As the book of Malachi comes to a close the voice of God is silent for a period of approximately four hundred years. The Jews received no new revelation from God or guidance except for the scriptures already revealed. During this time much happens in the world. The Medo-Persian empire fell to the Greeks and Macedonians under Alexander. Alexander died at a young age leaving his empire without a leader. Four of Alexander’s generals divided the conquered territories between themselves. These territories, or most of them, were later taken over by the Romans as they pushed the borders of their empire further East. These events were foreseen in the visions of the prophet Daniel (Daniel 2,7,8). Finally Judea was subjugated by the Roman army in approximately 63 B.C. by Pompey. The kingdom with the strength of iron and weakness of clay represented in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream had come (Daniel 2.42-44).
Amidst the prophecies of doom to come on the Hebrews for their violation and departure from the law of Moses, God’s true purpose for the nation was about to be realized. The culmination of God’s plan to save not only the Jewish nation, but the entire world was rapidly approaching. In less than one hundred years after the Roman occupation of the region, two births signaled the beginning of God’s full revelation and kindness toward mankind.
Christ is the central figure of the entire Bible and the scriptures provide more direct detail about Christ than any other individual. The Bible does give a great deal of information about the nature of God but in a more indirect fashion. The nature of God can be seen in how He does things as discussed in the previous chapters. In learning about Christ one also learns about the nature of God since Christ is the “express image” of the person of God (Heb 1.3) and shares the same attributes. In this chapter, and the section on representation, the nature of Christ and God will be examined in more detail.
God created mankind in a sinless state and made provisions for a meaningful and fulfilling existence. Sin, introduced by the deception of Satan, created the need for reconciliation with God. Early in the scriptures, the promised restoration of a spiritual relationship with God is discussed prophetically and figuratively in the Old Testament and explained in greater detail in the New Testament. The very first prophecy of the Messiah is issued by God as He imposed sanctions against Adam and Eve for their transgression.
Rebuking the Devil for deceiving Eve, God states, “Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: and I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.” (Genesis 3.14-15). God pronounced a curse upon the serpent, creating a physical reminder of His judgment. As with other cases in the scriptures, God acts in such a way as to utilize physical representations to embody spiritual realities.
The spiritual aspect of this, stated figuratively, was that the serpent would bruise the heel of one identified as the seed of the woman. This person in turn would bruise the head of the serpent. Satan was able to bruise the heel of Christ through the crucifixion, but Christ’s resurrection from the dead dealt a deadly blow to the power of the Devil (Hebrews 2.14). This point will become clearer as the study progresses.
The reconciliation of mankind to God would come about through one who was the seed of the woman. In other words, the one who would bring this reconciliation about would be one who shared the nature of humans. It was necessary therefore that a physical means should be developed to bring this about. The physical instrument used by God was the Hebrew nation, descended from Abraham. God spoke to Abraham, or Abram, and told him to “Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: and I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: and I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.” (Genesis 12.13). These promises were repeated several times to Abraham (Genesis 18.18, 22.18).
God’s promise was repeated to Isaac, the son of Abraham, (Genesis 26.4) and his grandson Jacob (Genesis 28.14). Jacob, or Israel as he is later named (Genesis 32.28), prophesied of the coming of one who would restore peace between man and God as he blessed his sons. Speaking to Judah, Jacob states, “Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise: thy hand shall be in the neck of thine enemies; thy father’s children shall bow down before thee. Judah is a lion’s whelp: from the prey, my son, thou art gone up: he stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up? the sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.” (Genesis 49.8-10).
Jacob speaks of Shiloh describing him as one to whom the people would be gathered. Christ is descended from the tribe of Judah (Matthew 1, Luke 3) and is the descendant of king David. Christ’s eternal nature can also be seen in the statement Israel makes concerning Shiloh as the lawgiver that would not “depart from ....between his feet.” The gathering of the people would include all nations as prophesied by Isaiah (Isaiah 2.1-4, 42.1-11) and Micah (Micah 4.1-4).
The physical and spiritual nature of Christ’s lineage and birth is addressed by the prophets. “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” (Isaiah 7.14). This was fulfilled as we can see in the account of Christ’s birth in the New Testament. “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: when as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make a publick example, was minded to put her away privily. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife; for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done , that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet...” (Matthew 1.18-23).
The angel addressed Joseph as the son of David, who was of the tribe of Judah. Luke gives the genealogy of Christ through Mary and shows that she is of the tribe of Judah as well. Christ was brought into the world physically by means of a mother, but without the normal sexual involvement of a father. The combination of physical and spiritual elements provided Jesus with a physical heritage, lineage and the nature of deity as well. These elements meet the exact characteristics of the Messiah in prophecy and demonstrate the ongoing duality and complexity of God’s work.
The prophets revealed the Messiah’s birthplace as well. Micah states, “But thou, Beth-Lehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.” (Micah 5.2). Turning to the New Testament, we see the fulfillment of this. “And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria. And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; because he was of the house and lineage of David: to be taxed with Mary his wife, being great with child.” (Luke 2.1-5). In Bethlehem Mary gave birth to Christ as God foretold.
The coming of the Messiah would occur during a time of trouble as foretold by the prophets. Jeremiah states, “Thus saith the Lord; a voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, and bitter weeping; Rachel weeping for her children refused to be comforted for her children, because they were not.” (Jeremiah 31.15). Seeking to find the location of Christ, Herod instructed the wise men who searched for Christ to bring him word of the child and his location (Matthew 2.7-8). The wise men were warned by God in a dream not to return to Herod as the king requested (Matthew 2.12).
“Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, in Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.” (Matthew 2.16-18). As a side note, Rachel, Jacob’s favored wife, is referred to because Beth-lehem, or Ephratah, is the site of her death which occurred as she gave birth to Benjamin (Genesis 35.16).
Moses describes the Messiah as a prophet when he states, “The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him shall ye hearken.” (Deuteronomy 18.15). The people Christ grew up around recognized him, his family and his trade. “And when the Sabbath day was come, he began to teach in the synagogue; and many hearing him were astonished, saying, from whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto him, that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands? Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? are not his sisters here with us? and they were offended at him.” (Mark 6.2-3)..
Christ’s physical attributes are described in prophesy. Isaiah notes, “Behold, my servant shall deal prudently, he shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high. As many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men...” (Isaiah 52.13-14). Isaiah also states, “For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty in him that we should desire him. He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.” (Isaiah 53.2-3).
Moses details the nature of the Messiah and his role as a lawgiver like him. Moses states, “I will raise them up a prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. And it shall come to pass, whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.” (Deuteronomy 18.18-19). Some recognized Christ in the first century based on their knowledge of the scriptures. John records an example of this. “Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, we have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” (John 1.45). Christ himself affirmed that he was there to fulfill the law and the prophets (Matthew 5.17).
The spiritual nature of Christ’s work is also indicated by the Psalmist who refers to him as the Lord’s anointed (Psalm 2.2). In this passage the scriptures reveal that the kingdoms of the earth would take counsel against him but “the Lord shall have them in derision.” (Psalm 2.4). The Psalmist also noted that Christ would speak in parables. “Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old...” (Psalm 78.1-2). Matthew records, “All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.” (Matthew 13.34-35).
The spiritual nature of the Messiah would be confirmed by miracles. Isaiah states, “Say to them that are of a fearful heart, be strong, fear not: behold your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you. Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert.” (Isaiah 35.4-6).
Christ confirmed that the above statements were made concerning His work in answer to those who came to him from John, as recorded by Matthew. “Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples, and said unto him, art thou he that should come, or do we look for another? Jesus answered and said unto them, go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see: the blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.” (Matthew 11.2-5).
The Messiah would be preceded by a messenger to prepare the way for Him. Malachi wrote that before the day of the lord Elijah would be sent as a sign (Malachi 4.5). In the wilderness John the baptizer began to proclaim the coming of the kingdom of God (Mark 1.14). In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius, John began to preach the word traveling around the region of the Jordan river (Luke 3.1-5). John’s message was one of repentance to a nation that was misguided by the religious leadership of the time. He reproached the multitudes for their spiritual corruption (Luke 3.7-14) and directed them to produce “fruits worthy of repentance” (Luke 3.8). He baptized the people who responded, as a sign of their change of heart toward God, and proclaimed that the kingdom of God was at hand (Matthew 3.2).
The expectant nation awaited the coming of the Messiah and some thought that John was the one. John stated that one came who was mightier than he, whose shoes he was not worthy to unlatch (Luke 3.16). While at the river Jordan, Jesus came to be baptized by him (Mark 1.9). For those present at this event there was proof that Christ was the Messiah. As Christ came up out of the water the heavens were opened and the Spirit in the form of a dove descended while a voice from heaven proclaimed “Thou art my beloved son in whom I am well pleased.” (Mark 1.10-11). John clarified this when questioned by the Pharisees concerning his identity. John informed them there was one among them they did not know, and, while coming after John, was preferred before him (John 1.24-27). In this response John affirmed Christ’s divine nature as eternal. John was born six months before Christ and yet Christ existed before John.
The Messiah was to be betrayed by the hand of a friend. The Psalmist states, “All that hate me whisper together against me: against me do they devise my hurt. An evil disease, say they, cleaveth fast unto him: and now that he lieth he shall rise up no more. Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.” (Psalm 41.7-9). Judas, one of the twelve (Mark 3.19), conspired with the chief priests and “captains” to betray Christ and deliver Him to them (Luke 22.3-4). Judas agreed to do this for thirty pieces of silver which was also foretold by the scriptures (Zechariah 11.12, Matthew 27.3).
The Messiah would be killed as also stated in the scriptures. When Israel spoke against God on one occasion, the Lord sent fiery serpents among them. God then instructed Moses to “Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live.” (Numbers 21.8). Christ, speaking of his approaching death, stated, “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the son of man be lifted up...” (John 3.14, 8.28, 12.34-35). Christ was crucified as He told his disciples (Matthew 26.2).
The prophetic writings also cover other subtle aspects of Christ’s death. Isaiah states, “He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.” (Isaiah 53.7). Luke records Christ’s appearance before Herod stating that “when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was desirous to see him of a long season, because he had heard many things of him; and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him. Then he questioned with him in many words: but he answered him nothing.” (Luke 23.8-9).
Isaiah states, “And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was there any deceit in his mouth.” (Isaiah 53.9). Pilate, after questioning Christ, told his accusers, “Ye have brought this man unto me, as one that perverteth the people: and, behold, I, having examined him before you, have found no fault in this man touching those things whereof ye accuse him.” (Luke 23.14). In spite of this the chief priests and others insisted on Christ’s death (Luke 23.16-24) leading to His crucifixion. Christ was subsequently executed with two thieves (Luke 23.32-33, Matthew 27.38, Mark 15.27-28). After His death, Christ was buried in the tomb of a rich man, Joseph of Arimathaea (John 20.38-42).
The prophets foretold the Messiah’s resurrection from the dead. Isaiah states, “He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the Lord hath spoken it.” (Isaiah 25.8). David writes, “For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine holy one to see corruption.” (Psalm 16.10). Peter, speaking of the resurrection of Christ quotes this passage in his address to the Jews on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2.31). Christ was raised from the dead by God as the scriptures predicted (Acts 2.32, Matthew 28.1-10, Mark 16.1-20, Luke 24.1-9, John 20.1-29).
The scriptures state the Messiah would reign as a king. God promised David, “And thine house, and thy kingdom shall be established forever before thee: thy throne shall be established forever.” (2 Samuel 7.16). This promise was repeated to Solomon as well (1 Kings 9.5). Peter told the Jews on the day of Pentecost, “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.” (Acts 2.36). The reign of the Messiah would last forever as stated by the Psalmist (Psalm 45.6-17).
The Psalms describe the Messiah’s eternal throne. “He shall cry unto me, thou art my father, my God, and the rock of my salvation. Also I will make him my firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth. My mercy will I keep for him for evermore, and my covenant shall stand fast with him. His seed also will I make to endure for ever, and his throne as the days of heaven.” (Psalm 89.26-29). God also affirms this stating, “Once I have sworn by my holiness that I will not lie unto David. His seed shall endure for ever, and his throne as the sun before me.” (Psalm89.35-36).
Christ was a descendant of David and the offspring of God, being born of the Holy Spirit. The kingdom, established by Christ, would be populated by those faithful to God and would be open to all nations. “And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.” (Isaiah 2.2). Micah states, “But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills, and people shall flow unto it. And many nations shall come, and say, come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.” (Micah 4.1-2).
The eternal and spiritual nature of the kingdom can be seen in statements made by Christ concerning it’s establishment. Upon hearing the confession of Peter that Christ was the son of God (Matthew 16.16), Christ stated, “Blessed art thou, Simon bar Jonah: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16.17-18).
Christ, accused of sedition against the Romans and alleged to proclaim himself king of the Jews (Matthew 27.11), told Pilate, “My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now my kingdom is not from hence. Pilate therefore said unto him, art thou a king then? Jesus answered, thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.” (John 18.36-37). Christ confirms that His kingdom was spiritual, not physical in nature, and did not rely on worldly warfare. The kingdom spoken of by the prophets and Christ, was established on the day of Pentecost when Peter preached the forgiveness of sins in the name of Christ for the first time (Acts 2).
The Old Testament scriptures provide a foundation for Christ’s identity as the Messiah. The volume of prophecy and the nature of the Law highlights the magnitude of preparation by God and the solidity of Christ’s claim as His son. The brief review above enables us to come to this awareness by comparing prophecy and it’s fulfillment in the New Testament. Failure to understand the connection between the work of the prophets, including Moses, and Christ, leads to a faulty understanding of Christ’s purpose and misinterpretation of the New Testament.
Christ, at the age of twelve exhibited his true nature in his conversation with the doctors of the law (Luke 2.47-50). During the sermon on the mount Christ stated that he came to fulfill the Law and the prophets and not one part would be left out (Matt 5.17-18). Christ’s statement summarizes God’s plan and it’s completion as was promised before the beginning of the world (Ephesians 1.4, Titus 1.2). This aspect of the scriptures links them together as a single harmonious unit. The function of the things that were written was to preserve and give substance to the claim that Christ was the Son of God. The foundation of the prophetic word reinforces the credibility of God and the scriptures as his word (Romans 15.4, Galatians 3.24). The faith of God Himself is clarified as He made good on His promises leaving a record in writing for all time.
An abundance of proofs for Christ’s deity and identity as the Messiah, can be found in a survey of the prophets’ writings. The religious leaders of the first century had access to the scriptures and could have known, or possibly did know, who Christ was. The scriptures initially studied by the early Christians, prior to the writing of the New Testament, was the Old Testament as seen in the account of the diligence of the Bereans (Acts 17.10-11) and of the conversion of the Ethiopian eunuch who read from Isaiah (Acts 8.26-39). Students of any age having access to the Old Testament writings may see for themselves the depth and power of the Gospel message.
Christ’s identity as the summation of God’s plan to save mankind can be seen in statements made in the New Testament. Paul stated that it was the foolishness of the preaching of the cross that defied the wisdom of the world (1 Corinthians 1.18-19). Paul went on to explain that this mystery, that of Christ, his crucifixion and resurrection from the dead, was concealed from the darkness of the world for if they had known it they would not have killed him (1 Corinthians 2.6-8). The plan of God, concealed through prophecy, was fully revealed in Christ. Paul makes the same point to the Colossians as he explains that the mystery concealed from generations had been made manifest to his saints through the hope in Christ (Colossians 1.26-27).
Other writers also allude to the completion of the gospel during the first century thus dispelling fears that there remains anything hidden that God wanted man to know. Peter stated that all things had been revealed pertaining to life and godliness through the knowledge of Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1.3). Jude exhorts Christians to earnestly contend for the faith which was “once delivered unto the saints” (Jude 3). The use of the past tense by these writers indicates that the revelation had come and God’s plan was fulfilled. Paul warned that though “we or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.” (Galatians 1.8). This warning is repeated once more (Galatians 1.9) and John likewise warns that anyone not possessing this gospel should be avoided (2 John 10-11).
Christ’s claim that He was the Messiah would not have been credible without the preparation God made through the prophets. In the same way that Christians are exhorted to hold to the doctrine of the New Testament as God’s word, so Christ rested his claims as the Messiah on the word of God. By reviewing the statements made by the prophets and comparing them with Christ, one may find substance to the scriptural message. Peter confirms that the prophets spoke of Christ when he writes, “Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glory that should follow.” (1 Peter 1.10-11). The prophets, like many of God’s faithful, died without seeing the actual fulfillment of their writing (Hebrews 11.39-40).
Christ had come in the flesh as a man. Paul states that the Law pointed to Christ and served as a schoolmaster to bring the Jews to Him (Galatians 3.21-25). The mystery of God was being revealed, the secret and key to the peace between man and God was the Messiah (Ephesians 1.9-10, Colossians 1.26-27). Within Christ, God would include all of mankind as a whole. God’s chosen people would be those who believed on him and obeyed the word of the Gospel which was later preached (Jeremiah 31.31-34, Acts 10.34-35). John records Christ’s message that he is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end (Revelation 1.8). Christ, the author and finisher of the faith, had indeed appeared to perform the will of God as a servant for the sake of the creature, man (Philippians 2.5-8).
Christ, as the living word of God (John 1.1-9) is the essence of creation itself (Colossians 1.16-17). He was the only true and acceptable sacrifice prepared by God for the sins of the world (Hebrews 10.4-10). Under the Law there was no provision for the removal of sin by forgiveness (Hebrews 10.1-4). God set the sins of His people aside as long as they remained faithful to him (Hebrews 10.1-4). The coming of the Messiah made it possible for the Gentiles to be reconciled to God (Ephesians 2) as well as those who had died under the law whose sins were forgiven when the ultimate sacrifice was made (Hebrews 9.15).
God’s word as a foundation for the deity of Christ, can be seen in Christ’s own utilization of that word. When tempted by Satan, who also knew the scriptures, Christ responded with the word of God (Matt 4.1-10). He demonstrated that even the tempter knows the limits set by God and eventually departed. In the same manner, Christians are to resist the Devil, who seeks to do them spiritual harm (1 Peter 5.8) by being prepared through the word of God (Ephesians 6.13-18). Christ stated that he came as a servant but He also served as an example. In His example is the foundation of the continued spiritual life of the faithful. Through His word the mind and emotions are made strong to withstand the evil of this world. Christ stated that “man does not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God” (Matthew 4.4). He spoke here of the spiritual life which one has which is the only true life and has left a record for all people for all time who seek after God (Acts 15.16-17, 17.24-30).