Jesus In The Old Testament

Jesus in the Old Testament. Israel's True Messiah  A Divine Watermark  Messiah  The Evidence  What Jesus Said  What Kind of Prophecy?  Jesus the Man  Jesus, Son of God  The Forerunner  The Message of Jesus  Miracles  Jesus the Rejected  Jesus the Crucified  Jesus the Redeemer  Christ is Risen  The Ascension  Yet there is more!  What difference does it make?  Prophecy Fulfilled in our Day  Finally ... The Lord Jesus Christ is the central character of the New Testament scriptures. The opening words of the first gospel account, by Matthew, can be applied to the whole of the New Testament: "The book of the generation of Jesus Christ" (Matthew 1:1). The four gospels are followed by the account of the preaching of Christ's apostles, and by the letters they wrote to believers in him throughout the Roman world in the first century AD. But information about Jesus Christ is not confined to the New Testament. His coming was anticipated by men and women who lived before the New Testament books were written: "The people were in expectation, and all men mused in their hearts of John (the Baptist), whether he were the Christ, or not" (Luke 3:15). A Divine Watermark This simple statement conceals a miracle. Yes. a miracle: something altogether beyond human achievement. And the miracle is this: there is throughout the Old Testament, on every page, a divine watermark revealing in advance the nature of Israel's coming Messiah. The Old Testament might appear to be just God's message to the Jewish people and an account of their history. But it is much more than this. There is something which is part of the very texture of the Old Testament and which cannot be removed without destroying the book as a whole. Simply stated, it is the fact that we have the life history of Jesus written centuries before he was born. In other words, you can read all about Jesus in the Old Testament. It must be a matter of regret that all this information about Christ, revealed by the inspiration of God to His servants the prophets right from the dawn of human history, is so neglected. For Jesus himself, these scriptures explained the reason for his birth, the work he was to accomplish, and the glory in store for him, and for all who

come to God through him. Our understanding of Christ will be diminished if we do not take account of the information presented about him in the Old Testament scriptures. Messiah The word Messiah is part of everyday speech. Nowadays, it is used about men who have a powerful personality and a message to go with it. But the impact usually dies when they die and pass off the scene. Such usage is a mere distortion, a poor copy, of what the word Messiah means. It is a Hebrew word taken right out of the Old Testament. It means "anointed" which in Greek is kristos, our English word, Christ. In the Old Testament, Messiah was not an historical person. The word stood for the Promised One, the Coming King, the one "whose right it is" (see Ezekiel 21:25-27). Messiah was the Great Deliverer for whom faithful Jews waited and longed. They and some of their neighbours talked about "when Messiah comes". One of the earliest disciples, after he had met Jesus. told a friend, "We have found Messiah", and the gospel writer who recorded the incident added a word of explanation, "which is, being interpreted, the Christ" (John 1:41). They were exciting times. Faithful Jews had been craning their necks to catch a glimpse of Messiah's time. They were constantly on the watch, yearning for the day. Messiah was the kernel of all Jewish hopes, the very essence of the great promises made by God as set down in the Old Testament. Jesus was that Messiah. The Evidence The Old Testament described Jesus before he was born. No one but God could have foretold in such detail so many different kinds of things about Jesus. The Jews themselves had identified many of these Scriptures as foretelling Messiah. They were not brought to light until after Jesus came. They were plain for all to see. Some of them are so astonishing that we may feel they can only have been written after the events they speak about. Yet the evidence that they were written centuries before is altogether beyond doubt. Let us say it clearly: the birth, life, mission, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ of Nazareth were detailed in the old Jewish scriptures, the Old Testament, and read in Jewish synagogues at home and abroad, and faithfully preserved right down to our own times. The Dead Sea Scrolls, discovered in 1947, some of them pre-dating the birth of Jesus by over 200 years contain, for example, copies of the prophet Isaiah with exactly the same prophecies as are known to us from our English Bible. The same is true of the Greek translations of the Old Testament: they too were made two or three centuries before Christ and are known to us by various manuscripts now in museums in different parts of the world. Thus the prophecies were known in Hebrew and Greek long before Jesus came. Therefore, it would simply be flying in the face of incontestable facts to say that these prophecies were 'inserted' after Jesus was born. In any case, we must remember that the Jewish nation is not Christian. and they would never have allowed their Bible, the Old Testament, to be tampered with by Christian hands. To try to plead, as some have done, that the prophecies were added at a later date is only to admit how good they are! The only Bible available to Jesus was the one we know as the Old Testament. Josephus, the Jewish historian of the first century AD, lists the books in the Jewish Bible in his day and they are exactly the ones we have in our Old Testament. The Old Testament without doubt predates the time of Jesus. What Jesus Said Jesus used the prophecies of the Old Testament as powerful evidences when he spoke to the apostles after he

had risen from the dead. This is what he said: "These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures" (Luke 24:44,45). Earlier, in the same chapter, we read: "And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself" (Luke 24:27). These are important and significant words. Jesus took the apostles back to the three constituent parts of the Old Testament - the books of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms. He said that in those scriptures there were things about himself which were being fulfilled in his own life-story. "In all the scriptures" is how Jesus summed up the evidence. Describing some of these prophecies, Jesus said: "Moses wrote of me" (John 5:46). Moses lived about fifteen hundred years before Jesus! After his resurrection, Jesus commanded the apostles to go out as his witnesses to preach the gospel every where. As part of their preaching of the gospel, they used as evidence those same Messianic prophecies: the history of Jesus written before it happened! And those same prophecies of the Old Testament were in use in the synagogues throughout the Mediterranean region. What Kind of Prophecy? The Bible is an account of redemption, how God rescues men from sin and from death. The Bible begins with a record of Creation and of how sin and death came into the world in the Garden of Eden. The Bible ends with a description of the culmination of God's glorious plan, still in the future, by saying that: "I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away." (Revelation 21:3,4) Jesus Christ is the bridge between Eden and the promised, glorious End. He is the means whereby God accomplishes His mission of mercy and salvation. The Old Testament prophecies about Jesus are part of that story God's Grand Plan of Redemption. The prophecies were revelations of how God would work out His saving will. Let us follow the steps in the Grand Plan, revealed long before Jesus was born. Jesus the Man The Old Testament foretold that Messiah would be a Jew, born in Bethlehem in the royal line of David the king, of the tribe of Judah. These are clear and detailed prophecies. Look at these examples: "And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou (David) shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever." (2 Samuel 7:12,13) "But thou, Bethlehem 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) These are promises of an illustrious son of David who would be born in Bethlehem. Solomon was the immediate successor - son of David, but he was not born in Bethlehem. He certainly built a temple for God, but

his throne was not established for ever. Moreover, Micah's prophecy, about Messiah being born in Bethlehem, was written some two or three hundred years after the death of David. Messiah had still not come. About seven hundred years later Jesus was born in the little town of Bethlehem a few miles from Jerusalem in the land of Judah. Jesus, Son of God The prophecies said Jesus was not only to be the son of David; he was also to be Son of God. This is variously described in the Old Testament: "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) "I will be his father, and he shall be my son." (1 Chronicles 17:13) "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." (Psalm 89:26,27) "I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee." (Psalm 2:7) Therefore Messiah would be a descendant of David but not of a Jewish father. As the New Testament later tells us, he had a virgin mother but no human father. "Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us." (Matthew 1:22.23) "Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh." (Romans 1:3) Surprisingly, the very first promise of the virgin birth (Genesis 3:15) calls the promised Deliverer: "the seed of the woman", not the seed of the man. It was God, not man, who would provide the Redeemer: nevertheless, he would be born of a woman: "But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman ..." (Galatians 4:4) The Forerunner The public ministry of Jesus was preceded by the witness of John the Baptist who declared himself to be the one who ran ahead to prepare the way for Messiah the Lord by preaching in the wilderness. This too was made plain by the prophets: "The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God." (Isaiah 40:3) "Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me." (Malachi 3:1)

The message of John Baptist stirred the hearts of thousands of Jews to repentance and preparation. John told them to get ready for Messiah, and when Jesus came to the River Jordan where John was preaching and baptizing, one of John's disciples said: "We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth ..." (John 1:45) The Message of Jesus The wonderful message of the Lord Jesus Christ came as comfort and healing to the minds of the ordinary people, and they said, "He taught them as one having authority, and not as their scribes" (Matthew 7:29). "They were astonished at his doctrine", and people of all kinds, high and low, rich and poor, sick and well, came to him and were cradled in his words of relief, care and salvation. But this was exactly what the Old Testament prophets had foretold of him: "The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me: because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD." (Isaiah 61:1-2) "The Lord God hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned." (Isaiah 50:4) No wonder the gospel is called "glad tidings". People who had been locked in dead formalism and made afraid by their teachers and rulers found release and joy and hope - just as the prophets had promised. They caught the meaning of all this, and sick people repeatedly called Jesus, "the son of David", the one promised to David by God. He was their Messiah. Miracles The good news Jesus brought was called "the glad tidings of the kingdom of God". He was the One who, at his second coming, would reign as king on David's throne. Meanwhile, his message was the royal law by which his disciples were being prepared for the kingdom. His miracles were not simply embroidery of his teaching. They were living attestations that he was Son of God as well as son of David, bringing them a foretaste of the kingdom age: "Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees. 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 35:3-6) The people said they believed that his words and miracles proved that Jesus was the promised Messiah: "Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw. And all the people were amazed, and said, Is not this the son of David?" (Matthew 12:22,23)

Jesus the Rejected Despite his wonderful words and compassionate miracles and his evident goodness, Christ was at the last rejected by his own people. The rulers envied and hated him. The common people proved to be unreliable and were easily swayed by the hostility shown toward Jesus by their elders and religious rulers. This, too, was foretold long before Christ came: "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 53:3) "Thus saith the LORD, the Redeemer of Israel, and his Holy One, to him whom man despiseth, to him whom the nation abhorreth ..." (Isaiah 49:7) "I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting." (Isaiah 50:6) "Thou hast known my reproach, and my shame, and my dishonour: mine adversaries are all before thee. Reproach hath broken my heart: and I am full of heaviness: and I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none." (Psalm 69:19,20) Jesus the Crucified The climax of the life of Jesus was his death by crucifixion. It is said that in times before Christ it was sometimes the practice to tie or nail certain criminals to a stake or tree after they had been put to death. Crucifixion of living persons appears to have come only with the Romans. It was unknown among the Jews. Yet, a thousand years before Jesus was born, his living crucifixion was clearly foretold: "For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet. I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me." (Psalm 22:16,17) Even the sharing of his clothes - which the New Testament describes as having been carried out by the soldiers is clearly described: "They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture." (Psalm 22:18) The mockery, scorn and biting derision of his enemies, and Christ's uncomplaining submission were prophesied: "But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people. All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head." (Psalm 22:6,7) "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) There are no more poignant words in the Bible than these which were written up to a thousand years before the event they describe. Their complete fulfilment in Christ is evidence that he was Messiah and that prophecies were the word of God. They could not be the word of anyone else.

Jesus the Redeemer The suffering and shame of Christ were full of redemptive purpose. He suffered for our forgiveness and salvation. The Old Testament words could not be clearer: "Surely he hath borne our griefs. and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions. he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him: and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all." (Isaiah 53:4-6) These things were not amazing coincidences or chance happenings; they were part of the Great Plan of God, of which Christ is the pivotal centre. Christ is Risen Of course, it might be said of some of the evidence so far outlined, that Jesus simply set about to act out the sayings of the Old Testament and thereby claim to be Messiah. In other words, that Jesus engineered his life to make it seem like the fulfilment of prophecy. To argue in this way is a policy of desperation. Not only has it a very hollow ring, but it does not explain the miracles Christ performed. More than that, such a theory does not account for his rejection and crucifixion which at the very least would then require the connivance of those who rejected him and the cooperation of the soldiers who crucified him. This is a most unlikely possibility. In any case, such an argument collapses completely in the light of his resurrection from the dead. This wonderful miracle was entirely out of his hands and, moreover, was not expected by his disciples. His resurrection - the final miracle which crowned everything that had gone before - came to them as a joyful surprise. And it too was foretold in the Old Testament: "Therefore I will look unto the LORD: I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me. Rejoice not against me, 0 mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness. the LORD shall be a light unto me. (Micah 7:7,8) "For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell: neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore." (Psalm 16:10,11) The words "soul" and "hell" are the usual Hebrew words for 'a person' and 'the grave'. Not only was Messiah to be raised from the dead, his body would not be contaminated by corruption during the time he was in the grave! This evidence from the Psalms forms the cornerstone of the preaching of the apostles. It could not apply to anyone other than the Lord Jesus Christ. Speaking about the words from Psalm 16, as quoted above, the apostle Peter on Pentecost day said: "Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on

his throne; he seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses." (Acts 2:29-32) The Ascension After forty days or so, the risen Christ ascended to heaven. Yes, you may have guessed it: this too was made known long ago in the Old Testament. How could so wonderful an event be foretold? It was so unusual. Yet, this is what the scripture said: "Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. (Psalm 16:11) "The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool." (Psalm 110:1) This was the crowning glory of the evidence. It completes the Old Testament trail that led to Jesus of Nazareth. It both sealed the certainty that Jesus was Son of God and it proved the Old Testament scripture to be the totally reliable word of God. That Jesus had ascended to heaven and was seated at God's right hand: that was the final evidence that Christ was Messiah. Yet there is more! There is one further piece to the story: an intriguing and altogether fitting burst of promise and light. It has been part of the Christian faith from the start. Jesus Christ is coming back to earth to reign as King. This too is all in the Old Testament: "Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore." (Psalm 16:11) This we have read; but there is an added promise in the other verse we quoted: "The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool." The Psalmist goes on to say: "The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies." (Psalm 110:2) No wonder that Psalm 110:1 is the most quoted verse from the Old Testament to appear in the New! Read how this verse was applied by the apostle Peter: "Whom (Jesus) the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began." (Acts 3:21) The Jesus who ascended to heaven is the Christ who is coming to reign on earth as King of kings and Lord of lords. He who wore the crown of thorns will wear the crown of glory. He will reign as King over all the earth. This is beyond doubt. Those promises will be fulfilled as surely as the prophecies about his first coming were fulfilled in him.

What difference does it make? In the light of these things. where do we stand? We are at the crossroads. the point of decision. Either we accept the testimony we have read as convincing, and therefore as a solid and sound foundation for our faith, or we turn away from the facts, without being able to refute them, to lead our own lives away from Christ. That is exactly what the nation of Jews contemporary with Jesus decided to do. And they were disastrously wrong. Jesus foretold to them that their rejection of him would bring an end to their existing nationhood in the land of Palestine, and the city of Jerusalem would be sacked and their temple destroyed. To them this was incredible and quite unthinkable. Yet, it happened. The Romans besieged the city and finally over-ran it in AD 70. The havoc and carnage were terrible. Despite the Roman general's command that the temple should not be violated, his soldiers set it ablaze and left it in ruins. God's words are always fulfilled. The gospel has now reached all parts of the earth. Christ has become a light to the Gentiles. as the Old Testament declared would be the case. It is for us in Gentile lands to answer the question of Pilate, the Roman governor. and to meet its challenge: "What shall I do with Jesus which is called Christ?" He is the promised Saviour of mankind. and the coming King. There is no hope for any of us or for the world without him. Wise men from a Gentile country came to Jesus when he was born. Wise men have come to him ever since. Will you be one of them? Prophecy Fulfilled in our Day The Old Testament is still being fulfilled. One of the greatest wonders of the twentieth century has been the return of the Jews to the land from which they were scattered, over nineteen hundred years ago. And the Bible said they would! "Hear the word of the LORD, O ye nations, and declare it in the isles afar off, and say, He that scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him, as a shepherd doth his flock." (Jeremiah 31:10) "For, lo, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will bring again the captivity of my people Israel and Judah, saith the LORD: and I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it." (Jeremiah 30:3) Those prophecies are as clear and unambiguous as those about Christ. We all are witnesses to their truth. Everyone knows about the Jews as a nation in their own land. The Bible foretold it and God has fulfilled it. Therefore, it is absolutely certain that Christ will come back to be King on earth. Look at what the Old Testament has promised: "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this." (Isaiah 9:6,7) Finally ... Will you be ready for the king when he comes? Wise men will. The Master comes to reign on earth. He will give eternal life to all who have believed these good things and have been baptized, and are waiting faithfully for him: "When the Son of man shall come in his glory. and all the holy angels with him. then shall he sit upon

the throne of his glory: and before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: and he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand. Come. ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world." (Matthew 25:31-34) Surely, this is worth believing. And it is true!

Proving Jesus is the Messiah from the Old Testament

At the time of Jesus and the apostles the only Holy Scriptures available is what we today call the Old Testament. The New Testament began primarily as letters or epistles written to the churches or to individuals beginning around 50 A.D. Let’s notice what the apostle Paul told Timothy: "And that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus." (2 Timothy 3:15 NKJV). Notice that the Old Testament scriptures can make you wise for salvation. Now let’s notice what Jesus said to His disciples: "O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! {26} "Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?" {27} And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself" (Luke 24:25-27 NKJV). Jesus expounded the Scriptures concerning Himself starting with the first five books of the Old Testament, the law that Moses wrote, and He expounded the writings of the Prophets. How much time did Jesus spend with His disciples in going through these passages? This must have taken Jesus several hours to expound these scriptures. Two books in the New Testament, Matthew and Hebrews, are written to the Jews. If you think there is a possibility that you will be discussing the New Testament scriptures with Jewish people, then read these two books to see how Matthew and the writer of Hebrews witnessed to the Jews. There is a "story thread" that runs through the Old Testament of the Coming of the Messiah. When we come to the end of the Old Testament, the entire Story of the coming Messiah has been pre-written and cannot refer to any other Person in History. There is a saying: "The Old Testament is the New Testament concealed. The New Testament is the Old Testament revealed." The following Old Testament scriptures plainly point forward to the Coming of the Messiah. The New Testament scriptures reveals what the Old Testament conceals, that Jesus Christ is the Messiah. He fulfills all of the Old Testament scriptures.

There are over three hundred Old Testament prophecies that discuss the Messiah. In this Bible Study type article, we will take a look at a few of these prophecies. We will look at the Old Testament portrayal and then see where it is fulfilled in the New Testament. 1 - Messiah to be the seed of the Woman (Genesis 3:15 NKJV) 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." (Galatians 4:4 NKJV) But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law." Diciples Study Bible: This is the first foregleam of the gospel. The seed or offspring of the woman is Jesus (Galatians 4:4). The bruising of His heel is the crucifixion. The crushing of the serpent is the provisional overcoming of the evil one by the cross (Hebrews 2:14) and the ultimate overcoming at the final appearing of Christ (Revelation 20:10). Christians are encouraged by the victory of Christ, from the first to the last of our Bible (Romans 16:20). 2 - Messiah to be the seed of Abraham (Genesis 12:3 NKJV) I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you (Abraham) all the families of the earth shall be blessed." Ryrie Study Bible: Vs. 12:3 bless . . . curse. Abraham's relation to God was so close that to bless or curse him was, in effect, to bless or curse God. See examples in 20:2-18; 21:22-34; 23:1-20. in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed. This promise was fulfilled in the coming of Abraham's seed, Christ (Galatians 3:8, 16). (Genesis 18:18 NKJV) "since Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? (Luke 3:23 NKJV) Now Jesus Himself began His ministry at about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, the son of Heli, ..... {34} the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor," (Matthew 1:1 NKJV) The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham:" (Acts 3:25 NKJV) "You are sons of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying to Abraham, 'And in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed.' (Galatians 3:16 NKJV) Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, "And to seeds," as of many, but as of one, "And to your Seed," who is Christ." 3 - Messiah to be of the tribe of Judah (Genesis 49:10 NKJV) 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.

Believer’s Study Bible: "The "scepter" was a symbol of kingship, indicating the preeminence of Judah as the theocratic head over later Israel. "From between his feet" is a picture of the head of state or chieftain, seated with his wand of office held before him, and extending down to his feet. Judah's superiority of character had appeared early, when he proposed to sell Joseph rather than take his life (37:26 ff.). Judah's character rose higher when he offered himself to Jacob as a pledge for Benjamin and pleaded with Joseph on Benjamin's behalf (43:9, 10; 44:16 ff.). The coming of "Shiloh" is not to terminate the reign of Judah, but it is the coming of "Shiloh" which would bring about Judah's rule over the nations. "Shiloh," therefore, is a reference to the Messiah, and the patriarch is here proclaiming the coming of the Messiah. Some commentators translate "Shiloh" as "to whom it belongs," indicating that the scepter will remain in Judah until the Person comes to whom rulership belongs." (Hebrews 7:14 NKJV) For it is evident that our Lord arose from Judah, of which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood. (Matthew 1:1-2 NKJV) The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham: {2} Abraham begot Isaac, Isaac begot Jacob, and Jacob begot Judah and his brothers. 4 - Messiah to be of the seed of Jacob (Numbers 24:17 NKJV) "I see Him, but not now; I behold Him, but not near; A Star shall come out of Jacob; A Scepter shall rise out of Israel, And batter the brow of Moab, And destroy all the sons of tumult. (Numbers 24:19 NKJV) Out of Jacob One shall have dominion, And destroy the remains of the city." (Matthew 1:1-2 NKJV) The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham: {2} Abraham begot Isaac, Isaac begot Jacob, and Jacob begot Judah and his brothers. 5 - Messiah to be of the seed of David (Isaiah 9:6-7 NKJV) 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. (2 Samuel 7:12-16 NKJV) "When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. {13} "He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. {14} "I will be his Father, and he shall be My son. If he commits iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men and with the blows of the sons of men. {15} "But My mercy shall not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I removed from before you. {16} "And your house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you. Your throne shall be established forever."' (Psalms 89:3-4 NKJV) "I have made a covenant with My chosen, I have sworn to My servant David: {4} 'Your seed I will establish forever, And build up your throne to all generations.'"

(Psalms 132:11 NKJV) The LORD has sworn in truth to David; He will not turn from it: "I will set upon your throne the fruit of your body." Disciples’ Study Bible: "JESUS CHRIST, Foretold--This verse recalls once more the promise of a perpetual heir for David's throne. It is related to Psalms 89 and is reaffirmed in the New Testament (Matthew 1:1; Luke 1:32; Acts 2:30; 13:23; Romans 1:3; 2 Timothy 2:8). No physical kingdom lasts forever. Jesus as David's heir is the rightful successor and the fulfillment of the promise. His kingdom is eternal." (Luke 1:32-33 NKJV) "He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. {33} "And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end." 6 - Messiah to be a prophet like Moses (Deuteronomy 18:15 NKJV) "The LORD your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me (Moses) from your midst, from your brethren. Him you shall hear," ..... {19} 'And it shall be that whoever will not hear My words, which He speaks in My name, I will require it of him. Believer’s Study Bible: "Prophets (navi^, Hebrew) were God's spokesmen to His people. They would be from among the Israelites (vv. 16-22) and would function as Moses had. Although this prophecy included all the true prophets the Lord would send, its ultimate fulfillment would be in Christ (cf. Luke 9:35; Acts 3:22, 23; 7:37). Note from the test of a true prophet in v. 22 that one of his characteristics was that he could predict the future, and he would do so with flawless accuracy." (John 1:45 NKJV) Philip found Nathanael and said to him, "We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote; Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph." (Acts 3:22-23 NKJV) "For Moses truly said to the fathers, 'The LORD your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brethren. Him you shall hear in all things, whatever He says to you. {23} 'And it shall be that every soul who will not hear that Prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.' (Acts 7:37 NKJV) "This is that Moses who said to the children of Israel, 'The LORD your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brethren. Him you shall hear.' 7 - Messiah to be the son of God (Psalms 2:7 NKJV) "I will declare the decree: The LORD has said to Me, 'You are My Son, Today I have begotten You. Ryrie Study Bible: Vs. 2:7 My Son. The legitimate Davidic king (2 Sam. 7:14). Today I have begotten You. The day of coronation. The New Testament relates this to Christ's resurrection (Acts 13:33-34; Rom. 1:4; Heb. 1:5; 5:5). Disciples’ Study Bible: JESUS CHRIST, Foretold--This Old Testament riddle became a New Testament affirmation. The answer Christians give to each of these questions is Jesus Christ..... The angel of the annunciation identified Him as the Son of God (Lk 1:35). Jesus was declared to be the Son of God at His

baptism (Mt 3:17). He acknowledged His sonship before the high priest (Mk 14:62). Paul affirmed the special sonship of Jesus (Ro 1:4). Peter's confession (Mt 16:16) identified Jesus as "Christ, the Son of the living God.'' (Luke 1:32 NKJV) "He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. (Matthew 3:17 NKJV) And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." 8 - Messiah to be born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14 NKJV) "Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel. (Luke 1:27 NKJV) "to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary." (Matthew 1:18-25 NKJV) Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. ...... {22} So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: {23} "Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel," which is translated, "God with us." (Luke 1:26-35 NKJV) Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, {27} to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary." .... {34} Then Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I do not know a man?" {35} And the angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. 9 - Messiah would be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2 NKJV) "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." (Matthew 2:1 NKJV) Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, (Luke 2:4-6 NKJV) Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, {5} to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. {6} So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. Comment: This is a very important prophecy that proves that Jesus was the Messiah. A person who is a fraud could not predict where he was born. 10 - Messiah would be a refugee in Egypt

(Hosea 11:1 NKJV) "When Israel was a child, I loved him, And out of Egypt I called My son. (Matthew 2:15 NKJV) "and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, "Out of Egypt I called My Son." 11 - Messiah would grow in Galilee (Isaiah 9:1-2 NKJV) 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. (Luke 2:39-40 NKJV) So when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth. {40} And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him. 12 - Messiah’s coming would invoke the death of many babies (Jeremiah 31:15 NKJV) Thus says the LORD: "A voice was heard in Ramah, Lamentation and bitter weeping, Rachel weeping for her children, Refusing to be comforted for her children, Because they are no more." (Matthew 2:17-18 NKJV) Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying: {18} "A voice was heard in Ramah, Lamentation, weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, Refusing to be comforted, Because they are no more." Comment: Jesus was the only male boy of his age because all of the others had been killed. 13 - Messiah would preach the gospel of the kingdom of God (Isaiah 61:1-3 NKJV) "The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, Because the LORD has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound; {2} To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn, {3} To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified." (Luke 4:16-19 NKJV) So He (Jesus) came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read. {17} And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written: {18} "The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; {19} To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD." 14 - Messiah would provide salvation to all nations

(Isaiah 42:1-6 NKJV) "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} He will not cry out, nor raise His voice, Nor cause His voice to be heard in the street. {3} A bruised reed He will not break, And smoking flax He will not quench; He will bring forth justice for truth. {4} He will not fail nor be discouraged, Till He has established justice in the earth; And the coastlands shall wait for His law." {5} Thus says God the LORD, Who created the heavens and stretched them out, Who spread forth the earth and that which comes from it, Who gives breath to the people on it, And spirit to those who walk on it: {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," (Matthew 12:18-21 NKJV) "Behold! My Servant whom I have chosen, My Beloved in whom My soul is well pleased! I will put My Spirit upon Him, And He will declare justice to the Gentiles. {19} He will not quarrel nor cry out, Nor will anyone hear His voice in the streets. {20} A bruised reed He will not break, And smoking flax He will not quench, Till He sends forth justice to victory; {21} And in His name Gentiles will trust." 15 - Messiah would become our Sacrifice and Healer (Isaiah 53:5-6 NKJV) 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. Believer’s Study Bible: The word "wounded" (meholal, Heb.) literally means "pierced." The vicarious and substitutionary nature of His suffering and death, in which Jesus laid down His own life in behalf of every man who would accept His redemption, is set forth (cf. 1 Pet. 2:24, 25). (1 Peter 2:24-25 NKJV) who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness; by whose stripes you were healed. {25} For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. 16 - Messiah would conceal His word by speaking in parables (Isaiah 6:9-10 NKJV) And He said, "Go, and tell this people: 'Keep on hearing, but do not understand; Keep on seeing, but do not perceive.' {10} "Make the heart of this people dull, And their ears heavy, And shut their eyes; Lest they see with their eyes, And hear with their ears, And understand with their heart, And return and be healed." (Matthew 13:14-15 NKJV) "And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says: 'Hearing you will hear and shall not understand, And seeing you will see and not perceive; {15} For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, And their eyes they have closed, Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them.' (Matthew 13:34-35 NKJV) All these things Jesus spoke to the multitude in parables; and without a parable He did not speak to them, {35} that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: "I will open My mouth in parables; I will utter things kept secret from the foundation of the world." 17 - Messiah would be rejected by the rulers

(Psalms 118:22 NKJV) The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone. (Matthew 21:42-44 NKJV) Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the Scriptures: 'The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone. This was the Lord's doing, And it is marvelous in our eyes'? {43} "Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it. {44} "And whoever falls on this stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder." 18 - Messiah to perform miracles (Isaiah 35:5-6 NKJV) Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, And the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. {6} Then the lame shall leap like a deer, And the tongue of the dumb sing. For waters shall burst forth in the wilderness, And streams in the desert. (John 11:47 NKJV) Then the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered a council and said, "What shall we do? For this Man works many signs. (Matthew 11:3-6 NKJV) and said to Him, "Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?" {4} Jesus answered and said to them, "Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: {5} "The blind see 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. {6} "And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me." 19 - Messiah as intercessor (Isaiah 59:16 NKJV) He saw that there was no man, And wondered that there was no intercessor; Therefore His own arm brought salvation for Him; And His own righteousness, it sustained Him. Webster’s Dictionary defines "intercession" as the act of interceding which is defined as "to intervene between parties with a view to reconciling differences : MEDIATE" (Hebrews 9:15 NKJV) And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance. 20 - Messiah would be a shepherd and His flock scattered (Zechariah 13:7 NKJV) "Awake, O sword, against My Shepherd, Against the Man who is My Companion," Says the LORD of hosts. "Strike the Shepherd, And the sheep will be scattered; Then I will turn My hand against the little ones. (John 10:11-16 NKJV) "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. .... {14} "I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. (Matthew 26:31 NKJV) Then Jesus said to them, "All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written: 'I will strike the Shepherd, And the sheep of the flock will be scattered.'

21 - Messiah would make a triumphant entry into Jerusalem (Zechariah 9:9 NKJV) "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. (Matthew 21:5 NKJV) "Tell the daughter of Zion, 'Behold, your King is coming to you, Lowly, and sitting on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey.'" 22 - Messiah would be betrayed by a friend for 30 pieces of silver (Zechariah 11:12-13 NKJV) Then I said to them, "If it is agreeable to you, give me my wages; and if not, refrain." So they weighed out for my wages thirty pieces of silver. {13} And the LORD said to me, "Throw it to the potter"; that princely price they set on me. So I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them into the house of the LORD for the potter. (Matthew 27:9 NKJV) Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying, "And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the value of Him who was priced, whom they of the children of Israel priced," (Matthew 27:3 NKJV) Then Judas, His betrayer, seeing that He had been condemned, was remorseful and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, 23 - Messiah would die besides criminals and buried by a rich man (Isaiah 53:8-9 NKJV) 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. (Matthew 27:38 NKJV) Then two robbers were crucified with Him, one on the right and another on the left. (Matthew 27:57-60 NKJV) Now when evening had come, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who himself had also become a disciple of Jesus. {58} This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be given to him. {59} When Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, {60} and laid it in his new tomb which he had hewn out of the rock; and he rolled a large stone against the door of the tomb, and departed. 24 - Messiah given Vinegar and Gall (Psalms 69:21 NKJV) They also gave me gall for my food, And for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink. (John 19:29 KJV) Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a sponge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth. Strong’s Concordance G3690. oxos, ox-os'; from G3691; vinegar, i.e. sour wine:--vinegar.

(John 19:28-29 NKJV) After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, "I thirst!" {29} Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth. (Matthew 27:34 NKJV) they gave Him sour wine mingled with gall to drink. But when He had tasted it, He would not drink. 25 - Messiah’s garments - They would cast lots for them (Psalms 22:18 NKJV) They divide My garments among them, And for My clothing they cast lots. (John 19:23-24 NKJV) Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took His garments and made four parts, to each soldier a part, and also the tunic. Now the tunic was without seam, woven from the top in one piece. {24} They said therefore among themselves, "Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be," that the Scripture might be fulfilled which says: "They divided My garments among them, And for My clothing they cast lots." Therefore the soldiers did these things. 26 - Messiah - Not one bone would be broken (Exodus 12:46 NKJV) "In one house it shall be eaten; you shall not carry any of the flesh outside the house, nor shall you break one of its bones. (John 1:29 NKJV) The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! (1 Corinthians 5:7 NKJV) Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. (John 19:31-36 NKJV) Therefore, because it was the Preparation Day, that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. {32} Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who was crucified with Him. {33} But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. {34} But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out. {35} And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you may believe. {36} For these things were done that the Scripture should be fulfilled, "Not one of His bones shall be broken." 27 - Messiah would be pierced (Zechariah 12:10 NKJV) "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. (Psalms 22:16 NKJV) For dogs have surrounded Me; The congregation of the wicked has enclosed Me. They pierced My hands and My feet;

(John 19:34 NKJV) But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out. 28 - Messiah would be forsaken by God (Psalms 22:1 NKJV) My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? Why are You so far from helping Me, And from the words of My groaning? (Matthew 27:46 NKJV) And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?" that is, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" 29 - Messiah was to die as a sacrifice for sin (Isaiah 53:5-6 NKJV) 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. (Isaiah 53:10-12 NKJV) 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. (John 1:29 NKJV) The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! (Acts 10:43 NKJV) "To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins." 30 - Messiah was to be raised from the dead (Psalms 16:10 NKJV) For You will not leave my soul in Sheol, Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption. (Acts 2:22-24 NKJV) "Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know; {23} "Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death; {24} "whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it. 31 - Messiah is now at God’s right hand (Psalms 110:1 NKJV) The LORD said to my Lord, "Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool."

(Luke 24:50-51 NKJV) And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them. {51} Now it came to pass, while He blessed them, that He was parted from them and carried up into heaven. (Hebrews 1:3 NKJV) who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, (Hebrews 8:1 NKJV) Now this is the main point of the things we are saying: We have such a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, In Conclusion: When the apostle Paul was in prison, he like Jesus, expounded the Old Testament Scriptures concerning Jesus starting with the first five books of the Old Testament, the law that Moses wrote, and He expounded the writings of the Prophets. "So when they had appointed him a day, many came to him (the apostle Paul) at his lodging, to whom he explained and solemnly testified of the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus from both the Law of Moses and the Prophets, from morning till evening." (Acts 28:23 NKJV.) ..... {30}"Then Paul dwelt two whole years in his own rented house, and received all who came to him, {31} preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, no one forbidding him." We have seen from our study of the Old Testament Scriptures that we can prove that Jesus is the Messiah of the Old Testament. We have seen that the New Testament reveals what the Old Testament concealed that Jesus is the Messiah, the Christ, the anointed.