Intro/Base Text: 1 Peter 1:10-12
1 Peter 1:10-12
10 Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you,
11 searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow.
12 To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven -- things which angels desire to look into.
Many of the prophets had partial revelation as to the coming Messiah. They wondered when and how this Messiah would come -- many believed that the nation of Israel would instantly be above all others, in essence becoming what it was during the ’Golden Age’ of David and Solomon, yet all under this new Messiah. Many expected the Messiah to bring military success and a regime that would crush conflicting nations. However, what Jesus was this first time around was a suffering servant. His Blood shows Kingship and Priesthood, yet we will see much more of that fulfilled through faith in Him and through the Age to come!
Today we will look at a much more detailed survey of where the Messiah, who is Jesus, was prophesied about in the Hebrew Bible (aka Old Testament). Before we look deeper into this broad topic, let’s pray.
(Opening Prayer)
Just prior to our text, and if you remember back a few weeks, we discussed the joy we are called to and the promised hope that we have in our eternal inheritance through faith in Jesus Christ. Even though things may look really bleak at times in our life, and whatever ’valley’ we’re going through, as Paul said in Romans 8, NOTHING here compares to what is prepared for us.
Here in verses 10-12, we see that the prophets were busy forth-telling God’s word to His people, and during this process, also foretell the coming of the Son of God and Savior of the world, Jesus. The prophets did not know exactly when and how the Messiah would live, yet they saw glimpses as the LORD revealed them.
Remarkably, these prophecies were recorded anywhere from 1500 to 400 years before our Savior’s birth, yet each element pieces together to form the life of God’s chosen King.
I should first mention that Jesus was no stranger in appearance in times of old. There are many Christophanies in the Old Testament. Example: Isaiah 6 -- Isaiah stands before the Lord’s throne, and Jesus reveals in John that it was He Himself. There are many of these, and yet this is a topic for another study altogether, if not several dozen.
The good news of today is that the Gospel is fully available to us, fully revealed and fully enacted by Jesus’ work on the Cross and Resurrection. He sacrificed Himself so we could be reunited with God the Father. So let’s celebrate this, as angels long to look into this wonderful provision, and let’s see where Jesus is foretold in the Old Testament --
Where is Jesus foretold in the Old Testament?
This list covers only some of the prophecies about Jesus (Yeshua) from the Old Testament, but there are some very good highlights here about the life and nature of Jesus.
A. Jesus’ Lineage
1. God would provide a ’seed’ of the woman (Eve) who would conquer the serpent’s (Satan) power
Genesis 3:15 - And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel."
Satan bruised Jesus’ heel -- Jesus did die a very cruel and gruesome death
Jesus crushed Satan’s head -- Defeated his power completely through His Death and Resurrection -- we do not have to live in possession or even the oppression of the enemy.
2. This promised son would be from Abraham’s and Isaac’s line
Genesis 21:12 - But God said to Abraham, "Do not let it be displeasing in your sight because of the lad or because of your bondwoman. Whatever Sarah has said to you, listen to her voice; for in Isaac your seed shall be called.
Note in Matthew 1, the extended genealogy highlights all of these key generations (including Abraham and Isaac).
3. The child would come from the line of Judah
Genesis 49:8-12
8 "Judah, you are he whom your brothers shall praise; Your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies; Your father’s children shall bow down before you.
9 Judah is a lion’s whelp; From the prey, my son, you have gone up. He bows down, he lies down as a lion; And as a lion, who shall rouse him?
10 The scepter shall not depart from Judah, Nor a lawgiver from between his feet, Until Shiloh comes; And to Him shall be the obedience of the people.
11 Binding his donkey to the vine, And his donkey’s colt to the choice vine, He washed his garments in wine, And his clothes in the blood of grapes.
12 His eyes are darker than wine, And his teeth whiter than milk.
Jesus is referred to the ’lion of the tribe of Judah’ in Revelation 5 --
Revelation 5:5 - But one of the elders said to me, "Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals."
4. Jesus would be a Rod and Branch from the line of Jesse *****
Isaiah 11:1 - There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, And a Branch shall grow out of his roots.
5. Jesus would be from David’s lineage
Jeremiah 23:5 - "Behold, the days are coming," says the LORD, "That I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness; A King shall reign and prosper, And execute judgment and righteousness in the earth."
B. Jesus’ Birth and Familiarity
1. Jesus would be born in Bethlehem
Micah 5:2 - " But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting."
The Talmud (Rabbinic commentary on the Law and other life matters, e.g. customs and ethics) understands this verse to be about the Messiah, as well:
"The King Messiah... from where does he come forth? From the royal city of Bethlehem in Judah." - Jerusalem Talmud, Berakoth 5a. (http://www.jewishroots.net/library/prophecy/micah/a-ruler-out-of-bethlehem.htm)
2. Jesus would be known to the region of Galilee
Isaiah 9:1-2
1 Nevertheless the gloom will not be upon her who is distressed, As when at first He lightly esteemed The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, And afterward more heavily oppressed her, By the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, In Galilee of the Gentiles.
2 The people who walked in darkness Have seen a great light; Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, Upon them a light has shined.
3. Jesus would be born of a virgin
Isaiah 7:14 - "Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel."
Note that Matthew mentions this verse, and it is understood that it is ’virgin’ even at that time by its nuanced word in the Greek, and not just ’young maiden.’ The miraculous ’sign’ that was given was the virgin birth.
C. Jesus would be a Prophet
1. God would raise up a prophet…
Deuteronomy 18:15-19
15 " The LORD your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your midst, from your brethren. Him you shall hear,
16 "according to all you desired of the LORD your God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, ’Let me not hear again the voice of the LORD my God, nor let me see this great fire anymore, lest I die.’
17 "And the LORD said to me: ’What they have spoken is good.
18 ’I will raise up for them a Prophet like you from among their brethren, and will put My words in His mouth, and He shall speak to them all that I command Him.
19 ’And it shall be that whoever will not hear My words, which He speaks in My name, I will require it of him.
Jesus testified to this, stating that Moses spoke of Him in John 5:45-47
John 5:45-47
45 "Do not think that I shall accuse you to the Father; there is one who accuses you -- Moses, in whom you trust.
46 "For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me.
47 "But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?"
D. Jesus would be a Priest
Ultimately, Jesus gave Himself as an atoning Sacrifice (for our sin), offering Himself up as a sacrifice, and He intercedes for us today at the right hand of the Father.
1. Jesus will have an everlasting priesthood (without beginning or end, as Melchizedek)
Psalm 110:4 - The LORD has sworn And will not relent, "You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek."
2. Jesus would be a Priest-King (just as Joshua in Zechariah’s time)
Zechariah 6:11-13
11 Then take silver and gold, and make crowns, and set them upon the head of Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest;
12 And speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD:
13 Even he shall build the temple of the LORD; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.
People realized this as a Messianic prophecy, as well. This ties into the Kingship element, as well, as Joshua the high priest during Zechariah’s time would take reign, as well, being a rare priestly king. Continuing on this theme:
E. Jesus would be a King
1. Jesus’ reign will be one of both justice and righteousness
Already seen: Jeremiah 23:5
2. Jesus would be King of Israel
Zechariah 9:9 - "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, Lowly and riding on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey."
3. Jesus would reign out of the LORD’s Strength
Psalm 110:2 - The LORD shall send the rod of Your strength out of Zion. Rule in the midst of Your enemies!
4. Jesus would have a governmental reign forever
Isaiah 9:6-7
6 For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
Daniel 7:13-14
13 "I was watching in the night visions, And behold, One like the Son of Man, Coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, And they brought Him near before Him.
14 Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, That all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, Which shall not pass away, And His kingdom the one Which shall not be destroyed."
5. Jesus would be a type of ’David’ -- ruling through Israel’s prosperity
Ezekiel 37:23-25
23 "They shall not defile themselves anymore with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions; but I will deliver them from all their dwelling places in which they have sinned, and will cleanse them. Then they shall be My people, and I will be their God.
24 " David My servant shall be king over them, and they shall all have one shepherd; they shall also walk in My judgments and observe My statutes, and do them.
25 "Then they shall dwell in the land that I have given to Jacob My servant, where your fathers dwelt; and they shall dwell there, they, their children, and their children’s children, forever; and My servant David shall be their prince forever.
F. Jesus was God’s Son
Psalm 2:7 - "I will declare the decree: The LORD has said to Me, ’You are My Son, Today I have begotten You.
Psalm 2:12 - Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, And you perish in the way, When His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him.
G. Jesus would be a Servant and Sacrifice (would be Crucified)
1. Jesus would bring forth justice
Isaiah 42:1 - "Behold! My Servant whom I uphold, My Elect One in whom My soul delights! I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the Gentiles.
2. Jesus would be a suffering servant who would bear the penalty for our Sin
Isaiah 53
1 Who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?
2 For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, And as a root out of dry ground. He has no form or comeliness; And when we see Him, There is no beauty that we should desire Him.
3 He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.
4 Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted.
5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.
6 All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.
7 He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth.
8 He was taken from prison and from judgment, And who will declare His generation? For He was cut off from the land of the living; For the transgressions of My people He was stricken.
9 And they made His grave with the wicked -- But with the rich at His death, Because He had done no violence, Nor was any deceit in His mouth.
10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When You make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, And the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in His hand.
11 He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many, For He shall bear their iniquities.
12 Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great, And He shall divide the spoil with the strong, Because He poured out His soul unto death, And He was numbered with the transgressors, And He bore the sin of many, And made intercession for the transgressors.
We see from this chapter:
- He would be ordinary in appearance
- He would be rejected
- He would bear our sins (as an offering)
- He would suffer for our iniquities and transgressions
- He would bring healing by His stripes (implicit: whipping)
- He would have a secular tomb, though his burial would be with the rich
- He would justify many
Psalm 22:16-17
16 For dogs have surrounded Me; The congregation of the wicked has enclosed Me. They pierced My hands and My feet;
17 I can count all My bones. They look and stare at Me.
At Jesus’ Crucifixion, His hands and feet were pierced, and His bones were not broken.
H. Jesus would Resurrect and later Ascend the Right Hand of the Father
Psalm 16:10 - For You will not leave my soul in Sheol, Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption.
Micah 7:7-8
7 Therefore I will look to the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation; My God will hear me.
8 Do not rejoice over me, my enemy; When I fall, I will arise; When I sit in darkness, The LORD will be a light to me.
Proverbs 30:4 - Who has ascended into heaven, or descended? Who has gathered the wind in His fists? Who has bound the waters in a garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is His name, and what is His Son’s name, If you know?
Psalm 110:1 - The LORD said to my Lord, "Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool."
I. Jesus will come again and will be victorious
Daniel 9:23-26
23 "At the beginning of your supplications the command went out, and I have come to tell you, for you are greatly beloved; therefore consider the matter, and understand the vision:
24 " Seventy weeks are determined For your people and for your holy city, To finish the transgression, To make an end of sins, To make reconciliation for iniquity, To bring in everlasting righteousness, To seal up vision and prophecy, And to anoint the Most Holy.
25 "Know therefore and understand, That from the going forth of the command To restore and build Jerusalem Until Messiah the Prince, There shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; The street shall be built again, and the wall, Even in troublesome times.
26 "And after the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself; And the people of the prince who is to come Shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end of it shall be with a flood, And till the end of the war desolations are determined.
Note that this passage is mentioned a great deal in discussing the End Times, and much of the discussion revolves around ’what is that last week?’. The time of Jesus’ birth is also mentioned here.
J. Jesus is available to all, even the Gentiles
1. To the Jews
Zechariah 12:10 - "And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn."
2. To the Gentiles
Isaiah 65:1 - "I was sought by those who did not ask for Me; I was found by those who did not seek Me. I said, ’Here I am, here I am,’ To a nation that was not called by My name."
Isaiah 42:6-7
6 "I, the LORD, have called You in righteousness, And will hold Your hand; I will keep You and give You as a covenant to the people, As a light to the Gentiles,
7 To open blind eyes, To bring out prisoners from the prison, Those who sit in darkness from the prison house.
Note that Simeon recognized by the Spirit that this prophecy was a Messianic one, and about this child Jesus!
Luke 2:29-32
29 "Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, According to Your word;
30 For my eyes have seen Your salvation
31 Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples,
32 A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of Your people Israel."
K. Will you accept Jesus as your Savior today?
This is a brief list of prophecies about Jesus -- there are many more. But even so, the purpose of Jesus’ life was to reconcile us (bring us back) to the Father. We have separated ourselves from God by our sin (disobedience against Him). We need to be forgiven and redeemed. Jesus came and sacrificed Himself for us, that He would take on our punishment so we could reach the Father. We can’t reach Him in our own strength or by our own good deeds. We are sinful. Jesus was not. We can take on His righteousness by repenting of our sin and accepting His sacrifice.
The prophets LONGED to see the Messiah, and He has been revealed -- so make a commitment today! You have everything to gain and nothing to lose. Jesus was promised well in advanced, and He is available to all today. May we grasp this truth and go forth praising His Name. Let’s pray.
(Closing Prayer & Invitation)
Bibliography
Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Jewish Roots: A Ruler out of Bethlehem. http://www.jewishroots.net/library/prophecy/micah/a-ruler-out-of-bethlehem.htm
