We know that which we are called to, the question is, how well do we know Him who called us? Over the next couple of days we will be looking through the Gospels at Christ, prophecies of Him that were fulfilled from the Old Testament, His life in the Gospels, and His final hours. It is so important for us to have an understanding of who Christ is. While I don't think we can truly ever understand what he did for us, I think that we will spend an eternity learning what it cost Him. Chuck Missler talks about the fact we can figure out how important something is by how much it is discussed. So we have the creation and we have the the redemption of that creation. How much of the Scriptures speak of the creation? We have Genesis, some in Isaiah, Job. How much is dedicated to God's Redemption? Quite a bit. How much did it cost Him? His Son. But, we need to understand that Christs death upon the cross was not a tragedy, it was an achievement! That by which we have eternal life and can spend eternity with Him. Many times I find myself moved to the point of tears when discussing this topic, not for my sorrow; but the overwhelming love and mercy that Christ has for you and I.
The Old Testament leaves us with Unexplained Ceremonies (Sacrificial Rituals), Unachieved Purposes (Covenants) Unappeased Longings(Poetical Books) Unfulfilled Prophecies (there are over 1,000) As Jesus was being persecuted by the Jews in John chapter 5 he says in verse 39, "Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me." Christ on the Emmeaus road after His ressurection when he is speaking to two of the disciples, "And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself."
When we really get into the Scriptures, we can see that everything points to Christ. From the brass serpent that Moses raised up, to the Tabernacle; even the prophet Baalam who was wicked and sold his gift for money prophesied of Christ.
We won't post the entirety of each reference, but I would ask that you take the time to look all of this up. Make it a personal journey to track all this down, and you will see the beauty of the design, and it will give us a better understanding of Christ and in turn a greater love for Him. So with that, we will get into the old Testament prophecies of Christ that we find in the Gospels
Christ was to be of David’s family: 2 Sam 7:12-16 "And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever. I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men: But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took [it] from Saul, whom I put away before thee. And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever." Isaiah 9:6 "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." Ps 89:3- 4; 110:1; 132:11; 7; 11:1.
Christ would be born of a virgin Gen 3:15 "And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel." Isa 7:14
Christ would be born in Bethlehem, Micah 5:2 "But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, [though] thou be little among the thousands of Judah, [yet] out of thee shall he come forth unto me [that is] to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth [have been] from of old, from everlasting."
He would sojourn in Egypt: Hos 11:1
He would live in Galilee: Isa 9:1, 2...in Nazareth: Isa 11:1.
To be announced by an Elijah-like herald: Isa 40:3-5; Mal 3:1; 4:5.
Would occasion massacre of Bethlehem’s children: Gen 35:19-20;
Jer 31:15.
Would proclaim a Jubilee to the world: Isa 58:6; 61:1.
His mission would include the Gentiles: Isa 42:1-4.
Ministry would be one of healing: Isa 53:4.
He would teach through parables: Isa 6:9-10; Ps 78:2.
He would be disbelieved, rejected by rulers: Ps 69:4; 118:22; Isa 6:10; 29:13; 53:1.
Would make a triumphal entry into Jerusalem: Zech 9:9; Ps 118:26.
Betrayed by friend for 30 pieces of silver: Zech 11:1-13; Ps 41:9.
Would be like a smitten shepherd: Zech 13:7. "Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man [that is] my fellow, saith the LORD of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones."
Would be given vinegar and gall: Ps 69:21.
They would cast lots for His garments: Ps 22:18.
His side would be pierced: Zech 12:10; Ps 22:16.
Not a bone would be broken: Ex 12:46; Num 9:12; Ps 34:20.
Would die among malefactors: Isa 53:9, 12.
His dying words foretold: Ps 22:1 "[[To the chief Musician upon Aijeleth Shahar, A Psalm of David.]] My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? [why art thou so] far from helping me, [and from] the words of my roaring?"; 31:5 "Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O LORD God of truth."
Would be buried by a rich man: Isa 53:9.
Rise from dead on 3rd day: Gen 22:4; Ps 16:10-11; Jon 1:17.
Resurrection followed by destruction of Jerusalem: Dan 9:26; 11:31; 12:1,11.
One thing we have to look at here, and it actually pervades from Christ going to Egypt through the Crucifixion. Why did Christ have to go to Egypt, what ties this and the Crucifixion? We can find it in Isaiah 63:8-9 "For he said, Surely they [are] my people, children [that] will not lie: so he was their Saviour. In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old." So as Israel was afflicted, so Christ was? Yes. As Israel went to Egypt, So Christ went to Egypt. How did He suffer? As they were put into jail, so He was. He was Naked as they were naked; 6,000,000 Naked.
We know that these were written over 3 centuries before Christ because we have what is called the Septuagint. It is the Greek version of the Old testament that was written in the 3rd century B.C. We can point to that and know that these existed long before the days that Christ walked the earth.
There are a lot of other prophecies that Christ fulfills, but these are specifically the ones that are quoted in the Gospels. There are more, and they are found in the Final week of Christ's life.
What we need to understand, just as Christ pervades the Scriptures, so He should our lives. He is to be our first love. If we have a better understanding, and a greater love for Him, in turn we will be better equipped to share Him with others. My challenge is to search Christ out in the Scriptures and your daily life in prayer and conversation with Him, just as He has sought you out, and willingly gave up His own life, so that you can know Him.
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