Promises from the Prophets

Jesus Messiah
IN THE BIBLE

See also: 'Isa al Masih in the Qur'an »

OUTLINE

Jesus the Messiah is unique

Jesus the Messiah is unique (John 3:16, 1 John 1:18, 1 John 4:9). He was the son of a virgin, Mary (Luke 1:26-38). He was pure and sinless (John 8:46, Hebrews 4:15, 2 Corinthians 5:21). Jesus was gaining a reputation among his people as a teacher and healer with unparalleled authority (Mark 1:27-28, Matthew 4:24). He opened blind eyes (Luke 18:40-42, John 9:1-7, Mark 10:46-52). He raised the dead (Luke 7:11-17, Mark 5:35-43, John 11:21-44). Like Moses, he had provided miraculous food in the wilderness (Matthew 14:13-21, Matthew 15:29-39, Mark 6:30-44, Mark 8:1-10, Luke 9:10-17, John 6:1-15).

Jesus had made astonishing claims about himself

Jesus had made astonishing claims about himself. He said things the prophets of old never would (John 5:39-40). He claimed authority over Judgement Day (Matthew 25:31-32). He even claimed to be able to forgive sins – that which only God can do (Matthew 9:1-8, Mark 2:7, Luke 5:20-21, Luke 7:48-49, Isaiah 43:25).

Jesus said, “before Abraham was born, I AM!”

Jesus said, “before Abraham was born, I AM!” (John 8:57-59) God revealed himself to Moses by this name: 'I AM' (Exodus 3:14). By taking this same title, Jesus outraged his opponents. They tried to kill him, for “making himself equal with God”, claiming to have existed even before Abraham! (John 17:5) For a mere man to say this was indeed blasphemy, punishable by death (Leviticus 24:16). The religious leaders sentenced Jesus to death (Matthew 26:64-66, John 19:7). His followers struggled to understand this: why should God's anointed Messiah die like this? (Luke 24:20-21)

But Jesus knew he would be crucified

But Jesus knew he would be crucified. He said it must happen this way (Matthew 16:21, Matthew 17:11-13, Matthew 17:22-23, Matthew 20:18-19, Matthew 26:23-25, Matthew 26:48-54, Matthew 27:63, Mark 8:31-33, Mark 9:31, Luke 9:21-22, Luke 9:28-36, Luke 9:44, Luke 17:25 Luke 24:44-47). He did not flee his suffering, but said, “I lay down my life, only to take it up again...” (John 10:17-18)

God had always provided a spotless, innocent sacrifice to cover sins

God had always provided a spotless, innocent sacrifice to cover sins (Exodus 12:5, Leviticus 1:3, Leviticus 16:8-10, Leviticus 22:18-20, 1 Peter 1:18-19, John 1:29, John 1:36). From the days of Adam to the days of John, this had always been God's way (Genesis 3:21, Genesis 22:8). As God had said to Moses, “it is the blood that makes atonement for a life.” (Leviticus 17:11, Hebrews 9:22)

Jesus died on the cross

Jesus said, “it is finished.” These were Jesus' dying words (John 19:30). After nine hours of bleeding and suffocation on a cross, Jesus “breathed his last” and “gave up his spirit” (Matthew 27:50). His body was thrust through with a spear, then placed under guard in the tomb of a sympathetic Jewish leader, Joseph of Arimathea (John 19:33-42).

Jesus rose from the dead

Three days later, the tomb was empty. Disciples went to the tomb. But to their surprise, they found an angel, who said of Jesus, “He is not here; he has risen, just as he said” (Luke 24:1-7, Matthew 17:22-23). They were amazed (Mark 16:2-5, John 20:19-20). And soon, they would join hundreds of others in meeting the risen Jesus (1 Corinthians 15:3-8).

He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you, that all things which are written in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms concerning me must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds, that they might understand the Scriptures. He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

REFLECTION: THE MESSIAH'S MISSION

The promises that the Messiah would come, die and rise again are all fulfiled in Jesus.

Jesus told his disciples: "all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled... thus it is written, that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead the third day, and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem." (Luke 24:44-48)

It was not until Jesus’ rising from the dead that his disciples began to understand how Jesus fulfilled the promises of the Bible. The Messiah had come to crush the Satan’s head, (Genesis 3:15), yet he would be crushed for our sins (Isaiah 53). Jesus would die, yet His kingdom would last forever (Psalms 110:1).

Throughout in the God’s revelations, we see that it is God who saves, rescues and redeems sinful people. By dying on the cross, Jesus showed himself to be a saviour, rescuer, and redeemer. Like the lamb of Passover, or the ram in Isaac's place, Jesus' blood atones for our sins (Leviticus 17:11, Hebrews 9:22). By looking to Jesus' perfect sacrifice, we can be forgiven and return to God.

DISCUSSION POINTS

KEY READING

John 10:1-42

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IN THE QUR'AN