All posts by Luella Campbell

JESUS, THE GOD-MAN – 6

Bible Study, ,

THE GOD-MAN, HIS INAUGURATION

Thrirty years of obscurity, His apprenticeship accomplished, Jesus, the God-man, tested and equipped, steps into His ministry. What would be His topic, His focus, the first words of His new venture, His message to His people?

“Look at me! I have arrived! I am the Son of God! I’m here to rescue you! Listen to me! It’s all about me! Me…me…me…!” Was this His mission, to present Himself as the answer to their hopes and dreams?

Yes, and no! His ultimate purpose was to draw His people to faith in Himself as God’s provision for their deliverance, not from Rome but from their greater enslavement, sin. However, He did it, not by calling attention first, to Himself, not in the way we would have done it.

Jesus, the God-man, came from God, sent by the Father, to conduct the Father’s business on earth as a true Son. Check His first recorded words as a twelve-year-old…

Luke 2:49 NIV
[49] “Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?”

The original Greek is obscure but does not include the word “house”. The word, “en”, translated “in”, can mean “about”, depending on the context. I think a better translation would be, “about my Father”, implying that He was about the Father’s business rather than the temple, mistranslated “the Father’s house”.

The Father sent the Son to do His (the Father’s) business, therefore, it was fitting that the Son’s first public statement would be about the kingdom because the kingdom was the Father’s business.

What would have been the people’s reaction had He announced Himself rather than the kingdom as His first public statement? Would they have believed the words of an unknown Galilean peasant? He had done nothing yet to present His credentials. What was the expectation of the people? They wanted a deliverer who would rescue them from Roman occupation and set up the rule of God as it was under David. How could they know that He was the one?

In one sentence, the God-man uttered a summary of His mission, yes, centred in Himself, the ultimate prize, heaven and earth united under God’s sovereign rule.

Matthew 4:17 NIV
[17] “From that time on, Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”

The disciples’ question, shortly before Jesus returned to heaven, shows where their thoughts were, despite their years with Him.

Acts 1:6 NIV
[6] “Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”…

For Jesus, it would take years of living, patient teaching and demonstration, to convince His people that He was the Son of God, and that God’s kingdom was being restored on earth and that He, the God-man, was His appointed and anointed king over that realm and the Father’s way to back to Him.

Although He came as king, the God-man had only one lone herald to announce His arrival. No entourage, no trumpets, no fanfare, no pomp and ceremony, no royal trappings! Centuries before, the prophet spoke of a single person who would go before His servant, to tell His people that the king had come. How would they identify him this herald?

Isaiah 40:3-5 NLT
[3] Listen! It’s the voice of someone shouting, “Clear the way through the wilderness for the Lord! Make a straight highway through the wasteland for our God! [4] Fill in the valleys, and level the mountains and hills. Straighten the curves, and smooth out the rough places. [5] Then the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all people will see it together. The Lord has spoken!”

A lone voice crying! Not the man, but his message, would attract their attention. John, God’s appointed herald, was the man.

Isaiah 40:3-5 NLT
[3] Listen! It’s the voice of someone shouting, “Clear the way through the wilderness for the Lord! Make a straight highway through the wasteland for our God! [4] Fill in the valleys, and level the mountains and hills. Straighten the curves, and smooth out the rough places. [5] Then the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all people will see it together. The Lord has spoken!”

John was the vehicle and the voice, a strange man, an only son, born of aging parents, living as a hermit in the wilderness, eating off the land and dressing in animal skins… not the usual kind of person chosen to herald the coming of a king!

It was his message, not strange, only riveting! “Wake up, people! God’s kingdom has finally come. If you want to be part of it, prepare to change,” that attracted attention. His message was not only riveting but different, not “Clean your houses,” but “Clean your hearts!”, for cleansed hearts would be the realm in which this king would reign.

This kingdom did not require a royal residence for its king, nor did it need a trained and equipped staff to run its affairs. This kingdom would be within the hearts and revealed in the lives of those who who were its citizens by faith.

The words of Jesus announcing the arrival of this kingdom echoed John’s words…

Matthew 3:1-2 t John the Baptist came to the Judean wilderness and began preaching. His message was, [2] “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.”

…tying herald and king together into one intention, one focus, not the men but their message. John was nothing but a voice. Jesus was nothing but a servant of the message…and yet, as the story unfolded, Jesus and His message became one. He was messenger and message.

Slowly, as the weeks passed, the ministry of the herald faded, and eventually died with him. After only six months, his work was done. He had earned his stripes, the accolades of the one whose arrival he had announced.

Matthew 11:11 NLT
[11] “I tell you the truth, of all who have ever lived, none is greater than John the Baptist. Yet even the least person in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than he is!”

Yet, John, the last of the dispensation of the Old Covenant prophets, was only the bridge, the greatest of the Old in his own right but yet, never as great as the lowliest of the New. He had to move on to make room for the chief player on the stage of history.

Jesus, the God-man, now unrivalled and alone, was left to fulfil the ministry His herald had announced, to prove to the world He was the worthy, sovereign ruler of God’s kingdom. He would be enthroned on a cross, crowned with thorns, garbed in a robe of His own blood, dead and buried in a borrowed tomb, only to rise in glory to take His rightful place as King of kings and Lord of lords.

To be continued…

JESUS, THE GOD-MAN – 5

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THE GOD-MAN, TESTED

One more test to pass before the God-man could step onto the public stage. Already equipped with the Father’s blessing after a peerless thirty years, Jesus had to decide His strategy… under whose authority would the God-man carry out His mission?

Would the Father, who loved His Son, choose to set the test? Not Himself or the Holy Spirit! None other than the devil, His most formidable opponent! Why the devil? Why not the religious leaders…those who would be in His face to the full extent of His endurance? The devil it was who masterminded Jesus’ opposition, challenging, like he did Job, not only His actions but the very core of His relationship with the Father. Was is not the same gauntlet he threw down before the first Adam…”You don’t need God. You can be God!”

“If you are the Son of God…!”

Where would He take the test? In the most inaccessible terrain, the wilderness of Judea, deserted and in total isolation! No food, no water, no creature comforts, no shelter, no human company, no support system, no cellphone, no Wifi, no 911, no possibility of calling for help… just utter desolation and silence!

And so He waited…day after day…and nothing happened! Ten days…nothing, silence! Twenty days…nothing, silence, not even a bird call to break the monotony! Thirty days…still nothing, still silence! Forty days…empty stomach writhing in pain, lips cracked and bleeding from thirst! Then, like a caged animal released, the devil burst on the scene! Had he been waiting in the shadows, straining at the leash, watching his opponent grow weaker by the day? Visible? We don’t know, but real, yes, horribly real! Why now, when Jesus was drained to the dregs? Why not forty days ago when He was fresh and up to the challenge?

Who was the referee in this struggle for position…power… authority…ultimately Lordship, in this monumental battle?

Matthew 4:1 NIV
[1] “Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.”

The Holy Spirit was there, all the time, keeping score, silent, invisible, uninvolved but vigilant. This was Jesus’ fight. He could not intervene.

What was the issue? What was the prize?

The devil had once challenged God for the highest position in heaven… and lost.

Isaiah 14:12-14 NLT
[12] “How you are fallen from heaven, O shining star, son of the morning! You have been thrown down to the earth, you who destroyed the nations of the world. [13] For you said to yourself, ‘I will ascend to heaven and set my throne above God’s stars. I will preside on the mountain of the gods far away in the north. [14] I will climb to the highest heavens and be like the Most High.’

Since he had already lost to God, the same devil challenged the first Adam, and won. The only obstacle between him and the coveted prize was the last Adam. He still wanted the title, office, and role of Lord of the universe. Beat Him, and the title and role was his! He saw his opportunity through God’s offspring, this “Adam”, this righteous but untested God-man, now weak and vulnerable.

To gain the throne from Jesus Himself, the last Adam, Satan would need to win it by cunning and stealth.

It was showdown time. Step by step, Satan went for the jugular, the God-man’s unity with the Father through the Spirit. To prise Him loose from His union with the Father, he tried a sneak attack…act by your own power. “You don’t need God. You are God.”

The devil knew he could not attack His deity, so he tried Jesus’ vulnerable humanity through the front door…extreme physical hunger! Jesus refused to take the bait. As hungry as He was, He still left the choice, the initiative to the Father. His strategy unveiled, little by little, as the tests were hurled at Him. Point one…

Matthew 4:4 NIV
[4] “Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

God’s Word would always be His modus operandi, His guiding light, His method of attack and defence, His weapon of choice. Obedience to God’s Word would be His supreme and only way to go.

Round one: Jesus – 1, Satan – 0.

John 8:29 NIV
[29] “The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him.”

“Okay, if that’s your strategy, Jesus, how are you going to apply it?”

The devil’s tactic became more subtle. If you are choosing to live only by God’s Word, use it to get what you are after! What do you can to get what you want, Jesus, you God-man? You want what I want…supreme authority over your people, your world…to be, once and for all, Lord! Show your people your power by defying gravity in public! Jump from the highest point on the temple so that everyone can see you. God’s angels will catch you. He won’t let you fall. That’s His Word! That will convince the people who you are!

Jesus gave the devil a withering look. “You fool! Do you think I don’t know the truth? Do you think I’m stupid enough to fall for your scheme?”

Matthew 4:7 NIV
[7] Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”

Score: Jesus – 2, Satan – 0

Angry and raging, not willing to give up, the devil strips off his cover and fires his final round with guns blazing. “It’s so easy! Worship me, and I’ll give you everything you want. You want the world? I’ll give it to you if you just give me what I want…to be Lord!”

Matthew 4:8-9 NIV
[8] “Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. [9] “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”

How subtle was that!

Jesus slapped him down with one final strike! “First, devil, they are not yours to give.”

Psalms 24:1 NIV
[1] “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it… “

Second, devil,

Matthew 4:10 NIV
[10] Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”

Final score: Jesus – 3, Satan – 0

Raging and beaten, the devil retreats for a season but, under his breath he fumes, “I’ll be back!”

Luke 4:13 NLT
[13] When the devil had finished tempting Jesus, he left him until the next opportunity came.

This encounter was crucial. The God-man had cemented His modus operandi, His strategy for securing what was rightfully His, the title, office, and throne as Lord. It would take years of fierce defence of His claim, lived out daily, choice by choice, decision by decision, always going the way of absolute obedience and submission to the Father, always living as a man under God’s authority, always resting under the canopy of truth, to gain the prize.

“It is written,” was His weapon of choice, unassailable truth by which He would reveal his strategy, win the war, reign as king, and vanquish His enemy forever.

To be continued…

JESUS, THE GOD-MAN – 4

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THE GOD-MAN, THE PLAN CONCEIVED

Jesus, the God-man’s journey from the cradle to the throne began in eternity. Before the beginning of time, God, the three-in-one, set up a plan to rescue their yet-uncreated human family from the consequences of rebellion and unbelief.

This member of the Godhead, this second person of the Trinity, would humble Himself, and come into the world, take on a human body and a human nature. He would live as an ordinary man by voluntarily setting aside His divine privileges and, under the authority of the Father and the anointing of the Holy Spirit, be the representative of what the Godhead planned humans to be.

Then, despite His perfectly holy life, He would be condemned to death and executed as a criminal and law breaker, at the hands of God’s human representatives, the religious leaders of His own nation. This travesty of justice would be the apex of human rebellion, man executing the God-man in the name of justice.

Three days after this shameful event, this God-man would burst from the tomb, raised to life by the same Holy Spirit who would lead and empower Him from birth to death. He would deal a death-blow to death itself since He would be raised, not back to fragile human life but to be, forever, the eternal God-man who would carry the offices of prophet, priest, and king in the kingdom of God.

God, the Three-in-One, told the story to His people before it began in history. Step by step, His prophets painted a word picture of the one He promised, who would carry His anointing and carry out His will. His name would be Immanuel, the anointed one, Messiah, who would come to earth as one of them. His reign would be righteous, just, and eternal. He would rescue all mankind, including the nations who had rejected and rebelled against His rule, from eternal destruction. He would restore the Godhead’s original plan to create a family of sons and daughters in the likeness of the God-man.

So, the moment came when this daring plan began in time. A young village girl, betrothed but not yet married, became mysteriously pregnant. Had she been unfaithful to her fiancé?

An angel of God came to Joseph in a dream, with a reassuring message…

Matthew 1:18-21 NIV
[18] “This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. [19] Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. [20] But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. [21] She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

This is not a sweet Christmas story. This is history, God’s story. It happened as recorded. God and man, fused into a single cell, would become a human baby in His mother’s womb. The angel told this to Joseph in a straightforward declaration of fact.

“… what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.”

The life of the God-man had begun, a risky, dangerous life because the very destiny of this man and the whole human race hung on a single thread, His perfect obedience to the Father. He would be obliged to live this life in the face of the most violent hatred and opposition from humans and devils any human would ever face.

One slip, one thought or action independent of the Father would be death to Himself, to the human race, and to all God’s plans for His creation. We have only one hint of the intensity of this all-or-nothing war in one statement and one conclusion from the pen of an anonymous writer.

Hebrews 5:7-10 NIV
[7] “During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. [8] Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered [9] and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him [10] and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek.”

Heaven and hell reacted to His birth. God’s entry into human history did not go unnoticed. Angels brought the message to shepherds, an announcement that heaven had come to earth, calling forth a joyful celebration of that moment.

Two years later, wise men from the East brought the same message to Herod, ruler of the province of Judea, with devastating consequences. He did not celebrate with thanksgiving. He let loose a reign of terror on his own people by drawing the net around every boy toddler in every family in the vicinity of Bethlehem.

Matthew 2:16-18 NIV
[16] “When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi.
[17] Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled:

[18] “A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.”

Herod hoped to catch the new king in his trap but, too late, God has already intervened to protect His boy. Safe in Egypt, the little family remained there until Herod’s death.

On their return to Israel after Herod’s death, a new chapter began for the little peasant family of the God-man child in a village in Galilee. He lived a hidden childhood with only one tiny glimpse of His growing up years…at the age of twelve. A trip to Jerusalem to celebrate His first Passover, almost ended in disaster. His connection with His heavenly Father took precedence over His earthly family, drawing Him to the temple to converse with those who would later become His implacable enemies. He returned to Nazareth with His relieved parents to live again igognito and in seclusion until, eighteen years later, He would step onto the public platform.

What was happening in this child-cum-young-adult God-man during those thirty formative years? The Father’s one public statement says it all.

Matthew 3:13, 16-17 NIV
[13] “Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John…
[16] As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. [17] And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

The Father’s Blessing! Jesus heard from the Father what every child yearns to hear from the mouth of his earthly father, His equipment for life.

Affirmation “This is my Son, ”
Adoration “Whom I love,”
Approval “With Him I am well pleased.”

In one all-embracing declaration, the Father announced His Son, Jesus, ready for His mission and His destiny, having equipped Him with the Holy Spirit, to launch into a dangerous world to carry out their daring plan.

To be continued…

JESUS, THE GOD-MAN

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THE GOD-MAN – THE KING

Psalms 2:4-6 NIV
[4] “The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them. [5] He rebukes them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath, saying, [6] “I have installed my king on Zion, my holy mountain.”

Despite His lowly birth and humble upbringing, Jesus, the God-man, was born to be king. It was left to Matthew, possibly of the priestly tribe of Levi, to tell the story of this king, a strange mixture of majesty and humility, of authority and submission, of glory and suffering. He was born of a village teenager, in an ordinary village inn, His first crib an animal feed trough, His first baby garments strips of cloth… yet proclaimed by angels from heaven, and worshipped by shepherds from the hills around Bethlehem.

He had no human father, branded an illegitimate child by those who knew no better… but God was His father, not by biology but by relationship.

Psalms 2:7 NIV
[7] “I will proclaim the Lord’s decree: He said to me, “You are my son; today I have become your father.”

He was conceived by the Holy Spirit but yet truly human, a descendant of Israel’s kings.

Matthew 1:1 NLT
[1] This is a record of the ancestors of Jesus the Messiah, a descendant of David and of Abraham:”

To Joseph, who was shocked at Mary’s pregnancy and considered breaking his engagement with her because of her perceived unfaithfulness, came the angel’s assurance,

Matthew 1:20 NLT
[20] “As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit.”

Sages from a land in the East, read the stars. They came from a great distance, taking at least two years to travel to Israel, to pay homage to this new king. Where did they find Him? Not where He was born but perhaps in a rented house in the village of Bethlehem, where the little family had settled down to live and to make make a living.

So, how did this king of Israel make His presence and royal status known to His people? Unlike the kings of the earth who make as much mileage as they can out of their temporary, earthly office, who live in lavish pomp, and who are served by force and power, this king came disguised as a servant. He wore the robe of a wealthy man, but in His chest beat the heart of slave.

Whom did this “King of the Jews” serve? Let’s get this straight! He did not come to serve people. He came to serve the Father. Had He come to serve His people, He would have been subject to their will. Before He ever set foot on the earth, this king was submitted to one thing…

Psalms 40:7-10 NLT
[7] “Then I said, “Look, I have come. As is written about me in the Scriptures: [8] I take joy in doing your will, my God, for your instructions are written on my heart.” [9] I have told all your people about your justice. I have not been afraid to speak out, as you, O Lord, well know. [10] I have not kept the good news of your justice hidden in my heart; I have talked about your faithfulness and saving power. I have told everyone in the great assembly of your unfailing love and faithfulness.”

Jesus’ mission was to serve the Father and to make Him known. He steadfastly kept His heart and mind on this one thing, and testified to His own faithfulness and obedience to the Father despite the most vicious and cruel of opposition. He refused to submit to the political and religious bullies who hounded Him throughout His life, from Herod who tried to eliminate Him as toddler to the Pharisees and religious leaders who had Him executed on a trumped-up charge of blasphemy and treason.

In His earthly life, this king had no palace and no throne. His crown was a ring of thorns carelessly jammed on His brow, His royal robes, the shame and humiliation of a naked body clothed only in His own blood. His throne was a rough wooden torture stake and His attendants two guilty criminals hanging beside Him, a few Roman soldiers who guarded Him, and a group of mocking Jews who thought that they had finally beaten Him at His own game.

How wrong they were! How soon the tables would be turned. After three days in the tomb, as dead as any human can be, His divine life exploded into action, a bolt of supernatural power, His body transformed in an instant, this dead servant was raised from the stone shelf in a borrowed tomb to take His rightful throne, authorised and crowned by the Father Himself.

Philippians 2:9-11 NLT
[9] “Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, [10] that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, [11] and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

This same king, who hung naked and helpless on a Roman cross, now reigning in glory, is coming again to set up His kingdom on earth. He will raise His followers in the likeness of His own resurrected body. He will dispatch all His enemies to where they must go, and restore all of creation to its original perfection and function.

This is the king in whom we, who love and believe in Him, put our trust, and wait, with baited breath, for His return. He will vindicate those who dared to trust Him through thick and thin. He will come in fiery judgment, to pronounce sentence on all who have rained injustice on His people and to elevate His own to glory and honour.

We may be with Him in His earthly suffering but the day is coming when…

2 Thessalonians 1:5, 7-9 NLT
[5] “God will use this persecution to show his justice and to make you worthy of his Kingdom, for which you are suffering.
[6] In his justice he will pay back those who persecute you.
[7] And God will provide rest for you who are being persecuted and also for us when the Lord Jesus appears from heaven. He will come with his mighty angels, [8] in flaming fire, bringing judgment on those who don’t know God and on those who refuse to obey the Good News of our Lord Jesus. [9] They will be punished with eternal destruction, forever separated from the Lord and from his glorious power.”

Yes, beloved children of God, payback time is coming. We have every reason to lean all our weight on this king. He is infinitely qualified to carry us, through the flames of judgment and vengeance, to the place of our eternal rest.

1 Corinthians 15:22-25 NLT
[22] Just as everyone dies because we all belong to Adam, everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life. [23] But there is an order to this resurrection: Christ was raised as the first of the harvest; then all who belong to Christ will be raised when he comes back. [24] After that the end will come, when he will turn the Kingdom over to God the Father, having destroyed every ruler and authority and power. [25] For Christ must reign until he humbles all his enemies beneath his feet.”

To be continued…

JESUS, THE GOD-MAN – 2

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THE GOD-MAN, PROPHESIED

What is the one thing, above everything, that God can use to authenticate His message?

Prophecy!

Isaiah 46:10 NLT
[10] “Only I can tell you the future before it even happens. Everything I plan will come to pass, for I do whatever I wish.”

Among many other themes, the Bible is full of prophecy, even to a detailed unfolding of history in the Book of Daniel centuries before it happened.

The greatest prophetic theme in Scripture is the story of the Messiah, from the first promise in Genesis 3…

Genesis 3:15 NIV
[15] “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.”

…to the final reassurance, in Revelation, that He is coming again,

Revelation 22:20 NIV
[20] “He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.”

Google says…
“While the exact number varies depending on interpretation, most scholars agree that there are over 300 prophecies in the Old Testament that are believed to be fulfilled by Jesus as the Messiah. Some even suggest the number could be closer to 400 or more. These prophecies cover various aspects of Jesus’ life, including his birth, ministry, death, and resurrection.”

Let’s examine a few of these prophecies to catch glimpses of the Messiah, this God-man, Jesus, that come into full view when He came.

Isaiah’s prophecies, among many others, give us a picture of the Messiah, first, as a son who was also God, but God in human form.

Isaiah 9:6 NLT
[6]”For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

So, the prophetic picture is of a Father and Son in a perfect relationship, but a son who is also fully God. This is not about God becoming the biological father of Jesus. Since Jesus is also God, an idea like this is absurd. This is about the relationship Jesus had with the Father in His earthly interlude, typifying the true relationship of a father and son, i.e., perfect unity through authority and submission. Together, they would carry out a daring plan…

The writer to the Hebrews reveals the reason for His human nature…

Hebrews 2:17 NLT
[17] “Therefore, it was necessary for him to be made in every respect like us, his brothers and sisters, so that he could be our merciful and faithful High Priest before God. Then he could offer a sacrifice that would take away the sins of the people.”

Hebrews 5:7-9 NIV
[7] “During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. [8] Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered [9] and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him…”

Jesus testified to this Father-Son relationship, specifically by His attitude of submission and obedience to the Father’s will in every detail, even to His suffering and death.

John 8:28-29 NIV
[28] So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me. [29] The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him.”

Among the many prophetic glimpses of the Messiah, too many to touch on here, let’s examine Isaiah’s “Servant Songs” which flesh out our prophetic picture of the God-man, Yahweh’s servant, who perfectly carried out God’s will on earth.

Google says,
“The Servant Songs in Isaiah are four poetic passages in the Book of Isaiah (42:1-4, 49:1-6, 50:4-9, and 52:13-53:12) that describe a figure called the “Servant of the Lord”. These passages depict the Servant’s calling, identity, suffering, and ultimate triumph. While some scholars also include Isaiah 61:1-3, the four main songs are the most commonly recognized.”

  1. His calling
    Isaiah 49:1-2 NIV
    [1] “Listen to me, you islands; hear this, you distant nations: Before I was born the Lord called me; from my mother’s womb he has spoken my name. [2] He made my mouth like a sharpened sword, in the shadow of his hand he hid me; he made me into a polished arrow and concealed me in his quiver.”

His was not a random birth but a unique and specially designed person, formed in the womb of a virgin, God and man in one body, to accomplish a special purpose which would be revealed in His coming…

  1. His identity
    Isaiah 49:5 NIV
    [5]” And now the Lord says— he who formed me in the womb to be his servant to bring Jacob back to him and gather Israel to himself, for I am honored in the eyes of the Lord and my God has been my strength…”

This God-man, in His earthly existence, assumed the role of a servant. He was under the authority and control of His Father, and to Him He submitted with perfect obedience. He came, first, to restore Israel, God’s wayward son, to the Father.

  1. His character
    Isaiah 42:1-4 NIV
    [1] “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. [2] He will not shout or cry out, or raise his voice in the streets. [3] A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice; [4] he will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on earth. In his teaching the islands will put their hope.”

The character and role of this servant were in perfect harmony, to reveal God’s true name, only a hint in the Old Covenant…Father! No other man-made god can come near to the Person Jesus revealed by His words and deeds, gracious merciful, tender, and loving!

  1. His mission
    Isaiah 49:5-6 NIV
    [5] And now the Lord says— he who formed me in the womb to be his servant to bring Jacob back to him and gather Israel to himself, for I am honored in the eyes of the Lord and my God has been my strength— [6] he says: “It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.”

Restore! Messiah’s role was to restore…every broken part of God’s perfect creation and plan, first, His own people and then the nations, to the fellowship and purpose of God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

  1. His suffering
    Isaiah 50:4-7 NIV
    [4] “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. [5] The Sovereign Lord has opened my ears; I have not been rebellious, I have not turned away. [6] 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. [7] Because the Sovereign Lord helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore have I set my face like flint, and I know I will not be put to shame.”

Isaiah 52:13-15 NIV
[13] “See, my servant will act wisely; he will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted. [14] Just as there were many who were appalled at him— his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any human being and his form marred beyond human likeness— [15] so he will sprinkle many nations, and kings will shut their mouths because of him. For what they were not told, they will see, and what they have not heard, they will understand.”

Isaiah 53:1-9 NIV
[1] “Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? [2] He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. [3] 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. [4] Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. [5] But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. [6] We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. [7] He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. [8] By oppression and judgment he was taken away. Yet who of his generation protested? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was punished. [9] He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth.”

What a comprehensive description of the suffering of the God-man, far more detailed than any eyewitness account in the New Testament! What the prophet saw in spiritual vision, Jesus suffered in realtime experience. No need to record it again. Suffering was the only way to pay the debt of sin, to win the war over the sinful nature, and to reconcile a broken and corrupted humanity to a holy God…and so He suffered!

  1. His victory
    Isaiah 53:10-12 NIV
    [10] “Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand. [11] After he has suffered, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities. [12] Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.”

Paul translates Isaiah’s vision into the God-man’s reward…

Philippians 2:9-11 NLT
[9]” Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, [10] that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, [11] and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

The Servant’s reward was twofold… a personal victory that gained Him all the spoils of war, and a title that gave Him authority over all the powers of heaven and earth.

Isaiah adds another detail to his four servant songs which complete his prophetic picture of the Messiah.

  1. His anointing
    Isaiah 61:1-3 NIV
    [1] “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, [2] to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, [3] and provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.”

The servant achieved what He came to do…to undo the consequences of human rebellion and to restore the abundant life He promised to give and, most of all, to shine the light on the glory of the real God who accomplished what He set out to do.

There are many other details in Isaiah’s prophecies, as well as a mosaic of other prophecies throughout the Old Testament, that form a comprehensive blueprint of the one God promised. The prophets saw Him but did not fully understand what they had seen.

1 Peter 1:10-12 NIV
[10] “Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, [11] trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of the Messiah and the glories that would follow. [12] It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.”

It was left to the apostles and the gospel writers to place the blueprint of prophecy over the person of Jesus, and to find a perfect match.

2 Peter 1:16, 19 NIV
[16] “For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty…
[19] We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.”

Jesys Himself affirmed to two disciples after His resurrection, that the Scriptures they knew were His own story told through the writings of the prophets.

Luke 24:25-27 NIV
[25] “He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! [26] Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” [27] And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.”

Without enlarging on the witness of Scripture itself, we have a picture of Jesus in the Old Testament so detailed and so accurate that all it took was for Jesus to come in person to live it out, one day and one detail at a time.

So, as Matthew proclaimed, time after time in his gospel, “… That the Scripture might be fulfilled…”

Google says,
“In Matthew’s Gospel, the phrase “that the Scripture might be fulfilled” emphasizes how Jesus’s actions and experiences align with and fulfill Old Testament prophecies. It signifies that Jesus’s life and ministry were not random events, but rather the culmination of God’s plan as revealed in the Scriptures.”

So, dear reader, we have, written in God’s own Word under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the greatest of all affirmations that Jesus was who He said He was, is who He says He is, and provides an utterly reliable recored of His life, death, resurrection, and ascension as predicted in the Scriptures. He is the God-man, promised and sent to redeem and restore.

To be continued…