The Need for a Messiah

Prophecy

Fulfillment

When Adam and Eve fell in the garden, you will note that God replaced their fig leave clothing with leather. It was not a matter that they chose a bad line of clothing, and God had a greater fashion sense, but that an animal had to be slain, and their sins (their nakedness, which they now recognized, a sign of their fall) had to be covered (this is their atonement, an Old Testament term which refers to the fact that sin is temporarily covered over until the sinner is redeemed, or purchased). And Jehovah God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife, and He clothed them. Then Jehovah God said, “You have become like one of us, knowing good and evil.” (Gen. 3:21–22a)

Rom. 4:5–8: And to the one who does not work but trusts him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness, just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works: "Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin." (Psalm 32:1). This is, to the best of my knowledge, the only New Testament passage where we actually have this use of the verb to cover; because, after the death of Jesus Christ, our sins are no longer simply covered over and hidden from God, but they are forgiven.

As above, there needs to be a blood sacrifice. When Cain and Abel came before God with their offerings, Cain’s was the result of the work of his hands; Abel’s was a sacrificed animal. The LORD approved of [or, respected] Abel and his offering, but He didn't approve of Cain and his offering (Gen. 4:4b–5a).

Heb 9:22–23: Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins. Thus it was necessary for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these rites [i.e., animal sacrifices, Temple worship], but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.

There needs to be someone equal to man and equal to God Who can mediate between God and man. And all the people perceived the thunder and the lightning flashes and the sound of the trumpet and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw, they trembled and stood at a distance. Then they said to Moses, “Speak to us yourself and we will listen; but do not let God speak to us, or we will die.” (Ex. 20:18–19; see also Deut. 5:23–28). “For God is not a man as I am that I may answer Him, that we may go to court together. There is no mediator between us, who may lay his hand upon us both.” (Job 9:32–33).

1Tim. 2:5–6a: For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, Who gave Himself as a ransom for all. Gal 3:19–24: Why the law then? It was added because of transgressions until the Seed [Jesus Christ] to whom the promise was made would come. The law was ordered through angels by means of a Mediator. Now a mediator is not for just one person, but God is one [He mediates between all men and God]. Is the law therefore contrary to God's promises? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that was able to give life, then righteousness would certainly be by the law. But the Scripture has imprisoned everything under sin's power, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. Before this faith came, we were confined under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith was revealed. The law, then, was our guardian until Christ, so that we could be justified by faith.

Signs of the Messiah

Prophecy

Fulfillment

Isa 7:13–14: Isaiah said, "Listen, house of David! Is it not enough for you to try the patience of men? Will you also try the patience of my God? Therefore, Jehovah Himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive, have a son, and name him Immanuel [this name means, God with us].” Now, a lot is made out of the Hebrew word for virgin here, and whether it means young woman or whether it means virgin. Read what it says: Jehovah Himself will give you a sign... Quite frankly, it is not much of a sign when a young woman gives birth to a child, married or not.

Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: See, the virgin will become pregnant and she will give birth to a son, and they will name Him Immanuel, which is translated "God is with us." (Matt. 1:22–23 Isa. 7:14).

Micah 5:2 tells us that the coming Messiah would come out of Bethlehem, and that His nature is eternal: Bethlehem Ephrathah, you are small among the clans of Judah; One will come from you to be ruler over Israel for Me. His origin is from antiquity, from eternity.

Matt. 2:1a: Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea... Herod the Great, when disturbed of these rumors of the Messiah being born, asked the scribes and chief priests where could they find this Messiah. "In Bethlehem of Judea," they told him, "because this is what was written by the prophet: And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the leaders of Judah: because out of you will come a leader who will shepherd My people Israel." (Matt. 2:5–6).

As for Messiah’s eternal nature: He [Jesus Christ] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation; because by Him everything was created, in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities–all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and by Him all things are held together (Col. 1:15–17).

When Israel was a youth, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called My Son.” (Hosea 11:1). Often, prophecies in Scripture have a double meaning—in this particular case, God called Israel out of Egypt, who were sons of God. However, this also refers to the fact that God would call His Son out of Egypt.

And Joseph arose and took the Child and His mother by night, and departed for Egypt; and was there until the death of Herod, that what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet might be fulfilled, saying, “Out of Egypt, I have called My Son.” (Matt. 2:14–15 Hosea 1:11).

The Lineage of the Messiah

Prophecy

Fulfillment

Even before the Jewish nation, God had promised that the Messiah would be the seed of the woman. When Adam and Eve had fallen, God spoke to the serpent in the garden, saying, “Because you have done this, you are cursed...I will put hostility between you and the woman, between your seed [or, descendant] and her seed [or, descendant].” (Gen. 3:14a, 15a). The term seed is almost always used for the descendants of a man.

From the very beginning, the promise of a Messiah was promised to be from the seed of the woman, and not the seed of Adam. There is a reason for this: when the woman sinned, she had been deceived; however, Adam sinned knowing full well what he was doing was wrong. The mechanics are simple: the sin nature, which we all possess, is passed down through the man, who sinned knowingly. Someone born only of a woman apart from the seed of a man, would not possess a sin nature. This is the reason for the virgin birth of Jesus Christ. An angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph [after Joseph found out the Mary was pregnant] in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, don't be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because what has been conceived in her is by the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to name Him Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins." (Matt. 1:20b–21).

The Messiah would be of the seed of Abraham; God promised Abraham, “In your seed [or, descendant], all the nations of the earth will be blessed because you have obeyed my voice.” [Abraham had offered up his son Isaac to God] (Gen. 22:18).

Jesus Christ,...the Son of Abraham... (Matt. 1:1b). Paul later writes, Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, “and to seeds,” as referring to man`y, but rather to one, “and to your seed,” that is, Christ. (Gen. 3:16 Gen. 22:18).

God said to Abraham,... “Through Isaac, your seed [or, your descendant] will be called.” (Gen. 21:12). Abraham had two sons; God chose Isaac as the son through whom Messiah would come.

Jesus...the son of Isaac... (Luke 3:23, 24).

The Nature of the Messiah

Prophecy

Fulfillment

The Messiah would be a prophet: “Jehovah your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from among you, from your countrymen, and you will listen to Him.” (Deut. 18:15).

John the baptizer is asked whether or not he is the Prophet, and he says that he is not and identifies Jesus as the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:25–29). [Jesus said], “For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote of Me.” (John 5:46). When therefore the people saw the sign which He had performed, they said, “This is certainly the Prophet Who is to come into the world.” (John 6:14; see also 7:37–40).

“Moses said, ‘Jehovah God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brothers; to Him, you will give heed in everything He says to you. And it will be that every soul who does not heed that Prophet, he will be utterly destroyed from among the people.’ And likewise, all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and his successors onward, also announced these days...For you first, God raised up His Servant [Jesus], and sent Him to bless you by turning every one from your wicked patterns of life.” (Acts 3:22–24, 26; see also 7:37).

Messiah would be a priest. The priest occupied a unique place in the Law. The priest represented man to God. He offered up sacrifices on behalf of the sinner and was the only category of person allowed to offer sacrifices to God. But the Lord has sworn and will not change His mind, “You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.” (Psalm 110:4).

When a leper had been cleansed by Jesus, Jesus told him to present himself to the priest, as required by the Law, as a testimony to the priests in the Temple. The cleansing of the leper is analogous to Christ cleansing us through His sacrifice (Matt. 8:1–4).

Therefore, Jesus had to be made like His brothers in all things, that He might become a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people, for, since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted...Since we have a great High Priest Who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our profession (Heb. 2:17–18 4:14). Most of the book of Hebrews deals with the priesthood of our Lord.

The High Priest was a type of Christ. The High Priest was the one who entered into the Holy of Holies and sprinkled blood on the altar. This was an act done only once and year and it was actually seen by no man but by God. The duties of the High Priest with respect to the Holy of Holies is covered in Lev. 16.

But a certain one of them Caiaphas, who was the High Priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all, nor to you take into account that it is expedient for you that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation should not perish.” Now this he did not say on his own initiative, but being High Priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus was going to die for the nation, and not for the nation only, but that He might also gather together into one the children of God who are scattered abroad (John 11:49–52).

And behind the second veil, there was a room which is called the Holy of Holies...but into the second room the High Priest only enters, once a year, not without blood, which he offers for himself and for the sins of the people committed in ignorance...But when Christ appeared a High Priest of the good things to come, he came through the greater and more perfect tent, not made with hands...and offered Himself without blemish to God (Heb. 9:3, 7, 11a, 14b).

The Ark, inside the Holy of Holies, spoke of our Lord and His work. The Ark was made of acacia wood and it was plaited with gold, representing our Lord’s humanity and His deity. In this Ark were the tables of the Law, which condemned us; Aaron’s rod which budded, speaking of our rebirth and resurrection, and the pot of manna, which speaks of God’s provision (see Lev. 16).

And behind the second veil, there was a room which is called the Holy of Holies, which has a golden altar of incense and the Ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which there was a golden jar holding the manna, and Aaron’s rod which budded, and the tables of the covenant. And above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat..Christ did not enter a holy place made with hands, a copy of the true one, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us; nor was it that He should offer Himself often, as the High Priest enters the holy place year by year with blood not his own...so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many (Heb. 9:3–4, 24–25, 28

The Messiah would be our Savior. Jehovah is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer [savior]; My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge (Psalm 18:2). The forgot God, their Savior, Who had done great things in Egypt (Psalm 106:21).

And Jehovah will send them a Savior and a Might One, and He will deliver them (Isa. 19:20b). For I am Jehovah your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior...And there is no one saving besides Me (Isa. 43:3a, 11b; see also 45:15, 21). “I have been Jehovah your God since the land of Egypt and you were not to know any god except Me, for there is no Savior besides Me.” (Hosea 13:4).

The angel said to them, “...today in the city of David, there has been born for you a Savior, Who is Messiah the Lord.” (Luke 2:10a, 11). “We know that this One is indeed the Savior of the world.” (John 4:14b).

“From the offspring of this man, according to promise, God has brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus.” (Acts 13:23). For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our confidence on the living God, Who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers (1Tim. 4:10). We look for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus (Titus 2:13). And we have observed and bear witness that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world (1John 4:14). “And there is salvation in on one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men, by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12).

The Life of the Messiah

Prophecy

Fulfillment

“Listen, I am going to send My Messenger [or, Angel] and He will prepare the way before Me, and Jehovah, Whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple, and the Messenger of the covenant, in Whom you delight—listen, He is coming,” says Jehovah of the armies (Micah 3:1).

And as these were going away, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John, “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? But what did you go our to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Observe, those who wear soft clothing are in king’s palaces. But why did you go out? To see a prophet? Yes, I tell you, and one who is more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it was written, ‘Observe, I send My messenger before Your face, who will prepare Your way before You.’ ” (Matt. 11:7–10 Micah 3:1).

He was despised and forsaken of men..He was despised and we did not esteem Him. (Isa. 53:3a, c). Since the day that your fathers came out of the land of Egypt until this day, I have sent you all My servants and prophets, daily rising early and sending them. Yet they did not listen to Me or incline their ear, but stiffened their neck; they did more evil than their fathers. Therefore, you will speak all these words to them, bu they will not listen to you; and you will call to them, but they will not answer you. And you will say to them, “This is the nation that did not obey the voice of Jehovah their God or accept correction; truth has perished and has been cut off from their mouth.’ ” (Jer. 7:25–28). That Israel continually rejected the prophets which God sent them is a matter of Old Testament record. “And I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and of supplication, so that they will look on Me Whom they have pierced; and they will mourn for Him, as one mourns for an only son, and they will weep bitterly over Him, like the bitter weeping over a first-born.” (Zech. 12:10).

He came to His own [the Jews], and those who were His own did not receive Him. But as many as receive Him, to them He gave the right be become children of God, to those who believe in His name (John 1:11–12).

Sure our griefs [or, sickness] He Himself took away and our sorrows [or, pains] He carried; yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted (Isa. 53:4).

And when evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed; and He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were ill, in order that which was spoken through Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, saying, “He Himself took our infirmities and He removed our diseases.” (Matt. 8:17 Isa. 53:4).

And I am like a dumb man who does not speak...And in whose mouth are no arguments (Psalm 38:13b, 14b). He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth. Like a lamb that is led to slaughter and a sheep that is silent before its shearers, so He did not open His mouth (Isa. 53:7).

Now Herod was very glad when He saw Jesus, for he had wanted to see Him for a long time because he had been hearing about Him and was hoping to see some sign performed by Him. And he question Him at some length, but He answered him nothing. And the chief priests and the scribes were standing there, accusing Him vehemently (Luke 23:8–10). And while He was being accused by the chief priests and elders, He made no answer. Then Pilate said to Him, “Do You not hear how many things they testify against You?” And He did not answer him with regard to even a single charge, so that the governor was quite amazed (Matt. 27:12–14; see also Mark 15:3–5). And he entered the Praetorium again and said to Jesus, “Where are You from?” But Jesus game him no answer. Pilate therefore said to Him, “You do not speak to me? Do You not know that I have authority to release You and I have authority to crucify You?” (John 19:9–10).

Although there is no violence in my hands and my prayer is pure (Job 16:1). The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers take counsel together against Jehovah and against His Anointed One (Psalm 2:2). I was not disobedient and I did not turn back (Isa. 50:4b). Although He had done no violence, nor was there any deceit in His mouth (Isa. 53:9b). Who has a case against Me? (Isa. 50:8b).

Then Pilate said, “What evil has He done?” (Matt. 27:23a). But the other criminal...said, “We are receiving what we deserve for our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” (Luke 23:40a, 41b). And Pilate summoned the chief priests and the rulers and the people, and said to them, “You brought this man to me as one who incites the people to rebellion, and observe, having examined Him before you, I have found no guilt in this man regarding the charges which you make against Him.” (Luke 23:13–14; see also John 18:38b 19:4, 6). For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, Who committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth (1Peter 2:21–22 Isa. 50:4b).

The Necessary Death of the Messiah

Prophecy

Fulfillment

The body and the blood of the animal was offered in a burnt offering, a peace offering, sin offering and a guilt offering (Lev. 1:4–6 3:1, 7–16 4:3–12 5:1–13). On the Great Day of Atonement, the High Priest entered into the Holy of Holies and sprinkled blood on the Ark, which was a type of Christ (Lev. 16:3–20).

“...the Church of God, which He purchased with His own blood” (Acts 20:28). In Christ, we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace (Eph. 1:7). The blood of Jesus, God’s Son, cleanses us from all sin (1John 1:7b).

“He has stripped my honor from me and He has removed the crown from my head.” (Job 19:9). You have made His splendor to cease, and You have cast His throne to the ground. You have shortened the days of His youth; You have covered Him with shame (Psalm 89:44–45).

The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.” (Matt. 20:28). For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich (2Cor. 8:9). Christ Jesus, Who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing of profit to be held onto, but He emptied Himself [of the proper function of deity], taking on the form of a bond-servant, being made in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even the death on a cross (Philip. 2:5b–8).

Because of Your sake, I bore reproach (Psalm 69:7). You have made me an object of loathing (Psalm 88:8b). He has become a reproach to his neighbors (Psalm 89:41b). My enemies have reproached me all day long; those who deride me have used me as a curse (Psalm 102:8). Surely our sickness, He bore and our pains He carried, yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted...Jehovah willed to crush Him, putting Him to grief, if He would render Himself a guilt offering (Isa. 53:4, 10).

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us—for it stands written, Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree (Gal. 3:13).

They have slapped me on the cheek with contempt (Job 16:10b). I gave my back to those who strike Me and My cheeks to those who pluck out the beard (Isa. 50:6a).

Then they spit in His face and beat Him with their fists; and others slapped Him (Matt. 26:67).

“My eye has also grown dim because of grief and all my limbs are a shadow of what they once were.” (Job 17:7). The parallel here is that Jesus was beat on the face so much prior to His crucifixion, that he was almost unable to see. This is a reasonable assumption, although there are no direct statements in the New Testament concerning His impaired vision. My eye has wasted away because of affliction (Psalm 88:9a). You have exalted the right hand of his adversaries; You have made all his enemies rejoice. (Psalm 89:42). Just as many were astonished by you, so His appearance was marred more than any man and His form more than the sons of me (Isa. 52:14).

And the men who held Jesus in custody were mocking Him and beating Him. Furthermore, they blindfolded Him and kept asking Him, “Prophesy, who is the one who hit You?” (Luke 22:63–64). And the soldiers wove a crown of thorns and placed it on His head and arrayed Him in a purple robe; and they began to come up to Him and say, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and to give Him blows to the face (John 19:2–3).

This is the ordinance of the Passover...it is to be eaten in a single house; you are not to bring forth any of the flesh outside of the house, nor are you to break any bone of it. All the congregation of Israel are to celebrate this (Ex. 12:43b, 46–47). “They will leave none of the Passover until morning, nor break a bone of it, according to all of the statue of the Passover (Num. 9:12a).   For himself, he has set me up as a target; his many [soldiers] surround me. He pierces my kidneys and he does not have compassion [for me]; he pours out my bile upon the earth (Job 16:12b–13). For dogs have surrounded me; a band of evildoers has encompassed me; they pierced my hands and my feet. I can count all my bones. They look, they stare at me; (Psalm 22:16–17). He keeps all his bones; not one of them is broken (Psalm 34:20). “And I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace and of supplication, so that they will look on Me, Whom they have pierced, and they will mourn for Him, as one mourns for an only son, and they will weep bitterly over Him, like the bitter weeping over a firstborn (Zech. 12:10).

The soldiers, therefore, ...crucified Jesus...the soldiers therefore came and broke the legs of the first man, and of the other man who was crucified with Him, but coming to Jesus, when they saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs; but one of the soldiers pierced His side with the spear, and immediately there came out blood and water...for these things came to pass that the Scripture might be fulfilled: Not a bone of Him will be broken; and again another Scripture says, They will look on Him Whom they have pierced (John 19:23a, 32–34, 36–37 Psalm 34:20 Zech. 12:10).

Messiah, the Glorified King of Israel

Prophecy

Fulfillment

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Observe, your King is coming to you. He is just and endowed with salvation, humble and mounted on a donkey, even on a colt, the foal of a donkey (Zech. 9:9).

And when they had approached Jerusalem,...Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to Me. And if anyone says something to you, will say, “The Lord has need of them,’ and immediately he will send them.” Now this took place that what was spoken through the prophet might be fulfilled, saying, “Say to the daughter of Zion, look, you King is coming to you, gentle and mounted upon a donkey, even upon a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.” (Matt. 21:1–5; see also John 12:14–15).

When Jesus Christ returns, when the nation Israel has nations closing in on her from all sides, He will destroy all of her enemies, and He will be their King (and ours).