02.21. CHAPTER XVI THE LIFE AND MINISTRY OF JESUS CAST IN THE PROPHETIC MOLD OF MOSES ...

CHAPTER XVI THE LIFE AND MINISTRY OF JESUS CAST IN THE PROPHETIC MOLD OF MOSES AND THE PROPHETS IN THE present section, Chapter X, is found the prophetic mold as set forth by Moses and the Prophets, in which the life of King Messiah was to be cast. It is now proper and fitting to look at this mold again and at the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth to determine whether or not He and His activities were cast, figuratively speaking, in this mold. Everyone may know the shape of this mold and its measurements, so to speak, by the data which is presented in Chapter X. One may measure accurately the mold that Moses and the Prophets present and then measure the person, life, and labors of Jesus of Nazareth. If they are of the exact measurements, it is conclusive proof that He, figuratively speaking, was cast in the mold of Moses and the Prophets. The inevitable conclusion drawn from these facts is that He was and is the Hebrew Messiah of ancient expectation, and that He, who fills out the mold up to the present time, will carry out the program of the Messiah yet to be fulfilled. In preparation for the study of the Scriptures giving the mold in which Messiah’s life was to be cast, one should first note Israel’s great confession found in Deuteronomy 6:4, which grammatically and literally rendered is "Hear, 0 Israel, Jehovah our Gods is Jehovah a unity." In this marvelous statement Moses calls attention to the fact that the Eternal, the self-existing One, "the uncaused cause of all things," is Israel’s God. In the original text the Hebrew word here translated "our Gods" is in the plural number and should be thus rendered and understood. In this word is reflected a plurality of divine personalities. Although there is this plurality of persons, they constitute a unity, as is indicated by the word ’echad, which, unfortunately, in the average English version, is rendered one. Deuteronomy 6:4 is a declaration by Moses that Israel’s Gods are a unity—one in essence, nature, and being. At the same time they are a Trinity,¹ as is seen in a number of passages by Moses and the Prophets. When these vital facts are borne in mind, many passages of Scripture become intelligible that, to one not knowing these facts, are enigmatic. This literal translation of this most important passage is in harmony with the entire revelation of God, both in the Old and in the New Testament. A second factor that must be clearly understood and borne in mind is that Moses and the Prophets held up to Israel the coming of a personal Messiah who would be a descendant of David. A beautiful picture of King Messiah and His reign over the world is seen in 2 Samuel 23:3-5 : The God of Israel said, The Rock of Israel spake to me: One that ruleth over men righteously, That ruleth in the fear of God,

He shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun riseth, A morning without clouds, When the tender grass springeth out of the earth, Through clear shining after rain.

Verily my house is not so with God; Yet he hath made with me an everlasting covenant, Ordered in all things, and sure: For it is all my salvation, and all my desire,Although he maketh it not to grow. A third great truth that must be kept in mind is that Moses and the Prophets foretold the time that God himself would come to earth. David claimed that he would have given up because of life’s burdens if he had not believed to see Jehovah in the land of the living: "I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of Jehovah in the land of the living. Wait for Jehovah: Be strong, and let thy heart take courage; Yea, wait thou for Jehovah" (Psalms 27:13-14). King Hezekiah, also, when informed that he would die shortly, declared that he would not see Jehovah in the land of the living. The Prophet Hosea urged Israel to turn and to "wait for thy God continually" (Hosea 12:6), that is, to wait for the personal coming of God to earth. From these and many other Scriptures it is clear that God held out the hope to Israel that Messiah would come in the flesh and would bring the desired blessings. Many passages of Scripture, moreover, foretell that God will come and will reign over Israel. These two groups of promises meet in the person of Messiah, who is God in human form, entering the world by miraculous conception and virgin birth. Twelve different groups of prophecy in the Old Testament, with the fulfillment in the New, constitute the mold in which the life of the Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth, was cast. On the left side of the page are the Old Testament predictions; on the right, the New Testament² fulfillments.

I. PRE-EXISTENCE OF MESSIAH Old Testament Micah 5:2 New Testament John 1:1-18; John 8:58; Php 2:5-11; Hebrews 1:1-13 II. BIRTH OF MESSIAH

One may see how the purpose of God in coming to earth makes His entering it by miraculous conception and virgin birth the most reasonable way of His coming in fulfillment of His promise. Let a person, for example, think of himself as having the power of creating a universe. He creates a world and peoples it with creatures upon whom he bestows the power of free choice. He wants to communicate with them in a manner whereby he may respect their personality and freedom of choice. What is the best way of his doing so? The logical and intelligible way is for him to assume the form of his creatures and to speak to them in their own language and approach them in like manner. Such a hypothetical case shows the reasonableness of the scriptural teaching concerning God’s coming to earth and entering it by miraculous conception and virgin birth. A philosophical explanation on this point is given in Book Four of this volume, chapter XXXIV.

Old Testament Isaiah 7:14 New Testament Matthew 1:23 III. TWOFOLD NATURE OF MESSIAH

According to Isaiah 7:14 one of the persons of the Trinity comes to earth, entering it by miraculous conception and virgin birth. Such a position is summed up by Ezekiel 34:1-31. In Ezekiel 34:11 of this chapter one sees the analogy drawn between a shepherd who is in the midst of his distressed flock, and who saves them, and God who is here in person in the midst of and delivering His flock Israel, that has been persecuted through the centuries. According to Zechariah 13:7, the sword, or possibly the one who wields it, is commanded to smite the shepherd of God, whom God declares to be His equal. His fellow. He is both human and divine.

Old Testament Isaiah 7:14; Isaiah 9:6; Ezekiel 34:11; Zechariah 13:7 New Testament Luke 1:30-35

IV. GENEALOGY OF MESSIAH

According to the quotations below, the Messiah is the Son of God and a descendant of man, descendant of Abraham, of Jacob, and of the Tribe of Judah A. Descendant of God* Old Testament Psalms 2:7; Proverbs 30:4 New Testament Matthew 3:17; John 1:18; John 1:34 B. Descendant of Man Old Testament Deuteronomy 18:15; Isaiah 9:6 New Testament Luke 3:23-38 C. Descendant of Abraham Old Testament Genesis 12:3 New Testament Matthew 1:1 D. Descendant of Jacob Old Testament Numbers 24:17 New Testament Luke 1:33 E. Descendant of Tribe of Judah Old Testament Micah 5:2 New Testament Matthew 1:1-2; Revelation 5:5 F. Descendant of David Old Testament Jeremiah 23:5-6 New Testament Matthew 1:1; Matthew 21:9; Revelation 22:16 Note: Descendant of David through the line of Nathan (Luke 3:23-38).

Note: Descendant of David through the line of Solomon (Matthew 1:1-17).

Footnotes:

¹ For full discussion of the triune nature of the God of the universe, see my volume The God of Israel.

² In a number of instances, it is impossible to quote all the passages to which references are given, because of limited space. It is hoped that the reader will take the time to examine these passages in his own Bible. The American Standard Version (1901 edition) is, in my judgment, the most nearly accurate English translation available.

³ The Hebrew word translated sign has two connotations. In many instances it refers to an ordinary event or is the name of some object; for instance, the Sabbath is a sign between the Lord and Israel. On the other hand, in certain connections, this word refers to a supernatural act or event. In answer to Pharaoh’s demand that Moses and Aaron perform some wonder, Aaron cast his rod on the ground, and it became a living serpent. This act is also designated as a sign. Clearly, therefore, in this case, as in a number of others, sign designates a miracle. The fact of each context in which this word occurs indicates its significance. In the context of Isaiah 7:14 the word sign connotes a miracle.

*The expression "descendant of God" in this case is used anthropomorphically in order to show, humanly speaking, the genealogy of the God-man.

V. SOME DISTINGUISHING NAMES AND TITLES OF MESSIAH

A. Son of God Old Testament Psalms 2:7 New Testament John 11:27

B. Lord Old Testament Psalms 110:1 New Testament Luke 2:10-11 C. Immanuel (God with us) Old Testament Isaiah 7:14; Isaiah 9:6 New Testament Matthew 1:23; Titus 2:13; John 20:28 D. The First and the Last Old Testament Isaiah 44:6 New Testament Revelation 22:13 E. Servant of Jehovah Old Testament Isaiah 52:13 New Testament Acts 3:13 VI. OFFICES OF MESSIAH In the Gospel according to Matthew, Jesus is represented as the King of the Jews. To this end He was born into the world. But He will at His Second Coming reign as King, not only over Israel, but also over the entire world.

A. Prophet Old Testament Deuteronomy 18:15 New Testament Acts 3:22-23

B. Priest Old Testament Psalms 110:4 New Testament Hebrews 3:1-2

C. Judge Old Testament Isaiah 33:22 ¹

New Testament 2 Timothy 4:1

D. King Old Testament Zechariah 9:9 ²; Psalms 2:6 New Testament Matthew 21:4-9 VII. CREDENTIALS OF MESSIAH A. Coming of Messiah Announced Old Testament Isaiah 40:3; Malachi 3:1 ³

New Testament Matthew 11:10; John 1:23 B. Miraculous Works of Messiah Foretold

According to Isaiah 53:1-10, and parallel passages, when Israel accepts Messiah, He will perform all kinds of miracles, lifting the curse from the creation. One sees, for instance, that Messiah will open the eyes of the blind, unstop the ears of the deaf, heal the lame, restore the dumb, and raise the dead.

Old Testament Isaiah 33:5-8; Isaiah 26:19 ⁴ Opening Eyes of Blind New Testament John 9:6-7 Opening Ears of Deaf New Testament Mark 7:33-35

Healing at Pool New Testament John 5:5-9 Casting out Demons New Testament Matthew 9:32-33

Raising Lazarus New Testament John 11:43-44

Footnotes:

¹ This passage becomes especially intelligible if one assumes that Jehovah becomes incarnate and functions in the various capacities mentioned in this prediction. This view is demanded by many predictions of Moses and the Prophets.

² In this prediction Jehovah, Israel’s great future King, enters Jerusalem riding upon an ass. This prediction compels one to accept the scriptural teaching concerning the Son of God’s entering the world by miraculous conception and virgin birth and thus becoming the God-man with a human physical body.

³ Malachi 3:1 speaks especially of the herald of Messiah at His Second Coming, who will be Elijah the Prophet (Malachi 4:5-6). John the Baptist was the herald at Messiah’s first coming (Matthew 3:1-12)

4 An examination of the facts of the contexts of these two passages, Isaiah 35:5-8 and Isaiah 26:19, shows that the prophet was speaking of what Messiah will do when He returns to earth and sets up His reign of righteousness. Since at His Second Coming He will lift the curse from creation and restore Edenic conditions (Acts 3:19-21), it is logical to suppose that, at His first coming, He performs such miracles as are mentioned in this prediction as proof of His ability to fulfill completely these prophecies when He returns. This supposition is lifted out of the realm of conjecture to the level of certainty by the instructions regarding the credentials of prophets whom God would send to Israel from time to time. The true prophet would be recognized as such if his predictions came to pass or if the miracle which he wrought was accompanied by exhortations to worship Jehovah (Deuteronomy 13:1-5). That this interpretation is correct is seen from Matthew 11:2-6 : "Now when John heard in the prison the works of the Christ, he sent by his disciples and said unto him, Art thou he that cometh, or look we for another? And Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and tell John the things which ye hear and see: the blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good tidings preached to them. And blessed is he, whosoever shall find no occasion of stumbling in me." On this occasion Jesus refers to His miracles and His preaching the gospel to the poor as proof of His Messiahship.

VIII. THE FIRST COMING OF MESSIAH A. His Coming in Humility Old Testament Isaiah 53:1-10 New Testament Php 2:5-9 See Matthew 27:1-50 in Book Three B. His Coming to Make Atonement for Sin Old Testament Isaiah 53:1-10; Leviticus 17:11 New Testament Titus 2:11-14 C. His Coming as a Child Old Testament Isaiah 9:6 New Testament Luke 2:7; Luke 2:11 D. Time of His Coming 1. Before the destruction of the Second Temple Old Testament Daniel 9:24-26 New Testament Matthew 21:43; Matthew 24:2 (Jerusalem destroyed in A.D. 70) 2. During Judah’s Ascendancy Old Testament Genesis 49:10 New Testament 1 Thessalonians 2:1-16 E. Result of His First Coming

Failing to recognize Messiah in the person of Jesus of Nazareth, Israel is dispersed among the nations, and the temple and city are destroyed.

Old Testament Isaiah 11:12; Deuteronomy 28:64-66; Hosea 3:4-5 New Testament Matthew 23:37-39; Matthew 24:2 IX. BETRAYAL, DEATH, AND BURIAL OF JESUS THE MESSIAH That the Messiah would be betrayed by a friend, be spit upon, become dumb before His accusers, be pierced, ridiculed, and forsaken of God, His bones not broken, and that He would die a sacrificial death—a willing sacrifice—and be buried with the rich are all foretold in the following Old Testament quotations. As is set forth in Book Three, Chapter XVIII, there are four types of prophecy. The first is literal (Matthew 2:2-6) ; the second is the literal plus a typical import (Matthew 2:15); the third is the literal plus an application (Matthew 2:18); and the fourth is the literal plus a summation (Matthew 2:23). The prophecies listed below fall either in the first or the third classification.

They are nevertheless genuine prophecies. (These Scriptures are so numerous that they are cited instead of being quoted here.)

Old Testament Psalms 41:9; Isaiah 50:6; Isaiah 53:7; Psalms 22:16; Psalms 22:7-8; Psalms 22:1; Psalms 34:20; Isaiah 53:5; Psalms 40:6-8; Isaiah 53:9;

New Testament John 13:18; Matthew 26:67; Matthew 27:12-14; Matthew 27:41-43; Matthew 27:46; John 19:33; John 19:36; 1 Peter 2:24; Titus 2:14; John 10:17-18; Matthew 27:57-60 X. RESURRECTION OF MESSIAH Old Testament Psalms 16:8-11 New Testament Matthew 28:5-6; Romans 1:1-4 For further light on this most important subject, see John 20:1-10. By all means read the classical passage on the Resurrection 1 Corinthians 15:1-58.

XI. ASCENSION OF MESSIAH AND HIS SESSION AT THE RIGHT HAND OF THE THRONE OF GOD IN HEAVEN Old Testament Psalms 110:1-3; Micah 5:3 New Testament Luke 24:50-53 The Lord Jesus Christ, after His Resurrection, showed himself by many infallible proofs to witnesses chosen beforehand of God who ate and drank with Him after His resurrection from the dead (Acts 10:41). At the invitation of God and in fulfillment of Psalms 110:1-3, Jesus ascended to heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. A careful study of the passages from Moses and the Prophets shows that there is given a definite idea concerning Messiah and His major activities when He leaves heaven, enters the world by miraculous conception and virgin birth, and in the power of the Spirit of God performs His life’s tasks and duties. From these and many other passages one can get a definite idea of the exact shape and size, figuratively speaking, of the mold into which Messiah’s life was to be cast.

Then a careful study, with a mind open to truth, of the passages quoted in the right-hand column of this chapter shows that the life and activities of Jesus of Nazareth were cast in this Old Testament mold. It is utterly impossible to reach any other conclusion when all the facts are taken into consideration. Without hesitation one comes to the profound conviction that Jesus of Nazareth was the Messiah of Hebrew expectation. He was the Prophet promised Israel at Mount Sinai, whom God would send into the world.

XII. THE SECOND COMING OF MESSIAH A. Israel’s Plea for Messiah’s Return New Testament Matthew 23:39-39 As He declares in this passage, He will never return until the people of Israel, given the facts concerning Him, acknowledge their offense, repudiate the national sin, and plead for Him to come.

Old Testament Psalms 118:22-29; Hosea 5:14-15; Hosea 6:1-3; Zechariah 12:9-10; Isaiah 25:6-9; Isaiah 53:1-9 B. The Time of the Second Coming As the prophets reveal, the return of Messiah will follow the time of Jacob’s trouble, and it will precede the second and final restoration of Israel.

Old Testament Jeremiah 30:7-10; Isaiah 11:11-12; Amos 9:14-15 New Testament Revelation 19:11-21; Romans 11:25-27 C. Events Associated with the Second Coming When the people of Israel, in genuine faith, repent and acknowledge the Messiah, He will return and solve the Jewish problem once and for all. But it will never be solved in any other way.

1. Cleansing of Israel Old Testament Zechariah 13:1 New Testament Acts 3:19-21; Acts 3:26 2. Resurrection of the Righteous Dead Old Testament Isaiah 26:19; Daniel 12:2 New Testament Revelation 2:1-5 3. Deliverance of Israel Old Testament Zechariah 14:1-4 New Testament Luke 1:67-69 4. Judgement of the Nations Old Testament Joel 3:12-14 New Testament Matthew 25:31-46 5. Regathering of Israel Old Testament Isaiah 11:11-12 New Testament Matthew 23:37-39 6. Israel, a Universal Blessing Old Testament Zechariah 8:13; Isaiah 27:6 New Testament Romans 15:10-11 D. The Return of Messiah

Also as foretold by the prophets, Messiah will return in person, visibly, in power and glory, to reign over a warless world; and Elijah will announce His coming.

1. His Return Personal Old Testament Isaiah 62:11 New Testament Acts 1:11 2. His Return Visible Old Testament Zechariah 14:4; Daniel 7:13-14 New Testament Revelation 1:7 3. His Return with Power and Glory Old Testament Isaiah 59:19; Zechariah 14:9-11 New Testament Matthew 24:30 4. His Return to Reign over a Warless World Old Testament Isaiah 2:1-4; Micah 4:1-8 New Testament Revelation 20:1-6 5. His Return Announced by Elijah Old Testament Matthew 3:1-6; Malachi 4:5-6 New Testament Matthew 17:10-11

Messiah is eagerly waiting for Israel to repudiate the national sin and to plead for Him to return so that He can carry out the remaining part of the plan of God as announced by Moses and the Prophets. To this end let each one pray very earnestly—and labor.