3 REASONS WHY THE JEWS REJECT JESUS... AND MUCH MORE!!!

3 REASONS WHY THE JEWS REJECT JESUS https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amebnh1GXX4 ---------------- Old Testament messianic prophecies quoted in the New Testament https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Testament_messianic_prophecies_quoted_in_the_New_Testament#:~:text=Isaiah%2053%3A5,-Main%20article%3A%20Isaiah&text=It%20speaks%20of%20one%20known,of%20Jesus%20as%20the%20Messiah. ------------------ https://www.jesusfilm.org/blog-and-stories/old-testament-prophecies.html ------------------ https://jewsforjesus.org/learn/top-40-most-helpful-messianic-prophecies/ ------------------ https://www.gotquestions.org/is-Jesus-the-Messiah.html ------------------ https://www.gotquestions.org/let-Us-make-man-in-Our-image.html 55 Old Testament Prophecies about Jesus Some scholars believe there are more than 300 prophecies about Jesus in the Old Testament. These prophecies are specific enough that the mathematical probability of Jesus fulfilling even a handful of them, let alone all of them, is staggeringly improbable�ifnot impossible. Peter Stoner, Chairman of the Departments of Mathematics and Astronomy at Pasadena College, was passionate about biblical prophecies. With 600 students from the InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, Stoner looked at eight specific prophecies about Jesus. Theycame up with extremely conservative probabilities for each one being fulfilled, and then considered the likelihood of Jesus fulfilling all eight of those prophecies. The conclusion to his research was staggering. The prospect that anyone would satisfy those eight prophecies was just 1 in 1017.In ScienceSpeaks, he described it like this: "Let us try to visualize this chance. If you mark one of ten tickets, and place all of the tickets in a hat, and thoroughly stir them, and then ask a blindfolded man to draw one, his chance of getting the right ticket is one in ten. Suppose that we take 1017 silverdollars and lay them on the face of Texas. They will cover all of the state two feet deep. Now mark one of these silver dollars and stir the whole mass thoroughly, all over the state. "Blindfold a man and tell him that he can travel as far as he wishes, but he must pick up one silver dollar and say that this is the right one. What chance would he have of getting the right one? Just the same chance that the prophets would have had of writingthese eight prophecies and having them all come true in any one man, from their day to the present time, providing they wrote using their own wisdom." 55 Old Testament prophecies about Jesus We put together 55 prophecies that cover four specific areas: 1. Jesus's birth 2. Jesus's ministry 3. Jesus's death and resurrection 4. Jesus's role in the church We've ordered the prophecies based on their Old Testament book order. For each one, we included a verse showing its fulfillment in the New Testament. It's our hope that your faith is strengthened as you peruse these prophecies about Jesus. Prophecies of Jesus's birth Not only was Christ'smiraculous birth prophetically revealed, but God planned his lineage from the very beginning. Here are eight prophecies predicting elements of Jesus� birth and childhood. 1. The nations will be blessed through Abraham's lineage Prophecy: "I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you" (Genesis 12:3). Fulfillment: "And you are heirs of the prophets and of the covenant God made with your fathers. He said to Abraham, �Through your offspring all peoples on earth will be blessed.� When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you to bless you by turning each of youfrom your wicked ways� (Acts 3:25�26). 2. God's covenant with Isaac's ancestors Prophecy: "Then God said, 'Yes, but your wife Sarah will bear you a son, and you will call him Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him'" (Genesis 17:19). Fulfillment: "Nor because they are his descendants are they all Abraham's children. On the contrary, 'It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned'� (Romans 9:7). 3. The nations will be blessed through Jacob's offspring Prophecy: "Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring" (Genesis 28:14). Fulfillment: Jacob is part of Jesus� genealogy. "the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor" (Luke 3:34) 4. The scepter will come through Judah Prophecy: "The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, until he to whom it belongs shall come and the obedience of the nations shall be his" (Genesis 49:10). Fulfillment: Judah is part of Jesus's genealogy. "the son of Amminadab, the son of Ram, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah" (Luke 3:33) 5. David's offspring will have an eternal kingdom Prophecy: "When your days are over and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, your own flesh and blood, and I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdomforever" (2 Samuel 7:12�13). Fulfillment: "This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah the son of David, the son of Abraham" (Matthew 1:1) 6. A virgin will give birth, and he will be called Immanuel (God with us) Prophecy: "Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel" (Isaiah 7:14). Fulfillment: "The angel answered, �The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God" (Luke 1:35). 7. The Messiah will end up in Egypt Prophecy: "When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son" (Hosea 11:1). Fulfillment: "So he [Joseph] got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: 'Out of Egypt I called my son'" (Matthew 2:14�15). 8. The Christ will be born in Bethlehem Prophecy: "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times." (Micah 5:2). Fulfillment: "When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. 'In Bethlehem in Judea,' they replied, 'for this is what the prophet has written: "'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.'" (Matthew 2:4�6). Prophecies about Jesus's ministry It was God�s plan that Jesus would have a profound ministry during his time on earth. This collectionof prophecies focuses on particularly specific elements of Christ's earthly ministry. 9. Christ's ministry will destroy the devil's work Prophecy: "And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel" (Genesis 3:15). Fulfillment: "The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil�s work" (1 John 3:8). 10. Jesus will have a sinless, blemish-free life and ministry Prophecy: "The animals you choose must be year-old males without defect, and you may take them from the sheep or the goats" (Exodus 12:5). Fulfillment: "How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!" (Hebrews 9:14) 11. The Messiah will be humbled in order to serve mankind Prophecy: "You have made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honor. You made them rulers over the works of your hands; you put everything under their feet" (Psalm 8:5�6) Fulfillment: "It is not to angels that he has subjected the world to come, about which we are speaking. But there is a place where someone has testified: 'What is mankind that you are mindful of them, a son of man that you care for him? You made them a little lower than the angels; you crowned them with glory and honor and put everything under their feet.' "In putting everything under them, God left nothing that is not subject to them. Yet at present we do not see everything subject to them. But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor because hesuffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone" (Hebrews 2:5�9). 12. Jesus would become the perfect sacrifice Prophecy: "Sacrifice and offering you did not desire� but my ears you have opened� burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not require. Then I said, �Here I am, I have come� it is written about me in the scroll. I desire to do your will, my God; your law is within my heart" (Psalm 40:6�8). Fulfillment: "Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said: 'Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me; with burnt offerings and sin offerings you were not pleased.' "Then I said, �Here I am�it is written about me in the scroll� I have come to do your will, my God.�� "First he said, 'Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them'�though they were offered in accordance with the law. Then he said, 'Here I am, I have come to do your will.' He sets aside the firstto establish the second. And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all" (Hebrews 10:5�10). 13. Jesus would preach righteousness to Israel Prophecy: "I proclaim your saving acts in the great assembly; I do not seal my lips, Lord, as you know" (Psalm 40:9). Fulfillment: "From that time on Jesus began to preach, 'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near'" (Matthew 4:17). 14. Jesus would teach in parables Prophecy: "My people, hear my teaching; listen to the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth with a parable; I will utter hidden things, things from of old" (Psalm 78:1�2) Fulfillment: "Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd inparables; he did not say anything to them without using a parable. So was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophet: 'I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter things hidden since the creation of the world'" (Matthew 13:34�35). 15. Christ's parables would fall on deaf ears Prophecy: "He said, 'Go and tell this people: "Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving.� Make the heart of this people calloused; make their ears dull and close their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed"'" (Isaiah 6:9�10). Fulfillment: "This is why I speak to them in parables: 'Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand. In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: '"You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. For this people�s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them"'" (Matthew 13:13�15). 16. The Messiah would be a stone that causes people to stumble Prophecy: "He will be a holy place; for both Israel and Judah he will be a stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall. And for the people of Jerusalem he will be a trap and a snare" (Isaiah 8:14). Fulfillment: "Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, 'The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,' and, 'A stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.' "They stumble because they disobey the message�which is also what they were destined for" (1 Peter 2:7�8). 17. Christ's ministry would begin in Galilee Prophecy: "Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the nations, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan� The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned" (Isaiah 9:1�2). Fulfillment: "When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he withdrew to Galilee. Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali�to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah: 'Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles� the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.' "From that time on Jesus began to preach, 'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near'" (Matthew 4:12�17). 18. Jesus would draw the Gentiles to himself Prophecy: "In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his resting place will be glorious" (Isaiah 11:10). Fulfillment: "Many people, because they had heard that he had performed this sign, went out to meet him. So the Pharisees said to one another, 'See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!' "Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the festival. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. 'Sir,' they said, 'we would like to see Jesus'" (John 12:18�21). 19. Jesus would have a miraculous ministry Prophecy: "Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy. Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert" (Isaiah 35:5�6). Fulfillment: "When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples to ask him, 'Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?' "Jesus replied, 'Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. Blessed is anyone who does not stumbleon account of me'" (Matthew 11:2�6). 20. The Messiah would be preceded by a forerunner Prophecy: "A voice of one calling: 'In the wilderness prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain'" (Isaiah 40:3�4). Fulfillment: "John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, 'I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, "Make straight the way for the Lord"'" (John 1:23). 21. Jesus will be a gentle redeemer of the Gentiles Prophecy: "Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will bring justice to the nations. He will not shout or cry out, or raise his voice in the streets. A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice; he will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on earth. In his teaching the islands will put their hope" (Isaiah 42:1�4). Fulfillment: "Aware of this, Jesus withdrew from that place. A large crowd followed him, and he healed all who were ill. He warned them not to tell others about him. This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: 'Here is my servant whom I have chosen, the one I love, in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations. He will not quarrel or cry out; no one will hear his voice in the streets. A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out, till he has brought justice through to victory. In his name the nations will put their hope.'" (Matthew 12:15�21). 22. Jesus would be despised and rejected Prophecy: "He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem" (Isaiah 53:3). Fulfillment: "All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard this. They got up, drove him out of the town, and took him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw him off the cliff" (Luke 4:28�29). 23. Jesus will set the captives free Prophecy: "The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners" (Isaiah 61:1) Fulfillment: "He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: 'The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord�s favor.' "Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. He began by saying to them, 'Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing'" (Luke 4:16�21). 24. The Messiah will have a throne that is everlasting Prophecy: "In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples ofevery language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed" (Daniel 7:13�14). Fulfillment: "You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob's descendants forever; his kingdomwill never end" (Luke 1:31�33). 25. The Messiah will bring an end to sin Prophecy: "Seventy 'sevens' are decreed for your people and your holy city to finish transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone for wickedness, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the Most Holy Place" (Daniel 9:24). Fulfillment: "Know and understand this: From the time the word goes out to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Anointed One, the ruler, comes, there will be seven �sevens,� and sixty-two �sevens.� It will be rebuilt with streets and a trench, but in times of trouble.After the sixty-two �sevens,� the Anointed One will be put to death and will have nothing. The people of the ruler who will come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end will come like a flood: War will continue until the end, and desolations havebeen decreed" (Daniel 9:25�26). "Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen" (Galatians 1:3�5). 26. Jerusalem will rejoice as the Messiah comes to her upon a donkey Prophecy: "Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey" (Zechariah 9:9). Fulfillment: "A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, 'Hosanna to the Son of David!' 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!' 'Hosanna in the highest heaven!' "When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, 'Who is this?'" (Matthew 21:8�10) 27. He will be betrayed for 30 pieces of silver Prophecy: "I told them, 'If you think it best, give me my pay; but if not, keep it.' So they paid me thirty pieces of silver. "And the Lord said to me, 'Throw it to the potter'�the handsome price at which they valued me! So I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them to the potter at the house of the Lord" (Zechariah 11:12�13). Fulfillment: "The chief priests picked up the coins and said, 'It is against the law to put this into the treasury, since it is blood money.' So they decided to use the money to buy the potter's field as a burial place for foreigners. That is why it has been called theField of Blood to this day. Then what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: 'They took the thirty pieces of silver, the price set on him by the people of Israel, and they used them to buy the potter�s field, as the Lord commanded me'" (Matthew27:6�10). 28. Christ's forerunner would come in the spirit of Elijah Prophecy: "See, I will send the prophet Elijah to you before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes. He will turn the hearts of the parents to their children, and the hearts of the children to their parents; or else I will come and strike the land with total destruction"(Malachi 4:5�6). Fulfillment: "This is the one about whom it is written: 'I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.� "Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subjected toviolence, and violent people have been raiding it. For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John. And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come. Whoever has ears, let them hear" (Matthew 11:10�15). Prophecies about Jesus's death and resurrection The deathand resurrection of Christ are the most significant events in human history. It�s no surprise that there would be plenty of Old Testament prophecies pointing to this remarkable event. 29. Christ will be our Passover Lamb Prophecy: "Then Moses summoned all the elders of Israel and said to them, 'Go at once and select the animals for your families and slaughter the Passover lamb. Take a bunch of hyssop, dip it into the blood in the basin and put some of the blood on the top and on bothsides of the doorframe. 'None of you shall go out of the door of your house until morning. When the Lord goes through the land to strike down the Egyptians, he will see the blood on the top and sides of the doorframe and will pass over that doorway, and he will not permit the destroyerto enter your houses and strike you down. 'Obey these instructions as a lasting ordinance for you and your descendants. When you enter the land that the Lord will give you as he promised, observe this ceremony. And when your children ask you, "What does this ceremony mean to you?" then tell them, �"tis the Passover sacrifice to the Lord, who passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt and spared our homes when he struck down the Egyptians."' Then the people bowed down and worshiped" (Exodus 12:21�27). Fulfillment: "Get rid of the old yeast, so that you may be a new unleavened batch�as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed" (1 Corinthians 5:7). 30. Like the Passover Lamb, none of the Christ's bones will be broken Prophecy: "It must be eaten inside the house; take none of the meat outside the house. Do not break any of the bones" (Exodus 12:46). Fulfillment: "Now it was the day of Preparation, and the next day was to be a special Sabbath. Because the Jewish leaders did not want the bodies left on the crosses during the Sabbath, they asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies taken down. The soldiers thereforecame and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with Jesus, and then those of the other. But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus� side with a spear,bringing a sudden flow of blood and water. The man who saw it has given testimony, and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, and he testifies so that you also may believe. These things happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled: 'Notone of his bones will be broken'" (John 19:31�36) 31. The Messiah's blood will be spilled for atonement Prophecy: "For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one's life" (Leviticus 17:11). Fulfillment: "This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins" (Matthew 26:28). 32. Jesus will be lifted up, and everyone who looks on Him will live Prophecy: "So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, they lived" (Numbers 21:9). Fulfillment: "'Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.' "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in himis not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God�s one and only Son" (John 3:14�18). 33. Christ's resurrection prophesied Prophecy: "Oh, that my words were recorded, that they were written on a scroll, that they were inscribed with an iron tool on lead, or engraved in rock forever! I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see him with my own eyes�I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!" (Job 19:23�27) Fulfillment: "Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life. Very truly I tell you, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Sonof God and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man. "Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out�those who have done what is good will rise to live, and those who have done what is evil will rise to be condemned" (John 5:24�29). 34. The Messiah would be forsaken Prophecy: "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from my cries of anguish?" (Psalm 22:1) Fulfillment: "About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, 'Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?' (which means 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?')" (Matthew 27:46). 35. The Messiah would be scorned Prophecy: "'He trusts in the Lord,' they say, 'let the Lord rescue him. Let him deliver him, since he delights in him'" (Psalm 22:8). Fulfillment: "'He saved others,' they said, 'but he can�t save himself! He�s the king of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, "I am the Son of God"'" (Matthew 27:42�43). 36. The Messiah's suffering would include thirst Prophecy: "My mouth is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth; you lay me in the dust of death" (Psalm 22:15). Fulfillment: "Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, 'I am thirsty'" (John 19:28). 37. They would pierce Christ's hands and feet Prophecy: "Dogs surround me, a pack of villains encircles me; they pierce my hands and my feet" (Psalm 22:16). Fulfillment: "These things happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled: 'Not one of his bones will be broken,' and, as another scripture says, 'They will look on the one they have pierced'" (John 19:36�37). 38. They would cast lots for Jesus's clothing Prophecy: "They divide my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment" (Psalm 22:18). Fulfillment: "When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes, dividing them into four shares, one for each of them, with the undergarment remaining. This garment was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom. 'Let�s not tear it,' they said to one another. 'Let�s decide by lot who will get it.' "This happened that the scripture might be fulfilled that said, 'They divided my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment.' "So this is what the soldiers did" (John 19:23�24). 39. The Messiah will cry, "Into your hands I commit my Spirit" Prophecy: "Into your hands I commit my spirit; deliver me, Lord, my faithful God" (Psalm 31:5). Fulfillment: "Jesus called out with a loud voice, 'Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.' When he had said this, he breathed his last" (Luke 23:46). 40. Everyone will abandon the Messiah Prophecy: "Because of all my enemies, I am the utter contempt of my neighbors and an object of dread to my closest friends� those who see me on the street flee from me" (Psalm 31:11). Fulfillment: "Then everyone deserted him and fled" (Mark 14:50). 41. They will plot to kill God's anointed Prophecy: "For I hear many whispering, 'Terror on every side!' They conspire against me and plot to take my life" (Psalm 31:13). Fulfillment: "Early in the morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people made their plans how to have Jesus executed" (Matthew 27:1). 42. The Messiah will be quiet before his accusers Prophecy: "Those who want to kill me set their traps, those who would harm me talk of my ruin; all day long they scheme and lie. I am like the deaf, who cannot hear, like the mute, who cannot speak" (Psalm 38:12�13) Fulfillment: "When he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he gave no answer. Then Pilate asked him, 'Don't you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?' But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge�to the great amazement of the governor" (Matthew27:12�14). 43. God's anointed will not see decay Prophecy: "Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, nor will you let your faithful one see decay. You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand" (Psalm 16:9�11). Fulfillment: "Seeing what was to come, he spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, that he was not abandoned to the realm of the dead, nor did his body see decay" (Acts 2:31). 44. The Messiah would be abandoned by those closest to him Prophecy: "Even my close friend, someone I trusted, one who shared my bread, has turned against me" (Psalm 41:9). Fulfillment: "I am not referring to all of you; I know those I have chosen. But this is to fulfill this passage of Scripture: �He who shared my bread has turned against me�" (John 13:18). 45. The Christ will ascend into the heavens to distribute gifts Prophecy: "When you ascended on high, you took many captives; you received gifts from people, even from the rebellious� that you, Lord God, might dwell there" (Psalm 68:18). Fulfillment: "But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. This is why it says: 'When he ascended on high, he took many captives and gave gifts to his people.' "(What does 'he ascended' mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, theevangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of thefullness of Christ. "Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become inevery respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work" (Ephesians 4:7�16). 46. The Christ's thirst will be quenched with vinegar and gall Prophecy: "They put gall in my food and gave me vinegar for my thirst" (Psalm 69:21). Fulfillment: "There they offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall; but after tasting it, he refused to drink it" (Matthew 27:34). 47. The Messiah's resurrection predicted Prophecy: "I will not die but live, and will proclaim what the Lord has done. The Lord has chastened me severely, but he has not given me over to death" (Psalm 118:17�18). Fulfillment: "In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, 'Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: "The Son of Man mustbe delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again"'" (Luke 24:5�7). 48. The Messiah will conquer death Prophecy: "On this mountain he will destroy the shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers all nations; he will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove his people�s disgrace from all the earth. The Lord has spoken" (Isaiah 25:7�8). Fulfillment: "When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: 'Death has been swallowed up in victory'" (1 Corinthians 15:54). 49. The Messiah will be mocked and abused Prophecy: "'I clothe the heavens with darkness and make sackcloth its covering.' The Sovereign Lord has given me a well-instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary. He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being instructed. The Sovereign Lord has opened my ears; I have not been rebellious, I have not turned away. I offered my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard; I did not hide my face from mocking and spitting" (Isaiah 50:3�6). Fulfillment: "Then the governor�s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him. They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in hisright hand. Then they knelt in front of him and mocked him. 'Hail, king of the Jews!' they said. They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him.Then they led him away to crucify him" (Matthew 27:27�31). Prophecies about Jesus's role in the church What kind of presence would Jesus have in his church? These prophecies consider how Jesus would rule and judge the world. 50. God will raise up a prophet like Moses Prophecy: "The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your fellow Israelites. You must listen to him. For this is what you asked of the Lord your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly when you said, 'Let us not hear the voice ofthe Lord our God nor see this great fire anymore, or we will die'" (Deuteronomy 18:15�16). Fulfillment: "But do not think I will accuse you before the Father. Your accuser is Moses, on whom your hopes are set. If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me. But since you do not believe what he wrote, how are you going to believe what I say?"(John 5:45�47) 51. God will raise up a faithful priest who does God's will Prophecy: "I will raise up for myself a faithful priest, who will do according to what is in my heart and mind. I will firmly establish his priestly house, and they will minister before my anointed one always" (1 Samuel 2:35). Fulfillment: "For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people" (Hebrews 2:17). If you�re interested in learning more about what Scripture says about God�s will, check out 20Bible Verses about Discovering God's Will. 52. The Messiah will judge the world justly Prophecy: "The Lord reigns forever; he has established his throne for judgment. He rules the world in righteousness and judges the peoples with equity. The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. Those who know your name trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you" (Psalm 9:7�10). Fulfillment: "For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead" (Acts 17:31). 53. The Messiah will have all authority over judgment Prophecy: "I will place on his shoulder the key to the house of David; what he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open" (Isaiah 22:22). Fulfillment: "To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open" (Revelation 3:7). 54. The Messiah will pour out his Spirit Prophecy: "For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants" (Isaiah 44:3) Fulfillment: "But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you" (John 16:7). 55. The Messiah will usher in a new covenant Prophecy: "'The days are coming,' declares the Lord, 'when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah'" (Jeremiah 31:31). Fulfillment: "This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins" (Matthew 26:28). Astute observers will recognize the topic of justice coming up again and again in these prophecies. It�s an idea central to the biblical theme. To learn more, check out �24Informative Bible Verses about Justice.� --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DO OLD TESTAMENT PROPHECIES PROVE THAT JESUS IS THE MESSIAH? We�ve talked a lot this week about prophecy in the Bible�specifically, about what the Old Testament tells us to look for in the promised Messiah. Here, on the eve of the resurrection, we�re at a critical moment: on the third day after his death, Jesus willeither fulfill the Old Testament promises and prophecies and thus identify himself as the long-awaited Messiah, or he will fail to do so and be exposed as a fraud. In his Investigating Faith newsletter, Lee Strobel has written about the relationship between Jesus and Old Testament prophecy. Here�s his answer to a reader�s question about identifying the Messiahthrough the Old Testament. Q. I have been wondering about Old Testament prophecies. The New Testament seems to establish that Jesus is the Messiah, for example, but is this proven in the Old Testament? A. Thanks for your question! The issue about how the Old Testament proves Jesus is the Messiah cannot be done �in and of itself� without the New Testament. Since the last Old Testament book written precedesthe time of Jesus by several hundred years, it cannot �prove� what has not yet taken place. Interestingly, however, some supernatural prophecies that are not Messianic occur entirely within the Old Testament. Perhaps the most remarkable is Isaiah, who prophesied no later than 680 BC many things that Cyrus the Great would accomplish, including decimatingempires, allowing the Jewish people to return to their homeland, and a decree that the temple in Jerusalem be rebuilt (Isaiah44:28-45:13). Isaiah prophesied this more than 80 years before the first exile of Jewish people were taken captive to Babylon (circa 597 BC). Cyrus ruled Persia and the kingdoms he subsequently conquered like Babylon from roughly 560 to 530 BC. From our vantage point today, we can also see how the Old Testament corresponds to the New Testament through miraculous Messianic prophecy fulfillment. Distinct aspects of the ancestry, birth, life, ministry, death and resurrection of the Messiah were all prophesiedin the Old Testament and their historical fulfillment was recorded in the New Testament, primarily the four Gospels. The Old Testament points toward �the anointed one,� which was translated Christos in Greek, the language of the inspired New Testament Scriptureand much of the Roman world. Therefore, Christ was the term used by Christians to refer to the Messiah. Prophecy fulfillment is powerful evidence that validates the credibility and supernatural inspiration of the Old Testament, where human beings are told specific predictions by God to be fulfilled many hundreds of years in the future. While Christian apologistsdo not arrive at the same number of messianic prophecies, most agree they are numerous. Jewish biblical scholar Alfred Edersheim (1825-1889), a convert to Christianity, wrote a classic work affirming there are 456 passages in the Old Testament that refer tothe Messiah. His work The Life and Times of Jesus The Messiah is accessible for free online at CCEL.Edersheim also stated that there are 558 Messianic references in Jewish rabbinic writings. Popular apologist Josh McDowell inspired a generation of Christians to become interested in prophecy fulfillment by detailing numerous prophecies in his best-seller EvidenceThat Demands A Verdict (first printing 1972). One of the better known prophecies is Micah5:2, which says that �one whose origins are from the days of eternity� would be born in Bethlehem. In the New Testament, King Herod asked his chief priests and teachers of the law where the Messiah (or Christ) was to be born. They replied, �In Bethlehemof Judea,� specifically quoting Micah 5:2 (see Matthew2:1-6). For more examples of Messianic prophecies fulfilled, see my books TheCase for Christ and TheCase for the Real Jesus, in which I interviewed two Jewish experts and converts to Christianity, Louis Lapides and Dr. Michael Brown. They both give specific and helpful background concerning the Old Testament predictions about the coming of the Messiah.I think you�ll find those discussions helpful. In fact, in The Case for the Real Jesus, Brown establishes that either the Old Testament points toward Jesus as the Messiah or there will never be one � in otherwords, Jesus fits the �fingerprint� of the prophecies in a manner that nobody else ever did or will be able to do in the future, given the necessary time frame for the appearance of the Messiah. Keep in mind that Jesus himself claimed he was fulfilling prophecy. In the Sermon on the Mount, he said he has not come to abolish the Law and the Prophets, a designation for the Old Testament Scriptures, but to fulfill them (Matthew5:17). After his resurrection Jesus expounded to the disciples that, �This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about Me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms (Luke24:44)!� While prophecy fulfillment is stunning, foreshadowing is a literary device that anticipates important future events. It demonstrates the beauty and drama of a sophisticated narrative. The world�s great writers use foreshadowing in their masterpieces. This isanother captivating way that the Old Testament corresponds to the New Testament. Hebrews10:1 states that the Old Testament �law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming � not the realities themselves.� The fulfillment of these �types� occurs in the �good things� of the person and work of Jesus Christ, the �antitype(corresponding to something prior)� (Hebrews10:5-14). One example an Old Testament �type� or shadow is Abraham, who initially was commanded to sacrifice his only legitimate son Isaac until God saw Abraham�s faithfulness and intervened with a substitutionary sacrifice (Genesis22). The fulfillment or �antitype� is demonstrated when God the Father, who so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son as a sacrifice for the sins of the world (e.g. John3:16; Romans3:22-25). Another �type� or foreshadowing of Christ is found in the Passover lamb (see Exodus11-12). God was to deliver the tenth and final plague upon the land of Egypt, which was to strike the firstborn son of everyone in Egypt as well as livestock. However, God had a way of escape for the persecuted Israelites. They were to take the blood ofa one-year-old lamb without defect and place it above and on both sides of the doorframe of their home. God was to bring judgment upon Egypt for their worship of false gods, but when the Lord saw the blood on the doorframe of the Israelites he would pass overand spare the lives of those inside. We see the New Testament �antitype� in 1Corinthians 5:7, which says that �Christ our Passover Lamb has been sacrificed� for our deliverance by his atoning blood shed for our sins. This essay is taken from Lee Strobel�s ------------------------------- Jews for Jesus Introduction There are probably no other persons in history whose life has raised as many questions as that of Jesus (Yeshua). His life, teaching, anddeeds were of such a nature that his first disciples and closest followers were often baffled by him. But for Jesus himself, the Hebrew Scriptures were the key by which he understood his vocation as Israel's Messiah. For Jesus himself, the Hebrew Scriptures were the key by which he understood his vocation. A clear example of this comes at the end of Luke's gospel. After Jesus was crucified, his followers were crushed. They had hoped that he would be the Messiah who would destroy the tyranny of Rome and restore the kingdom of Israel. Buttheir idea of the Messiah was not God�s idea. To his disappointed followers, Jesus said: ��How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?� And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scripturesconcerning himself.� (Luke24:25-27 NIV) For Jesus, the idea that he had to first die as an atonement for our sins, and then rise from the dead, made perfect sense�and was, in fact, necessary�as the fulfillment of what the prophets of the Hebrew Bible had said. This was how he understood himself,and he argued that this was the only way his followers could understand him. But what does it mean to fulfill the Scriptures? This is not as simple as it may sound. Often, the New Testament writers say that Jesus hasfulfilled the Scriptures when something in his life is literally predicted by the prophets. For instance, the idea that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. Other times, fulfillment is not about prediction but pattern. In his role as Israel's Messiah, Jesusfulfills the Scriptures when he relives Israel's story through his own life�when he suffers their pains, endures their hardships, and lives a life of perfect obedience to God's law. So, we invite you to explore these passages below from the Jewish Scriptures and their fulfillments in the life of Jesus. The Prophecies 1) The Messiah would be resurrected Hebrew Scriptures reference: Psalm16:8-11 New Testament citations: Acts13:35-37 Commentary: King David may have seen ahead to his own resurrection�but David�s resurrection was only possible because of the resurrectionof his descendant, the Messiah. His vision of his own resurrection and that of the Messiah�s could well have blended into one glimpse of the future. Continuereading commentary � Related Topics: • Whatproof do you have that Jesus is the Messiah? • TwoMessiahs in Judaism: Ben David and Ben Joseph 2) The Messiah would bring in a new covenant Hebrew Scriptures reference: Jeremiah31:31 New Testament citations: Matthew 26:28, Luke 22:20, 2 Corinthians 3:6, Hebrews 8:6-13, Hebrews 9:15, Hebrews12:24 Commentary: The expression �new covenant� appears seven times in the New Testament, and the new covenant is even more frequently referredto simply as the �covenant,� with the context showing what is meant. The first big question is, when will this covenant begin to take effect? Continuereading commentary � Related Topics: • Overviewof the Major Prophets 3) The Messiah would be forsaken and pierced, but vindicated Hebrew Scriptures reference: Psalm22:1-31 New Testament citations: Matthew 27:35, 39, 43-44,46; Mark 15:34; John 19:23-24, Hebrews2:11-12 Commentary: The first half of Psalm 22 is the psalm of a righteous sufferer, derided by his enemies and feeling forsaken by God. From verse22 (Hebrew, 23) on, the tone changes radically as the sufferer is vindicated by God and the Lord reigns over all the earth. Beginning with a despondent tone, the psalm ends on a note of triumph. Continuereading commentary � Related Topics: • Jesus� References to Old Testament Scriptures • 4) The Messiah would be the rejected cornerstone Hebrew Scriptures reference: Psalm118:22-24 New Testament citations: Mark 12:10-11, Acts 4:9-12, Ephesians 2:20, 1Peter 2:6-8, Commentary: The word �cornerstone� may refer either to the foundation stone or to the keystone holding together an arch. So Jesus is eitherthe foundation or the �stone� holding together the entire structure of Israel. Continuereading commentary � Related Topics: ◦ Jesus� References to Old Testament Scriptures 5) The Messiah would do life-affirming redemptive deeds Hebrew Scriptures reference: Isaiah61:1-2 New Testament citations: Luke4:16-21 Commentary: �The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,� writes Isaiah, �because the Lord has anointed me.� Commentators have often wonderedwho the �me� is in this passage. Is it the prophet? Is it the �Servant of the Lord� with whom we meet in earlier chapters? Continuereading commentary � Related Topics: ◦ Whatproof do you have that Jesus is the Messiah? ◦ TwoMessiahs in Judaism: Ben David and Ben Joseph 6) The Messiah would be born of a virgin Hebrew Scriptures reference: Isaiah7:14 New Testament citations: Matthew1:22-23, Luke 1:31-35 Commentary: More than most others, this prophecy has occasioned seemingly unending debate: was it fulfilled in Isaiah�s time, or was it fora later time? Does the Hebrew word almah refer to a virgin or a young woman? Was Matthew in the New Testament misquoting it and distorting its meaning? Continuereading commentary � Related Topics: ◦ TheGenealogy of the Messiah ◦ Almah:Virgin or Young Maiden? 7) The Messiah would come according to a timetable Hebrew Scriptures reference: Daniel9:24-27 New Testament citations: Matthew 24:15-16, Mark 13:14-15, Galatians4:4 As Daniel prayed, the angel Gabriel appeared to him to bring an announcement: Gabriel tells Daniel not about the 70 years of captivity (which Daniel knew were coming to an end) but about �seventy sevens,� or a period of 490 years, climaxing not merely in thereturn from Babylon but in the messianic age. Continuereading commentary � Related Topics: ◦ TheMessianic Time Table According to Daniel the Prophet 8) The Suffering Servant of Isaiah53 Hebrew Scriptures reference: Isaiah52:13-53:12 New Testament citations: Matthew 8:16-17, Matthew 20:28, Matthew 26:28, Matthew 27:59-60, Mark 10:45, Mark 14:24, Luke 22:20, John 12:37-38, Acts8:32-35, Romans 10:16, Hebrews 9:28, 1Peter 2:21-25 Commentary: Isaiah52:13-53:12 has been a contentious passage between Jews and Christians over the centuries. Is it about Israel? Is it about the Messiah? Is it about someone else? Because of this, and also because the passage has been so influential for manyJewish people who have come to believe in Jesus, we will expand the usual short commentary into a longer four-part article. Continuereading commentary � Related Topics: ◦ Who'sthe Subject of Isaiah 53? You Decide! ◦ TheRabbis' Dilemma: A Look at Isaiah 53 9) The Messiah would bear our sins and suffer in our place Hebrew Scriptures reference: Isaiah 52:13-53:12 New Testament citations: Matthew 8:16-17, Matthew 20:28, Matthew 26:28, Matthew 27:59-60, Mark 10:45, Mark 14:24, Luke 22:20, John 12:37-38, Acts8:32-35, Romans 10:16, Hebrews 9:28, 1Peter 2:21-25 Commentary: Prophecies 8, 9, and 10 share the same extended commentary on the suffering servant. Readthe commentary � Related Topics: ◦ WhyDid Jesus Need to �Die for Our Sins?� ◦ TheUltimate Scapegoat 10) The Messiah would not remain dead, but see his seed, prolong his days and be exalted Hebrew Scriptures reference: Isaiah 53:10-53:12 New Testament citations: Hebrews 9:28, 1 Peter 2:21-25, Luke9:22 Commentary: Prophecies 8, 9, and 10 share the same extended commentary on the suffering servant. Readthe commentary � Related Topics: ◦ Resurrection:Rabbinic Judaism, Hebrew Scripture and the New Testament ◦ FirstFruits in the Bible: What Does it Have to Do with Resurrection from the Dead? 11) The Messiah would be preceded by Elijah the prophet Hebrew Scriptures reference: Malachi 4:5-6 [Hebrew Bible, verses 3:23-24] New Testament citations: Matthew 11:14-15, Matthew 16:14, Matthew 17:9-13, Mark 6:14-16, Mark 9:11-13, Luke 1:16-17, John1:21 Commentary: This is the third �forerunner� prophecy. Isaiah40:3-4 spoke of a voice crying out to preparethe way of the Lord in the desert; Malachi 3:1 prophesiedof a messenger preparing God�s way and now in Malachi4:5-6, God sends the prophet Elijah before the �great and awesome day of the Lord comes.� Elijah�s mission is to bring about reconciliation... Continuereading commentary � Related Topics: ◦ Jesusand Elijah: Comparisons and Contrasts ◦ GuessWho�s Coming to the Seder? 12) The Messiah would be a prophet like Moses Hebrew Scriptures reference: Deuteronomy18:15-19 New Testament citations: Matthew 13:57, Matthew 21:46, Luke 24:19, John 1:21, John 1:25, John 6:14, John 7:40, Acts 3:22, Acts7:37 Commentary: This prophecy comes in the context of a warning by Moses against false prophets. In contrast to false prophets, the �prophet like me� willspeak what is true. Moreover, according to verse16, the prophet would speak for God so that the Israelites would not need to hear God�s voice directly, which was a fearsome prospect. In this way, the prophet would be a mediator between God and the people. Continuereading commentary � Related Topics: ◦ AProphet Like Unto Moses ◦ AProphet Like Moses 13) The Messiah would be pierced Hebrew Scriptures reference: Zechariah12:10 New Testament citations: Matthew 24:30, John 19:31-37, Revelation1:7 Commentary: In Zechariah 12 we find a prophecy of Judah�s victory over the nations�a victory possible because God has extended his protectionto them. At that time also, according to verse 10, a �spirit of grace� will come on the people as they look on (apparently) God himself, �whom they have pierced,� and as they are mourning �as one weeps over a firstborn.� Continuereading commentary � Related Topics: ◦ JewishMessianic Interpretations of Zechariah 12:10 ◦ TwoMessiahs in Judaism: Ben David and Ben Joseph 14) The Messiah would come riding on a donkey Hebrew Scriptures reference: Zechariah9:9 New Testament citations: Matthew21:1-7 Commentary: Zechariah9:9 was therefore understood messianically. According to this Talmudic discussion, if we are worthy, the Messiah will come in the clouds. But if we are unworthy, he will come riding on a donkey. Continuereading commentary � Related Topics: ◦ TwoMessiahs in Judaism: Ben David and Ben Joseph ◦ Jesusas Messiah in the Gospels 15) The Messiah would be called out of Egypt Hebrew Scriptures reference: Hosea11:1 New Testament citations: Matthew2:13-15 Commentary: Herod had already plotted to murder all the boys in Bethlehem two years of age and under. (This actually likely amounted to abouttwenty children; seecommentary on Jeremiah 31:15.) Warned by an angel, Joseph, Mary and Jesus flee to Egypt. This was not a random location. Continuereading commentary � Related Topics: ◦ TheSon of God 16) The Messiah would be called God�s Son Hebrew Scriptures reference: Psalm2:1-12 New Testament citations: Mark 1:11, Luke 3:22, Acts 4:25-28, Acts 13:33, Hebrews 1:5, Hebrews5:5 Commentary: Psalm 2 speaks of the nations of the world plotting against both God himself and his �Anointed.� Originally, this referred to the Davidicking, but the scope of what is described here, as well as later Jewish tradition, understood this to be referring to the Messiah, God�s Ultimate �Anointed.� In verse 7, God specifically calls the Anointed �my Son� and promises worldwide rule in the face ofthe laughable opposition of the nations who counsel rebellion against God. Continuereading commentary � Related Topics: ◦ TheSon of God 17) The Messiah would be betrayed for thirty pieces of silver Hebrew Scriptures reference: Zechariah11:12-13 New Testament citations: Matthew 26:14-15, Matthew 27:3, Matthew27:9-10 Commentary: Jesus, in the tradition of the prophets of Israel, had rebuked the current leadership of Israel for being false shepherds. Yetthe true shepherd, Jesus himself, was rejected by the people and valued as lowly and worthless, just as thirty pieces of silver was the price of a slave. Continuereading commentary � Related Topics: ◦ AComparison between Joseph and Jesus 18) The Messiah would be the Son of Man Hebrew Scriptures reference: Daniel 7:13-14 New Testament citations: Matthew 9:6, Matthew 12:8, Matthew 13:41, Matthew 16:13, Matthew 16:27, Mark 8:31, Luke 6:22, Luke 9:22, John 1:51, John 3:13-14, Acts7:56 and many others Commentary: �Son of Man� is the way Jesus referred to himself numerous times in the gospels. While �Son of Man� may sound like it emphasizes Jesus� humanity,it is actually one that speaks about his deity and his exalted nature. It derives from Daniel7:13-14, where Daniel receives a vision at night. On the �clouds of heaven� he sees �one like a son of man,� who appears before God�the �Ancient of Days.� Continuereading commentary � Related Topics: ◦ Isthe Messiah Divine? ◦ ProminentTitles of Jesus 19) The Messiah would be a willing sacrifice Hebrew Scriptures reference: Genesis22:1-18 New Testament citations: John3:16, Hebrews 11:17-19 Commentary: As Abraham loved God and so obeyed Him, God loved the world. The sparing of Isaac at the end of the story enabled God�s promisesto continue to be fulfilled through Isaac and through Isaac�s son Jacob. For if Isaac had indeed been sacrificed, the promises God made to Abraham in Genesis12:3 could never have been fulfilled. In a twist on that, it was because Jesus actually was sacrificed that those promises are now fulfilled for the entire world. Continuereading commentary � Related Topics: ◦ Ramor Lamb? 20) The Messiah would be the Passover lamb Hebrew Scriptures reference: Exodus12:1-51 New Testament citations: John 1:29, John 1:36, John 19:33, John 19:36, 1 Corinthians 5:7-8, 1Peter 1:19 Commentary: One of the most pervasive images in the New Testament is that of Jesus as our Passover lamb. Recall the story from the book ofExodus. A perfect lamb had to be selected, set aside for several days, then killed and its blood put on the doorposts of the Israelites� homes so that they would be spared the tenth plague: death of the firstborn. John the Baptist twice referred to Jesus asa �lamb.� Continuereading commentary � Related Topics: ◦ John�sGospel in Jewish Evangelism ◦ 21) The Messiah would be the star coming out of Jacob Hebrew Scriptures reference: Numbers24:17 New Testament citations: Matthew2:2, Revelation 22:16 Commentary: The Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible, the Septuagint, speaks of the �rise� of a star from Jacob, echoed in the New Testament�sstar that �rose� (Matthew 2:2, 9),using the same Greek word. At the other end of the New Testament, in Revelation22:16, Jesus calls himself the �bright morning star.� Continuereading commentary � Related Topics: ◾ John�sGospel in Jewish Evangelism 22) The Messiah would be born in Bethlehem Hebrew Scriptures reference: Micah5:2 [Hebrew Bible verse 1] New Testament citations: Matthew2:1-6, John 7:40-43 Commentary: In agreement with the thought that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem, we find first that Jesus was actually born there,though he grew up in Nazareth. Second, the �chief priests and scribes� cited the prophet Micah in support of this idea. Continuereading commentary � Related Topics: ◾ OLittle Town of Controversy ◾ BiblicalLocales, Then and Now 23) The Messiah would be greater than David Hebrew Scriptures reference: Psalm110:1-4 New Testament citations: Matthew 22:41-45, Mark 12:35-37, Luke 20:41-44, Acts 2:34-36, 1 Corinthians 15:25-28, Hebrews 1:3, Hebrews 1:13, Hebrews4:14-5:10 Commentary: Rabbinic argumentation often centered on resolving two apparently contradictory Bible passages. Here, Jesus does something similar.From a multitude of passages we know that the Messiah had to be the son (that is, a descendant) of David. In that case, how can David address him as �Lord�? How can the Messiah be David�s son and at the same time his Lord? Continuereading commentary � Related Topics: ◾ TheGenealogy of the Messiah 24) The Messiah would be a descendant of David Hebrew Scriptures reference: 2Samuel 7:12-16 New Testament citations: Matthew 1:1, Luke 1:32-33, Acts 15:15-16, Hebrews1:5 Commentary: The prophets of ancient Israel looked for a day when this promise would be fulfilled in an ultimate descendant of David�the Messiah�whowould rule over the nation. Isaiah 11:1, in a great messianic passage, tells us that �there shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit.� Jesse, as we learn elsewhere, was the father of David. Continuereading commentary � 25) The Messiah is spoken of throughout the Hebrew Bible Hebrew Scriptures reference: Hebrew Bible New Testament citations: Luke24:25-27, Luke 24:32 Commentary: Jesus points them to the prophets of the Bible and reiterates what he had told them numerous times before: �Was it not necessarythat the Messiah should suffer these things and enter into his glory?� To paraphrase this, Jesus was asking, �Wasn�t it by God�s plan that the Messiah had to suffer, die, and then be resurrected?� The Greek �necessary� implies that there was no choice; thisis how things had to be to redeem Israel and the world. Continuereading commentary � 26) The Messiah would be the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace Hebrew Scriptures reference: Isaiah9:6-7 [Hebrew Bible 9:5-6] New Testament citations: Luke 1:32-33, Luke 1:79, John 14:27, Acts 10:36, Romans 9:5, Philippians 4:7, Colossians 2:3, 2Thessalonians 3:3 Commentary: In these verses, a child is at the forefront of Isaiah�s prophecies, as it was in Isaiah 7:14 (seecomments on that verse). This time, the child is given a name consisting of four exalted titles. This name has generated much discussion. Is it a description of the child himself? Continuereading commentary � Related Topics: ◾ IfJesus is the Messiah 27) The Messiah would be preceded by a messenger Hebrew Scriptures reference: Malachi3:1 New Testament citations: Matthew 11:10, Mark 1:2, Luke1:76 Commentary: Malachi is speaking to Jewish people who had returned to the land of Israel from exile in Babylon and who had rebuilt the temple.Yet the promises of God�s glory filling the temple had apparently not materialized. To a dispirited people, Malachi prophecies that God will indeed come to the temple, preceded by a �messenger.� Continuereading commentary � Related Topics: ◾ Overviewof the Minor Prophets 28) The Messiah would be the coming one to whom the scepter belongs Hebrew Scriptures reference: Genesis49:10 New Testament citations: Matthew 2:6, Matthew 2:11, Romans, 1:5, Romans 15:18, Romans 16:26, Hebrews 7:14, Revelation5:5 Commentary: This prophecy is part of Jacob�s prophetic blessings on his sons; the full blessing on Judah is found in Genesis49:9-12, in which Jacob speaks of the preeminence of that tribe. We can mention three highlights of the prophecy blessing: 1. The promise of the �scepter� and �ruler�s staff� indicates that Judah would exercise rulership. Continuereading commentary � Related Topics: ◾ Jacob�sProphecies 29) The Messiah would be acclaimed Hebrew Scriptures reference: Psalm118:25-29 New Testament citations: Matthew 21:9; Mark 11:9-10; Luke 13:34-35; 19:38; John12:13 Commentary: Psalm 118 was one of the Hallel Psalms (Psalms of Praise) recited at Passover time. All four Gospels record that as Jesus enteredJerusalem in the days leading up to Passover, crowds gathered, acclaiming Jesus as the one �who comes in the name of the Lord� (Psalm 118:26). Continuereading commentary � 30) The Messiah would be the seed of the woman Hebrew Scriptures reference: Genesis3:15 New Testament citations: Romans 16:20, Galatians 4:4, Hebrews 2:14; Revelation12:9, 17 Commentary: The singular �he shallbruise your head� suggests a particular individual; the contrast between head and heel may suggest that the blow against Satan and evil will be lethal, but not so the blow against the individual. Just as Genesis sets the stage for everything that follows inthe Bible, this verse sets the stage for the coming of someone who would inflict a death blow on Satan and on evil. As a result, many understand this to be the first hint of a coming one who will be victorious over evil. Continuereading commentary � 31) The Messiah would be the descendant of Abraham through whom all nations would be blessed Hebrew Scriptures reference: Genesis12:3 New Testament citations: Acts3:24-26 Commentary: It has always been the biblical hope that one day the nations of the world would join with Israel in worshiping the God of Abraham,Isaac, and Jacob. One can make a good case that through Jewish doctors, lawyers, scientists, and the world-renowned Israeli technology sector, great blessing has already come to the world. But as the Bible shows us, the ultimate fulfillment is that throughJesus. Continuereading commentary � 32) The Messiah would be lifted up Hebrew Scriptures reference: Numbers21:6-9 New Testament citations: John3:14-18 Commentary: In John3, Jesus is in conversation with a leading Pharisee, Nicodemus. At one point he remarks, �As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life� (John3:14). Jesus had his own crucifixion in mind when he was �lifted up� on another pole at his crucifixion; he says as much in John 12:32. Continuereading commentary � 33) The Messiah would be our Kinsman-Redeemer Hebrew Scriptures reference: Ruth4:4-9 New Testament citations: Luke 1:50, 58, 68, 72, 78; John 10:17-18; Romans 5:7-8; Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:4; Hebrews2:11-12, 17 Commentary: In the book of Ruth, the idea of chesed, oftentranslated lovingkindness or mercy, lies behind the action of the redeemer (Hebrew, go�el). Chesed impliesacting to meet the deep needs of others based on relationship of commitment and covenant. Because of this, it also implies that a more powerful person will be the one showing chesed toone who is weaker, and it is done voluntarily. In the same way, God�s chesed lies behind His acts of mercy on behalf of His people Israel. Continuereading commentary � 34) The Messiah would be the righteous sufferer Hebrew Scriptures reference: Psalm69 New Testament citations: Matthew27:33-34, 48; John 2:17; 15:25; 19:28-30 Commentary: Like Psalm22, this is also about a righteous sufferer. Psalm22 impresses us in its very graphical fulfillment in the sufferings and resurrection of Jesus. Psalm69 impresses us by being the most-quoted psalm in the New Testament applied to Jesus. Continuereading commentary � 35) The Messiah would be the great light Hebrew Scriptures reference: Isaiah9:1-2 [Hebrew Bible 8:23-9:1] New Testament citations: Matthew 4:13-16, Luke 1:76-79; 2:32; John1:4-5; 8:12; 9:5; 12:46 Commentary: Galilee, represented here by the tribal areas of Zebulun and Naphtali, were the first to be taken into captivity by Assyria inthe eighth century BC. Here, Isaiah promises that they will see a reversal of this tragedy, for God�s light will shine on them�an emblem of His presence and guidance. Matthew chapter 4 portrays Jesus� ministry in Galilee as the ultimate fulfillment of thisprophecy. Galilee, though inhabited by Jews, was also a populous area for Gentiles, hence the designation �Galilee of the Gentiles��with a hint that Jesus� ministry will impact not only the Jewish nation but others as well. Continuereading commentary � 36) The Messiah would be called a Nazarene Hebrew Scriptures reference: Isaiah11:1, Isaiah 53:3 New Testament citations: Matthew2:23 Commentary: Matthew�s Gospel cites many Old Testament prophets about the Messiah, but only in 2:23 does he use the plural �prophets� as opposedto a particular prophet: �And he went and lived in a city called Nazareth, so that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled, that he would be called a Nazarene.� Moreover, whereas in other citations he uses the word �saying� (Greek, legontos),here he uses the word �that� (Greek, hoti), suggesting that it is not a direct quote. Rather, it represents a summary of what several prophets have said. What did they say then? Continuereading commentary � 37) The Messiah would perform signs of healing Hebrew Scriptures reference: Isaiah35:5-6 New Testament citations: Matthew11:4-6, Luke 7:20-23 Commentary: In Matthew11, John the Baptist has just been imprisoned. In his perplexity�if the Messiah has come, how could this be?�he sends his disciples to ask Jesus if he really is the Coming One. Jesus responds in this way: �Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blindreceive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.� Continuereading commentary � 38) The Messiah would be preceded by a forerunner Hebrew Scriptures reference: Isaiah40:3-5 New Testament citations: Matthew 3:1-3; Mark 1:1-3; Luke 1:76; 3:1-6; John1:22-23 Commentary: As Malachi 3:1 does (see commentaryon that verse), Isaiah40:3-5 speaks of someone coming to prepare God�s way. Where Malachi talks about a messenger coming to bringGod back to His Temple, Isaiah speaks of a voice crying out to prepare God�s way in the desert. Continuereading commentary � ◦ 39) The Messiah would be a light for the nations of the world Hebrew Scriptures reference: Isaiah42:1-7 New Testament citations: Matthew 12:15-21; Luke 2:27-32; John 8:12; Revelation21:23-24 Commentary: In Isaiah42:6, we read that the servant will be �a light for the nations.� This actually helps us to understand what kind of justice (Matthew12:18, 20)God will bring to the Gentiles (the nations of the world), and what kind of �hope� Isaiah says they will have. As the following New Testament verses show, the servant�s light will provide revelation, life, and direction or guidance. Continuereading commentary � 40) The Messiah would be the object of a murderous plot, but hope lies ahead Hebrew Scriptures reference: Jeremiah31:15 New Testament citations: Matthew2:16-18 Commentary: Herod�s murder of the male children in Bethlehem who were two years old and under is part of a pattern in Scripture in whichevil rulers attempt to destroy Israel. We remember that Pharaoh asked the midwives to kill the male babies of the Hebrews. We recall that Assyria and Babylon ripped Israelites from their land and brought them into captivity. We think about how Haman triedto commit genocide against the Jewish people. Now in Matthew, Herod is seeking to destroy someone that he views as a competitor, as another king. Continuereading commentary � ◦ --------------------------------- ◦ Is Jesus the Messiah? Jesusis called theMessiah in Matthew1:16.In fact, every time someone says, �Jesus Christ,� he is referring to Jesus as the Messiah, since Christ means �Messiah� or �Anointed One.� The Old Testament predicts the Messiah, and the New Testament reveals the Messiah to be Jesus of Nazareth. Thereare several things that the Jewish people who anticipated the Messiah expected Him to be, based on Old Testament prophecies. The Messiah would be a Hebrew man (Isaiah9:6)born in Bethlehem (Micah5:2)of a virgin (Isaiah7:14),a prophet akin to Moses (Deuteronomy18:18),a priest in the order of Melchizedek (Psalm110:4),a king (Isaiah11:1�4),and the Son of David (Matthew22:42)who suffered before entering His glory (Isaiah53).Jesus met each of these messianic requirements. Jesusfulfilled the requirements of the Messiah in that He was a Hebrew of the tribe of Judah (Luke3:30),and He was born in Bethlehem (Luke2:4�7)to a virgin (Luke1:26�27). Anotherproof that Jesus was the Messiah is the fact that He was a prophet like Moses. Both Moses and Jesus were prophets �whom the LORD knew face to face� (Deuteronomy34:10;cf. John8:38).But Jesus is an even greater prophet than Moses in that, while Moses delivered Israel from slavery, Jesus frees us from the bondage of death and sin. Unlike Moses, Jesus didn�t just represent God�He is God (John10:30).Jesus doesn�t just lead us to the Promised Land; He takes us up to heaven for eternity (John14:1�3).For these and many more reasons, Jesus is a prophet greater than Moses. TheMessiah was to have priestly duties; Jesus was not a Levite, and only Levites were allowed to be priests. So how could Jesus qualify? Jesus is a priest in the order of Melchizedek (Genesis14; Psalm110:4; Hebrews6:20).Melchizedek predated the Jewish temple, and his very name means �King of Righteousness.� Melchizedek was also called the �King of Salem,� which means �King of Peace� (Hebrews7:2).Melchizedek blessed Abraham (the greater blesses the lesser, Hebrews7:7),and Abraham gave Melchizedek a tithe. Thus, as a priest in the order of Melchizedek, Jesus is greater than Abraham (see John8:58)and the Levitical priesthood. He is a heavenly priest who offered a sacrifice that removes sin permanently, not just temporarily covers it. Jesusmust also be a king in order to be the Messiah. Jesus was from Judah,the kingly tribe. When Jesus was born, wise men from the East came looking for the King of the Jews (Matthew2:1�2).Jesus taught that He would one day sit on a glorious throne (Matthew19:28; 25:31).Many people in Israel saw Jesus as their long-awaited king and expected Him to set up His rule immediately (Luke19:11),although Jesus� kingdom is currently not of this world (John18:36).At the end of Jesus� life, during His trial before Pilate, Jesus did not defend Himself except to answer affirmatively when Pilate asked if He was the Kingof the Jews (Mark15:2). Anotherway Jesus fits the Old Testament description of the Messiah is that He was the SufferingServant of Isaiah53.On the cross Jesus was �despised� and �held . . . in low esteem� (Isaiah53:3).He was �pierced� (verse 5) and �oppressed and afflicted� (verse 7). He died with thieves yet was buried in a rich man�s tomb (verse 9; cf. Mark15:27; Matthew27:57�60).After His suffering and death, Jesus the Messiah was resurrected (Isaiah53:11;cf. 1Corinthians 15:4)and glorified (Isaiah53:12). Isaiah53 isone of the clearest prophecies identifying Jesus as the Messiah; it is the very passage that the Ethiopian eunuch was reading when Philip met him and explained to him about Jesus (Acts8:26�35). Thereare other ways in which Jesus is shown to be the Messiah. Each of thefeasts of the Lord inthe Old Testament is related to and fulfilled by Jesus. When Jesus came the first time, He was our Passover Lamb (John1:29),our Unleavened Bread (John6:35),and our First Fruits (1Corinthians 15:20).The pouring out of Christ�s Spirit happened at Pentecost (Acts2:1�4).When Jesus the Messiah returns, we will hear the shout of the archangel and the trumpet of God. It is no coincidence that the first fall festival day is YomTeruah,the Feast of Trumpets. After Jesus returns, He will judge the earth. This is the fulfillment of the next fall festival, YomKippur,the Day of Atonement. Then Jesus will set up His millennial kingdom and reign from the throne of David for 1,000 years; that will complete the final fall festival, Sukkot orthe Feast of Tabernacles, when God dwells with us. Tothose of us who believe in Jesus as Lord and Savior, the proof that He is the Jewish Messiah seems overwhelming. How is it that, generally speaking, the Jews do not accept Jesus as their Messiah? Both Isaiah and Jesus prophesied a spiritual blindness uponIsrael as a judgment for their lack of faith (Isaiah 6:9�10; Matthew13:13�15).Also, most of the Jews of Jesus� time were looking for a political and cultural savior, not a Savior from sin. They wanted Jesus to throw off the yoke of Rome and establish Zion as the capital of the world (see Acts1:6).They could not see how the meek and lowly Jesus could possibly do that. Thestory of Joseph providesan interesting parallel to the Jews� missing their Messiah. Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers, and after many ups and downs he was made prime minister of all of Egypt. When a famine hit both Egypt and Israel, Joseph�s brothers traveled to Egyptto get food, and they met with Joseph�but they did not recognize him. Their own brother, standing right in front of them, yet they were oblivious. They did not recognize Joseph for a very simple reason: he did not look as they expected him to look. Josephwas dressed as an Egyptian; he spoke as an Egyptian; he lived as an Egyptian. The thought that he might be their long-lost brother never crossed their minds�Joseph was a Hebrew shepherd, after all, not Egyptian royalty. In a similar way, most Jewish peopledid not (and do not) recognize Jesus as their Messiah. They were looking for an earthly king, not the ruler of a spiritual kingdom. (Many rabbis interpret the Suffering Servant of Isaiah53 asthe Jewish people who have suffered at the hands of the world.) Their blindness was so great that no amount of miracles made a difference (Matthew11:20). Still,there were many in Jesus� day who saw the truth about Jesus. The Bethlehem shepherds saw (Luke2:16�17).Simeon in the temple saw (verse 34). Anna saw and �spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem� (verse 38). Peter and the other disciples saw (Matthew16:16).May many more continue to see that Jesus is the Messiah, the One who fulfills the Law and the Prophets (Matthew5:17). ◦ ----------------------------------- ◦ What does it mean when God said, �Let Us make man in Our image� (Genesis 1:26)? ◦ NOTE: GOD USES THE PLURAL IN MAKING MAN IN OUR IMAGE. WHO IS THE "OUR" IN THIS STATEMENT. IT CAN'T BE THE ANGELS AS THEY ARE CREATED BEINGS. THE ONLY OTHER CONCLUSION IS THAT GOD/HOLY SPIRIT/JESUS MESSIAH COULD ONLY BE ONE IN THE SAME AS PART OF THE TRINITY.SOME REJECT THIS CONCEPT OF THE TRINITY AS I AM TRYING TO CONVEY THAT THIS IS THE FULNESS OF GOD. THE "US" AND "OUR" COULD ONLY MEAN THAT THE CREATION OF MANKIND WOULD REFLECT THE WHOLENESS OF THE CREATION AND THE CREATOR. THE CONCEPT OF THE TRINITY IS EVERYWHERE.HERE ARE JUST A FEW EXAMPLES OF THE TRUENESS OF THE FULLNESS OF GODS DIVINITY. ◦ 1. GOD-JESUS-HOLY SPIRIT ◦ 2. BODY-SOUL-SPIRIT /CONSCIOUSNESS ◦ 3. WATER-ICE-STEAM ◦ 4. LAND-WATER-SKY ◦ IMPORTANT---------------- ◦ 5. GOD THE FATHER-GOD THE SON-GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT. ALL THREE OF THESE ATTRIBUTES CONTRIBUTES TO THE FULLNESS OF THE CREATOR. TO SUMMARIZE; GOD IS INVISIBLE AND JESUS IS THE PHYSICALITY OF THE UNSEEN FATHER (GOD). THIS IS WHY JESUS SAID THAT "WHEN YOU HAVE SEENME, YOU HAVE SEEN THE FATHER. JESUS CAN ONLY DO WHAT THE FATHER WILLS. JESUS SAID IN NUMEROUS SCRIPTURES THAT GOD'S WILL, WILL BE DONE. JESUS NEVER SAID THAT HE ACTS ALONE AND ONLY DOES THAT WHICH THE FATHER WILLS. ALL THREE ATTRIBUTES IS 100% UNITY AS THISCONCLUDES GODS ONENESS. IN CONCLUSION, GOD, NATURE, CREATION AND OUR EXISTENCE IS A TRINITY..................................... ◦ Genesis1 detailsthe creation account of the all-knowing, all-powerful, sovereign God. When God reaches His crowning creative act�the formation of human life�His wording changes from the impersonal �let there be� to the deliberate and intimate expression, �Let us make manin our image, after our likeness.� God�s plan for humans included giving them responsibilities on the earth: �And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over everycreeping thing that creeps on the earth� (Genesis1:26, ESV). Humanbeings�both men and women�are made in God�s image (Genesis1:27; 5:1�3; 9:6; James3:9). �Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us,� says Genesis1:26 inthe NLT. We did not evolve from other lower forms of life. We were created directly by God to represent Him on the earth and have dominion over every other creation in His name (Genesis1:26�28). Having God�simage meanswe are fashioned to resemble and represent God on the earth. Some Christians like to say we are �imagers of God.� Our likeness with God is not a physical resemblance. Instead, God�s likeness denotes our capacity to rule over creation and be in relationshipwith God and other humans and to exercise reason, intelligence, speech, moral consciousness, creativity, rationality, and choice. Since the beginning of time, God has desired to bless us and enjoy close fellowship with us, and for this reason He made us likeHimself. JesusChrist, the Son of God, is the preeminent and perfect image of God: �The Son radiates God�s own glory and expresses the very character of God� (Hebrews1:3, NLT;see also 2Corinthians 4:4; Colossians1:15).To see Jesus is to see the Father (John14:9).To know Christ is to know God. Jesus Christ shows us what God meant when He said, �Let Us make man in Our image.� Theoriginal Hebrew word for �God� in Genesis1 isthe plural masculine noun Elohim.God, our Creator, chose to introduce Himself to us with a plural title.In Genesis1:26�thefirst time in the Bible that God speaks about Himself�He uses the plural pronouns Us and Our.This passage is not the only instance in which God refers to Himself in plural terms (see Genesis3:22; 11:7;and Isaiah6:8).We find the plural Elohim morethan 2,550 times in the Bible. Weknow from Scripture that there is only one God, there is no other God, and He is one (Deuteronomy6:4; Isaiah45:5, 6, 18; Mark12:32; Galatians3:20; 1Timothy 2:5).So how can we understand the plurality of His name Elohim togetherwith His statement, �Let Us make man in Our image?� Biblescholars present several possible explanations: Somebelieve that in Genesis1:26 Godrefers to Himself and includes the heavenly assembly of angels, as in Job1:6; 1Kings 22:19�20;and Psalm89:5.However, this theory falls apart because nowhere in Scripture does God say that the angels are made in His image or likeness. Another hypothesis suggests that the plural form is used to convey dignity and splendor, a language device called �pluralof majesty.� Others chalk up the plural language to a technique known as �plural of deliberation,� used when a speaker consults with himself as the Lord does in Isaiah6:8: �Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, �Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?�� Theconviction of the early church fathers was that Elohim�s statement, �Let Us make man in Our image,� communicates a complex and unified expression of theTrinity.The doctrine of the Trinity holds that God is One in three Persons: God the Father; God the Son, Jesus Christ our Savior; and God the Holy Spirit. Here in Genesis1:26,the �Us� and �Our� indicate God the Father speaking in the fullness of His divine creative power to the Son and the Holy Spirit. A similar conversation among the Godhead is seen in Genesis3:22: �And the LORD God said, �The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil.�� Onlyhumans are uniquely created in the image and likeness of God, distinguishing them from all other earthly beings. We were made like Him so that we could be in relationship with Him�the one and only triune God. ◦ ------------------------------------