prophecy:
- (Isa 61:1-3) The Spirit of the Lord GOD is on me; because the LORD has anointed me to preach good tidings to the meek; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; 2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; 3 To appoint to them that mourn in Zion, to give to them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.
Fulfillment:
- (Luke 4:14-21) And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about. 15 And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all. 16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read. 17 And there was delivered to him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, 18 The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, 19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. 20 And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him. 21 And he began to say to them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.
- (Acts 10:38) How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
Sinless. One attribute associated with the Messiah is His pure life and that He had done no wrong. He should be called the righteous servant as shown in the book of Isaiah.The fulfillment of these verses can be said to have been fulfilled in Jesus. The purity of His life was witnessed both by His Closest disciples and also by His opponents. It is significant because it would have been easiest for the disciples to see Jesus' faults, and the opposers would certainly not make positive statements. One example of these positive statements is found in the Talmud, in which it was written about Jesus’s crucifixion that He was, "near the kingdom of God" (Sanhedrin 43. a.):
Prophecy:
- (Isa 53:9,11) And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. 11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.
Fulfillment:
- (1 Peter 2:21-22) For even hereunto were you called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow his steps: 22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:
- (1 John 3:5) And you know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.
- (Hebr 7:26) For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;
- (Luke 23:4) Then said Pilate to the chief priests and to the people, I find no fault in this man.
- (Matt 27:3-4) Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, 4 Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see you to that.
- (Matt 27:19) When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying, Have you nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him.
- (Luke 23:39-41) And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If you be Christ, save yourself and us. 40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Do not you fear God, seeing you are in the same condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man has done nothing amiss.
- (John 8:45-46) And because I tell you the truth, you believe me not. 46 Which of you convinces me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do you not believe me?
THE Public arrival In Jerusalem. Zechariah's prophecy (Zechariah 9:9) about a lowly king riding on an ass fits Jesus very well because He did just that, and because He was lowly and righteous. Surely this prophecy applies to no one else as well as to Him:
Prophecy:
- (Zec 9:9) Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, your King comes to you: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding on an ass, and on a colt the foal of an ass.
- (Gen 49:10-11) The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and to him shall the gathering of the people be. 11 Binding his foal to the vine, and his ass’s colt to the choice vine; he washed his garments in wine, and his clothes in the blood of grapes:
- (Ps 118:24-26) This is the day which the LORD has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. 25 Save now, I beseech you, O LORD: O LORD, I beseech you, send now prosperity. 26 Blessed be he that comes in the name of the LORD: we have blessed you out of the house of the LORD.
Fulfillment:
- (Matt 21:1-11) And when they drew near to Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, to the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples, 2 Saying to them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway you shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them to me. 3 And if any man say ought to you, you shall say, The Lord has need of them; and straightway he will send them. 4 All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, 5 Tell you the daughter of Sion, Behold, your King comes to you, meek, and sitting on an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass. 6 And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them, 7 And brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon. 8 And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strewed them in the way. 9 And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest. 10 And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this? 11 And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.
It is remarkable that the old Jewish writings also consider Zechariah's prophecy (Zech 9:9) about the king riding on an ass as a messianic prophecy. In the Talmud (Sanhedrin 97. b) we read that the son of David will arrive during a generation, which is either completely righteous or completely sinful. If that generation is sinful, then He will come as a lowly person and riding on an ass:
"The son of David will arrive during a generation which is either completely righteous or completely sinful; during a time that is completely righteous, such as has been written Isa 60:21, Your people also shall be all righteous: they shall inherit the land for ever; or during a time when all people are sinful, as has been written Isa 59:16, “And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor… and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven (Dan 7:13), and it has been written, lowly and riding on an ass: if they are righteous, He will come with the clouds of heaven, if not, lowly and riding on an ass.”
The Midrash (Midrash Kohelet Rabbati 1.) refers to the coming of a lowly Messiah, who rides into the city on an ass. This really happened in Jesus' life. In addition, the Messiah has been compared to the first savior, or Moses, and what similarities there would be between them. It was already noted above how a lot of them could be found between Moses and Jesus:
"Such as was the first savior, so will be the last. As is said about the first savior (Ex 4:20): And Moses took his wife and his sons, and set them on an ass, the same has been said about the last savior, that He is lowly and rides on an ass (Zec 9:9). Such as the first savior gave manna (Ex 16), such as has been written, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you, so also the last savior will give manna, such as has been written (Ps 72:16), let corn abound throughout the land. Such as the first savior opened a spring, so the last savior will give water, such as has been written (Joel 3:18), and a fountain shall come forth out of the house of the LORD."
Rabbi Saadia Gaon (882 942 A.D, Mikraoot Gedolot) has explained the verse of Zec 9:9. He, too, has associated the verse with the Messiah:
"He is the Messiah our Righteousness; and has it not been written about the Messiah that He is lowly and rides on an ass; but He arrives lowly and not proud with horses; and as for the arrival in the clouds of heaven, there is a question of the army of the angels of heaven, and here is the greatness which the Creator gives to the Messiah."
A JUST HELPER AND A GOOD SHEPHERD. Two features associated with the Messiah were that He had to be a just helper and a good shepherd. This is found in many prophecies – Zec 9:9, Isa11:1-5, Isa 42:1-4 – and others. Old Jewish sources associate these characteristics also with the Messiah. As far as the Lord Jesus is concerned, in Him these prophecies came true perfectly. He was a good shepherd who pitied people's weaknesses, He paid no heed to who people were, and all weary and burdened people could always go to Him. There is certainly nobody but Jesus who better fits the description of the prophesied Messiah.
Prophecy:
- (Zec 9:9) Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, your King comes to you: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding on an ass, and on a colt the foal of an ass.
- (Isa 42:1-4) Behold my servant, whom I uphold; my elect, in whom my soul delights; I have put my spirit on him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. 2 He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street. 3 A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment to truth. 4 He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law.
Fulfillment:
- (Matt 14:14) And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.
- (Hebr 4:15) For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
- (Matt 11:28-30) Come to me, all you that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke on you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and you shall find rest to your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Prophecy:
- (Isa 11:1-5) And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: 2 And the spirit of the LORD shall rest on him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD; 3 And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears: 4 But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth: with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. 5 And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.
Fulfillment:
- (Matt 22:16) And they sent out to him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that you are true, and teach the way of God in truth, neither care you for any man: for you regard not the person of men.
Prophecy:
- (Isa 40:10-11) Behold, the Lord GOD will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him. 11 He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.
Fulfillment:
- (John 10:11-14) I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd gives his life for the sheep. 12 But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep, and flees: and the wolf catches them, and scatters the sheep. 13 The hireling flees, because he is an hireling, and cares not for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.
Miracles and preaching THE gospel. Just as miracles were part of the life of Moses, the "first savior", they were also a part of Jesus' life. He healed the sick, raised the dead, freed the captives, and helped people, just as the prophecies had foretold.In the Talmud (Sanhedrin 97, b) there is an interesting discussion regarding the ministry of the Messiah. It says that the sign by which the Messiah will be known is that He is with the poor and the sick, and that He frees and binds people at the same time:"Will I get to the future world? Elijah answered, if the Lord allows. Rabbi Yehoshua Ben Levi said, I see two and I heard a third voice (the mystery of three numbers). He asks still, When will the Messiah arrive? Elijah answered, Go and ask Himself! Then rabbi Yehoshua asked, Where will He stay? At the gate of Rome! And what is the mark, by which He will be known? He will sit at the place of the poor and the sick, and He will release and bind them simultaneously: one He releases and one He binds.”
Prophecy:
- (Isa 42:1, 6, 7) Behold my servant, whom I uphold; my elect, in whom my soul delights; I have put my spirit on him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. 6 I the LORD have called you in righteousness, and will hold your hand, and will keep you, and give you for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles; 7 To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.
Fulfillment:
- (Matt 11:2-6) Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples, 3 And said to him, Are you he that should come, or do we look for another? 4 Jesus answered and said to them, Go and show John again those things which you do hear and see: 5 The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. 6 And blessed is he, whoever shall not be offended in me.
- (Mark 7:37) And were beyond measure astonished, saying, He has done all things well: he makes both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak.
- (John 7:31) And many of the people believed on him, and said, When Christ comes, will he do more miracles than these which this man has done?
Prophecy:
- (Isa 61:1-3) The Spirit of the Lord GOD is on me; because the LORD has anointed me to preach good tidings to the meek; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; 2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; 3 To appoint to them that mourn in Zion, to give to them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.
Fulfillment:
- (Luke 4:16-21) And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read. 17 And there was delivered to him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, 18 The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, 19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. 20 And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him. 21 And he began to say to them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.
- (Luke 4:43) And he said to them, I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also: for therefore am I sent.
- (Luke 8:1) And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and showing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him,
THE will of THE Lord comes true THROUGH him. The most important feature of the prophesied Messiah was that the will of the Lord would come true through Him. That was more important than anything else, even miracles.Concerning the life of Jesus, we can truly say that the will of God was fulfilled through Him. He always did the will of His Father (John 4:34). He Himself told people, "Which of you convinces me of sin?” (John 8:46); and, "And he that sent me is with me: the Father has not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him. As he spoke these words, many believed on him.” (John 8:29, 30).
Prophecy:
- (Ps 40:6-8) Sacrifice and offering you did not desire; my ears have you opened: burnt offering and sin offering have you not required. 7 Then said I, See, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me, 8 I delight to do your will, O my God: yes, your law is within my heart.
Fulfillment:
- (Hebr 10:5-10) Why when he comes into the world, he said, Sacrifice and offering you would not, but a body have you prepared me: 6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin you have had no pleasure. 7 Then said I, See, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do your will, O God. 8 Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin you would not, neither had pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; 9 Then said he, See, I come to do your will, O God. He takes away the first, that he may establish the second. 10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
- (John 8:28-30) Then said Jesus to them, When you have lifted up the Son of man, then shall you know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father has taught me, I speak these things. 29 And he that sent me is with me: the Father has not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him. 30 As he spoke these words, many believed on him.
- (John 17:4-5) I have glorified you on the earth: I have finished the work which you gave me to do. 5 And now, O Father, glorify you me with your own self with the glory which I had with you before the world was.
Prophecy:
- (Isa 53:10) Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he has put him to grief: when you shall make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.
Fulfillment:
- (John 4:31-34) In the mean while his disciples prayed him, saying, Master, eat. 32 But he said to them, I have meat to eat that you know not of. 33 Therefore said the disciples one to another, Has any man brought him ought to eat? 34 Jesus said to them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.
- (John 6:38) For I came down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him that sent me.
Speaks according to THE will of THE Father. One feature of the Messiah was that He would speak according to the will of His Father. The promise given to Moses said that God would raise up from among people a prophet like Moses. If someone then would not listen to him, he would be held responsible for that before God.Jesus spoke according to the will of His Father. Always when He spoke, He uttered the will of His Father. The most important message given by Him was about eternal life, because He did not come to condemn the world, but to save it. If Jesus’s words were true and we reject His words, then we also reject eternal life:
Prophecy:
- (Deut 18:18-19) I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brothers, like to you, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak to them all that I shall command him. 19 And it shall come to pass, that whoever will not listen to my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.
Fulfillment:
- (John 8:24-27) I said therefore to you, that you shall die in your sins: for if you believe not that I am he, you shall die in your sins. 25 Then said they to him, Who are you? And Jesus said to them, Even the same that I said to you from the beginning. 26 I have many things to say and to judge of you: but he that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him. 27 They understood not that he spoke to them of the Father.
- (John 8:28-30) Then said Jesus to them, When you have lifted up the Son of man, then shall you know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father has taught me, I speak these things. 29 And he that sent me is with me: the Father has not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him. 30 As he spoke these words, many believed on him.
- (John 12:47-50) And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. 48 He that rejects me, and receives not my words, has one that judges him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. 49 For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. 50 And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatever I speak therefore, even as the Father said to me, so I speak.
King. One name of the Messiah is King. In the book of Zechariah it was prophesied that a king would come to Jerusalem riding on an ass. Several other verses that we are going to look at also refer to the kingship of the Messiah.These verses perfectly describe the Lord Jesus. People regarded Him already in His time as a king, and He described Himself as being greater than Solomon, the greatest king of Israel (Matt 12:42: The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here.).However, He added that His kingship is not from this world, but from another. Likewise, He stated that His kingship had not yet received its final fulfillment. It would happen later (Luke 19:12: He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.).
Prophecy:
- (Zec 9:9) Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, your King comes to you: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding on an ass, and on a colt the foal of an ass.
Fulfillment:
- (John 12:12-15) On the next day much people that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, 13 Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that comes in the name of the Lord. 14 And Jesus, when he had found a young ass, sat thereon; as it is written, 15 Fear not, daughter of Sion: behold, your King comes, sitting on an ass’s colt.
Prophecy:
- (Jer 23:5) Behold, the days come, said the LORD, that I will raise to David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.
Fulfillment:
- (Luke 1:32-33) He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give to him the throne of his father David: 33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
- (John 1:47-49) Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and said of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile! 48 Nathanael said to him, From where know you me? Jesus answered and said to him, Before that Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you. 49 Nathanael answered and said to him, Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.
- (Matt 27:35-37) And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and on my clothing did they cast lots. 36 And sitting down they watched him there; 37 And set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
Prophecy:
- (Micah 5:2) But you, Bethlehem Ephratah, though you be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall he come forth to me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.
Fulfillment:
- (Luke 19:11-12) And as they heard these things, he added and spoke a parable, because he was near to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear. 12 He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.
- (John 18:36-38) Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence. 37 Pilate therefore said to him, Are you a king then? Jesus answered, You say that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Every one that is of the truth hears my voice. 38 Pilate said to him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews, and said to them, I find in him no fault at all.
- (Rev 19:11,16) And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he does judge and make war. 16 And he has on his clothing and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
Priest. One name of the Messiah is priest. It appears in Psalm 110, in which He is called a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek. The same psalm also refers to how He sits at God’s right hand and now only waits that His enemies to be made a footstool for His feet.These verses fit Jesus very well. He really came to be the eternal high priest after the order of Melchizedek, just as Paul described in the letter of Hebrews. He has gone to Heaven and sits on the right side of God, as described in several Bible verses:Prophecy:
- (Ps 110.1-4) The LORD said to my Lord, Sit you at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool. 2 The LORD shall send the rod of your strength out of Zion: rule you in the middle of your enemies. 3 Your people shall be willing in the day of your power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: you have the dew of your youth. 4 The LORD has sworn, and will not repent, You are a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.
Fulfillment:
- (Hebr 5:5-6) So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said to him, You are my Son, to day have I begotten you. 6 As he said also in another place, You are a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
- (Hebr 6:20) Where the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
- (Hebr 10:12-13) But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; 13 From now on expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.
- (1 Peter 3:22) Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject to him.
- (Eph 1:20-21) Which he worked in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, 21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
Prophet. One name given to the Messiah is “prophet,” which was included in the promise given to Moses.People regarded Jesus to be a prophet, and to be the fulfillment of the promise given to Moses. In addition, Jesus described Himself as a prophet “greater than Jonah …” through whom the whole population of Nineveh repented when he preached there. (Matt 12:41: The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.)
Prophecy:
- (Deut 18:15,18,19) The LORD your God will raise up to you a Prophet from the middle of you, of your brothers, like to me; to him you shall listen; 18 I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brothers, like to you, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak to them all that I shall command him. 19 And it shall come to pass, that whoever will not listen to my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.
Fulfillment:
- (Matt 21:10-11) And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this? 11 And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.
- (John 6:14) Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world.
- (John 7:40) Many of the people therefore, when they heard this saying, said, Of a truth this is the Prophet.
- (Matt 21:44-46) And whoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder. 45 And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spoke of them. 46 But when they sought to lay hands on him, they feared the multitude, because they took him for a prophet.
- (Acts 3:22,23,26) For Moses truly said to the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up to you of your brothers, like to me; him shall you hear in all things whatever he shall say to you. 23 And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people. 26 To you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.
THE Prince of peace and peace by him. One of the names given to the Messiah is the Prince of Peace, which appears in Isaiah 9:6. Likewise, Isaiah chapter 53 speaks of the peace that can be obtained through the Messiah. Old Jewish sources associate both these passages with the Messiah.The fulfillment of these verses fits Jesus well. He promised to give His own peace, which is quite different from what the world gives. Furthermore, the Bible shows that we can have peace with God through the Lord Jesus, as prophesied in the book of Isaiah:Prophecy:
- (Isa 9:6) For to us a child is born, to us a son is given: and the government shall be on his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Fulfillment:
- (John 14:27) Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you: not as the world gives, give I to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
- (Phil 4:6-7) Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Prophecy:
- (Isa 53:5) But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was on him; and with his stripes we are healed.
Fulfillment:
- (Rom 5:1) Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ
Judge. One of the Messiah's duties is to be a judge. He will once judge people, as indicated in Psalm 2, Isaiah 11:1-4, Jeremiah 23:5, and other verses. Old Jewish sources have always considered these verses to be Messianic prophecies.As for the fulfillment of these verses, there is reason to believe that they will be finally realized at the latest when Jesus returns to earth and establishes a 1000-year kingdom (Above, there was already talk of Jesus' mention of a nobleman, who “went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return” - Luke 19:12). After that, each person faces before the judgment seat of God and Christ to answer for his actions and life:
Prophecy:
- (Ps 2:10-12) Be wise now therefore, O you kings: be instructed, you judges of the earth. 11 Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. 12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.
- (Isa 11:1-4) And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: 2 And the spirit of the LORD shall rest on him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD; 3 And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears: 4 But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth: with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.
- (Jer 23:5) Behold, the days come, said the LORD, that I will raise to David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.
Fulfillment:
- (John 5:22-23) For the Father judges no man, but has committed all judgment to the Son: 23 That all men should honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He that honors not the Son honors not the Father which has sent him.
- (Matt 16:27) For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.
- (2 Cor 5:10) For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he has done, whether it be good or bad.
- (2 Tim 4:1) I charge you therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom
4. One or two comings - the suffering of the Messiah
There are many prophecies associated with the Messiah's suffering and death. They appear a lot in the books and psalms of the prophets. They show that suffering also had to be part of the Messiah's life. We will now study some of these prophecies:
REJECTED. One feature in the Messiah’s life had to be that He is rejected. Several verses in the psalms and in the book of Isaiah refer to this. What is remarkable about all these passages is that old Jewish sources have associated them with the Messiah. Even in these sources, it has been understood that the Messiah would be rejected, but what has not been understood is that this already happened almost 2,000 years ago. We can see it in the next examples:
- Isa 8:13-15. The Talmud connects these verses with the Messiah the son of David (Sanhedrin 38. a). - Isa 28:16. One of the most well-known interpreters of the Torah, Rashi, rabbi Yaruhi Shalomo, such as also the Targum, says about this verse, that it means "Messiah-king, who will be as a touchstone of Zion.” - Ps 118. Rashi (see Mikraot Gedolot- commentary) writes that the rejected capstone mentioned in Psalm 118 refers to the Messiah who will be born in Bethlehem, and about whom Micah (5:2) prophesied. (It is a curious coincidence, if this capstone would not mean Jesus, who was born in Bethlehem and whom most have rejected.) - Isa 53 is commonly associated in old Jewish sources with the Messiah.
Prophecy:
- (Isa 8:13-15) Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. 14 And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offense to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 15 And many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken.
- (Isa 28:16) Therefore thus said the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believes shall not make haste.
Fulfillment:
- (1 Peter 2:4,6-8) To whom coming, as to a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, 6 Why also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believes on him shall not be confounded. 7 To you therefore which believe he is precious: but to them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, 8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.
- (Luke 2:34) And Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against;
- (John 1:9-11) That was the true Light, which lights every man that comes into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. 11 He came to his own, and his own received him not.
Prophecy:
- (Ps 118:22-23) The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner. 23 This is the LORD’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.
Fulfillment:
- (Acts 4:11-12) This is the stone which was set at nothing of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. 12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
Prophecy:
- (Isa 53:1-3) Who has believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed? 2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he has no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. 3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Fulfillment:
- (John 12:35-43) Then Jesus said to them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness come on you: for he that walks in darkness knows not where he goes. 36 While you have light, believe in the light, that you may be the children of light. These things spoke Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them. 37 But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him: 38 That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke, Lord, who has believed our report? and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? 39 Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again, 40 He has blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them. 41 These things said Esaias, when he saw his glory, and spoke of him. 42 Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: 43 For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.
A good picture of how the Messiah is still for many a rock of offense and a stumbling block, just as Paul wrote in his time, is given in the following quotation. (1 Cor 1:23: But we Preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block, and to the Greeks foolishness). It indicates that when a person turns to Jesus, the Messiah, others do not understand it. This also happens in this example when the "cornerstone" comes between a father and a son:
A young student got to experience this once. While supervising the installation of a high-voltage power line on the slope of Mount Carmel, he found a torn New Testament accidentally thrown into the bushes. The man's father taught Talmud at a local educational institution, and so the boy was also well acquainted with rabbinic literature. Right from the first reading, he realized in Jesus the Savior he had been looking for in the Old Testament and the writings of the fathers. Two weeks later, he confessed his faith to his father. This promised him money, an apartment and even a wife if he renounces his convictions - in pious families, parents choose spouses for their children, and they have more experience in this matter than young people. Our student was still at home at the family Passover meal, the "seder". After dinner it was customary to sing "hallel" psalms. After Psalm 118, the young man in the family asked his father: "Father, what is that stone?" Father fell silent. "Father, what is that stone that the builders have rejected?" Again the father remained silent, although he always answered the questions on Easter night. So the boy asked a third time: "Father, what is that stone that has become the cornerstone?" Then our student who believes in Jesus asked for a permission to answer. Dad nodded. And the young man's answer was enigmatic: "It is what is between the father and son!" The family, accustomed to Kabbalistic riddles, immediately understood who it was: The stone is "even" in Hebrew. If you read the first part of a three-letter word, you will end up with the word "aav", or "father". The latter part, when reading from the middle, forms the word "ben", or "son" - and everyone knew that Jesus had come between the firstborn son and the father. Soon our student had to leave his family and change his name to another. The new surname of this friend of ours, Atsmon, or Independent, describes the great change that took place in him. As a connoisseur of oriental languages and Greek, he was entrusted with the main responsibility for translating the New Testament into modern Hebrew. (1)
HE is resisted. Just as one of the distinctive features of the Messiah was that He would be rejected, so He would be resisted, as we learn in Psalms 2 and 110. This really happened in the life of Jesus.What is significant about both psalms is that the old Jewish sources connect them to the Messiah. Rashi (Rabbi Yarchi Shalomo) explained Psalm 2: "Our rabbis have taught that this refers to the King Messiah, and according to this interpretation it can also be applied to David himself..."Likewise, the Midrash of Psalms has said from the passage 110:1 "Sit at my right hand", that "He shall say this unto the Messiah; and His seat is prepared in grace, and He shall sit upon it."
Prophecy:
- (Ps 2:1-2,5-12) Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? 2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, 5 Then shall he speak to them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure. 6 Yet have I set my king on my holy hill of Zion. 7 I will declare the decree: the LORD has said to me, You are my Son; this day have I begotten you. 8 Ask of me, and I shall give you the heathen for your inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for your possession. 9 You shall break them with a rod of iron; you shall dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel. 10 Be wise now therefore, O you kings: be instructed, you judges of the earth. 11 Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. 12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.
Fulfillment:
- (Acts 4:25-27) Who by the mouth of your servant David have said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things? 26 The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ. 27 For of a truth against your holy child Jesus, whom you have anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,
Prophecy:
- (Ps 110:1,2,4) The LORD said to my Lord, Sit you at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool. 2 The LORD shall send the rod of your strength out of Zion: rule you in the middle of your enemies. 4 The LORD has sworn, and will not repent, You are a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.
Fulfillment:
- (Hebr 10:12-13) But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; 13 From now on expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.
Selling price 30 PIECES OF silverProphecy:
- (Zec 11:12-13) And I said to them, If you think good, give me my price; and if not, forbear. So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver. 13 And the LORD said to me, Cast it to the potter: a goodly price that I was priced at of them. And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them to the potter in the house of the LORD.
Fulfillment:
- (Matt 26:14-15) Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests, 15 And said to them, What will you give me, and I will deliver him to you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver.
Money IS thrown into THE house of THE LordProphecy:
- (Zec 11:12-13) And I said to them, If you think good, give me my price; and if not, forbear. So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver. 13 And the LORD said to me, Cast it to the potter: a goodly price that I was priced at of them. And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them to the potter in the house of the LORD.
Fulfillment:
- (Matt 27:3-5) Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, 4 Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see you to that. 5 And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.
THE Payment of potter's fieldProphecy:
- (Zec 11:12-13) And I said to them, If you think good, give me my price; and if not, forbear. So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver. 13 And the LORD said to me, Cast it to the potter: a goodly price that I was priced at of them. And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them to the potter in the house of the LORD.
Fulfillment:
- (Matt 27:3-7) Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, 4 Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see you to that. 5 And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself. 6 And the chief priests took the silver pieces, and said, It is not lawful for to put them into the treasury, because it is the price of blood. 7 And they took counsel, and bought with them the potter’s field, to bury strangers in.
THE Disciples FORSOOK himProphecy:
- (Zec 13:7) Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, said the LORD of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn my hand on the little ones.
Fulfillment:
- (Matt 26:31-32) Then said Jesus to them, All you shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad. 32 But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee.
- (Matt 26:55-56) In that same hour said Jesus to the multitudes, Are you come out as against a thief with swords and staves for to take me? I sat daily with you teaching in the temple, and you laid no hold on me. 56 But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled.
- (Mark 14:50) And they all forsook him, and fled.
Silent before HIS prosecutorsProphecy:
- (Isa 53:7) He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he opens not his mouth.
Fulfillment:
- (Matt 27:12-14) And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing. 13 Then said Pilate to him, Hear you not how many things they witness against you? 14 And he answered him to never a word; so that the governor marveled greatly.
mockedProphecy:
- (Isa 53:7) He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he opens not his mouth.
- (Isa my 50:6) I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting.
Fulfillment:
- (Mark 14:65) And some began to spit on him, and to cover his face, and to buffet him, and to say to him, Prophesy: and the servants did strike him with the palms of their hands.
- (Matt 27:27-31) Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered to him the whole band of soldiers. 28 And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe. 29 And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it on his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews! 30 And they spit on him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head. 31 And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him.
Prophecy:
- (Ps 22:7,8) All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying, 8 He trusted on the LORD that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.
Fulfillment:
- (Matt 27:39-43) And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads, 40 And saying, You that destroy the temple, and build it in three days, save yourself. If you be the Son of God, come down from the cross. 41 Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said, 42 He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him. 43 He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God.
THE Final sufferingProphecy:
- (Isa 53:8) He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.
Fulfillment:
- (Matt 26:38-39) Then said he to them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even to death: tarry you here, and watch with me. 39 And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as you will.
- (Luke 22:41-44) And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, 42 Saying, Father, if you be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but yours, be done. 43 And there appeared an angel to him from heaven, strengthening him. 44 And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
numbered with THE transgressorsProphecy:
- (Isa 53:12) Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he has poured out his soul to death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
Fulfillment:
- (Luke 22:37) For I say to you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me, And he was reckoned among the transgressors: for the things concerning me have an end.
- (Luke 23:32-33) And there were also two other, malefactors, led with him to be put to death. 33 And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.
made intercession for THE transgressorsProphecy:
- (Isa 53:12) Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he has poured out his soul to death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
Fulfillment:
- (Luke 23:33-34) And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. 34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
was crucified and piercedProphecy:
- (Ps 22:12-18) Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round. 13 They gaped on me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion. 14 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the middle of my bowels. 15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue sticks to my jaws; and you have brought me into the dust of death. 16 For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have enclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet. 17 I may tell all my bones: they look and stare on me. 18 They part my garments among them, and cast lots on my clothing. 19 But be not you far from me, O LORD: O my strength, haste you to help me.
- (Isa 53:5) But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was on him; and with his stripes we are healed.
Fulfillment:
- (Matt 27:31) And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him.
- (John 19:18) Where they crucified him, and two other with him, on either side one, and Jesus in the middle.
Prophecy:
- (Zec 12:10) nd I will pour on the house of David, and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look on me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.
Fulfillment:
- (John 19:34-37) But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and immediately came there out blood and water. 35 And he that saw it bore record, and his record is true: and he knows that he said true, that you might believe. 36 For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken. 37 And again another scripture said, They shall look on him whom they pierced.
One specific feature about the background of the Messiah is that He will be wounded and even pierced, as the scriptures show, which really was fulfilled in Jesus. For even though the Messiah is mentioned as a king in many places of the Bible and in the sources of the rabbis, despite everything, about Him was told in advance that He would have to experience trials for the sake of others. Old Jewish sources also connect these verses, which speak of the suffering of a specific person, to the Messiah. It is evident both in the explanations of Zech 12:10 and in the fact that the Messiah will be wounded. Let's look at both aspects separately:
Zec 12:10. This verse refers to piercing of a certain person whom rabbis have understood to be the Messiah. They concluded that it cannot refer to anyone other than the Messiah. Consider the following:
- Radak (Rabbi David Kimhi) mentions it; - Ezra mentions it; - The Talmud (Sukkah 52 a) teaches that Zec12:10 refers to the Messiah:
"In the right is certainly he who explains that as a reason is killing of the Messiah, the son of Joseph, for that suits the verse well, “They shall look on me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him..."
- Rashi has referred to the common view among the rabbis that the verse refers to the Messiah:
"Our rabbis have interpreted that this refers to the Messiah, the son of Joseph.”
- Rabbi Moses Alsheikh referred to Zec. 12:10 and made the same connection to the Messiah. It’s interesting that he also mentioned the task of the Messiah to reconcile the sins of people – the same task that is noted in other sources and which is the basic teaching of the New Testament:
"'They shall look on me, for they raise their eyes on me in perfect repentance, when they see Him whom they have pierced, the Messiah, the son of Joseph; for our blessed rabbis have said that He will take upon Himself all the guilt of Israel, and that He will then be put to death in the war for the atonement, quite like Israel would have pierced Him, for because of their sins He has died; and so that full atonement would belong to them, they repent and look upon this blessed one, and say that nobody else can forgive them, who mourn for Him, who died for the sake of their sins: this is what means 'they shall look on me'".
He is wounded. As for the notion that the Messiah would be wounded, it is also evident in many of the rabbis' writings. They have understood that this was going to happen, but they have not been able to relate it to Jesus, who really experienced it. Another feature to consider in the quotes is that they mention the idea of atonement, i.e. how the Messiah is wounded for the sake of our sins. This is a matter which was found to be in accordance with the teaching of the New Testament (compare 1 Cor 15:3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures):
- Rabbi Elia de Vidas wrote about wounding of the Messiah in the 1600s:
"So the Messiah suffers for the sake of our sins and He will be wounded; and who does not want for the Messiah to be wounded for the sake of our sins, he will himself suffer and bear his own sins."
- In the book of Zohar the same issue is mentioned:
"It is written, 'he was wounded for our transgressions' and so on. The Messiah (...) will take every illness, every pain and all punishment of Israel on Himself; they will all come and remain on Him. And if He hadn’t in this way lightened the burden of Israel and taken it to bear, not a single man would have been able to bear Israel's punishment for transgressions of the law; and thus it is written: Surely He took up our infirmities."
Midrash of the book of Ruth refers to the suffering of the Messiah and to Chapter 53 of Isaiah. In some of its passages the verse Ruth 2:14 has been explained like this (Midrash Ruth Rabbaa, parasha 5.):
"... baptize your piece of bread to wine vinegar, are those sufferings, about which has been written, that he has been wounded for the sake of our sins.”
One of the annual prayers of Yom Kippur is "Musaf" that originated sometime in the 9th century. It refers to the suffering and wounding of the Messiah as described in Isaiah 53:
"The Messiah, our righteousness, has turned away from us. We have been beaten broken and because of that, we have no spokesperson. Our crimes and the yoke of our bad deeds are a heavy burden. But He has been wounded for our sins. He carries our sins on His shoulders, so that we would get forgiveness. And by His wounds we are healed; it has come the time to create an eternal new creation.”
Death. The death of the Messiah has been referred to in the books of Isaiah, Zechariah, and Daniel, among others.What is remarkable about all these passages is that the rabbi commentaries have associated them with the Messiah. Even in these sources, it has been understood that they are related to the Messiah, but it has not been understood that they already received their fulfillment through Jesus:Prophecy:
- (Isa 53:8,9,12) He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. 9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. 12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he has poured out his soul to death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
- (Gen 3:15) And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; it shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.
- (Dan 9:26) And after three score and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and to the end of the war desolations are determined.
- (Zec 12:10) And I will pour on the house of David, and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look on me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.
Fulfillment:
- (Matt 20:28) Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered to, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
- (Luke 23:44-46) And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. 45 And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the middle. 46 And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into your hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.
- (1 Cor 15:3) For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures
THE garments are dividedProphecy:
- (Ps 22:18) They part my garments among them, and cast lots on my clothing.
Fulfillment:
- (Matt 27:35) And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and on my clothing did they cast lots.
- (John 19:23-24) Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also his coat: now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout. 24 They said therefore among themselves, Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be: that the scripture might be fulfilled, which said, They parted my raiment among them, and for my clothing they did cast lots. These things therefore the soldiers did.
Isaiah 53
Above, reference has been made to the sufferings associated with the Messiah's life and His death. It has been established that the books of the Prophets talk a lot about them. In particular, the 53rd chapter of the book of Isaiah is significant because it deals with the final stages of the Messiah's life, His suffering and the meaning of His death. In modern Judaism, the 53rd chapter of the book of Isaiah is a great stumbling block. It is not read in synagogues. Instead, they skip directly from Chapter 52 over to Chapter 54. They may explain that Chapter 53 does not refer to the person of the Messiah, but describes the Nation of Israel and its sufferings across the centuries. However, this latter explanation cannot be true, because Isa 53:10 refers to a guilt offering, which were required to be perfect and faultless (eg Leviticus 5). There is no way that this can refer to a nation. The following quotation gives an interesting picture of the matter. Richard Wurmbrand, himself a Jew, tells how he discussed this very topic in the synagogue:
(... ) This is just what we did. It was Friday evening: The Jews had assembled early in their synagogues to read the Holy Book or to debate before the service. I sat beside the rabbi, and I asked so loudly that also those who sat near heard, "Rabbi, I have been informed that there is a book, written by a Jew – as far as I can remember – the prophet Isaiah. Is it worth reading?" "What a question!" he answered. "If only you would read it! Its content is pure gold." "Rabbi, I have read many books expecting to find valuable information but only to be disappointed. Are you sure that the same does not go for the book of Isaiah?" "Young man, such a thought in itself is a sin. As a matter of fact, the book has not been written by Isaiah, but by God Himself. Isaiah was only a pen." "Rabbi, where can I find the book of Isaiah?" He pulled it from the shelf and handed it to me. Before opening the book, I asked him once more to assure that it really is the word of God. Then I opened chapter 53 and asked, "Rabbi, who is this referring to?" and I read aloud a verse describing a suffering servant of the Lord. "This description fits Jesus perfectly," I said. "He must be the Messiah." The rabbi exclaimed, "You should not read that chapter, but rather chapter 11." I turned to the Jews. "Dear friends! You have heard the rabbi confirm that every word in this book is God's own word. Then this description of Jesus' suffering must also be inspired by God." The rabbi angrily left the synagogue, slamming the door behind him. He must have thought I would be polite enough to leave too, but instead I stayed to explain Isaiah's prophecy to the Jews. (2)
Even though modern Judaism does not associate Isaiah chapter 53 with the Messiah, it is interesting to note that it was not always so. We can find many writings of rabbis speaking about connection between Isaiah 53 and the Messiah. Often, the older the explanations are, the more probably they refer to the Messiah. Let’s look at some of these explanations:
Well-known Rabbi Moses Alshekh (1508-1600) explained that Isaiah 53 was connected with the Messiah. He mentioned that this was also the view of the old scholars:
"Our old scholars have preserved for us the testimony of tradition that here is a talk of the Messiah. For that reason, we too, following them, should regard as the object of this prophecy David, or the Messiah, who is thus to appear."
The ninth-century Midrash Tanhuma and the later Jalkut Shimoni explain that the suffering servant of Isaiah 53 is the Messiah:
"this is the King Messiah, who will rise and be very high, higher than Abraham, greater than Moses, and higher than the ministering angels."
The Talmud (Sanhedrin 98,b) refers to the Messiah in the same chapter and explains how He took our pain upon Himself:
"The Messiah - what is His name? - The Rabbis said: His name is 'The learned man of leprosy', for it is written that He bore our pain and took upon Himself the burden of our disease. We thought He was a leper, we supposed that God smote and afflicted Him.”
Rabbi Moshe Cohen ibn Crispin said in the 1300s that he believed that Isaiah 53 referred to the king Messiah, because it was the teaching of the rabbis:
"They (certain contemporary commentators) unwisely compare the expression 'my servant' with the idea of 'you my servant Israel' in Isaiah 41, verse 8, where the prophet speaks of the nation of Israel. However, Israel is not mentioned here, but only 'my servant' is said. So we cannot understand the word in the same sense... I would like to interpret that it (Isaiah 53) refers to king Messiah as the rabbis have taught, and I try carefully, as far as I can, to hold on to the literal meaning: this way, I may possibly avoid the far-fetched interpretations of which the others have been guilty."
Jonathan Ben Uzziel, regarded as the wisest student of the famous rabbi Hillel, understood that Isaiah 53 refers to the Messiah. He started his explanation about this chapter:
Behold, my servant Messiah shall deal prudently
Rabbi Maimonides (Rambam), referred to Isaiah 53 in his commentary in Midrash Rabba (p. 660). His description is very similar to Psalm 22, which has commonly been regarded as a description of the Messiah's crucifixion:
"Already in the beginning, God made a covenant with the Messiah and said to Him: 'Righteous Messiah, those entrusted to you, their sins will bring a heavy yoke on your shoulders and your ears will hear great shame and your mouth will taste bitterness and your tongue will stick to your palate and your soul will be powerless under sorrow and sighing. Will you submit to this?' And He answered: 'I will gladly accept all these pains, so that not one of Israel will be lost.' As soon as the Messiah had accepted all these pains in His love, as it is written in Isaiah 53:7, he was afflicted and tempted."
Well-known rabbi Levi Ben Gershom referred to Isaiah 53 in the 14th century. He associated it with the Messiah, as do all the other earlier sources:
"Really, the Messiah is this kind of prophet, such as Midrash says; Behold, my servant shall deal prudently (Isa 52:13)... Moses got with Miracles one Nation to serve God, but the Messiah will get all the nations to serve Him.”
One or two comings? When we study the Old Testament prophecies related to the coming of the Messiah, we can easily find two lines in them: one of them speaks of His suffering, humiliation and death, the other of His reign as a victorious and sovereign king - a king whose kingdom is eternal.Judaism has tried to resolve this apparent contradiction by developing the notion that perhaps there are two Messiahs. Several rabbis have proposed that the first one who comes is the Messiah, the son of Joseph, who suffers and will die. Then after Him would come the Messiah, the son of David, who would rule as a victorious king. In this way they have made the two lines in their minds fit together.However, there is another alternative to the explanation of the prophecies. It is that it makes much more sense to see these prophecies fulfilled in one person, Jesus, who will come twice and fulfill the prophecies of both lines. We will study this in the light of the next explanation written by a Messianic Jew:I vigorously tried to explain to the rabbi the huge difference between the Rambam's description and the true Messiah described in the Bible. The theory of the scholars separated these two Messiahs from each other. One, "Masiah Ben Josef," comes first and dies in war, the other, "Masiah Ben David," comes as a victorious king. According to this theory, there must be two messianic figures, although the Tenach speaks of only one Messiah who must come twice: first, He must come to atone the nation by His death and to save them from the eternal judgment and to open the gates of salvation to the Gentiles by His resurrection, and second, He must come again as the victorious King of kings. The Tenach does not imply that there will be two messiahs, just as there is no biblical basis for the belief that the Messiah will come when the entire nation of Israel observes two Sabbaths properly. "On the contrary, respected rabbi," I exclaimed, Yeshua alone fulfills all the requirements for Masiah Ben Yosef, because the consort of His mother Miriam (Mary) was called Joseph, and because He resembles Joseph, the son of our father Jacob, in His entire biography. He is also expected to fulfill all the prophecies concerning Masiah Ben David when He soon returns in the clouds of heaven in His great glory and glory to establish His kingdom on earth." I couldn't help but notice that when I explained the prophecies in a messianic way, the rabbi's interest was piqued, and he listened to me more and more closely. Gradually he stopped interrupting me so aggressively. (3)
The teaching of the New Testament clearly refers to these two lines: the Messiah's suffering and humiliation and His coming in the clouds of heaven and in glory. It is, therefore, not a question of two different Messiahs, but of one who will fulfill the prophecies of both lines. We believe that this best suits Jesus, who has already fulfilled the prophecies of the first line.
The humiliation and the death of the Messiah
- (1 Peter 1:10,11) Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come to you: 11 Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.
- (Acts 26:22-23) Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue to this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come: 23 That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should show light to the people, and to the Gentiles.
- (Acts 3:18) But those things, which God before had showed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he has so fulfilled.
- (Luke 24:25-27, 32) Then he said to them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: 26 Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? 27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded to them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. 32 And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?
The coming of the Messiah in the clouds of heaven
- (Hebr 9:28) So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and to them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin to salvation.
- (Zec 14:5) …and the LORD my God shall come, and all the saints with you.
- (1 Thess 3:13) To the end he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.
- (2 Thess 1:7-9) And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, 8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power
- (Matt 24:30) And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
- (Rev 1:7) Behold, he comes with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.
When the above verses refer to the Messiah, or the coming of the Son of Man in the clouds of heaven, the same thing is not foreign to the Talmud either. There is also a reference to the coming of the Messiah in the clouds of heaven, when verse 7:13 of the Book of Daniel is explained. In the same context, there is also a reference to the coming of the Messiah as humble and riding on an ass, which well described the first coming of Jesus. We believe that He will fulfill the prophecies of both these lines:
"The son of David will arrive during a generation which is either completely righteous or completely sinful; during a time that is completely righteous, such as has been written Isa 60:21, Your people also shall be all righteous: they shall inherit the land for ever; or during a time when all people are sinful, as has been written Isa 59:16, “And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor… and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven (Dan 7:13), and it has been written, lowly and riding on an ass: if they are righteous, He will come with the clouds of heaven, if not, lowly and riding on an ass.”
When looking for the idea of two comings of the Messiah in old Jewish sources, it is not a stranger there either. The Sidur, the official Jewish prayer book, refers to two days of the Messiah, or to two comings. This prayer apparently originates from the 9th or 10th century and is recited e.g. in connection with the Annual Day of Atonement, Yom Kippur:
"May Your will be with You, the Lord, our God and our fathers’ God, that we would obey Your commandments in this world and would deserve, live and see and inherit a good part and blessing on the two days of the Messiah and in the coming eternal life.”
5. The message of the paragons and fulfillment
When we move forward in our studies, it is good to take out the message of paragons. When the Old Testament tells, for example, about the Passover, the giving of the law, the sacrifices, the covenant, the priesthood and the tabernacle - all taught to us through the writings of Moses - these things also have a message for the people of our time. They get a new meaning and fulfillment in Jesus, who we already noted to resemble Moses in His life. Let's look at some examples from this area:
THE New covenant. One thing prophesied on the Old Testament side is the new covenant. It is also called Jeremiah's covenant because he prophesied about it.When the people of Israel had broken several times the covenant born on Mount Sinai, which was established by Moses and whose condition was to obey the law, Jeremiah prophesied about a completely new covenant. It would not be the old covenant of Moses or its repair but a brand new covenant; one that is not written on tablets of stone, as happened in the time of Moses. Instead, it would be written on people's hearts - something that certainly describes a deeper knowledge of God than was possible during the first covenant. Likewise, in this context, it is talked about the forgiveness of sins for people.What is the fulfillment of the prophecy, the New Testament shows very clearly how the new covenant has come through Jesus, the Messiah. He is the mediator of the new covenant (just as Moses was of the first) and the guarantor of a better covenant; a covenant founded on better promises. We find the teaching that the new covenant came into effect after His death and when He shed His blood. He put into effect this covenant, of which people can now be a part.Old Covenant
- (Ex 24:7-8) And he took the book of the covenant, and read in the audience of the people: and they said, All that the LORD has said will we do, and be obedient. 8 And Moses took the blood, and sprinkled it on the people, and said, Behold the blood of the covenant, which the LORD has made with you concerning all these words.
- (Jer 31:31-33) "Behold, the days come, said the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: 32 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they broke, although I was an husband to them, said the LORD: 33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, said the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.
New Covenant
- (Matt 26:26-28) And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and broke it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. 27 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink you all of it; 28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
- (2 Cor 3:6) Who also has made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter kills, but the spirit gives life.
- (Hebr 7:18,19, 22) For there is truly a cancellation of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof. 19 For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw near to God. 22 By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.
- (Hebr 8:6-7) But now has he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises. 7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.
- (Hebr 9:15-17) And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. 16 For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. 17 For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator lives.
Passover. One celebration in Israel nowadays is Passover, which Moses gave to the Nation of Israel. It was celebrated then and still today to commemorate the exodus from Egypt and that the people were spared the punishment that befell the Egyptians. They were rescued -- the punishment passed over them (Pesah / Passover means "to pass over") -- because they had a lamb without blemish whose blood was their protection (compare Leviticus 17:11).What is the fulfillment of Easter in modern times, i.e. in the new covenant, the New Testament clearly shows that animals and their blood are no longer needed for protection. Instead, we find in the New Testament the teaching that Jesus has taken the place of the Passover sheep, or lamb, because He died at that very time. He took away the punishment and shed His blood so that the punishment would pass over (pesah / pass over) us. He was also without blemish as is required of the Passover lamb.Thus, the first Passover was only a foreshadowing of God's perfect work in Jesus Christ. It described how the people were spared from earthly punishment - it did not befall them. But now, during the new covenant, when paragons are no longer needed, it is possible for us to be saved even from eternal punishment, that is, hell. It will not befall us if we trust in Him. The Bible clearly shows how there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. This is true of anyone who turns to Him:Moses set the first Passover:
- (Ex 12:3-5,8,11-14) Speak you to all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house: 4 And if the household be too little for the lamb, let him and his neighbor next to his house take it according to the number of the souls; every man according to his eating shall make your count for the lamb. 5 Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: you shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats: 8 And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it. 11 And thus shall you eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and you shall eat it in haste: it is the LORD’s passover. 12 For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD. 13 And the blood shall be to you for a token on the houses where you are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be on you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt. 14 And this day shall be to you for a memorial; and you shall keep it a feast to the LORD throughout your generations; you shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever.
Jesus fulfilled the meaning of Passover when He died on Passover and shed His blood for the sins of the whole world:
- (Matt 26:1-2) And it came to pass, when Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said to his disciples, 2 You know that after two days is the feast of the passover, and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified.
- (1 Cor 5:6-8) Your glorying is not good. Know you not that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? 7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, as you are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: 8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
- (Eph 1:7) In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace
- (1 Peter 1:18-19) For as much as you know that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot
- (1 John 1:7) But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleans us from all sin.
- (Rom 8:1) There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
PentecostAL. One of the holidays celebrated in Israel today is Pentecost (it is also called other names: the Feast of Harvest – Ex 23:16, the Feast of Weeks – Ex 34:22, the day of the first fruits - Numbers 28:26 and Shavuot, which is what it is called in Judaism today.). It has been celebrated for centuries as a commemoration of the giving of the law. It is believed that on that day Moses climbed the mountain where he was to receive the Law. He returned carrying two stone tablets on which had been written the most important commandments. The time of this celebration is always exactly 50 days after Easter. It is celebrated every year at the same time after Easter, as Leviticus 23:15,16 shows:- (Lev 23:15-16) And you shall count to you from the morrow after the sabbath, from the day that you brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven sabbaths shall be complete: 16 Even to the morrow after the seventh sabbath shall you number fifty days; and you shall offer a new meat offering to the LORD.
What is the fulfillment of Pentecost in the new covenant, the Bible shows that it, too, got a new meaning through Jesus. Exactly 50 days after the Passover, at the Pentecost, He poured out the Holy Spirit on earth (The Greek word "pentecoste", Pentecost, which appears in the Acts of the Apostles, means the same as the 50th day.) and thus gave this feast a completely new content. This event, which took place on the same day as the commemoration of the giving of the law, is described in the Acts of the Apostles. Jesus spoke about the same thing beforehand to the disciples:
- (Luke 24:49) And, behold, I send the promise of my Father on you: but tarry you in the city of Jerusalem, until you be endued with power from on high.
- (Acts 2:1- 4) And when the day of Pentecost (50. day) was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared to them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat on each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
When Jesus poured out the Holy Spirit on the very day of giving the law, it speaks to us in a interesting way. It talks about the fact that when people had broken God's law and covenant (Jer 31:31-33), and were unable to do His will, the Holy Spirit was sent precisely for this reason to help us in our deficiency. He was sent here so that we could live according to God's will, as was prophesied in the book of Ezekiel and which Jeremiah also referred to when he spoke of writing the law on people's hearts in connection with the new covenant. We can understand that these things happened at Pentecost almost 2000 years ago:
Prophecy:
- (Eze 36:26-27) A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and you shall keep my judgments, and do them.
- (Jer 31:33) But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, said the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.
Fulfillment:
- (Rom 8:2,4,5) For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. 4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
- (Rom 8:9) But you are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
- (1 Cor 6:19) What? know you not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which you have of God, and you are not your own?
- (2 Cor 1:21-22) Now he which establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, is God; 22 Who has also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.
- (Gal 5:22,23,25) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
THE Tent of Meeting and THE heavenly Most Holy Place. Very important matters 2,000–3,000 years ago in Israel were no doubt the tent of meeting, the temple built later, and ceremonies performed in those meeting places. They were an integral part of the life of worship and were related to how to get a remission of sins. They described how a person can enter into communion with God and be reconciled to Him.The fact that Jesus physically came to Earth to establish the New Covenant, however, altered the significance of the tent of meeting and the temple. The service of the tent of meeting, which Moses ordained, was only a model of what Jesus did. When Jesus came, He replaced the ceremonial lamb sacrifice by sacrificing Himself for the sins of men, and animal sacrifices were no longer needed. He also became the eternal high priest instead of the disappearing priests, as well as He replaced the meaning of the secular sanctuary. Let’s look at these things separately:Jesus replaced animal offerings by His death and brought atonement. Earlier we explained how Jesus died during the Passover and in this way figuratively took the place of the Passover lamb. He died, thereby replacing the animal offerings that had only served as a paragon of Him. They were no longer needed, because eternal punishment for sin can be passed over (pesah / pass over) through Him as long as we put our trust in Him. Other examples that reflect the principle of life exchange and substitution can be found in in Scriptures as well. When Adam and Eve committed a sin, God made garments of skin for them and clothed them. An animal died instead of Adam and Eve (Gen 3:21). Abel brought his offering from among the firstborn of his flock (Gen 4:3,4). Noah sacrificed burnt offerings on an altar (Gen 8:20). A ram was sacrificed instead of Abraham’s son (Gen 22:13) Jesus also replaced guilt and sin offerings used in the service of the tent of meeting and later in the temple. He replaced those animal offerings that inadequately "make the comers thereunto perfect" (Hebrews 10:1). Those were only "a remembrance again made of sins every year. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.” (Hebrews 10:3,4). The Bible teaches us that Jesus the Messiah came to sacrifice Himself as a guilt- and sin offering, just as was prophesied in the Book of Isaiah. (Earlier we noted that many rabbinical commentaries support the notion that the Messiah carried our sins to the cross. Refer to Chapter 4). Our sins were literally placed on Him on the cross (compare Leviticus 16:21,22 and 4:33), so that they would no longer separate us from God. The Bible also teaches us that Jesus was without a blemish or defect, which was required of the guilt offering. His crucifixion reconciled all the sins of the world, once and forever. Other sacrifices for sin are no longer needed (Heb 10:18); they are unnecessary:
Prophecy:
- (Isa 53:5, 6,10, 11) But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was on him; and with his stripes we are healed. 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. 10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he has put him to grief: when you shall make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. 11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.
Fulfillment:
- (Hebr 10:1,11-18) For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. 11 And every priest stands daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: 12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; 13 From now on expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. 14 For by one offering he has perfected for ever them that are sanctified. 15 Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, 16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, said the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; 17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. 18 Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.
- (Hebr 9:25,26,28) Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest enters into the holy place every year with blood of others; 26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world has he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. 28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and to them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin to salvation.
- (John 1:29) The next day John sees Jesus coming to him, and said, Behold the Lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world.
- (Rom 5:11) And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.
Jesus became an eternal high priest. When the high priest and other priests worked in the tent of meeting and the temple, there was one day more important than all others: the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur). On only one day of the year could the High Priest enter the Holy of Holies, the Most Holy Place. The High Priest could only enter after bringing a sin offering for himself and his family. Next he put on a simple white linen gown – to reflect cleanliness and holiness – and only then did he dare to stand before God in the Most Holy Place. He took with him the blood of the reconciliation sacrifice, which reconciled and covered the sins of the people for a year at a time. What is important about this is that the high priest represented the whole nation. Just as priests offered gifts and offerings for forgiveness of sins for individuals, so the high priest did for the whole nation. He made atonement for the whole nation and represented them before God. All the people needed to do, was to trust that his actions would earn God’s approval. In the New Covenant it is the same. Jesus became eternal high priest and did everything for us. He reconciled us to God and did everything for us without our participation. Similarly, after the atonement, He has entered the right hand of God in the heavens, being there now our defender and advocate. In His role as representative, He can sympathize with our weaknesses, because He Himself "was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin." (Hebr 4:15). The greatest difference between Jesus and the priests of the Old Covenant is this: Jesus never sinned. He was born and lived without sinning, and He entered into eternal priesthood unlike mortal priests. He is our eternal priest, just as His sacrifice carries eternal redemption. He also fulfilled the meaning of the great Day of Atonement because our sins were atoned for through Him. We don't have to reconcile them ourselves, and we can't even do that. Jesus has already done it for us:
- (Hebr 5:1-6) For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins: 2 Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity. 3 And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins. 4 And no man takes this honor to himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron. 5 So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said to him, You are my Son, to day have I begotten you. 6 As he said also in another place, You are a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
- (Hebr 4:14-15) Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. 15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
- (Hebr 2:17) Why in all things it behooved him to be made like to his brothers, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
- (1 John 2:1-2) My little children, these things write I to you, that you sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for our’s only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
- (Rom 5:11) And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.
- (2 Cor 5:18-20) And all things are of God, who has reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and has given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, not imputing their trespasses to them; and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. 20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be you reconciled to God.
- (Col 1:20-22) And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things to himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. 21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now has he reconciled 22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and blameless and unreproveable in his sight:
- (1 John 4:10) Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
The heavenly Most Holy Place. As we noted earlier, the tent of meeting, the temple built later, and ceremonies performed in those meeting places defined Israel’s relationship with God and served as a model for the coming of Jesus. They served as “the example and shadow of heavenly things,” as described by the writer of the Letter to the Hebrews, and were necessary during the Old Covenant. In the New Covenant they are no longer required:
- (Hebr 8:4-5) For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law: 5 Who serve to the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, said he, that you make all things according to the pattern showed to you in the mount.”
- (Hebr 9:1-5) Then truly the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary. 2 For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the show bread; which is called the sanctuary. 3 And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all; 4 Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant; 5 And over it the cherubim of glory shadowing the mercy seat; of which we cannot now speak particularly.
So, when the new covenant came, the buildings lost their meaning. They were no longer needed, because the paragons had been replaced by fulfillment. So, the Bible shows that when Jesus completed the work of atonement, He went, not into earthly temple’s most holy place as high priest, as the high priests did, but into heaven before the face of God for us. He replaced the earthly sanctuary, built only of earthly materials, and entered instead into that true tabernacle— the tabernacle "not made with hands" — and which is in heaven with God:
- (Hebr 9:11,12, 24) But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; 12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. 24 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us
- (Hebr 8:1-2) Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; 2 A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.
This means that Jesus went to heaven into the Most Holy Place for us, and opened the way to God for everyone. Let’s consider Jesus’s death. Witnesses recorded in the Bible that when Jesus gave up His spirit, the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Specialists say that this curtain was made of woven fabric about 10 centimeters thick, and would have been so strong that not even many pairs of bulls pulling in opposite directions could have torn it apart. No wind could have torn it from top to bottom. Only an act of God could have accomplished such a thing. Why would God have done such a thing? It showed people in a tangible way that He was removing the separation between Himself and His people. Therefore, people's own merits were no longer needed for connection, and sin is no longer an obstacle either, because it was also erased. However, in order for this connection to be realized for us, we must first turn to Jesus, the Messiah. He is the way and the door to God's connection:
- (Matt 27:50-52) Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. 51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in two from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; 52 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,
- (Hebr 10:19) Having therefore, brothers, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
- (Eph 2:12,13,18) That at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who sometimes were far off are made near by the blood of Christ. 18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.
- (Hebr 7:25) Why he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come to God by him, seeing he ever lives to make intercession for them.
- (John 14:6) Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes to the Father, but by me.
- (John 10:9) I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
What happened around the time of Jesus' death, i.e. 40 years before the destruction of the temple?
- (Dan 9:24-26) … reconciliation for iniquity… And after three score and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off... and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary…
Concerning the death and resurrection of Jesus, also in old Jewish sources it is said that something "shocking" happened 40 years before the destruction of the temple (the destruction of the temple in 70 AD), i.e. 30 AD. It is generally considered the year of Jesus' death. When the New Testament tells how the way to God was opened through Jesus, and animal sacrifices as paragons lost their meaning, these old sources refer to exactly the same thing. Thus, the Mishna Sanhedrin and the Avoda Zara both tell how the sacrifices have lost their power - although they had previously been valid all the time - and how the doors of the Most Holy have opened by themselves. So this happened 40 years before the destruction of the temple, i.e. in the year 30, when Jesus is generally believed to have died:
"the sacrifices have lost their power, and the doors of the Most Holy have been opened" by themselves."
In the Talmud (Yoma 39:B) we can find a similar mention. It also talks about how the doors of the temple opened by themselves and how Aries ceased to be supernatural. It ceased to be supernatural because the red woolen rope, which usually turned white - a sign of God's forgiveness - now remained red and did not change:
"Forty years before the destruction of the holy temple, the following happened: on the Great Day of Atonement, Aries ceased to be supernatural; the red woolen rope, which usually turns white, now remained red and did not change; and the west side candle of the candelabra of the sanctuary did not want to burn when the doors of the holy temple opened by themselves.”
When we draw a conclusion from the previous statements, they very strongly refer to the atoning death of Jesus in AD 30, when He opened the way for us to enter into the heavenly Most Holy Place. We can conclude that nothing can explain these special events at the temple better than Jesus’s actions undertaken for our sins. Through Him, the paragons that became unnecessary were replaced.
6. The nations search for the Messiah
One of the hallmarks associated with the Messiah is that He must also make an impact on the Gentiles (non-Jews) and they must seek Him. They should seek Him because several Old Testament verses refer to the Messiah as the light of the Gentiles, the covenant to the nations, and how they seek Him and put their hope in Him. If the Messiah does not have such an influence on other nations, He cannot be considered the true Messiah. It is interesting to note that apart from Jesus, no other Jew has made a similar impact on other nations. Although there have been several types of messiahs in Jewish history, their influence has generally been limited to their own people. Only Jesus can be said to have had a deep impact on the Gentiles and they have sought Him and found God's salvation through Him. Only of Him can it be said that He is the servant prophesied by Isaiah, who has come as a covenant to the nations and a light to the Gentiles, and whom the nations have sought:
Prophecy:
- (Isa 11:1,10) And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: 10 And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious.
- (Isa 55:3-5) Incline your ear, and come to me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David. 4 Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people. 5 Behold, you shall call a nation that you know not, and nations that knew not you shall run to you because of the LORD your God, and for the Holy One of Israel; for he has glorified you.
Fulfillment:
- (Rom 15:8-12) Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made to the fathers: 9 And that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will confess to you among the Gentiles, and sing to your name. 10 And again he said, Rejoice, you Gentiles, with his people. 11 And again, Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles; and laud him, all you people. 12 And again, Esaias said, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust.
- (Eph 3:2,6,7) If you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: 6 That the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: 7 Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effectual working of his power.
- (Matt 24:14) And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness to all nations; and then shall the end come.
- (Matt 28:19-20) Go you therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatever I have commanded you: and, see, I am with you always, even to the end of the world. Amen.
Prophecy:
- (Isa 42:6-7) I the LORD have called you in righteousness, and will hold your hand, and will keep you, and give you for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles; 7 To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.
- (Isa 49:6,8,9) And he said, It is a light thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give you for a light to the Gentiles, that you may be my salvation to the end of the earth. 8 Thus said the LORD, In an acceptable time have I heard you, and in a day of salvation have I helped you: and I will preserve you, and give you for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages; 9 That you may say to the prisoners, Go forth; to them that are in darkness, Show yourselves. They shall feed in the ways, and their pastures shall be in all high places.
Fulfillment:
- (Luke 2:29-32) Lord, now let you your servant depart in peace, according to your word: 30 For my eyes have seen your salvation, 31 Which you have prepared before the face of all people; 32 A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.
- (John 8:12) Then spoke Jesus again to them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that follows me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
- (Acts 26:22-23) Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue to this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come: 23 That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should show light to the people, and to the Gentiles.
As for the idea of the nations looking for the Messiah, we can find a reference to the same in old Jewish sources. Even in them, it has been understood that the Messiah is not only sought by the members of His own people, but also by other peoples. So it is written in the Midrash of Psalms from chapter 21 how the Gentile nations look for the Messiah King, the son of David:
"This is the Messiah son of David, who is hidden until the end times. Rabbi Tanhuma said: The Messiah King will arrives only to give the world six commans, such as the Feast of Tabernacles, (the use of) palm leaves and prayer boxes, but all Israel learns the Torah... and why so; because the Gentiles seek Him."
Rabbi Leevi Ben Gershom wrote that “Moses got with the miracles one nation to serve God, but the Messiah will get all the nations to serve Him”:
"Really, the Messiah is this kind of prophet, such as Midrash says; Behold, my servant shall deal prudently (Isa 52:13)... Moses got with Miracles one Nation to serve God, but the Messiah will get all the nations to serve Him.”
In the 15th-16th centuries, Rabbi Isaak Abravanel said in his commentary on Isaiah 11:1-10 what was already stated before, namely that one of the hallmarks of the true Messiah is that the Gentiles seek Him:
"One mark of the true Messiah is that the Gentiles will come looking for Him."
In Midrash (Midrash Bereshit Rabbaa par.98.), there is a similar statement referring to how the Gentiles will be looking for the root of Jesse, or the Messiah:
"Rabbi Hanin said, Israel does not need the Torah of the king Messiah, because in Isaiah 11:10 it has been written; in that day, the Gentiles search for the root of Jesse, not Israel. If this is true, why will the king Messiah-king arrive and what shall He do; He will stop the dispersion of Israel and give them 30 commandments.”
THE Seed of Abraham. If we continue with the same idea, i.e. that the Messiah will be a blessing to all nations, this idea does not appear for the first time in the book of Isaiah. It appears already in the promise given to Abraham. Centuries earlier, God spoke about the fact that all nations would be blessed in Abraham's seed. Even then, He had a good plan that concerned not only Israel, but all the nations of the world. In fact, the core of the entire Bible is the promise given to Abraham, which was fulfilled in Jesus. He became a blessing to all nations - a blessing through which every person can enter God's communion and eternal life.Let's look at some places in the Bible about how God intended Jesus Christ to be a blessing to all the people of the world:Prophecy:
- (Gen 22:18) And in your seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because you have obeyed my voice.
Fulfillment:
- (Gal 3:13-16) Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangs on a tree: 14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. 15 Brothers, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man’s covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man cancels, or adds thereto. 16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He said not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to your seed, which is Christ.
- (Eph 1:3) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
- (Luke 2:11-14) For to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. 12 And this shall be a sign to you; You shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
- (John 3:16-17) For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believes on him is not condemned: but he that believes not is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
- (John 1:29) The next day John sees Jesus coming to him, and said, Behold the Lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world.
- (John 4:40-42) So when the Samaritans were come to him, they sought him that he would tarry with them: and he stayed there two days. 41 And many more believed because of his own word; 42 And said to the woman, Now we believe, not because of your saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world.
- (John 6:32-35) Then Jesus said to them, Truly, truly, I say to you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is he which comes down from heaven, and gives life to the world. 34 Then said they to him, Lord, ever more give us this bread. 35 And Jesus said to them, I am the bread of life: he that comes to me shall never hunger; and he that believes on me shall never thirst.
- (John 12:46-47) I am come a light into the world, that whoever believes on me should not abide in darkness. 47 And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.
“I cease to be a Jew”. As we noted earlier, prophecies about the Messiah declared that He would serve as a light for all nations, not just for the nation of Israel. One of His hallmarks was that non-Jews would seek Him.It is strange, however, that many modern Jews wrongly conclude that if a person were to do that he would immediately cease being a Jew. They think that if person believes in Jesus, he abandons his right to belong to the Jewish nation. Many consider it impossible for these two things to exist at the same time. The following quote illustrates this common understanding well:There was a long, unpleasant silence, when we tried to digest the significance of what Judy said. "But Judy, you are a Jew," I said gently. ”Jews definitely do not believe in Jesus. How can you be a Jew and believe in Jesus? It is impossible!” "Oh father, you are wrong. You would be surprised if you knew how many Jews nowadays believe in Jesus.” "Nonsense.” When Judy looked around, she saw how disappointed we all looked. She sighed, “Listen father, you must study this further. You don't need to believe what I believe, or me. You are an intelligent man. Read the Bible yourself and find out if it’s true or not. You all do the same. It is either true or a lie. If He is not the Messiah, you’ll know it. And if He is, you will know that as well. Read the Bible and draw your own conclusions.” (4)
But what does the Bible teach? The next examples illustrate that the Bible’s message is the opposite of what many people think nowadays. We learn that if a Jew does not believe in Jesus, he is not a part of the true Israel, but stands outside of it. Such a person has a veil on his spiritual eyes and becomes hardened when reading the Scriptures, and he has also not experienced a real circumcision of the heart in the Spirit.
A veil on hearts and blindness. Firstly, it can be understood that if a person has not believed in Jesus, then he has a veil in front of his spiritual eyes and a hardness of heart. When such a person reads the scriptures, but does not understand how they refer to Jesus, then he sees everything as if from behind a veil; until his heart turns to the Lord. This spiritual blindness can prevent the Jewish people and others from seeing the scriptures in the right light - a matter to which e.g. Paul and Isaiah referred when they spoke of their own people:
- (2 Cor 3:14-16) But their minds were blinded: for until this day remains the same veil not taken away in the reading of the old testament; which veil is done away in Christ. 15 But even to this day, when Moses is read, the veil is on their heart. 16 Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the veil shall be taken away.
- (Rom 11:25-26) For I would not, brothers, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in. 26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob
- (Isa 29:10-14) For the LORD has poured out on you the spirit of deep sleep, and has closed your eyes: the prophets and your rulers, the seers has he covered. 11 And the vision of all is become to you as the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying, Read this, I pray you: and he said, I cannot; for it is sealed: 12 And the book is delivered to him that is not learned, saying, Read this, I pray you: and he said, I am not learned. 13 Why the Lord said, For as much as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honor me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men: 14 Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvelous work among this people, even a marvelous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid.
They have not experienced circumcision of the heart, in the Spirit. The second feature to note is that even if a person, a Jew, has an external circumcision, it does not replace the circumcision of the heart in the Spirit that he must experience (cf. Deut 30:6, Deut 10:16, Jer 9:25, Jer 31:33 ). Paul wrote about this (speaking about his own nation). He stated that only those are real Jews who have experienced this kind of internal circumcision. According to him, external measures do not replace the circumcision of the heart in the Spirit. An inner renewal is needed - a renewal that takes place when a person receives Jesus Christ into his life. What makes Paul's statement significant is that he himself fulfilled all the signs of external religiosity; he certainly did it better than many people alive today:
- (Phil 3:3-8) For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. 4 Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinks that he has whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: 5 Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; 6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. 7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. 8 Yes doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
- (Rom 2:28-29) For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: 29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.
All are not Israel. The third important point is that merely belonging to the nation of Israel does not guarantee salvation. Paul, who prayed for his nation as Moses did (compare Exo 32:32), and who told people that through Israel comes the adoption as sons, the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, and Jesus; this same Paul also stated that "they are not all Israel, which are of Israel". By this he meant that even if a person is a Jew by birth, he does not belong to the true "Israel" unless he has a relationship with God through Jesus, the Messiah. Without that relationship – because of his lack of faith – he has been broken off from a good olive tree, as Paul wrote:
- (Rom 9:1-8) I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, 2 That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. 3 For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh: 4 Who are Israelites; to whom pertains the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; 5 Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen. 6 Not as though the word of God has taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: 7 Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall your seed be called. 8 That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.
- (Rom 11:1,5) I say then, Has God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. 5 Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.
- (Rom 11:17,20,23-25) And if some of the branches be broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them partake of the root and fatness of the olive tree; 20 Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Be not high minded, but fear: 23 And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be grafted in: for God is able to graft them in again. 24 For if you were cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and were grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree? 25 For I would not, brothers, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in.
The first followers. When many Jews have the idea that when they turn to Jesus they lose their own identity, that is not true. That is not true because their own unbelief in Jesus keeps them outside the real "Israel of God" - something Paul, himself a Jew, wrote about. Only when they get over their unbelief can they enter the "real Israel". Then God's plan for them can come true. The first Followers of Jesus were also not Gentiles but Jews. It is evident from several passages of the Bible. From these verses it becomes clear that the gospel first started to spread from Jerusalem around the world. It also becomes clear from them that Paul, even though he was called to preach to the Gentiles, always first preached to his own people, when he came to a new place:
- (Matt 10:5-6) These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter you not: 6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
- (Luke 24:46-47) And said to them, Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: 47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
- (Rom 1:15-16) So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God to salvation to every one that believes; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
- (Acts 3:25-26) You are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying to Abraham, And in your seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed. 26 To you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.
- (Acts 13:46-48) Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing you put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, see, we turn to the Gentiles. 47 For so has the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set you to be a light of the Gentiles, that you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth. 48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.
- (Acts 10:45) And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.
- (Acts 11:18) When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then has God also to the Gentiles granted repentance to life.
- (Acts 17:1-4) Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews: 2 And Paul, as his manner was, went in to them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures, 3 Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach to you, is Christ. 4 And some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few.
- (Acts 17:10-12) And the brothers immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night to Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. 12 Therefore many of them believed; also of honorable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few.
- (Acts 19:8-10) And he went into the synagogue, and spoke boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God. 9 But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spoke evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus. 10 And this continued by the space of two years; so that all they which dwelled in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.
- (Acts 26:19-23) Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision: 20 But showed first to them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance. 21 For these causes the Jews caught me in the temple, and went about to kill me. 22 Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue to this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come: 23 That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should show light to the people, and to the Gentiles.
THE Law after salvation. THE LAW AFTER SALVATION. In the previous paragraph it was explained how the first followers of Jesus were Jews, how the gospel started to spread from Jerusalem around the world and also how Paul - even though he was called the apostle of the Gentiles - always started his preaching among the Jews, when he came to a new place. It was stated how these things pointed to how the roots of the gospel did not come from outside of Israel. They were very strongly connected to this country.Then, when we examine the attitudes of those first Jewish believers towards the Law - something that is still very important to many - we find no indication that they rejected it either. Although a clear line can be found in the New Testament that circumcision, food regulations or the Sabbath were not prescribed for Gentiles, i.e. non-Jews (See e.g. Acts 15 / 1 Cor 7:18,19 / Gal 2:1-5 / Gal 4:9- 11 / Gal 5:2-7 / Col 2:16,17), so the first Jewish believers tried to follow these things and hold them in high esteem. They appreciated them and did not deny their importance. They continued living as they had lived all their lives: by obeying the laws. However, it did not happen out of necessity or because they were trying to achieve salvation through them. It happened simply because they had lived with these things all their lives anyway. Let's look at a few Bible verses that talk about it:- (Luke 2:41-42) Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover. 42 And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast.
- (Luke 23:55-56) And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulcher, and how his body was laid. 56 And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.
- (Acts 10:14) But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean.
- (Acts 20:5-6,15-16) These going before tarried for us at Troas. 6 And we sailed away from Philippi after the days of unleavened bread, and came to them to Troas in five days; where we stayed seven days. 15 And we sailed there, and came the next day over against Chios; and the next day we arrived at Samos, and tarried at Trogyllium; and the next day we came to Miletus. 16 For Paul had determined to sail by Ephesus, because he would not spend the time in Asia: for he hurried, if it were possible for him, to be at Jerusalem the day of Pentecost.
- (Acts 21:20-25) And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said to him, You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law: 21 And they are informed of you, that you teach all the Jews which are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs. 22 What is it therefore? the multitude must needs come together: for they will hear that you are come. 23 Do therefore this that we say to you: We have four men which have a vow on them; 24 Them take, and purify yourself with them, and be at charges with them, that they may shave their heads: and all may know that those things, whereof they were informed concerning you, are nothing; but that you yourself also walk orderly, and keep the law. 25 As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication.
- (1 Cor 7:18,19) Is any man called being circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised. Is any called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised. 19 Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.
- (Rom 3:29-31) Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also: 30 Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith. 31 Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yes, we establish the law.
The law has already been fulfilled. When talking about the Law, we should always remember Jesus' own lessons about this matter. According to His own words, He did not come to destroy the law, but to fulfil it. In fact, the whole point of the New Testament is that Jesus Himself was born under the Law for our sake, and He fulfilled the Law. He did not come to earth for nothing, but the purpose of everything was to fulfill the law for us and to bridge the gap between God and man. Finally, when He was on the cross, all the requirements of the law with their decrees were taken there. The punishment and judgment brought by them were removed from people so that they can now be free from it. That's what happens if we rely on Jesus. This is true of anyone who turns to Him:
- (Gal 4:4-5) But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, 5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
- (Matt 5:17) Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.
- (Col 2:13-14) And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, has he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; 14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
- (Eph 2:15) Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of two one new man, so making peace;
- (Rom 8:1) There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
- (John 5:24) Truly, truly, I say to you, He that hears my word, and believes on him that sent me, has everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death to life.
- (Rom 6:14-15) For sin shall not have dominion over you: for you are not under the law, but under grace. 15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.
- (Acts 13:38-39) Be it known to you therefore, men and brothers, that through this man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins: 39 And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.“
The same thing, how Jesus fulfilled the law for us, because none of us could do it, (John 7:19: ... and yet none of you keeps the law.), is described in the following quote. It shows how hopeless are our attempts to reach God's standard and approval. Therefore, God through Jesus has already done everything for us. The work done by another for us is the basis for us to be assured of God's approval and eternal life. Otherwise, we cannot experience it:
THE Faults of THE church. One of the reasons why it is difficult for many Jews, like millions of others, to believe in Jesus today, are the wrongs done in the name of the church or Jesus (inquisitions, crusades...), and also all kinds of hypocritical church rituals that have no spiritual content. Many Jews and Gentiles have been offended by these things and may have turned their backs on Jesus. They have done this because they have associated these things with Him.However, Paul warned about these things in advance. He prophesied that after his departure, grievous wolves, not sparing the flock, would appear. He meant that people would appear who would act in the name of Jesus, but in reality they would have completely turned their backs on Him and His will - a thing that can certainly be said to have come to pass.Furthermore, when we study the same area from the New Testament, it teaches that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God; they do not inherit it, but fall outside it and perish. This is evident from several passages of the Bible. Jesus Himself also referred to it:- (Acts 20:29-32) For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. 31 Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears. 32 And now, brothers, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.
- (1 Cor 6:9) Know you not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived…
- (1 John 1:6) If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth
- (1 John 2:4) He that said, I know him, and keeps not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
- (Rev 22:14-15) Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. 15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and fornicators, and murderers, and idolaters, and whoever loves and makes a lie.
- (Matt 7:15,20-23) Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. 20 Why by their fruits you shall know them. 21 Not every one that said to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name? and in your name have cast out devils? and in your name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess to them, I never knew you: depart from me, you that work iniquity.
- (Matt 25:41-46) Then shall he say also to them on the left hand, Depart from me, you cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: 42 For I was an hungered, and you gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and you gave me no drink: 43 I was a stranger, and you took me not in: naked, and you clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and you visited me not. 44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we you an hungered, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister to you? 45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Truly I say to you, Inasmuch as you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to me. 46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.
7. The divinity of the Messiah
In this chapter, we are going to study the divinity of the Messiah. The purpose is to deal with what kind of origin the Messiah should have had and whether He is eternal. These issues must be studied in order to get a clear picture of His background. Usually in modern Judaism the divinity of the Messiah is denied. It is not believed. However, it is interesting that the same thing comes up several times both in the Old Testament Messianic prophecies and also in old Jewish sources. Next, we are going to look at some examples from this area:
The mighty god who is born as a human. One of the clearest references to the divinity of the Messiah is the prophecy in Isaiah chapter nine. It mentions that the child or boy born as a human is not only an ordinary human, but also God. He was supposed to be God in some mysterious way, even though He was born into the world as a man:
Prophecy:
- (Isa 9:6) For to us a child is born, to us a son is given: and the government shall be on his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Fulfillment:
- (Luke 2:11) For to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.
- (John 1:1,14) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelled among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
- (Phil 2:5-8) Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took on him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient to death, even the death of the cross.
A child born as man who is God with us. Verse 7:14 of the book of Isaiah continues the same line as the previous verse, because it also speaks of a child to be born who is "Immanuel", "God with us". In the same verse, the virgin birth is also referred to as a special sign, which actually happened in the case of Jesus:
Prophecy:
- (Isa 7:14) Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
Fulfillment:
- (Matt 1:18,22,23) Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. 22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, 23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
- (Luke 1:34-35) Then said Mary to the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? 35 And the angel answered and said to her, The Holy Ghost shall come on you, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow you: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of you shall be called the Son of God.
- (John 14:18,23) I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. 23 Jesus answered and said to him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come to him, and make our stay with him.
- (Matt 28:19-20) Go you therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatever I have commanded you: and, see, I am with you always, even to the end of the world. Amen.
- (Matt 18:19-20) Again I say to you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the middle of them.
A ruler whose origin is from everlasting. Micah verse 5:2 refers to the supernatural background and existence of the Messiah before His physical birth. The prophet Micah tells that the Messiah’s origin is “from of old, from everlasting”, but that He would nevertheless be born in Bethlehem and from the tribe of Judah. The Messiah, then, had to be someone who is human by birth, born in Bethlehem, but who has also existed from eternity:
Prophecy:
- (Micah 5:2) But you, Bethlehem Ephratah, though you be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall he come forth to me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.
- (Isa 9:6) For to us a child is born, to us a son is given: and the government shall be on his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Fulfillment:
- (Matt 2:1-2) Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, 2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
- (John 1:15) John bore witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spoke, He that comes after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.
- (1 John 1:1-2) That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked on, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; 2 (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and show to you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested to us;)
- (Hebr 13:8) Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
- (John 8:56-59) Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad. 57 Then said the Jews to him, You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham? 58 Jesus said to them, Truly, truly, I say to you, Before Abraham was, I am. 59 Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the middle of them, and so passed by.
- (John 17:5) And now, O Father, glorify you me with your own self with the glory which I had with you before the world was.
- (Col 1:17) And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
When it was stated that according to the Bible, the Messiah should have been eternal, many rabbis have observed the same. They, too, understand that the Messiah has existed since ancient times and that He must be eternal. Many sources have referred to it:
Targum Jonathan mentions about the ruler in Micah 5, whose origin is from of old, from everlasting, that it means the Messiah. This ruler, whose origins date back to the beginning of time, would have to come from Bethlehem and the tribe of Judah:
"But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the thousands rooms of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to me the Messiah, who will be ruler over Israel, He whose name was mentioned from the beginning of time, from the days of creation."
Midrash Bereshit Rabbaa says about Genesis 1:2 (”… And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters”) that already then, in the creation, God’s Spirit -- the Spirit of the Messiah – was moving. (Compare this to Romans 8:9: “But you are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.”) This clearly points to the divinity of the Messiah and to His eternal existence.
This was "The Spirit of the Messiah," such as has been written in Isa 11:2, "The Spirit of the Lord shall rest on Him".
Rashi, or Rabbi Shalomo Yarchi, associated Micah 5:2 with the Messiah and wrote that His origin is from ancient times. In addition, Rashi associated the Messiah with the rejected cornerstone mentioned in Psalm 118, or prophecy, that actually came true in Jesus' life. He must have existed even before the sun:
... He is "the Messiah, the son of David, such as Psalm 118 says, He is the stone, which the builders rejected; and His origin is from ancient times, because before the sun was, His name was Yinnon".
Rabbi David Kimhi. One statement in ancient Jewish sources attesting to the eternity of the Messiah is related to Rabbi David Kimh. According to him, in the time of the Messiah, His origin is said to be from ancient and distant times. He is also El or God:
"During the time of the Messiah, is said, that His origin is from of old, from everlasting; From Bethlehem means that He is David, for there is a long time between David and the Messiah king, and He is El (God), therefore He is from of old, from everlasting."
Targum. The fact that the Messiah is eternal appears in Targum’s explanation of Isa 9:6. Targum wrote that the Messiah has existed since ancient times:
"His name has existed already since the ancient times..."
Targum also explained the expression, "the Everlasting Father" in this verse: it refers to the eternity of the Messiah:
"The Messiah has existed eternally."
There is another mention of the eternity of the Messiah in the Targum. In explaining verse 4:7 of Zechariah, which speaks of the capstone, it is written how the Messiah has been from ancient times:
"Like this is exposed the Messiah, because His name has existed from everlasting and He will rule over all kingdoms.”
In the book of Zohar can be found a statement about the existence of the Messiah in the Garden of Eden. He must have already existed in those first moments of mankind and even before:
"Then the Messiah raised His voice and cried, so that the garden of Eden shivered and also all those righteous, who were there, complained and cried with Him.”
In the Midrash (Midrash Rabbaa De-eicha 1:16) we can find a mention of the existence of the Messiah even before the sun. It explains Psalm 72:17, which in the original Hebrew testifies to His eternal existence. Rashi, or Rabbi Shalomon Jarchi, whose statement was quoted above, also spoke of the same concept of "Yinnon" in connection with the Messiah, and mentioned how He was already before the sun:
"...what is the name of the Messiah king... Yinnon is His name, as Psalm 72:17 says; before there was a sun, His name was Yinnon."
THE Angel of THE Lord, Metatron and THE prince of THE face. It is interesting to note that in ancient Jewish sources, the “Angel of the Lord", also called Metatron and the Prince of the Face, was associated with God.Rashi (Rabbi Shalomo Yarchi) referred to Exodus 23:20-21 which describes the angel of the Lord and explains that God’s own name is in Him (“Behold, I send an Angel before you, to keep you in the way, and to bring you into the place which I have prepared. Beware of him, and obey his voice, provoke him not; for he will not pardon your transgressions: for my name is in him.”). Rashi calls this angel Metatron and associates it with the Almighty:
"My name is in Him, means that I have the same name as Him. And our rabbis have said that this is Metatron, whose name is the same as the name of the Lord and numerical value of Metatron is in gematria the same as the name of the Almighty.”
Gottlieb Klein, who was the chief rabbi of Stockholm, has also referred in his book "Bidrag till Israels Religionshistoria, (p.89)" to Metatron, who is with God, and whose numerical value is the same as that of the Almighty. He teaches about this mysterious representative identified with the angel of the Lord, quite in the same way as Rashi:
"Metatron is the serving spirit closest to God, on the one hand His confidant and representative, on the other hand the representative of Israel before God... Metatron is also called Sar ha-paniim, or the Prince of the Face, or just the Prince, and He sits in the innermost room of God (penim). The numerical value of Metatron is the same as that of the Almighty."
The name Metatron also appears in the Talmud. There he is called “the angel of the Lord", “the prince of the universe", "the prince of the face" and even "Shechina" or “the presence of God" (Tos. Le-Hulin 60,a and Jebamot 16, b). In the Talmud, there are also interesting references to how His name corresponds to His Lord, how He sits in the most holy place and how He acts as the representative of God (Sanhedrin 38, b, Hagiga 15, a and Avoda zara 3, b). What is interesting with these references is that the New Testament teaches almost the same message about Jesus. The New Testament statements about Jesus are that He is, among other things, the brightness of God’s glory and the express image of His person (compare the reference in the Talmud to the Prince of the Face and the Presence of God), and that He has gone into the most holy place and sits now at the right hand of the Majesty in Heaven. Let’s study some of these verses that very much resemble the above-mentioned teaching about the angel of the Lord and about Metatron:
- (John 12:44-45) Jesus cried and said, He that believes on me, believes not on me, but on him that sent me. 45 And he that sees me sees him that sent me.
- (John 14:9) Jesus said to him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet have you not known me, Philip? he that has seen me has seen the Father; and how say you then, Show us the Father?
- (Hebr 1:1-3) God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, 2 Has in these last days spoken to us by his Son, whom he has appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; 3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high
- (Hebr 8:1-2) Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; 2 A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.
We can find an interesting description of Metatron and the Prince of the Face in the prayer book of Sidur, in connection with the New Year's Prayer. What is interesting about this prayer is that the name of Jesus is identified with the Prince of the Face and Metatron. It also tells us that this mysterious person conveys prayers to God (compare John 16:23: And in that day you shall ask me nothing. Truly, truly, I say to you, Whatever you shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.):
"May your will be with you, that this sounding of the horn would reach into the tabernacle of God by our representative Tartiel, the name which Elias, blessed be his memory, has given to Him, and by Jesus, the prince of the face, and by Metatron, and may mercy come to us. Be blessed you, the Lord of grace.”
Risto Santala has referred to this remarkable prayer in the Sidur prayer book. He wrote about it:
In the Jewish prayer book, there is a third face-related concept of Christ, "Sar ha-paniim", "Prince of the face". In the New Year's liturgy, after the trumpets of the shofar horn, the Jews pray that "Jesus, the Prince of the Faces, Metatron, would convey the prayers into the tabernacle of God." If the rabbis are asked separately who is the Prince of Faces, they say that he is the Messiah. But if one inquires in the synagogue who this "Jesus, the Prince of Faces" really is, who conveys the prayers, the questioner can be kicked out of the prayer room. I know of two separate cases where this happened. (6)
MEMRA OR THE word of God. When we study the old Targums, which are the Aramaic translations of the Old Testament, in them there is a phrase almost equivalent to Metatron; Memra, which means "word" (logos), and is used in the Targums specifically as an appellation of God.What is interesting about the expressions of the Targum is that they teach about the Memra, or the Word of God, just like the New Testament. They regard the "Memra," the "Word," not merely as an impersonal thing, but as it were as a person through whom the world was created, who is God, and through whom one is justified and saved. This is exactly the same as what the New Testament also says about Jesus as the Word of God (Rev 19:11-13: And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat on him was called Faithful and True… and his name is called The Word of God.). We look at some sayings in the Targum where the phrase Memra, or word, occurs. We also include a few relevant New Testament verses:Deut 33:27: The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before you; and shall say, Destroy them.
Targum onkelos: These arms are Memra (the Word), by whom the world has been created.
- (John 1:1, 3, 14) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelled among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
Isa 45:22: Look to me, and be you saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.
Jonathan Targum: Turn to Memra (the Word), so you will be saved.
- (John 5:40) And you will not come to me, that you might have life.
- (Acts 4:12) Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
Gen 15:6: And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.
Targum onkelos: And Abram believed Memra of the Lord (Word) and it was counted to him for righteousness.
- (Acts 13:38-39) Be it known to you therefore, men and brothers, that through this man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins: 39 And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.
- (Gal 2:16) Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
The light that came into the world. One of the titles of the Messiah is the light, which appears several times especially in the book of Isaiah. It talks about how the Messiah has come to the Gentiles and nations as a light and also as a covenant. Rabbinic commentaries have also interpreted the word "light" messianically. The Midrash (Midrash Bereshit Rabbaa, parasha 1) explains verse 2:22 of Daniel (“He reveals the deep and secret things: he knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with him.”) that the word “light” means the Messiah who lives with the Father, God:
"The light dwells with Him; this is the king Messiah, because it is written, “Arise, shine; for your light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen on you. (Isa 60:1)."
We can also find references to the Messiah's light in other sources. Pesikta Rabbati and Jalkut Shimoni talk - when explaining the creation - how the light of the Messiah was already present then. This is a clear reference to His eternity and divinity:
"Whose is that light that falls over the congregation of the Lord. (...) It is the light of the Messiah.” (Pesikta Rabbati 62,1. )
"This is light of the Messiah, such as in psalm 36:10 is said, in your light shall we see light.” (Jalkut Shimoni 56)
Prophecy:
- (Isa 59:20,60:1, 2) And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and to them that turn from transgression in Jacob, said the LORD. 1 Arise, shine; for your light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen on you. 2 For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise on you, and his glory shall be seen on you.
- (Isa 9:2,6) The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, on them has the light shined. 6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given: and the government shall be on his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
- (Isa 42:6-7) I the LORD have called you in righteousness, and will hold your hand, and will keep you, and give you for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles; 7 To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.
- (Isa 49:6) And he said, It is a light thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give you for a light to the Gentiles, that you may be my salvation to the end of the earth.
Fulfillment:
- (John 1:4-10) In him was life; and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shines in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. 6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. 8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. 9 That was the true Light, which lights every man that comes into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
- (John 8:12-14) Then spoke Jesus again to them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that follows me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. 13 The Pharisees therefore said to him, You bore record of yourself; your record is not true. 14 Jesus answered and said to them, Though I bear record of myself, yet my record is true: for I know from where I came, and where I go; but you cannot tell from where I come, and where I go.
- (John 12:44-46) Jesus cried and said, He that believes on me, believes not on me, but on him that sent me. 45 And he that sees me sees him that sent me. 46 I am come a light into the world, that whoever believes on me should not abide in darkness.
THE Lord our righteousness. One name associated to the Messiah is "the Lord, our righteousness." It appears, e.g. From the verses of the book of Jeremiah 23:5,6. These verses speak of a descendant of David, who is not only an ordinary man, but also the Lord, YHVH. It is God's own name, which this descendant had to have, and through which one becomes righteous.The New Testament shows the fulfillment of these verses through Jesus. He was and is the Lord through whom we can become righteous. Likewise, He is a descendant of David and a righteous servant because He was born into this family and His life was pure. We can say with certainty that there is no other person to whom these verses would so accurately apply:Prophecy:
- (Jer 23:5-6) Behold, the days come, said the LORD, that I will raise to David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. 6 In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.
- (Isa 53:11) He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.
- (Isa 45:24-25) Surely, shall one say, in the LORD have I righteousness and strength: even to him shall men come; and all that are incensed against him shall be ashamed. 25 In the LORD shall all the seed of Israel be justified, and shall glory.
- (Dan 9:24,26) …to bring in everlasting righteousness… And after three score and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off …
Fulfilment:
- (1 Cor 1:30-31) But of him are you in Christ Jesus, who of God is made to us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: 31 That, according as it is written, He that glories, let him glory in the Lord.
- (Rom 4:25) Who was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification.
- (Rom 5:19) For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
- (Acts 13:38-39) Be it known to you therefore, men and brothers, that through this man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins: 39 And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.
When it comes to the title "the Lord, our righteousness" - a title in which God's own name appears - several rabbis have also connected these verses to the Messiah. They have associated them with Him and understood His divinity and also His suffering for our sins. Their mentions do not deviate much from the teaching of the New Testament. We look at some comments on the subject:
"Water flows from my eyes, for far from me is the comforter, who would refresh my soul (…) like this Israel is called the eyes of the holy God. (..) Far from me is the comforter, my soul’s refresher; what is the name of the King Messiah? (…) The Lord is His name, because Jer 23:6 says; this is His name whereby He shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS...." (Lamentation' , Midrash Rabbaa De-eicha 1:16)
"Who is this king of honor?... God does not crown a king of flesh and blood, but the Holy One, may He be praised, gives His own crown to the king Messiah, because about Him it is said: you put a golden crown on His head. God does not dress an earthly king with His own purple robe, but He has given it to the king Messiah, because it has been said, You cover Him with glory and brightness (...) and He calls the king Messiah by His own name, because it has been written, this is His name whereby He shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS” (The Midrash of Psalms explaining chapter 21)
"Our rabbis have taught: once the patriarchs will arrive to Him in the month of Nisan (about the time of the Passover) and say, Ephraim, the Messiah our righteousness, although we are your fathers, You are greater than we, because You have suffered for the sake of the Sins of our children and You have experienced difficult and large trials... You have become an object of laughter and derision among the nations of the world for the sake of Israel, and You have sat in the dark and depth... Your skin has been torn off and your body has dried up like a tree... and Your power is like a pot shard. All this You have suffered for the sake of the sins of our children."
"He is the Messiah our Righteousness; and has it not been written about the Messiah that He is lowly and rides on an ass; but He arrives lowly and not proud with horses; and as for the arrival in the clouds of heaven, there is a question of the army of the angels of heaven, and here is the greatness which the Creator gives to the Messiah." (Rabbi Saadia Gaon, 882-942, Mikraoot Gedolot – explanation to Dan 7)
"The Messiah, our righteousness, has turned away from us. We have been beaten broken and because of that, we have no spokesperson. Our crimes and the yoke of our bad deeds are a heavy burden. But He has been wounded for our sins. He carries our sins on His shoulders, so that we would get forgiveness. And by His wounds we are healed; it has come the time to create an eternal new creation.” (Annual prayer of Yom Kippur; Musaf)
"Rab Huna counted in the seven names of the Messiah also 'Jehovah Zidkenun’, which is 'the Lord, our righteousness." (Midrash Mishle)
"In the Scriptures, to the Messiah is given the name 'Jehovah Zidkenu, because He is the mediator by whom the Lord makes us righteousness.” (Rabbi Albo, in the 1400s)
"What is the name of the King Messiah? To this answered rabbi Abba bar Kahana, 'Jehovah is His name, for it has been written: this is the name by which He will be called – Jehovah Zidkenu." (Midrash Echa Jer 23:6; Midrash Rabbah, part 4, p. 134)
THE Way FOR THE Lord OR God. A couple of very clear references to the divinity of the Messiah appear in Isaiah 40:3-5 and Malachi 3:1,2. They show that the Messiah had to be preceded by a messenger - John the Baptist really was the forerunner of Jesus - but also that the Messiah would be God. The Messiah's divinity appears in both passages of the Bible.When it comes to verse 3:1 of the book of Malachi, Rabbi David Kimhi, for example, has connected it to the Messiah. He wrote how "The Lord is the Messiah King and He is the messenger of the covenant." (Mikraoot Gedolot, Mal 3:1). Instead, a source named Metsudat David has separated these two things, the Lord and the angel of the covenant. It says: "The Lord is the Messiah-king whom all eyes wait and long for and hope to come, but by the messenger of the covenant is meant the prophet Elijah."
Prophecy:
- (Isa 40:3-5) The voice of him that cries in the wilderness, Prepare you the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 4 Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain: 5 And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD has spoken it.
- (Mal 3:1,2) Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the LORD, whom you seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom you delight in: behold, he shall come, said the LORD of hosts. 2 But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appears? for he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap
Fulfillment:
- (Luke 1:13,16,17) But the angel said to him, Fear not, Zacharias: for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elisabeth shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. 16 And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. 17 And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.
- (Luke 1:76) And you, child, shall be called the prophet of the Highest: for you shall go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways
- (Matt 3:1-3, 11-13) In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, 2 And saying, Repent you: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. 3 For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare you the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. 11 I indeed baptize you with water to repentance. but he that comes after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: 12 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire. 13 Then comes Jesus from Galilee to Jordan to John, to be baptized of him.
- (John 1:22-24) Then said they to him, Who are you? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What say you of yourself? 23 He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias. 24 And they which were sent were of the Pharisees.
THE Son of God. The Messiah has various names. One of them is the Son of God. It is the name mentioned in Psalm 2, in the Proverbs (30:4) and in the promise, which was given to David. Let’s study all of these Bible passages and see how they were fulfilled in Jesus:
Prophecy:
- (Ps 2:1-2,5-12) Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? 2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, 5 Then shall he speak to them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure. 6 Yet have I set my king on my holy hill of Zion. 7 I will declare the decree: the LORD has said to me, You are my Son; this day have I begotten you. 8 Ask of me, and I shall give you the heathen for your inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for your possession. 9 You shall break them with a rod of iron; you shall dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel. 10 Be wise now therefore, O you kings: be instructed, you judges of the earth. 11 Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. 12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.
Fulfillment:
- (Acts 4:25-27) Who by the mouth of your servant David have said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things? 26 The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ. 27 For of a truth against your holy child Jesus, whom you have anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,
- (Rev 2:26-29) And he that overcomes, and keeps my works to the end, to him will I give power over the nations: 27 And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father. 28 And I will give him the morning star. 29 He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit said to the churches.
- (John 3:16-18) For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believes on him is not condemned: but he that believes not is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
Prophecy:
- (Pro 30:4) Who has ascended up into heaven, or descended? who has gathered the wind in his fists? who has bound the waters in a garment? who has established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son’s name, if you can tell?
Fulfillment:
- (John 3:12-13) If I have told you earthly things, and you believe not, how shall you believe, if I tell you of heavenly things? 13 And no man has ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.
- (John 6:62) What and if you shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before?
- (Eph 4:7-10) But to every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. 8 Why he said, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men. 9 Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.
Prophecy:
- (1 Chron 17:11-14) And it shall come to pass, when your days be expired that you must go to be with your fathers, that I will raise up your seed after you, which shall be of your sons; and I will establish his kingdom. 12 He shall build me an house, and I will establish his throne for ever. 13 I will be his father, and he shall be my son: and I will not take my mercy away from him, as I took it from him that was before you: 14 But I will settle him in my house and in my kingdom for ever: and his throne shall be established for ever more.
Fulfillment:
- (Luke 1:32-33) He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give to him the throne of his father David: 33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
- (John 9:35-37) Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said to him, Do you believe on the Son of God? 36 He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him? 37 And Jesus said to him, You have both seen him, and it is he that talks with you.
The concepts of the Son of God and the Trinity are not unknown in old Jewish sources either. If you look at the old commentaries of the rabbis, they especially understand that Psalm 2, which speaks of the son of the Most High, meant the Messiah. They have understood that this Psalm refers to the Messiah, who is the son of the Most High. This is evident from the following quotations. They include the Zohar's clear references to God's mysterious essence: they mention the "Most High and Holy", His Son, and the Holy Spirit:
"Our rabbis have taught that this refers to the king Messiah, and according to this interpretation, it can also be applied to David himself..."..." (Rashi, rabbi Shalomo Yarchi, who has explained Psalm 2)
"The rabbis have told that this means the Messiah, son of David, who will arrive quickly in our days. The Holy God will say to Him, 'Ask of me, and I shall give you, such as has been written, ‘I will declare the decree: the LORD has said to me, You are my Son; this day have I begotten you. Ask of me, and I shall give you the heathen for your inheritance." ([Sukka 52. of Talmud], explanation to Psalm 2)
"You are that good shepherd; about you it has been said, kiss the son. You are great down low, Israel's teacher, the Lord of the serving angels, the Son of the Most High, the son of the Holy, praised be His name and His Holy Spirit.” (Zohar, lll part, p. 307. Amsterdam edition)
"Why in this (Deut 6:4) has there been a need to repeat God's name three times? First, Yahweh is the Father who is above all. The second is the Messiah born from the family of Jesse. The third is the one who is sent down (meaning the Holy Spirit who leads us to walk the right way). These three are one." (The Zohar, which explains the creed of Israel)
"How are those three names one? Are they one only because we call them one? We know that they are one only by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and even with closed eyes.” (Zohar, ll part, p. 43. Amsterdam edition)
The descendant of David, who is also the Lord, God. When Jesus lived on earth, He brought up Psalm 110, which talks about David's lord, the Messiah, and His sitting at the right hand of God. He brought up this Psalm and asked the people how the Christ, the Messiah, who should be the descendant of David, could be his Lord as well. It should have been logically impossible, because an unborn descendant, who did not yet live on earth in David's time, could not be that - unless the descendant really was God and existed eternally. However, the Pharisees did not know how to answer the question and were silent:
- (Matt 22:41-46) While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, 42 Saying, What think you of Christ? whose son is he? They say to him, The son of David. 43 He said to them, How then does David in spirit call him Lord, saying, 44 The LORD said to my Lord, Sit you on my right hand, till I make your enemies your footstool? 45 If David then call him Lord, how is he his son? 46 And no man was able to answer him a word, neither dared any man from that day forth ask him any more questions.
There is reason to believe that the verses of Psalm 110 were fulfilled in Jesus. He really was and is the descendant of David - because He was born into this family - and He also was David’s Lord. Likewise, He has sat down at the right hand of God and is now just waiting for His enemies to be made His footstool. There is reason to believe that this latter will be fulfilled at the latest in connection with His second coming:
Prophecy:
- (Ps 110:1,2,4) The LORD said to my Lord, Sit you at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool. 2 The LORD shall send the rod of your strength out of Zion: rule you in the middle of your enemies. 4 The LORD has sworn, and will not repent, You are a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.
Fulfillment:
- (Acts 2:33-36) Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he has shed forth this, which you now see and hear. 34 For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he said himself, The Lord said to my Lord, Sit you on my right hand, 35 Until I make your foes your footstool. 36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God has made the same Jesus, whom you have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
- (Eph 1:20) Which he worked in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
- (Hebr 8:1) Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens;
- (Hebr 10:12-13) But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; 13 From now on expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.
- (Hebr1:7-8,13-14) And of the angels he said, Who makes his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire. 8 But to the Son he said, Your throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of your kingdom. 13 But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool? 14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?
When we connected the verses of Psalm 110 to Jesus, the old Jewish sources have also connected them to the Messiah. This has been the traditional interpretation of these verses in Jewish literature. This is evident in the following examples:
- Midrash of the psalms says about the passage "Sit at my right hand" that "he says this to the Messiah; and His throne has been prepared in grace and He will sit on it".
- The Talmud's (Avoot, Rabbi Natan, Chapter 34) explanation of Zechariah 4:14 (Then said he, These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the LORD of the whole earth.) is also noteworthy. In its explanation of that verse, it refers to Psalm 110, which it associates with the Messiah. It is written that "This means Aaron and the Messiah, and I do not know which of them is preferable. When it is written, The LORD has sworn, and will not repent, You are a priest for ever’, we know that the king Messiah is preferable to the priest of righteousness."
- The third mention is related to Jalkut Shimon. It presents the traditional understanding of the position of the Messiah in the following way: "Rabbi Jodan says in the name of Rabbi Aban Bar Hanina that the Holy God will place the coming king Messiah at His right hand and Abraham at His left; and so Abraham's face will turn pale with envy and he will say: the son of my son will sit at your right hand and I should sit at your left? Then the holy God will appease him and say: Your son is at your right hand and I am at your right hand.”
LIKE THE SON OF MAN WHO COMES WITH THE clouds of heaven. The verses 7:13,14 of the book of Daniel, which speak of someone like the Son of Man, who comes with the clouds of Heaven and who comes to the Ancient of Days, or God, are usually associated with the Messiah in Jewish sources. Rashi says in connection with these verses: "He is the king Messiah". Metsudat David also states that "it refers to the king Messiah." Similarly, Rabbi Saadia Gaon (882-942 A.D.) wrote (Mikraoot Gedolot) about two different comings of the Messiah. We can believe that both of these comings are fulfilled in Jesus. He first came in humility riding on an ass:
"He is the Messiah our Righteousness; and has it not been written about the Messiah that He is lowly and rides on an ass; but He arrives lowly and not proud with horses; and as for the arrival in the clouds of heaven, there is a question of the army of the angels of heaven, and here is the greatness which the Creator gives to the Messiah."
However, what is noteworthy in Daniel 7:13,14 is that all people and nations will serve this being who is like the son of man, and who will come with the clouds of heaven, and that His kingdom will be eternal. We can understand that such things can only concern God Himself, because He does not give His glory to others (Isa 42:8: "I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.”), and because only His kingdom is eternal. Therefore, the person like the son of man must be more than a mortal man, even though He has taken on the form of a man:
Prophecy:
- (Dan 7:13) I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.
Fulfillment:
- (Matt 8:19-20) And a certain scribe came, and said to him, Master, I will follow you wherever you go. 20 And Jesus said to him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man has not where to lay his head.
- (Matt 25:31) When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit on the throne of his glory
- (Matt 26:62-66) And the high priest arose, and said to him, Answer you nothing? what is it which these witness against you? 63 But Jesus held his peace, And the high priest answered and said to him, I adjure you by the living God, that you tell us whether you be the Christ, the Son of God. 64 Jesus said to him, You have said: nevertheless I say to you, Hereafter shall you see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven. 65 Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, He has spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses? behold, now you have heard his blasphemy. 66 What think you? They answered and said, He is guilty of death.
- (Rev 1:7-8) Behold, he comes with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen. 8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, said the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.
Prophecy:
- (Dan 7:13-14) I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. 14 And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.
Fulfillment:
- (Luke 1:32-33) He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give to him the throne of his father David: 33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
- (2 Peter 1:11) For so an entrance shall be ministered to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
- (1 Peter 5:1,10) The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: 10 But the God of all grace, who has called us to his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that you have suffered a while, make you perfect, establish, strengthen, settle you.
The name Jesus or Yeshua, who has come for salvation. One thing that is special about Jesus is His name. It means Yeshua in Hebrew, which means salvation and Savior. In the Gospel of Matthew, the meaning of this name comes out well:
- (Matt 1:21) And she shall bring forth a son, and you shall call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
Jesus' Hebrew name Yeshua is also mentioned in earlier Scriptures. The book of Isaiah talks about it. Likewise, it is clear from the book of Isaiah that "salvation" specifically refers to a person - "he" - who will come and appear. Furthermore, from another connection we can notice that the same person whose "reward is with him" is the Lord, or God, who appeared to Judeans and He is like a shepherd (Compare John 10:11: "I am the good shepherd..."). We can well understand that these prophecies have been fulfilled in Jesus, because He is called Yeshua, and because He literally came as salvation for people. Only through Him can we be saved, and He is also God, as was predicted in the prophecies:
Prophecy:
- (Isa 62:11) Behold, the LORD has proclaimed to the end of the world, Say you to the daughter of Zion, Behold, your salvation (Yeshua) comes; behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him.
- (Isa 40:9-11) O Zion, that bring good tidings, get you up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, that bring good tidings, lift up your voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say to the cities of Judah, Behold your God! 10 Behold, the Lord GOD will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him. 11 He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.
Fulfillment:
- (Luke 2:11) For to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.
- (John 4:41-42) And many more believed because of his own word; 42 And said to the woman, Now we believe, not because of your saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world.
- (Acts 4:11-12) This is the stone which was set at nothing of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. 12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
- (Luke 19:9-10) And Jesus said to him, This day is salvation come to this house, as much as he also is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
- (1 Tim 1:15) This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
- (Rev 22:12) And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
The next quote speaks more clearly about the same thing, the name Yeshua. It speaks to the fact that the "salvation" mentioned in the book of Isaiah is not just an event or a thing but a person whose reward is with him. His name and also His mission are mentioned in the book of Isaiah in advance before He came to earth:
Once, in the spring in St. Louis, a certain interesting point came to my mind. I was visiting the family of Charles Siegelman. Another Jew also happened to be there. He claimed to be an orthodox Jew to the heart and soul. And naturally, our conversation drifted to Him, who is the center of everything, i.e. to Jesus. My good Jewish brother energetically attacked against Christ, as intensely as one can in a friendly conversation. His best weapon was a claim already familiar to me: "The name Yeshua does not appear at all in the Old Testament.” I did not answer him right away, but asked him to translate Isaiah 62:11 from my Hebrew Bible. Being proficient in the Hebrew language, he completed the task extremely quickly and skillfully. He translated this verse: "Behold, the LORD has proclaimed to the end of the world, Say you to the daughter of Zion, Behold, your Yeshua comes; behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him.” At this point, our friend blushed when he realized what he had just said. He had played the cards into my hands. Now he screamed, "No! You're trying to trick me with the word Yeshua, Mr. Glass! It wasn’t what I meant to read!” But I stated that I had asked him to read God's Word. I asked if he didn't already realize that salvation is a person, not an event? He comes, his reward is with him, and his work before him. Our Jewish friend rushed to find his own Old Testament. He vehemently argued that in his Bible it was guaranteed to be expressed quite differently. But then when he found the verse, the enthusiasm flowed off him like water off a goose's back. In his Old Testament, of course, it read exactly the same as in my book. The only way he could avoid admitting that he was wrong was to claim that the book of Isaiah was written by inspiration other than from God. (7)
THE Lord, God, over whom many will stumble. The divinity of the Messiah is established in many Scriptures, among which is Isaiah 8:13-15, which refers to the Lord of hosts. These verses use this name for the Messiah and mention that many people will stumble over Him - something that Psalm 118 also mentions. Hebrew rabbis have also associated these verses with the Messiah. In the Talmud (Sanhedrin 38. a) we read that Isaiah 8:13-15 refers to the Messiah. Likewise, Rashi wrote that the rejected cornerstone mentioned in Psalm 118 refers to the King Messiah who would be born in Bethlehem.
Prophecy:
- (Isa 8:13-15) Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. 14 And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offense to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a nare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 15 And many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken.
- (Ps 118:22-26) The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner. 23 This is the LORD’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes. 24 This is the day which the LORD has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. 25 Save now, I beseech you, O LORD: O LORD, I beseech you, send now prosperity. 26 Blessed be he that comes in the name of the LORD: we have blessed you out of the house of the LORD.
Fulfillment:
- (Matt 21:33-46) Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and dig a wine press in it, and built a tower, and let it out to farmers, and went into a far country: 34 And when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the farmers, that they might receive the fruits of it. 35 And the farmers took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another. 36 Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did to them likewise. 37 But last of all he sent to them his son, saying, They will reverence my son. 38 But when the farmers saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance. 39 And they caught him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and slew him. 40 When the lord therefore of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those farmers? 41 They say to him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard to other farmers, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons. 42 Jesus said to them, Did you never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes? 43 Therefore say I to you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. 44 And whoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder. 45 And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spoke of them. 46 But when they sought to lay hands on him, they feared the multitude, because they took him for a prophet.
- (Matt 23:37-39) O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you that kill the prophets, and stone them which are sent to you, how often would I have gathered your children together, even as a hen gathers her chickens under her wings, and you would not! 38 Behold, your house is left to you desolate. 39 For I say to you, You shall not see me from now on, till you shall say, Blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord.
- (1 Peter 2:4,6-8) To whom coming, as to a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, 6 Why also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believes on him shall not be confounded. 7 To you therefore which believe he is precious: but to them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, 8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.
A prophet like God. When Moses was given a message about a prophet like him, in the same context it was mentioned that this prophet would also be like God the Father and would speak His words. If someone didn't listen to Him, the person himself would have to account for it before God. As for the fulfillment of the verses, they have certainly received their fulfillment through Jesus. He could say Himself that Moses had written about Him. Likewise, the people considered Him the prophet in question:
Prophecy:
- (Deut 18:15,18,19) The LORD your God will raise up to you a Prophet from the middle of you, of your brothers, like to me; to him you shall listen; 18 I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brothers, like to you, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak to them all that I shall command him. 19 And it shall come to pass, that whoever will not listen to my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.
Fulfillment:
- (John 1:45) Philip finds Nathanael, and said to him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.
- (John 5:45-47) Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuses you, even Moses, in whom you trust. 46 For had you believed Moses, you would have believed me; for he wrote of me. 47 But if you believe not his writings, how shall you believe my words?
- (John 7:45-49) Then came the officers to the chief priests and Pharisees; and they said to them, Why have you not brought him? 46 The officers answered, Never man spoke like this man. 47 Then answered them the Pharisees, Are you also deceived? 48 Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed on him? 49 But this people who knows not the law are cursed.
- (Matt 7:28-29) And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: 29 For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.
- (John 7:40) Many of the people therefore, when they heard this saying, said, Of a truth this is the Prophet.
The Lord and thirty pieces of silver. One specific reference to the divinity of the Messiah can be found in verses 11:12,13 of the book of Zechariah. In these verses the Lord / God speaks of Himself as “I” and says that His value will be assessed at thirty pieces of silver. This really came true in the life of Jesus; Judas betrayed Him for this price, and said immediately afterwards that he had betrayed innocent blood:
Prophecy:
- (Zec 11:12-13) And I said to them, If you think good, give me my price; and if not, forbear. So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver. 13 And the LORD said to me, Cast it to the potter: a goodly price that I was priced at of them. And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them to the potter in the house of the LORD.
Fulfillment:
- (Matt 26:14-15) Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests, 15 And said to them, What will you give me, and I will deliver him to you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver.
- (Matt 27:3-5) Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, 4 Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see you to that. 5 And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.
The Lord, looking on Him and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. There is a reference to the Messiah in chapter 12 of the book of Zechariah. In it God speaks in the first person of singular (“I”) and tells how people look on him whom they have pierced. In the same context, it is also talked about the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, which really happened on Pentecost 2000 years ago. We can understand that these passages of the Bible have been fulfilled through Jesus:
Prophecy:
- (Zec 12:1,10) The burden of the word of the LORD ... 10 And I will pour on the house of David, and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look on me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.
Fulfillment:
- (John 19:33-37) But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they broke not his legs: 34 But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and immediately came there out blood and water. 35 And he that saw it bore record, and his record is true: and he knows that he said true, that you might believe. 36 For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken. 37 And again another scripture said, They shall look on him whom they pierced.
- (1 Cor 2:6-8) However, we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nothing: 7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world to our glory: 8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
Prophecy:
- (Zec 12:10) And I will pour on the house of David, and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look on me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.
Fulfillment:
- (Mark 1:6-8) And John was clothed with camel’s hair, and with a girdle of a skin about his loins; and he did eat locusts and wild honey; 7 And preached, saying, There comes one mightier than I after me, the lace of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose. 8 I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.
- (Acts 2:32-33) This Jesus has God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. 33 Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he has shed forth this, which you now see and hear.
- (Acts 10:45) And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.
One of the most common objections of people in the Middle East to New Testament doctrine is their perception of what God is like. For example, Judaism does not believe in the teaching of the New Testament that one God has revealed Himself as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. For them, it is a Western and Christian notion, for which no support can be found in the the Books of Moses, psalms, prophets, or by commentaries of the rabbis. They think that this notion is a late-born Christian fallacy that is not based on any scriptures. However, in the books of the Bible we can find support for this idea in several places. Even the Creed of Israel (Deut 6:4), which has been regarded as strong proof for the oneness of God, refers to it. Likewise, we can find other evidence in favor of the matter. We look at the most common proofs:
Deuteronomy 6:4. Israel's creed (Deut 6:4: "Shema Yisrael, Adonai Elohenu Adonai Echad" - Listen, Israel: The LORD is our God, the LORD is one!), has been used as absolute proof against the teaching of the New Testament (one God has revealed Himself as the Father, the Son and as the Holy Spirit). It has been brought up very often when there has been a question about what God is like. However, it is good to note how the last word of this creed, "echad", refers to a oneness made up of parts. Instead of using the word "jachid" which refers to absolute oneness, it uses the word "echad" which refers to multiplicity - a form which means unity or oneness achieved by combining. Israel's creed is therefore one of the clearest references to how one can consist of several parts. The same idea is evident in other examples where the word "echad" is used. Ezra 2:64 speaks of the about the unity of the whole congregation, in Ezek 37:17, two wooden sticks become one, in Gen 2:24, man and wife become one flesh, and in Numbers 13:24, there is talk of a cluster of grapes, which also consists of many parts:
- (Ezra 2:64) The whole congregation together was forty and two thousand three hundred and three score,
- (Eze 37:15-17) The word of the LORD came again to me, saying, 16 Moreover, you son of man, take you one stick, and write on it, For Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions: then take another stick, and write on it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim and for all the house of Israel his companions: 17 And join them one to another into one stick; and they shall become one in your hand.
- (Gen 2:24) Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall join to his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
- (Num13:24) The place was called the brook Eshcol, because of the cluster of grapes which the children of Israel cut down from there.
The word Elohim. One reference to God's different forms of manifestation is the word ‘elohim’, which is actually a plural word. It appears in many Scriptural passages. In the first chapter of the Bible alone it appears several times. The verbs after it are always singular to describe how God created everything. The same word, Elohim, also appears in the First Commandment in which the word God is plural, even though the verb is singular. This commandment refers to that How God is plural, but yet one:
- (Ex 20:2,3) I am (singular) the LORD your (plural) God, which have brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. 3 You shall have no other gods before me.
Plural expressions. The tension between the plural and the singular can be seen in other examples in the Bible. They all use about God the first person of plural, even though the verb is in singular. Especially in the first of these examples (Genesis 1:26,27) it is good to note that God could not speak to angels (as it is commonly believed), but to Himself, because man was created specifically as the image of God, not that of angels. Verse 27 shows this clearly:
- (Gen 1:26,27) And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth. 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
- (Gen 3:22) And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:
- (Gen 11:6,7) And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. 7 Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech.
- (Isa 6:8) Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.
The angel of the Lord. Above, it was noted that on the basis of the Scriptures it is impossible to deny the multiplicity of manifestations of God. In addition, it can be noted that only three separate personages are found in the Scriptures, which can be considered divine. These personas are:
1. The Lord, also called Yahweh, who is spoken of many times.
2. The second name, which appears, is the “angel of the Lord”. He simply calls himself God and so do the writers.
3. The Spirit of God – the Holy Spirit -- is also mentioned on several occasions.
The name Angel of the Lord, which appears in several places in the Bible, seems to refer to the second person of the deity, His divinity:
We can see in the verses of Genesis how the angel is identified with the Lord and Hagar called Him “God.” In addition, the angel speaks in the I form and promises to make the number of Hagar's descendants very large. This is the kind of promise that would certainly not be possible except from God. Therefore, we can assume that the messenger of the Lord in these verses is the same as the Lord and yet different from Him, i.e. the second person of the Godhead.
- (Gen 16:7,10-13 ) And the angel of the LORD found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain in the way to Shur. 10 And the angel of the LORD said to her, I will multiply your seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude. 11 And the angel of the LORD said to her, Behold, you are with child and shall bear a son, and shall call his name Ishmael; because the LORD has heard your affliction. 12 And he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man’s hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brothers. 13 And she called the name of the LORD that spoke to her, You God see me: for she said, Have I also here looked after him that sees me? ______________________________
When the angel of the Lord appeared to Abraham, he is identified there, as in the apparition of Hagar, with the Lord and God. In addition, the angel makes the same type of promise as to Hagar - a promise that is probably only possible to God:
- (Gen 22:1,15-18) And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said to him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am. 15 And the angel of the LORD called to Abraham out of heaven the second time, 16 And said, By myself have I sworn, said the LORD, for because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son: 17 That in blessing I will bless you, and in multiplying I will multiply your seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is on the sea shore; and your seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; 18 And in your seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because you have obeyed my voice. ______________________________
The angel of the Lord, or the angel of God, appears in Jacob's dream, and he is identified with God in that, too:
- (Gen 31:11-13) And the angel of God spoke to me in a dream, saying, Jacob: And I said, Here am I. 12 And he said, Lift up now your eyes, and see, all the rams which leap on the cattle are ringstraked, speckled, and spotted: for I have seen all that Laban does to you. 13 I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed the pillar, and where you vowed a vow to me: now arise, get you out from this land, and return to the land of your kindred. ______________________________
One of the clearest references to the divinity of the Angel of the Lord is the incident where he appears to Moses in a flame of fire. In it, the angel of the Lord announced that He was God, and the text also named Him Lord and God:
- (Ex 3:2-6) And the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the middle of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed. 3 And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt. 4 And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the middle of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I. 5 And he said, Draw not near here: put off your shoes from off your feet, for the place where on you stand is holy ground. 6 Moreover he said, I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look on God. ______________________________
The following case is interesting: the angel is separate from the Lord, but still God's own name YHVH - Yahweh, lives in Him. The fact that God's own name resides in an angel points to His divine essence:
- (Ex 23:20 -22) Behold, I send an Angel before you, to keep you in the way, and to bring you into the place which I have prepared. 21 Beware of him, and obey his voice, provoke him not; for he will not pardon your transgressions: for my name is in him. 22 But if you shall indeed obey his voice, and do all that I speak; then I will be an enemy to your enemies, and an adversary to your adversaries. ______________________________
The angel of the Lord is discussed in the Book of Judges, where he appears to Gideon. What is interesting in this passage is that the angel is referred to as Lord, Yahweh, which is God's own name. This means that He must have been God:
- (Judges 6:12-16) And the angel of the LORD appeared to him, and said to him, The LORD is with you, you mighty man of valor. 13 And Gideon said to him, Oh my Lord, if the LORD be with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt? but now the LORD has forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites. 14 And the LORD looked on him, and said, Go in this your might, and you shall save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent you? 15 And he said to him, Oh my Lord, with which shall I save Israel? behold, my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house. 16 And the LORD said to him, Surely I will be with you, and you shall smite the Midianites as one man. ______________________________
One reference to the angel of the Lord is in connection with the birth of Samson. In it, the angel of the Lord announces his name is wonderful, which is considered one of the names of God (Is aiah 9:5). Furthermore, Samson's parents considered this messenger to be God:
- (Judges 13:17,18,21,22) And Manoah said to the angel of the LORD, What is your name, that when your sayings come to pass we may do you honor? 18 And the angel of the LORD said to him, Why ask you thus after my name, seeing it is secret (wonderful)? 21 But the angel of the LORD did no more appear to Manoah and to his wife. Then Manoah knew that he was an angel of the LORD. 22 And Manoah said to his wife, We shall surely die, because we have seen God.
Isa 48:12,13,16. One of the clearest references to the trinity of God appears in Isaiah 48. In this chapter, God describes (in first person singular form) how He created the earth and the heavens, but then, in verse 16, there appears the person "I" and "me", who was already in the beginning, and who was sent. The same is spoken of the Spirit of God, whom was also sent:
- (Isa 48:12,13,16) Listen to me, O Jacob and Israel, my called; I am he; I am the first, I also am the last. 13 My hand also has laid the foundation of the earth, and my right hand has spanned the heavens: when I call to them, they stand up together. 16 Come you near to me, hear you this; I have not spoken in secret from the beginning; from the time that it was, there am I: and now the Lord GOD, and his Spirit, has sent me.
The verses above, from the Book of Isaiah, clearly reveal the three persons of God. Based on this text, they are:
1."The Lord" – the sender.
2."I" and "me", who was already with the Lord in the beginning, and whom the Lord sent.
3. The Spirit, whom was also sent.
The Holy Spirit. As for the Holy Spirit and His divinity and personality, several favorable points can be found in support of that as well. Here are some examples:
The name "the Spirit of God". The divinity of the Holy Spirit is evidenced by the name Spirit of God. This designation already appears in the context of the creation story, so it clearly proves His divine and eternal nature. In addition, the Holy Spirit is God's help and a way to connect with us people here on earth, because only He works here helping people. It is not about two different Gods, but the same God all the time, as stated earlier:
- (Gen 1:2) And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved on the face of the waters.
- (2 Chron 24:20) And the Spirit of God came on Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, which stood above the people, and said to them, Thus said God, Why transgress you the commandments of the LORD, that you cannot prosper? because you have forsaken the LORD, he has also forsaken you.
- (Ex 31:3) And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship,
- (1 Sam 19:20) And Saul sent messengers to take David: and when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as appointed over them, the Spirit of God was on the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied.
- (Psalm 51:11) Cast me not away from your presence; and take not your holy spirit from me.
- (Psalm 139:7) Where shall I go from your spirit? or where shall I flee from your presence?
- (Judges 15:14 / Judges 16:20) And when he came to Lehi, the Philistines shouted against him: and the Spirit of the LORD came mightily on him, and the cords that were on his arms became as flax that was burnt with fire, and his bands loosed from off his hands. 16:20 And she said, The Philistines be on you, Samson. And he awoke out of his sleep, and said, I will go out as at other times before, and shake myself. And he knew not that the LORD (Yahveh) was departed from him.
- (2 Sam 23:2-3) The Spirit of the LORD spoke by me, and his word was in my tongue. 3 The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spoke to me, He that rules over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.
The personality of the Holy Spirit. Of course, not everyone regards the Holy Spirit as one member of the triune God, but they may use the term Spirit only as a synonym for God. Here, however, it is good to see that many places in the Bible refer very clearly to the personality of the Holy Spirit and how He has been sent from God - that is, there must be a sender and a leaver. In these verses, the Holy Spirit is referred to as "he", so He cannot be mere energy and power, as some have thought. Likewise, these verses talk about how the Holy Spirit can teach, speak and do other things, which are possible only for a person:
- (Isa 40:13-14) Who has directed the Spirit of the LORD, or being his counselor has taught him? 14 With whom took he counsel, and who instructed him, and taught him in the path of judgment, and taught him knowledge, and showed to him the way of understanding?
- (Isa 63:10) But they rebelled, and vexed his holy Spirit: therefore he was turned to be their enemy, and he fought against them.
- (Isa 48:16) Come you near to me, hear you this; I have not spoken in secret from the beginning; from the time that it was, there am I: and now the Lord GOD, and his Spirit, has sent me.
- (Neh 9:20) You gave also your good spirit to instruct them, and withheld not your manna from their mouth, and gave them water for their thirst.
- (Judges 3:10) And the Spirit of the LORD came on him, and he judged Israel, and went out to war: and the LORD delivered Chushanrishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand; and his hand prevailed against Chushanrishathaim.
- (Isa 61:1) The Spirit of the Lord GOD is on me; because the LORD has anointed me to preach good tidings to the meek; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;
- (Isa 63:14) As a beast goes down into the valley, the Spirit of the LORD caused him to rest: so did you lead your people, to make yourself a glorious name.
- (Psalm 106:33) Because they provoked his spirit, so that he spoke unadvisedly with his lips.
- (2 Sam 23:2) The Spirit of the LORD spoke by me, and his word was in my tongue.
- (Gen 1:2) And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved on the face of the waters.
- (Isa 11:2) And the spirit of the LORD shall rest on him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD; (Mere power without personality cannot be wise, or understanding and so on...)
- (John 4:25-26) The woman said to him, I know that Messiah comes, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things. 26 Jesus said to her, I that speak to you am he.
Above, it has been talked about how several prophecies related to the Messiah have been fulfilled through the life and death of Jesus. It can be said about Him that the writings have testified about Him in advance, just as He Himself said. To no one else have these prophecies applied so well as to Him. The meaning of Jesus is important according to the New Testament. In addition to proving that He is the Messiah promised in the prophecies, He is also the mediator through whom we can receive from God forgiveness of sins and eternal life. These things cannot be achieved outside of Him. We will go to damnation if we reject Him. Let’s study some Bible passages regarding this:
- (Acts 13:38-39) Be it known to you therefore, men and brothers, that through this man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins: 39 And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.
- (Acts 10:43) To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whoever believes in him shall receive remission of sins.
- (1 John 2:12) I write to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name’s sake.
Since eternal life can only be gained in Jesus, the Messiah, our first step must be to ask Him into our life. Simply say, “Jesus, come into my life.” Knowing that Jesus is the Messiah and the Son of God does not benefit us, if we do not personally turn to Him and ask Him into our life (John 5:40: And you will not come to me, that you might have life.). According to the Bible, He is already waiting outside the door to our heart, waiting for us to open the door for Him:
- (Rev 3:20) Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
So, if you have received Him into your life, then you are God's child and you have eternal life. You have this life no matter how you feel right now. Do not base your assurance of salvation on your ever-changing emotions, but rest in the word of the Bible and on Jesus Christ, just like the anchor of a ship is never thrown inside the ship but always outside.
- (John 1:12) But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
- (1 John 5:11-13) And this is the record, that God has given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 He that has the Son has life; and he that has not the Son of God has not life. 13 These things have I written to you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may believe on the name of the Son of God.
THE PRAYER OF SALVATION: Lord, Jesus, I turn to You. I admit that I have committed sins against You and have not lived according to Your will. But I want to turn away from my sins and follow You with all my heart. I also believe that my sins have been forgiven by Your atonement work and I have eternal life through You. I thank You for the salvation You have donated to me. Amen.
Link: The "code" of the Messiah!
REFERENCES:
1. Risto Santala: Kristinuskon juuret 1, p. 130,131 2. Richard Wurmbrand: Kristus juutalaisella tiellä, s. 147 3. Jakov Damkani: Siionin poika (Why Me?), p. 241 4. Stan Telchin: Petturi (Betrayed!), p. 24 5. Jakov Damkani: Siionin poika (Why Me?), p. 107,108 6. Risto Santala: Jesaja 53, p. 38,39 7. Arthur E. Glass: Jeesus-nimi Vanhassa testamentissa (Jesus in the Tenarh / The name Jesus in the Old Testament) 8. Louis Goldberg: Juutalaiset ystävämme (Our Jewish Friends), p. 129
SOURCES:
Bergsten, Gösta: Psalmien kuva Kristuksesta Damkani, Jakov: Siionin poika (Why Me?) Deal, Colin: Jeesuksen tulemuksen päivä ja hetki (The Day and Hour Jesus will Return) Dolman, D.H.: Ilmestysmajassa Esses, Michael: Mikael, Mikael, miksi vainoat minua? (Michael, Michael, Why Do You Hate me?) Fieldsend, John: Messiaaniset juutalaiset (Messianic Jews) Goldberg, Louis: Juutalaiset ystävämme (Our Jewish Friends) Hansen, Kai Kjaer and Kvarne, Ole Chr.M.: Messiaaniset juutalaiset (Messianske joder) Kargel, J.G.: Esikuvat puhuvat Kiene, Paul.F.: Jumalan pyhäkkö (Das Heiligtum Gottes in der Wuste Sinai) Lambert, Lance: Israel, rakas maa (The Uniqueness of Israel) Santala, Risto: Jesaja 53 Santala, Risto: Kenenkä te sanotte minun olevan? Santala, Risto: Kristinuskon juuret 1 Santala, Risto: Kristinuskon juuret 2 Telchin, Stan: Petturi (Betrayed!) Wurmbrand, Richard: Kristus juutalaisella tiellä Zeidan, David: Messias nyt! (Messiah Now!) Zwirn, Isidor: Rabbi ja Messias (The Rabbi from Burbank)
Jesus is Jehovah / Yahweh, although Jehovah's Witnesses do not believe this The Koran and the sources of Islam refer indirectly to the deity of Jesus
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Jesus is the way, the truth and the life
Grap to eternal life!
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Jesus is Jehovah / Yahweh, although Jehovah's Witnesses do not believe this The Koran and the sources of Islam refer indirectly to the deity of Jesus
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