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Bible Reading: 1st Peter 1:10-12 Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: (11) Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. (12) Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.
Introduction:
The promise of the Messiah was one that was, and still is highly misunderstood. This is especially the case to those who did not have the word of God as we have it today. In satan’s attempt to replace the actual reason for celebrating Christmas, we now have Santa Claus, reindeer, and elves.
This is something that many people seem to be happy to focus on rather than focusing on the real reason we celebrate Christmas. Santa Claus promises to give you what you want rather than what you need; a concept that is very appealing to those who are focused on carnal things. Jesus, however, focuses on giving you what you need. Something that, though it be less appealing to the flesh, will get you into eternity with God!
In this message, we’ll teach about the mysteries that surround the Messiah and how they are fulfilled, and could only be fulfilled, by Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ and Messiah.
Isaiah 9:6-7 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
“…For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given” – The prophet no doubt understood the concept of a child being born, but what about a son being given. Another prophecy that may have seemed confusing. “We’re going to receive a son who already exists?”
We in the New Testament understand this concept when we read John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Up to this point we have set the foundation for this teaching in Part 1and taught about The Paradoxes of the Messianic Prophecies and The Mystery of the Messiah’s Lineage. Now, we’ll go to the ministry of the Messiah.
The Mystery of the Messiah’s Ministry
The ministry of the Messiah was expected by the Jews to look a certain way. It was expected to be a ministry that would set them free from the tyranny of the oppressive Roman government, and they would all live happily ever after. Even John the Baptist, who himself was a fulfillment of the prophecies of (Isaiah 40:3 – The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. and Malachi 4:5-6 – Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD: (6) And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.) and was the forerunner to the ministry of the Messiah, seems to have expected the Messiah to come and destroy the enemies of Israel and set Israel free.
The message John Baptist was preaching came from God. Luke 3:2- …the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness. We get the impression of John Baptist’s expectation through the kind of messages he preached. What was his message? (3) And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins; Luke 3:7-8 …O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? (8) Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance…
Also, Matthew 3:10 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
Basically, John the Baptist’s message was, “turn or burn sinners, because the Messiah is here and He is not messing around!!” and to the Pharisees, his message was, “It’s time for all you sinners to burn, and I’ve got a front row seat to the fire!”. Something like that.
Yet, not much longer after preaching this message and identifying Jesus as the Messiah, John the Baptist was thrown into prison at The Fortress of Machaerus, which is located on the northeastern shore of the Dead Sea, at the mouth of the Jordan River. He was put there by Herod Antipas because John Baptist was preaching against Herod’s adulterous relationship with the wife of his own brother; Philip.
The Mystery of the Messiah’s Message
We read of one of the first messages to the crowds preached by Jesus in Matthew 5 (known as “The Beatitudes” or supreme blessings). Matthew 5:3-4 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (4) Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. This was hardly the message the Messiah was expected to preach! (a lot of people have a lot of expectations of the preacher, and even Jesus get off that hook!)
John Baptist heard that Jesus, was preaching mercy, forgiveness, and was healing people rather than reigning down God’s judgment upon them. We read in Matthew 11:2-3 Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples, (3) And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?
It’s interesting that John had this kind of doubting because John Baptist and his parents knew that John was born to be the forerunner of the Messiah, and, when he saw Jesus at the river, the Holy Spirit spoke to John and John would declare John 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. John would also say, John 3:30 He must increase, but I must decrease.
Because the ministry of Jesus wasn’t one of judgment and eternal punishment, as John supposed it would be, even John the Baptist started doubting the ministry of Jesus. Jesus would send word back to John and say Matthew 11:4-6 Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see: (5) The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. (6) And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.
In other words, remember there is another part of the prophecies that must be fulfilled first. They are the prophecies of Isaiah 61:1-2 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; (2) To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD…
John the Baptist was looking for the last part of Verse 2…, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn (or give the Jews rest from their oppressors). Jesus was telling John, “We must fulfill the first part before we can fulfill the second part.
So, we see that the ministry and message of Jesus did not fit the preconceived idea of what was expected of the Messiah, even to John the Baptist, who was most familiar and ready for it.
Many today will not accept Christ, because His ministry and message do not fit into their preconceived ideas. But, His ministry is God’s chosen way and anyone who would get to God’s Heaven must get there through the ministry and message of Jesus Christ!
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