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MESSIANIC PROMISES AND THE COMING OF CHRIST(THE COMING OF THE MESSIAH)by Jack Hayford III
This verse contains the first declaration of the gospel. Here we encounter, in summary, all the riches, mercy, pain and glory of God's redemptive work for humanity. God promises to bring a redeemer out of the "seed of the woman"; he will be completely human, but divinely conceived. "The old serpent, who is called devil and Satan", will make war with the "seed" (see Rev. 12) and will bite it. But while the serpent bites his heel, his foot comes down, crushing the serpent's head. In Christ's life and death this Scripture is fulfilled. Divinely conceived, but completely human, he would defeat and publicly display the powers of hell through his life, death and resurrection (Col. 2:15). This first messianic promise is one of the most succinct assertions of the gospel that we can find.
To the religious Jews of Jesus' time, nobody was greater than Moses. GOD had given the Law through him; he was the person whom GOD used to transmit the entire Israelite religious system. They were also aware that GOD had said that another prophet like Moses would come. When the Pharisees asked John the Baptist if he was "the prophet" (John 1:21), they were referring to this passage of Scripture.
Thus as Moses gave the old covenant, Jesus came to bring the new. John says "For the Law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ" (John 1:17). The writer of Hebrews tells us that Christ was the mediator of a better covenant (Heb. 8:6). Jesus, as prophet, came to fulfill the requirements of the old covenant, so that the new covenant could be established between GOD and mankind.
In this verse we have one of the most beautiful poetic promises of the coming kingdom of the Messiah. It's recited annually and we hear it sung when we celebrate Christmas. However, it also refers to one of the greatest and most mysterious truths of the Bible: the incarnation, "unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given". GOD would become part of the human race. A newborn baby would be called "mighty GOD, eternal Father". We can accept this truth by faith, but we can't fully comprehend what it means, for the second person of the Trinity, to abandon his divine estate and reclothe himself with human nature. But Paul tells us that he took the form of a servant and came to earth as a human being. "Wherefore GOD also highly exalted him, and gave him a name above every name" (Phil. 2:7,9).
The prophecy of the virgin birth has been a source of notable controversy due to the use of the Hebrew 'almah, which can be translated indistinguishably as "young woman" or "virgin". Isaiah used 'almah under the inspiration of the Spirit because the LORD had made a double prophesy in this passage. The LORD had informed King Ahaz of the conception and birth of an infant, as is recorded in chapter 8. But the Holy Spirit also referred to the Messiah who would come, and that baby would be born of a virgin. The fact that Christ was born of a virgin is indisputable, according to the usage of the Greek word parthenos in Matthew and Luke, where it definitively refers to a "virgin" (Matt. 1:23; Luke 1:27).
The name Bethlehem means "House of bread", and in "the House of bread" would be born the Bread of Life.
The scribes knew that the Messiah would be born here. When the Magi asked about the birth of the new King, the scribes indicated the prophecy of Micah (Matt. 2:1-12). But none of the theologians bothered to accompany the Magi to see for sure if the Messiah had come. Today, the little city of Bethlehem is a pilgrimage destination for thousands of people. But we learn that the scribes didn't make that first pilgrimage; our orthodox biblical knowledge, our religious position, doesn't guarantee that we'll perceive what GOD is doing today in our midst. We must be prepared to follow GOD's direction and his Word if we desire to see the fulfillment of his promise.
This is the prophecy about the triumphal entrance of the LORD. We find testimony of its fulfillment in Matthew 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-11; Luke 19:28-44; and John 12:12-19. We see once more in this verse how different GOD's ways are from man's ways. Human beings expected a conquering king, of great fame and renown, coming to free Jerusalem at the head of a powerful army. Instead, they saw a poor and humble rabbi, riding upon an ass and surrounded by a multitude of country folk. He didn't look like a conqueror, but a week later he had been raised from the dead, after having conquered death and hell.
David, author of Psalm 41, lived about 500 years before Zechariah, who in turn, lived more than 500 years before Christ. However, the words of both men together form a single prophecy that was fulfilled in every detail. David prophesied that the trusted friend would be the betrayer of the LORD and Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, betrayed him (Matt. 26:14-16; Luke 22:1-6). Zechariah went further, since he specified the amount the traitor would be paid, predicting also that it would be thrown down in the temple and used to buy a plot of ground. Each point was fulfilled in detail: the chief priests gave Judas thirty silver coins (Matt. 26:15); Judas, due to his remorse, returned the money and threw it in the temple (Matt. 27:5); then, the priests used it to buy the potter's field (Mat. 27:6-10). The fulfillment of this prophecy, down to its minutest details, formed a true testimony of the divine sovereign and his intervention in human affairs.
In this psalm there are various prophecies that were fulfilled in Jesus' death. Lets have a look at four of them. First, it predicts the masses making fun of him (verses 7,8). The same expressions were heard from the lips of the chief priests before the cross (Matt. 27:36-44). Second, verse 16 specifically predicts that his hands and feet would be pierced. This was fulfilled in the death of Jesus (see John 20:25). Moreover, the casting of lots for Jesus' garments (John 19:23,24) was prophesied in verse 18. But perhaps the most significant declaration in the psalm is in verse 1, which Jesus cited on the cross (Matt. 27:46). The word "forsaken" describes the loneliness of the beloved Son, who bore the sins of the world. Jesus suffered the sentence of humanity, not only that of death, but also the sentence of separation from GOD. In this moment, Jesus experienced the darkest time of his life and endured it for us.
This is the best known prophecy in the Bible, so much that Matthew (Matt. 8:17) as well as Peter (I Pet. 2:24) quoted it. Eight centuries before Christ, Isaiah referred to the facts of the crucifixion in an incredibly accurate way; but even more important, he spoke of the purpose of the cross. Christ bore more than our sins in his suffering and death. The wages of sin is death, but he didn't have to suffer as he did to put an end to our guilt. This chapter speaks to us of the reason for his suffering: he suffered to carry our pains and infirmities (v. 4), and to offer us peace and healing (v. 5).
Certainly, the expiation of our sins constituted our greatest need, but GOD, by sending his Son to suffer and die, provided more than a way to escape justice: He arranged the immediate start of an abundant life (see John 10:10).
The apostles clearly recognized that this verse predicted the resurrection of Jesus. Peter cited it in his sermon on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:27) and Paul also used it in one of his first preachings in Antioch of Pisidia (Acts 13:35).
The sufficiency of Christ's expiatory work is declared in the resurrection (Rom. 6; II Tim. 1:10; Heb. 2:9-18; I Pet. 2:18); by means of it Jesus was "declared Son of GOD with power" (Rom. 1:4). Upon completing the work he came to accomplish, he ascended to the right hand of the Father. Now we look ahead hopefully because, having destroyed the power of death, the LORD has offered the promise of eternal life to all those who receive him as Messiah (John 6:40).
These words are among the most comforting in all the Scriptures. From Jesus' own lips we receive the promise of his return. The LORD pronounced these words during an intimate dialogue with his disciples, and they resound in our ears like an echo, as a precious promise made to his Church.
In this passage, Jesus speaks of a peace, a place and a promise. It starts with a comforting exhortation: Do not be troubled; have peace. Our peace is based on our belief in GOD and in Christ. We know that He is worthy of trust and that he offers us a peace upon which we can build our lives. Secondly, Jesus speaks of a place. The LORD has promised to prepare us a place where we will enjoy his eternal companionship. Finally, we have his promise that he will return for us. Think about what this means! His personal signature is in our salvation; thus, as we have received him, He comes to receive us. We look further on, to the awaited day, preparing ourselves for it, because "...every man that has this hope in him, purifies himself" (I John 3:3).
Before Jesus left his disciples, he promised he would return (John 14:1-3). Here, upon Jesus ascension, the angels say, "Don't keep looking up to heaven, Jesus will return, but now go and do what he told you to do". Frequently, we need to be reminded of these words. Sometimes we get wrapped up in the precious promise of the LORD's return, and forget that his promise should also affect us regarding how we behave toward the world. Jesus has assigned a job to each one of us, and "Blessed is that servant, whom his LORD when he comes shall find so doing" (Matt. 24:46).
This is one of the most loved passages about the Second Coming, and also one of the most detailed. It tells us that a triple announcement of the LORD's coming will be produced: a shout or loud sound, the voice of an archangel and the trumpet of GOD (v. 16). Furthermore, a triple promise is offered to the believers: 1) the dead in Christ will be resurrected; 2) those of us who are alive at that moment will be snatched up; and 3) we will always be with the LORD (verses 16,17).
It's important that we take note that this is the key text that speaks about the rapture or the gathering. The word "rapture" isn't used in the Bible, but the idea that the saints will be snatched away" to all be reunited in the Second Coming of the LORD, appears here and in Matt. 24:30,31. The hope of his coming should be a source of comfort for those of us who are awaiting his return (v. 18).
This is a verse to remind us always of what is considered the Second Coming. Throughout history, some believers have tried mistakenly to determine when the LORD will return, and the ignorance of these foolish attempts has led them to pinpoint, presumptuously, the time of Jesus' coming. But here, as well as in Matt. 24:36 and Mark 13:32, Jesus explicitly declares that nobody but the Father knows the time of his coming. Some have interpreted the expression "the day nor the hour" to mean that we can discover the month or the year, but that is incorrect. We can't be sure that the Second Coming will occur in a particular year or a determined decade, and not even if Christ will return while we are still alive.
However, Jesus began his prayer with the commandment, "Watch". The challenge that makes to us is that we are to constantly and anxiously await it. Therefore, our responsibility is two-fold: We prepare ourselves for his coming, so that when he arrives he finds a wife "without spot or wrinkle" (Eph. 5:27), and that we act, until his return, in such a manner that GOD's kingdom is preserved and extends over the face of the earth (Luke 19:11-27). We are, then, occupied in the Father's business, we may live in the expectation of the Master's return, divesting ourselves of all pointless speculation and the superstitious tendency to be posting dates in which He must come again.
This is a verse to remind us always of what is considered the Second Coming. Throughout history, some believers have tried mistakenly to determine when the LORD will return, and the ignorance of these foolish attempts has led them to pinpoint, presumptuously, the time of Jesus' coming. But here, as well as in Matt. 24:36 and Mark 13:32, Jesus explicitly declares that nobody but the Father knows the time of his coming. Some have interpreted the expression "the day nor the hour" to mean that we can discover the month or the year, but that is incorrect. We can't be sure that the Second Coming will occur in a particular year or a determined decade, and not even if Christ will return while we are still alive.
However, Jesus began his prayer with the commandment, "Watch". The challenge that makes to us is that we are to constantly and anxiously await it. Therefore, our responsibility is two-fold: We prepare ourselves for his coming, so that when he arrives he finds a wife "without spot or wrinkle" (Eph. 5:27), and that we act, until his return, in such a manner that GOD's kingdom is preserved and extends over the face of the earth (Luke 19:11-27). We are, then, occupied in the Father's business, we may live in the expectation of the Master's return, divesting ourselves of all pointless speculation and the superstitious tendency to be posting dates in which He must come again.
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2. Jesus, the prophet of a better covenant (Deut. 18:18,19)
4. The birth of Christ by a young virgin(Is. 7:14)
5. The Messiah born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2,4,5)
6. LORD of Lords or a rabbi upon an ass? (Zech. 11:12,13)
7. A detailed story of the betrayal of the Messiah (Psa. 41:9; Zech. 11:12,13)
8. Details about the Messiah's death (Psa. 22:1-31)
9. Purposes of the crucifixion, expiation and the abundant life (Is. 53:1-12)
10. "Declared Son of GOD with power" (Psa. 16:10)
11. Peace, a place and the Messiah's promise for his people. (John 14:1-3)
12. Confirmed: Jesus will return (Acts 1:10,11)
13. The triple announcement of the coming of the LORD (I Thes. 4:15-18)