Promises from the Prophets
See also: Allah's Promises in the Qur'an »
OUTLINE
Jesus fulfilled God's greatest promise
Jesus fulfilled God's greatest promise. All the prophets of God looked ahead to Jesus, the Messiah (John 5:39, Luke 24:13-27). He is the Serpent-Crusher promised to Adam (Genesis 3:15). He is the Seed of Abraham, through whom all nations of the earth would be blessed (Genesis 12:3, Genesis 22:17-18). He is the Prophet awaited by Moses, speaking the true words of God, performing great wonders, and demanding our attention (Deuteronomy 18:15-22; Acts 3:16-26). He is the true Son of David, the anointed Messiah whose kingdom never ends (Daniel 7:13-14, Psalms 2, 2 Samuel 7:12-16, Luke 1:32-33). John called Jesus the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of all world (John 1:29, 1:36).
Jesus lived the life we cannot live
Jesus lived the life we cannot live. In a human body, Jesus was “tempted in every way, just as we are – yet he did not sin” (Hebrews 4:15, 1 Peter 2:21). Only Jesus was not subject to the curse of death – ours since the days of Adam. Yet Jesus was ready to die willingly, to take the curse away from us (1 Corinthians 15:56-57; Romans 5:6-19, 2 Corinthians 5:21). Jesus said he came "not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28).
Jesus died the death we deserve
Jesus died the death we deserve (Acts 2:22-32, 1 Peter 3:18). He died a shameful, painful, public death on a Roman cross, though he had not sinned against anyone (Matthew 27:35, Mark 15:24-25, Luke 24:20, John 19:23). He was despised, rejected and cursed (Isaiah 53:3, Mark 10:34, Luke 23:35-36, Galatians 3:13-14, Deuteronomy 21:23). This may offend us, but it is God's way, prophesied time and again in the writings of the Torah, the Psalms and the Prophets (Isaiah 53, Psalms 22, Genesis 22:6-14). Jesus died shamefully, not because he deserved it, but because we did (Romans 3:10-12). The Bible says, "all have sinned" and "the wages of sin is death." Yet Jesus died in our place, saying “no one takes my life from me... I have authority to lay it down, and authority to take it up again” (Romans 3:23, 6:23, John 10:18).
Jesus rose from the grave and won eternal life for us
Jesus rose from the grave and won eternal life for us (Matthew 28:6, Mark 16:6, Luke 24:6, John 10:28, John 6:38-40). The Bible says that Jesus defeated the power of death. “Death could not keep him in its grip” (Acts 2:24). God had once promised, “I shall ransom this people from the power of the grave”, and this is what Jesus accomplished (Hosea 13:14). Just as he died and rose again, so too can everyone who trusts in him: “It is my Father's will that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day” (John 6:40).
REFLECTION: GOD'S GIFT
According to the Bible, Jesus provides us with forgiveness and eternal life.
The Bible shows God to be a keeper of promises. God created humanity to live with him, in Paradise. But as Adam and Eve discovered, sin separates us from God’s presence. Some will ask, ‘can’t God just forgive us?’ But God is holy. He will not turn a blind eye to sin, but punishes it. Sin must be atoned for (Leviticus 17).
God's prophets saw the need for sacrifices. Adam’s shame was covered by a slain animal. Abraham’s son was spared by a ram. Moses’ people were protected by a Passover lamb. David sacrificed, and vowed, “I will not sacrifice a burnt offering that costs me nothing” (1 Chronicles 21:24). John called Jesus “the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world!” (John 1:29). And Jesus said, “my blood … is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins” (Matthew 26:28).
Jesus died on Mount Moriah on the eve of Passover. Jesus was innocent, like a spotless lamb. But he was punished in the place of God’s people, to save them from death (Isaiah 53). With this great and final sacrifice, Jesus crushed Satan under his feet (Genesis 3:15). As he died, Jesus said, “It is finished” (John 19:30).
Jesus rose to life, never to die again. He conquered sin and death. Thus God's greatest promise was fulfilled. God has given everything we need to return to his Paradise. Followers of Jesus can be confident on the Last Day, for it is his righteousness, not ours, which lets us return to God. “The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).
DISCUSSION POINTS
- All who put their trust in Jesus the Messiah will be saved. Will you?