WHY FIRST-CENTURY MESSIANIC BELIEFS MATTER TO US
Why First-Century Messianic Beliefs Matter to Us – What were the Messianic expectations when they asked John the Baptist if he was “The Prophet” (John 1:21, 25)? What did Jesus share on the road to Emmaus from the scriptures about himself (Luke 24:13-35)? What significance does this have for us?
A PROPHET?
Moses was giving a long review of rules when in Deuteronomy he said,
The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers–it is to him you shall listen–just as you desired of the Lord your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly, when you said, ‘Let me not hear again the voice of the Lord my God or see this great fire any more, lest I die.’ And the Lord said to me, ‘They are right in what they have spoken. I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. And I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him.’
Did you ever hunger for good teachings and feel starved? This prophet was the hope of Israel as their rabbis argued over trivia.
SEVEN EXPECTED THEMES FOR THEIR MESSIAH
One…was…a great prophet…teacher. This person would be heralded in by the prophet Isaiah. Josephus said to leave the door of the temple opened a little bit on the eve of the Passover to welcome Elijah….
Another…was that a great priest would…institute correct worship in the temple. The author of…Isaiah may have even thought of a priestly sacrifice, which is how the earliest Christians interpreted some of those verses in the second half of Isaiah.
The third…was that a great king would come. The throne of David and his rule would be restored. There would be order, a standing army, and best of all…no Gentiles around. The people would be free.
Here are verses that substantiate the above: Genesis 49:10; Numbers 24:17, 19; 1 Samuel 2:10, 35-36; Psalm 2:6; 89:3-4, 35-37; 110; Isaiah 9:2-7; 11:2-5, 61:1-2; Jeremiah 23:5; Ezekiel 37:24, 26-27
The fourth theme was their Messiah would be a suffering servant (Psalm 22, 42-43; 69:4, 6-21; Isaiah 42:1-4; 49:1-6; 50:4-7; 52:13-53:12; Zechariah 12:10). The fifth, their Messiah would be God the Son, and the Son of God (Psalm 2:1-12; Isaiah 9:6-7; Daniel 7:13-14). The sixth is he would have a forerunner (Isaiah 40:3-5; Malachi 3:1; 4:5-6). And the seventh is that he would be a miraculous human, performing miracles, being born of a virgin himself, dying and rising again (Psalm 16:8-11; 22:1-31; Isaiah 7:14; 35:5-6; 53:10-11).
MISCELLANEOUS, UNIQUE MESSIANIC PROPHECIES
Firstly, Prophets would call the Messiah the Son of Man (Daniel 7:13-14) and a Nazarene (Isaiah 11:1; 53:3, since many scholars agree “shoot” in Hebrew is the root for Nazarene or Nazareth). Additionally, the Messiah would be the seed of a woman (Genesis 3:15) and a descendant of Abraham, blessing all nations through Him (Genesis 12:3). He would be a descendant of David (2 Samuel 7:12-16), a shepherd and metaphorically David himself (Ezekiel 34:23-24), and greater than David (Psalm 110:1-4). Christ would be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2), where people will kill infants (Jeremiah 31:15). Lastly, He would bring in a unique covenant (Jeremiah 31:31-34), justice and relief from oppression (Psalm 72:12-14; Isaiah 35:4).
Firstly, the Messiah would be a rejected cornerstone (Psalm 118:22-23), and, additionally, a light for the gentiles (Isaiah 42:1-7). He would be a Saviour and Redeemer (Isaiah 40:10; 59:20). People would acclaim Christ riding on the foal of a donkey (Psalm 118:25-29; Zechariah 9:9). God would call Him out of Egypt (Hosea 11:1). Judas would betray Him for 30 pieces of silver (Zechariah 11:12-13). He would be a willing sacrifice (Genesis 22:1-18; Isaiah 53:4-6, 11), and a star coming out of Jacob (Numbers 24:17).
MANY TYPES THAT POINT TO THE MESSIAH
Here are just a few samples of New Testament types: Firstly, the Messiah would be the Passover lamb (Exodus 12:12-16; John 1:29, 36; 19:33, 36; 1 Corinthians 5:7-8; 1 Peter 1:19). Additionally, the Messiah would be lifted up (Numbers 21:6-9; John 3:14-18). Moreover, he would be a kinsman-redeemer (Ruth 4:4-9; Luke 1:50, 58, 68, 72, 78; 1 Peter 1:18; Hebrews 2:11). Lastly, this article covers more on types of New Testament Christ, “Adam, Abel, Melchizedek, Isaac, Moses, David, Solomon, Jonah, the Tabernacle, the Temple, the festivals, etc.”
THE DAY OF THE LORD
This expression (and various equivalents, such as “that day”) is the subject of both OT and NT revelation. An early occurrence (Amos 5:18-20) shows that the phrase was already a popularly used one. It is a time of judgment…punishment on the nations (Isaiah 13:6, 9; Obadiah 15), and of the actual coming of the Lord and salvation for those who repent (Joel 2:28-32). Its coming will be as a thief in the night and will be preceded by signs…
IMPENDING JUDGMENT
We are quite disconnected from the ancient, oppressed Jews who longed for Obadiah 1:15 to take place. Malachi 4:5 says Elijah will come first, Zephaniah 1:7 says God has prepared the sacrifice. But Amos 5:18 says, “Woe to you who long for the day of the Lord!” Woe to anyone who assumes their own sins don’t deserve judgment, but others’ sins do.
Above, Prophet, Priest and King all drawn by AI.
