| John the Baptist
| |
| | into Jesus' side to make sure he was
|
| In A.D. 26, a prophet named John, who we
| |
| | dead.
|
| know as John the Baptist, began preaching
| |
| | John notes that these things happened so
|
| in the Desert of Judah, "Repent for the
| |
| | that the scriptures would be fulfilled:
|
| kingdom of heaven is near." (Matthew
| |
| | "Not one of his bones will be broken."
|
| 3:1-2) Quoting the words of Isaiah he
| |
| | (Psalm 34:20) And: "They will look on
|
| said: "A voice of one calling in the
| |
| | the one they have pierced." (Zachariah
|
| desert, 'Prepare the way for the Lord,
| |
| | 12:10) and (John 19:36-37)
|
| make straight paths for him.' " (Matthew
| |
| | Burial and Resurrection
|
| 3:3)
| |
| | A rich man from Arimathea named Joseph,
|
| Jesus of Nazareth
| |
| | who was a disciple of Jesus, requested
|
| Later on in that same year, another young
| |
| | Jesus' body. Joseph wrapped the body in a
|
| man (about thirty years old) began
| |
| | linen cloth and placed it in his own tomb
|
| teaching in the local synagogues around
| |
| | carved from rock. (Matthew 27:57-60)
|
| Galilee. Visiting Nazareth, his hometown,
| |
| | Peter informs us that Christ's body
|
| he went into the synagogue on the Sabbath
| |
| | didn't decay. (Acts 2:31) The apostle
|
| day. That was his normal routine, but
| |
| | goes on to say: "God raised Jesus to
|
| this time he did something different. He
| |
| | life, and we (meaning the now eleven
|
| stood up to read the lesson. The scroll
| |
| | apostles) were all witnesses of the
|
| of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him.
| |
| | fact." (Acts 2:32)
|
| Opening the scroll, he found the passage
| |
| | Spiritual Kingdom
|
| (Luke 4:18-19 quoting Isaiah 61:1-2):
| |
| | But what about the promised kingdom? When
|
| The spirit of the Lord is on me,because
| |
| | the angel Gabriel told Mary of her
|
| he has anointed meto preach good news to
| |
| | forthcoming son, he said: "The Lord God
|
| the poor.
| |
| | will give him the throne of his father
|
| He has sent me to proclaim freedom for
| |
| | David, and he will reign over the house
|
| the prisonersand recover sight for the
| |
| | of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never
|
| blind,to release the oppressed,to
| |
| | end." (Luke 1:32-33) How does that square
|
| proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.
| |
| | with the facts we know about Jesus?
|
| He read it, rolled up the scroll, gave it
| |
| | Jesus himself answers the question. When
|
| back to the attendant, and sat down. All
| |
| | speaking to Pilate, he says: "My kingdom
|
| eyes remained fixed on him. The young Jew
| |
| | is not of this world. If it were, my
|
| from Nazareth said, "Today this scripture
| |
| | followers would have fought the Jews when
|
| is fulfilled in your hearing." (Luke
| |
| | they came to arrest me. My kingdom is
|
| 4:21)
| |
| | from another place." (John 18:36)
|
| Prophecies Fulfilled
| |
| | Clearly Jesus is talking about something
|
| Place of birth, Time of Birth, and
| |
| | beyond the physical realm here. He is
|
| Ancestry
| |
| | speaking of a spiritual kingdom. Paul
|
| Just who is this young man? His name is
| |
| | confirms this in his letter to the
|
| Jesus, a carpenter by trade. He was born
| |
| | Philippians: "God exalted [Jesus] to the
|
| in Bethlehem in 6 or 5 B.C., the son of
| |
| | highest place. At the name of Jesus every
|
| Joseph and Mary. (Matthew 1:16) and (Luke
| |
| | knee should bow, in heaven, on earth, and
|
| 2:4-6) Both Gospels Matthew and Luke
| |
| | under the earth." (Philippians 2:9-10)
|
| trace his genealogy back to King David,
| |
| | Spreading the Kingdom
|
| his father Jesse, and on back to Judah,
| |
| | After his resurrection, Jesus tells us:
|
| Jacob, Isaac, and Abraham. (Matthew
| |
| | "All authority in heaven and on earth has
|
| 1:1-17) and (Luke 3:23-34)
| |
| | been given to me." (Matthew 28:18) Then
|
| Other Fulfilled Prophecies
| |
| | he proceeds to explain how his kingdom
|
| As you can see, Jesus' place of birth,
| |
| | will be spread. Addressing the eleven
|
| time of birth, and ancestry all match the
| |
| | apostles, Jesus orders them to: "Go and
|
| prophecies. What did he do? He preached
| |
| | make disciples of all nations, baptizing
|
| the good news of the kingdom of God.
| |
| | them in the name of the Father and of the
|
| (Luke 4:43) He testified to the truth.
| |
| | Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them
|
| (John 18:37) He taught using parables.
| |
| | to obey everything I have commanded you."
|
| (Matthew 13:34-35) Through his
| |
| | (Matthew 28:19-20)
|
| disciples, be brought salvation to the
| |
| | In his Gospel, Mark adds this quote from
|
| gentiles. (Acts 28:28) He served others,
| |
| | Jesus, "Whoever believes and is baptized
|
| and gave his life as a ransom for many.
| |
| | will be saved, but whoever does not
|
| (Matthew 20:28)
| |
| | believe will be condemned." (Mark 16:16)
|
| Well now, this Jesus does sound
| |
| | Luke provides us with another quote
|
| promising. Was he the predicted Jewish
| |
| | commonly called the Great Commission.
|
| king? Let's set that question aside for a
| |
| | Jesus prophesies: "Repentance and
|
| moment and see how the other Messianic
| |
| | forgiveness of sins will be preached in
|
| prophecies turned out.
| |
| | [my] name to all nations, beginning at
|
| Miracles
| |
| | Jerusalem." (Luke 24:47)
|
| Did he perform miracles? Yes, more than
| |
| | On the day of Pentecost, Peter preached
|
| anyone before or since. Jesus gave sight
| |
| | to devout Jews from every nation. He said
|
| to the blind; hearing to the deaf; cured
| |
| | bluntly: "God has made this Jesus, whom
|
| leprosy and numerous other diseases;
| |
| | you have crucified, both Lord and
|
| healed those who were crippled and
| |
| | Christ." They believed him and asked what
|
| paralyzed. Also he healed a woman who was
| |
| | they should do.
|
| bleeding, a man with a shriveled hand,
| |
| | Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized
|
| and another with dropsy, and a good
| |
| | everyone of you, in the name of Jesus
|
| number of people possessed by demons.
| |
| | Christ for the forgiveness of sins. And
|
| That in itself is impressive, but there's
| |
| | you will receive the gift of the Holy
|
| more.
| |
| | Spirit. The promise is for you and your
|
| We discover that Jesus' power is not
| |
| | children and for all who are far off --
|
| limited to healing the sick and disabled.
| |
| | for all whom the Lord our God will call."
|
| Nature itself is subject to his command.
| |
| | (Acts 2:36-39)
|
| On at least three occasions Jesus raised
| |
| | With these words, Peter is telling us the
|
| the dead: Jairus' daughter, the widow's
| |
| | promise continues and is still with us
|
| son at Nain, and Lazarus. He fed five
| |
| | today. As Gabriel said announcing Jesus'
|
| thousand people with a few fish and
| |
| | birth: "His kingdom will never end."
|
| loaves of bread.
| |
| | (Luke 1:33) And as Jesus himself said,
|
| And he repeated the same miracle feeding
| |
| | "I will be with you always, to the end of
|
| another four thousand. Jesus caused a
| |
| | time." (Matthew 28:20 REB)
|
| fish to turn up with a coin in its mouth
| |
| | Unrecognized Messiah
|
| to pay the temple tax. At his command, an
| |
| | Prophecy after prophecy after prophecy
|
| unproductive fig tree withered. He turned
| |
| | fell neatly into place. Over two
|
| water into wine. And twice he produced
| |
| | thousand years of predictions were
|
| spectacular catches of fish. Jesus
| |
| | fulfilled in minute detail through the
|
| certainly satisfied the miracle
| |
| | life, death, and resurrection of Jesus
|
| requirement. But what about the donkey?
| |
| | Christ. As you can see, those Messianic
|
| Donkey and Prophecies Beyond Jesus'
| |
| | predictions fit Jesus like a glove. No
|
| Control
| |
| | one before or since has come close to
|
| Jesus took care to fulfill Zechariah's
| |
| | measuring up.
|
| five hundred year old prophecy. As he
| |
| | But if this is so obvious to us, why
|
| approached Jerusalem, he sent two of his
| |
| | didn't the religious Jews of Jesus' day
|
| disciples into a village to get a donkey.
| |
| | recognize it? It becomes all the more
|
| Just as prophesied, he road triumphantly
| |
| | curious when we consider that Jesus was
|
| into Jerusalem on that donkey. (Matthew
| |
| | born at a time and place where Jews and
|
| 21:6-11) and (Luke 19:28-35)
| |
| | others were eagerly expecting the
|
| It should be noted that other Messianic
| |
| | Messiah.
|
| prophecies were fulfilled over which
| |
| | When all is said and done, it comes down
|
| Jesus had little or no control. For
| |
| | to this: Jesus just wasn't what the Jews
|
| instance, his own brothers had no faith
| |
| | were looking for. Israel was in the
|
| in him, and his own people would not
| |
| | clutches of the Roman empire. Most Jews
|
| accept him. (John 7:5 and 1:11) And even
| |
| | didn't like it a bit. They were hoping
|
| after the Jews saw Jesus perform
| |
| | for political independence from Rome.
|
| miracles, they still hated him. (John
| |
| | The promised Messiah was thought to be a
|
| 15:24)
| |
| | military superstar who would liberate
|
| Betrayal
| |
| | them from foreign domination. He, so they
|
| Likewise, the prophecies of Jesus'
| |
| | believed, would restore the nation to the
|
| betrayal fell in place just as they were
| |
| | prominence they enjoyed during David's
|
| predicted. Judas Iscariot, one of the
| |
| | day.
|
| twelve apostles betrayed Jesus with a
| |
| | After all, didn't the prophet Daniel say
|
| kiss. (Matthew 26:48-49) Judas was paid
| |
| | the Messiah would crush the ruling
|
| exactly thirty pieces of silver for his
| |
| | kingdoms, and set up a new kingdom which
|
| duplicity. (Matthew 26:14-15)
| |
| | would never be destroyed, nor left to
|
| After the temple guards arrested Jesus,
| |
| | another people? (Daniel 2:44)
|
| Judas had a change of heart. He threw the
| |
| | This prophecy encouraged the concept of
|
| money into the temple and left. The chief
| |
| | the Messiah as a reigning military hero.
|
| priests used the money to buy the
| |
| | That's what the public was hoping for in
|
| potter's field as a burial place for
| |
| | 30 A.D. Jesus, with his talk of love,
|
| foreigners. (Matthew 27:5-7)
| |
| | forgiveness, and his not-of-this-world
|
| Disciples Desert and Deny Jesus
| |
| | kingdom, just didn't seem right for the
|
| To their discredit, Jesus' disciples
| |
| | job. Besides they killed him, didn't
|
| fulfilled Zechariah's grim prophecy. When
| |
| | they? He's dead. Obviously, he was not
|
| Jesus was arrested, the disciples
| |
| | the promised Messiah.
|
| deserted him and fled. (Matthew 26:56)
| |
| | That is how most of the Jews viewed Jesus
|
| Peter, the most prominent and outspoken
| |
| | after his death.
|
| of the apostles, denied three times that
| |
| | From our historical vantage point, we can
|
| he even knew Jesus. (Matthew 26:69-75)
| |
| | see that several of those Messianic
|
| Mocked, Abused, and Crucified
| |
| | prophecies have been fulfilled in ways
|
| Both Jews and Romans mocked and abused
| |
| | first century Jews could never have
|
| Jesus. At the trial in the Sanhedrin, the
| |
| | imagined. The spiritual kingdom Christ
|
| Jews spat in his face, blindfolded him,
| |
| | founded began with a mere handful of
|
| struck him with their fists and said,
| |
| | dedicated men.
|
| "Prophesy to us, Christ. Who hit you?"
| |
| | Despite hardships and persecutions,
|
| And the guards took him and beat him.
| |
| | Christianity spread rapidly throughout
|
| (Matthew 26:67), (Mark 14:65), and (Luke
| |
| | the Roman empire. Within a few hundred
|
| 22:63-65)
| |
| | years of his death, emperors, kings, and
|
| Pilate had Roman soldiers flog Jesus. The
| |
| | nobles along with hundreds of thousands
|
| soldiers twisted together a crown of
| |
| | of common people were bowing their knees
|
| thorns and placed it on his head. They
| |
| | worshipping the crucified Jew from
|
| clothed him in a purple robe, while
| |
| | Nazareth.
|
| yelling over and over again, "Hail, king
| |
| | Today, almost two thousand years later,
|
| of the Jews!" Then they hit him in the
| |
| | Christianity is still going strong. And
|
| face. (John 19:1-3)
| |
| | its impact is felt worldwide. Jesus'
|
| During the Sanhedrin trial, Mark reports
| |
| | kingdom reigns in the hearts and minds of
|
| that: "Many gave false evidence against
| |
| | all who put their trust in him.
|
| him, but their statements did not agree."
| |
| | We have uncovered a substantial body of
|
| (Mark 14:56) Matthew tells us: "The
| |
| | evidence supporting the Hebrew prophets
|
| chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin
| |
| | of the Old Testament. What they said
|
| tried to find some allegation against
| |
| | would happen, did indeed happen. They
|
| Jesus that would warrant a death
| |
| | claimed their information came from God.
|
| sentence. But they failed to find one,
| |
| | We have no reason for disputing their
|
| though many came forward with false
| |
| | claim.
|
| evidence." (Matthew 26:59-60)
| |
| | God's Plan of Redemption
|
| The high priest asked Jesus if he would
| |
| | Those same Hebrew prophets told us of the
|
| answer the charges. But Jesus remained
| |
| | Messiah who was to come. They provided us
|
| silent. (Matthew 26:62-63) Later, before
| |
| | with explicit details of his forthcoming
|
| Pilate, the Chief priest and elders
| |
| | life, death, and resurrection. He is to
|
| brought charges against him. But he made
| |
| | be our hope of salvation, our hope for
|
| no reply. (Matthew 27:12)
| |
| | eternal life.
|
| Like a jigsaw puzzle, all the pieces seem
| |
| | Then there appears one in Galilee who
|
| to fit together - just as the prophets
| |
| | matches the description.
|
| foresaw hundreds of years before the
| |
| | He preaches with authority; he speaks in
|
| events. Many detailed predictions were
| |
| | parables; he performs numerous
|
| reserved for Christ's death. Let's take a
| |
| | extraordinary miracles. He teaches the
|
| close look to see how they were
| |
| | highest form of morality. He asks us to
|
| fulfilled.
| |
| | obey him in all things and follow his
|
| Both Jews and gentiles were involved in
| |
| | example. We are to imitate him; we are to
|
| Jesus' death. Jews arrested, tried,
| |
| | become little "Christs" following his
|
| condemned, and took him to the Romans for
| |
| | footsteps.
|
| execution. When Pilate proved reluctant,
| |
| | He tells us he is the one and only path
|
| the Jews put all the pressure they could
| |
| | to salvation. He is the unblemished
|
| exert on the governor. Pilate, however
| |
| | sacrificial lamb who was born to die in
|
| unwilling he may have been, was the one
| |
| | our place. All who repent of their sins
|
| who gave the order. His men flogged,
| |
| | and follow him will have eternal life.
|
| ridiculed, and crucified Jesus.
| |
| | With that, God reveals his plan for
|
| Jesus was crucified in the usual Roman
| |
| | restoring mankind. As Adam's single act
|
| manner. His hands and feet were pierced
| |
| | of defiance ushered in sin and death,
|
| by large dull spikes which nailed his
| |
| | Christ's perfect sacrifice, if we accept
|
| body to the wooden cross. They crucified
| |
| | him, frees us from sin and death. That's
|
| two robbers with him, one on either side.
| |
| | what Christ taught, and that's what
|
| (Mark 15:27) and (Matthew 27:38)
| |
| | Christians believe.
|
| After the soldiers crucified Jesus, they
| |
| | You may be wondering if those Messianic
|
| took his clothes, dividing them into four
| |
| | prophecies were actual predictions of
|
| shares. The tunic was seamless, woven
| |
| | future events. Or, is it possible they
|
| throughout in one piece. They decided it
| |
| | were written after Jesus lived and died?
|
| was too valuable to tear, so they cast
| |
| | Perhaps they fit Jesus so well because
|
| lots for it. (John 19:23-24)
| |
| | his proponents wrote them after the
|
| Those who passed by yelled insults. "You
| |
| | events took place. That might sound
|
| who are going to destroy the temple and
| |
| | plausible until you consider the
|
| build it again in three days, save
| |
| | Septuagint.
|
| yourself. Come down from the cross, if
| |
| | The entire Old Testament, Messianic
|
| you are the Son of God." (Matthew
| |
| | prophecies and all, were translated into
|
| 27:39-40) The chief priest and teachers
| |
| | the Greek Septuagint around 275 B.C. Thus
|
| of the law added their own brand of
| |
| | we know everyone of the Biblical
|
| ridicule: "He trusts in God. Let God
| |
| | prophecies had to predate Jesus by at
|
| rescue him if he wants him, for he said,
| |
| | least 250 years.
|
| 'I am the Son of God.'" (Matthew
| |
| | After Jesus finished his assigned tasks
|
| 27:41-43)
| |
| | on earth, he completed the prophecies by
|
| Ironically, their very insults fulfilled
| |
| | submitting himself to the most cruel
|
| Psalm 22:7-8 almost verbatim. "All who
| |
| | punishment and death Rome could devise.
|
| see me, hurl insults, shaking their
| |
| | He is crucified; he's buried; and on the
|
| heads: 'He trusts in the Lord; let the
| |
| | third day, he arose form the grave. He is
|
| Lord rescue him.'"
| |
| | seen by over 500 witnesses over a forty
|
| "At noon, darkness fell across the whole
| |
| | day period. Then he ascends into heaven
|
| land until three o'clock." (Matthew 27:45
| |
| | promising he would return to judge the
|
| NLT) Notice that's too long for an
| |
| | world. Jesus is the promise fulfilled.
|
| eclipse of the sun. Amos' eight hundred
| |
| | Questions to Consider:
|
| year old prophecy proved true.
| |
| | 1.Did Jesus fulfill the Biblical
|
| While dying on the cross, Jesus said,
| |
| | prophecies?
|
| "Father forgive them, for they do not
| |
| | 2.Is there any doubt that he is the
|
| know what they are doing." (Luke 23:34)
| |
| | Messiah, the Christ, the promised one?
|
| That took care of Isaiah's "intercession
| |
| | 3. Is this the most important event in
|
| for the transgressors" prophecy.
| |
| | all of history?
|
| Jesus said, "I am thirsty." They soaked a
| |
| | Quote of the Day: "Here is a door, behind
|
| sponge in wine vinegar mixed with gall
| |
| | which, according to some people, the
|
| and offered it to him (John 19:28-29) and
| |
| | secret of the universe is waiting for
|
| (Matthew 27:34) Quoting Psalm 22:1,
| |
| | you. Either that's true, or it isn't. And
|
| Jesus cried out, "My God, my God, why
| |
| | if it isn't, then what that door really
|
| have you forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:46)
| |
| | conceals is simply the greatest fraud,
|
| Then quoting Psalm 31:5 Jesus said,
| |
| | the most colossal 'sell' on record. Isn't
|
| "Father, into your hands I commit my
| |
| | it obviously the job of every man (that
|
| spirit." (Luke 23:46)
| |
| | is a man and not a rabbit) to try to find
|
| The next day was to be a special Sabbath.
| |
| | out which, and then to devote his full
|
| The Jews didn't want crucified bodies
| |
| | energies either to serving this
|
| left hanging in public display over the
| |
| | tremendous secret or to exposing and
|
| Sabbath. They requested that the legs be
| |
| | destroying this gigantic humbug?" C. S.
|
| broken to hasten death for the three men.
| |
| | Lewis God in the Dock "Man or Rabbit"
|
| The soldiers complied by breaking the
| |
| | (1945)
|
| legs of the two robbers, but when they
| |
| | Note: All Scripture References are taken
|
| came to Jesus, they found he was already
| |
| | from the New International Version unless
|
| dead. Instead of breaking his legs, one
| |
| | otherwise stated.
|
| of the Roman soldiers thrust his spear
| |
| |
|
