Have the Old Testament Scriptures (The Hebrew Bible) FORETOLD about Jesus Christ of Nazareth (The Person of Christmas)?
13 That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, 14 and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. 15 While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. 16 But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. 17 And he said to them, “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad. 18 Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” 19 And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. 21 But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. 22 Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning, 23 and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. 24 Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.” 25 And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. Luke 24:13-27 ESV
“Jesus found himself in the Old Testament, a thing that
some modern scholars do not seem to be able to do.”
A. T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament, 1930
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Three ESSENTIAL VIEWS about the Hebrew Bible’s Revelation of the Messiah:
ESSENTIAL VIEW #1: The Bible is the INSPIRED and AUTHORITATIVE Word of God
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 ESV
For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. 2 Peter 1:21 ESV
“Declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose.’” Isaiah 46:10 ESV
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ESSENTIAL VIEW #2: All of the Hebrew Bible REVEALS the Messiah
36 As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace to you!” 37 But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit. 38 And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39 See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” 40 And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. 41 And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he took it and ate before them. 44 Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, 46 and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, 47 and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.” Luke 24:36-49 ESV
“But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled. 19 Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, 20 that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, 21 whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago. 22 Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you. 23 And it shall be that every soul who does not listen to that prophet shall be destroyed from the people.’ 24 And all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those who came after him, also proclaimed these days.” Acts 3:18-24 ESV
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ESSENTIAL VIEW #3: The Hebrew Prophets UNDERSTOOD they were writing about the MESSIAH.
“Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father. There is one who accuses you: Moses, on whom you have set your hope. 46 For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me. 47 But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?” John 5:45-47 ESV
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FORETOLD: The Shepherd from Bethlehem
Prophecy Micah 5:2-5a
But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days. 3 Therefore he shall give them up until the time when she who is in labor has given birth; then the rest of his brothers shall return to the people of Israel. 4 And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth. 5 And he shall be their peace. Micah 5:2-5 ESV
Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. Acts 17:11 ESV
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A Biblical Description of the Messiah:
I. A Consecrated Person
A. Against the Lord and against his Anointed. Psalm 2:2
B. An anointed one, a prince. Daniel 9:25
C. An anointed one shall be cut off. Daniel 9:26
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II. A King from the Line of David
A. “The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet.” Genesis 49:10
B. “Your throne shall be established forever.” 2 Samuel 7:16
C. On the throne of David and over his kingdom. Isaiah 9:7
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III. The Servant of the Lord
A. Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations. Isaiah 42:1
B. And now the Lord says, he who formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob back to him; and that Israel might be gathered to him. Isaiah 49:5
C. Behold, my servant shall act wisely; he shall be high and lifted up, and shall be exalted. Isaiah 52:13
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IV. An Eschatological Deliverer
A. Then Jacob called his sons and said, “Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you what shall happen to you in days to come. The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until tribute comes to him; and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples.” Genesis 49:1,10
B. “Come, I will let you know what this people will do to your people in the latter days. I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near: a star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel.” Numbers 24:14,17
C. “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch…In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely.” Jeremiah 23:5,6
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V. A Redeemer from Sin
A. The Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people. Isaiah 53:6,8
B. His soul makes an offering for guilt. He shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days. Isaiah 53:10
C. Make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities. Isaiah 53:11
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VI. A Perfect Ruler
A. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. Isaiah 9:7
B. With righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth. Isaiah 11:4
C. May he have dominion from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth! Psalm 72:8
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“The Messiah is the eschatological, royal, Servant of the Lord, springing from the Davidic dynasty, who is consecrated by God to provide redemption from sin, bring deliverance for Israel, rule the world, and establish a kingdom of peace, justice, and righteousness.”
Michael A. Rydelnik, The Moody Handbook of Messianic Prophecy, 2019
The Old Testament Scriptures (The Hebrew Bible) FORETOLD about Jesus Christ of Nazareth (The Person of Christmas)!