Who Jesus was prophesied to be

 

1)      In the Old Testament God’s prophets foretold of a special time and person.

2)      In the “latter days” a “house” would be established.

3)      Isaiah, Daniel, and Micah all made referenced to this future time.

4)      The “head of this house” would be a very special person.

a)      He would be someone who would fully identify with humanity.

b)      He would be humble, just, compassionate.

c)      This individual would be “righteous” and “justice” would flow from Him.

d)     He would be a superb example of humanity and full of holiness and power.

 

5)      Tonight we want to look at who the prophets had in mind and some of their exact predictions.

6)      We start with the word “humanity.”

a)      Isaiah (7:14) said a woman would give birth to a son.

b)      At first glance, this does not sound all that special—this happens every day.

c)      The process of women and children has been taking place for a very long time.

d)     The prophet said a “virgin” would give birth to a son; that is unusual.

e)      Some of tried to suggest that “young woman” is the right translation of the text.

f)       Rather than a virgin conceiving, a “young woman” would conceive.

g)      If that is the way the text is understood, Isa. 7:14 is not much of a prophecy.

h)      Virgin is the right way to interpret the text because God tells us so.

i)        Matthew (1:23) cites this prophecy and says it was fulfilled by Mary and Jesus.

 

7)      If Jesus were God’s special servant, God could have sent Him into the world in many ways.

8)      Heaven chose to make Jesus as human as possible. 

9)      He came into the world the way all of us did.

10)  Heaven did not make some type of special exception for the Lord.

11)  Too, Jesus had flesh, bone, blood as we do.  He got hungry, tired, and thirsty.  He needed sleep.

12)  Jesus was also subject to death.

13)  Isaiah’s prophecy is a very important text if we want to know who Jesus is.

14)  The prophet said a virgin would conceive and bear a son, and that is precisely what happened.

a)      John described this child in this manner:  the “word” (Jesus) “became flesh and dwelt among us.

b)      Luke (2:40, 52) affirms that Jesus grew up just as everyone else.

c)      He really was a son in every sense of the word.

d)     700 years in advance it was predicted that Jesus would share in the ways of mankind.

 

15)  As Jesus grew He had to make some choices.

a)      Old Testament prophecy said He would make “righteous” choices.

b)      Almost all parents want “good children” (young people who make good choices).

c)      There are cases where that does not happen.

d)     Throughout the years I have had parents tell me a lot of stories about their children.

e)      One night I and some other Christians rode around in a local community.

f)       We were looking for a child who had gotten into trouble—he was suspected of burglary.

g)      Prophecy said Jesus would be someone who pursued righteousness.

h)      Ps. 45:7 says, “thou has loved righteousness and hated iniquity.”

i)        This passage found its fulfillment in Jesus (Heb. 1:9).

j)        Imagine predicting that a child would come who would loathe things that are wrong.

k)      It is one thing to be really, really good when someone is all grown up.

l)        Maybe we expect grandma and grandpa to be really good.

m)    Jesus was good in every way through His entire life.

 

16)  There is a small chance someone could predict a child will be a “good person.”

17)  It is impossible to predict that a child will detest what is wrong.

18)  There is some naughtiness attractive to children and they probably commit somewhere along the way.

19)  Prophecy said Jesus would be distinct from all other children and He was.

20)  In earlier lessons we have cited from Isa. 11, a chapter with several Messianic promises.

a)      In verse 5 we are told that “righteousness” would “gird Jesus’ waist.”

b)      Jesus was to be a righteous man.

c)      How interesting it is that a soldier drew this very conclusion about him (Lk. 23:47).

d)     Do we not remember this man’s words?  “Truly this was a righteous man.”

e)      Peter affirmed in the presence of many Jews Jesus was a “righteous man” (Acts 3:13-14).

f)       Peter said this in Jerusalem.  If that statement were not true, it would have been attacked.

g)      Plenty of people wanted to say bad things about the Lord.

h)      The apostles were able to proclaim Jesus as a righteous man and people knew it was true.

i)        Rather than disputing this claim, people recognized the facts and became followers of Christ.

j)        Prophecy was made, the prophecy was proven, and people believed and obeyed.

k)      This same type of process can be followed today.

l)        We can prove the Bible to be true, Jesus is the Son of God, and He is the only way.

m)    When those facts are no longer in dispute, people need to submit to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

 

21)  If a person is very, very good they may be haughty (filled with pride).

a)      We sometimes see this in the work force.

b)      A man or woman may do an excellent job at their place of employment and they know it.

c)      Because they are so good at what they do, they are smug, conceited, arrogant.

d)     If Jesus were really a “righteous man,” was He boastful?

 

22)  Prophecy said Jesus would be a humble person.

a)      Zech. 9:9 predicted Jesus would be riding on a colt.

b)      He is called a “king” in that passage.

c)      Something else is also said – READ

 

23)  It was predicted that king Jesus would be “lowly.”

a)      Kings and other powerful rulers come in all shapes and sizes.          

b)      Some are filled with pride, others are quietly conceited, and some are truly humble.

c)      Prophecy said Jesus was to be humble and He was.

d)     He was like a “root out of a dry ground” (Isa. 53:2-3).

e)      He was an ordinary man.

f)       In fact, do we remember how Jesus described Himself in Mt. 11:29?

g)      He did not say, “I am king and you had better obey me.”

h)      He said, “I am meek and lowly in heart.”

i)        What of Jesus washing the disciples feet in Jn. 13:3-5? 

j)        This was not an act of worship for us to imitate; it was a demonstration of humility and service.

k)      We are also reminded of Mt. 20:28 – Jesus came to be “ministered unto, but to minister.”

 

24)  When a person has humility, there is a good chance he will have compassion.

a)      This was certainly true with Jesus, and it was a matter of prophecy.

b)      Isa. 40:11 said Jesus would ”feed his flock like a shepherd.”

c)      He would “gather the lambs with his arm” and “carry them in his bosom.”

d)     Such a prophecy reminds us of Mk. 6:34.

 

25)  John the Baptist had been killed.  Jesus and the apostles had been very busy.

26)  It was not a convenient time to help people.  In fact, it was a very bad time.

27)  Here is what Mark says – READ

28)  This is just one occasion; there were others.  Jesus did exactly what the prophets foretold.

i)        After this incident (Mt. 15:32) there were people who needed food.

ii)      These folks were hungry and needed nourishment.

 

29)  Jesus did not wave His hand and say, “thanks for coming; come back soon.”

30)  He fed the people and He did it without charge.

 

31)  Jesus’ compassion goes beyond what is described in Mk. 6 and Mt.15.

a)      Compassion is also part of Isa. 42:3:  “a bruised reed shall he not break.”

b)      The one being described would not “quench smoking flax.”

c)      Jesus was gentle with people.

d)     Even in terrifying situations Jesus was compassionate.

e)      How well would we do if we were confronted with a demon possessed person?

f)       Imagine a man whose body shows cut marks, may be bleeding, and he is screaming.

g)      He comes running at us, and it may appear that he wants to cut us.

h)      What would we do in such a case?

 

32)  I suspect at least a few of us might run. 

33)  Others shout at such a man:  Stand back and behave OR ELSE!

34)  Those possessed by evil spirits needed help and Jesus showed compassion on them.

35)  These were not the only ones.

36)  He found people involved with sinful activities and showed sympathy.

37)  Unless people prevented Him from showing compassion, Jesus showed kindness.

a)      Another text showing who Jesus was is found in Mt. 23:37.

b)      Prior to this verse Jesus discussed what was going to happen to Jerusalem in 70 A.D.

c)      He said destruction was coming, but that was not what He wanted.

 

38)  Here are His words – Mt. 23:37 – READ

a)      God sent prophets (people He liked) to Jerusalem and the Jews killed them.

b)      Prophets is plural; these people killed at least a few and likely several spokesmen for God.

c)      Yet, God and especially Jesus would have “often” accepted Jerusalem but the nation said no.

d)     Old Testament prophecies about compassion were true in every way.

 

39)  Many times we have heard sections of Isa. 53 read.

a)      Jesus was to be “despised, rejected of men, a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief” (53:3).

b)      It was He who would bear our griefs, be wounded for our sins, and carry our sorrows (verses 4-5).

 

40)  He was to be oppressed, not open His mouth, and be like a lamb before the shearer.

41)  Then we finally come to the information in verse 12 – READ

42)  Jesus “made intercession for transgressors.”

a)      Jesus did this while on the cross, Lk. 23:34 – “Father, forgive them they know not what they do.”

b)      Heb. 7:25 says Jesus “ever lives” to make intercession for people.

c)      Heb. 9:24 says He “appears before the face of God on our behalf.”

d)     John put it this way:  1 Jn. 2:1 – if we sin, we have an “advocate” with the Father.

 

43)  We cannot find a better model of compassion than Jesus.

 

44)  Marketing geniuses have made a lot of money off things like W W J D.

45)  We do not need a bracelet to help us think about Jesus  we have the New Testament.

46)  When we look at the qualities of Jesus, we can know what He would do in today’s world.

47)  We also need to remember that Jesus’ character was predicted years in advance.

48)  The Jesus of the New Testament is also the Jesus of the Old Testament (Jesus in prophecy).

49)  He was exactly the person heaven said would come, and He is still alive and well today.

50)  He still wants to show people His compassion, His love, and His intercession.

51)  For us to enjoy those qualities, we must be one of His people.