Footsteps to the Messiah

Footsteps to the Messiah.

Friday, November 9, 2007

The Lamb is the unifying factor that ties together the Old Testament sacrifices with the Old Testament predictions of the Savior.

Abel reveals the necessity of the lamb.
Abraham reveals the provision of the lamb.
The Exodus reveals the slaying of the lamb.
Leviticus reveals the character of the lamb.
Isa 53 reveals the lamb would be person.

Joh 1 identifies the lamb.
Acts 8 gives us the Christ-hood of the lamb.
1Pe 1 reveals the resurrection of the lamb.
Rev 5 reveals the enthronement of the lamb.
Rev 21 reveals the endless kingship of the lamb.

Last night we sought out the Lamb of God.
Tonight we seek out the Messiah.

There is an elimination of whole categories of possibility as to the identity of the Messiah, until finally, amazingly, we are left with one solitary Individual.

The woman’s seed will inflict upon Satan, finally, a fatal wound, but in so doing is to suffer.

A blessing is promised to this man Abraham for all the families of the earth.

This principle of selectivity - the principle of limitation, of narrowing the field, enters.

The Messiah must come through Isaac.

Out of twelve tribes, one tribe is chosen, the tribe of Judah.

For the first time, we have the word “scepter” - [Hebrew shebet] - indicating kingly power.

“Shiloh” = the Messiah as the Prince of Peace.

In these passages we see not only the fact of dominion of rule, but also the focus on an individual Person - “I shall see Him, but not now.”

DEU 18:15 “The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your countrymen, you shall listen to him.”

Moses adds more information about the Messiah: the Sceptered One out of Israel is to be a Prophet also.

The word “Immanuel” means “God-with-us”.

The virgin birth and the Deity of Messiah are Old Testament doctrines that the New Testament merely confirms.

If the time of the birth of the Messiah is revealed, that is very significant.
Similarly, the place of His birth would be yet another detail that would narrow the search and eliminate imposters.

Between the time when Daniel saw these visions and the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. sets the boundaries for when the Messiah could come.

Since the year 70 AD there has been no sanctuary in Jerusalem. The Temple was destroyed in that year, and has never been rebuilt.

So the Messiah must not only possess the unique pedigree, the supernatural birth, and the nature of God, but He must also appear between the time when Daniel prophesied (around 538 BC) and the time when Jerusalem was destroyed, AD 70.

ZEC 3:8 Now listen, Joshua the high priest, you and your friends who are sitting in front of you - indeed they are men who are a symbol, for behold, I am going to bring in My servant the Branch.

David’s Son is called by two names throughout the prophets. Just these two names - “Branch”, and “My Servant.”

PSA 22:1 My God, my God, why have You forsaken me? Far from my deliverance are the words of my groaning.

How can the Messiah be a mighty King and yet be such an abject sufferer?

There is only one word that can link the glorious reigning with the suffering and death, and that word is “resurrection.”

ISA 52:14 Just as many were astonished at you, {My people,} So His appearance was marred more than any man, And His form more than the sons of men.

ISA 50:6 I gave My back to those who strike {Me,} And My cheeks to those who pluck out the beard; I did not cover My face from humiliation and spitting.

MAT 26:67 Then they spat in His face and beat Him with their fists; and others slapped Him,

MAT 27:30 And they spat on Him, and took the reed of thorns and began to beat Him on the head.

MAT 27:31 And after they had mocked Him, they took His robe off and put His garments on Him, and led Him away to crucify Him.

MAT 27:32 And as they were coming out, they found a man of Cyrene named Simon, whom they pressed into service to bear His cross.

LUK 22:63 And the men who were holding Jesus in custody were mocking Him, and beating Him,

LUK 22:64 and they blindfolded Him and were asking Him, saying, “Prophesy, who is the one who hit You?”

MAR 15:19 And they kept beating His head with a reed, and spitting at Him, and kneeling and bowing before Him.

PSA 22:14 All my bones are out of joint;

LUK 22:44 And being in agony He was praying very fervently; and His sweat became like drops of blood, falling down upon the ground.

PSA 22:16 They pierced my hands and my feet.

PSA 22:17 I can count all my bones. They look, they stare at me;

ZEC 13:6 And one will say to him, “What are these wounds between your arms?” Then he will say, “{Those} with which I was wounded in the house of my friends.”

MAT 27:46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?”