Copyright 2000 Everyday Publications Inc.

Contents Chapter Page Introduction 5 1. The Son of God 7 2. The Son Became Man 12 3. The Perfect Man 15 4. Tempted by Satan 23 5. His Work Here on Earth 26 6. Rejection 29 7. Betrayal 32 8. Crucified 33 9. Resurrection 39 10. Ascension 42 11. Christ's Work in Heaven Today 47 12. Christ as King 49 13. Pictures 57 14. How to Understand the Bible 61 References 81 Copyright 2000 Everyday Publications Inc.

Prophecies about Christ The Lord Jesus Christ is the Son of God. As God He is able to know all things, past, present and future. Here on earth He spoke many things; some were prophecies of things still future at that time. His words shall never pass away. All His prophecies have been, or will be, fulfilled. I have written about these in a book called Words of Christ. This book is about prophecies made by men of God, filled with the Holy Spirit, who lived before the Lord Jesus was born on earth. These prophecies about Christ are all found in the Old Testament. It is remarkable that so many Old Testament prophecies about Christ were fulfilled exactly when the Son of God came to earth. His life and service confirms that God's promises to Israel were all true, Rom.15.8. We will study these prophecies and see how they were fulfilled when Christ came. This will help us know that the Bible is true, and that God sent His Son, the Savior of the world. Of course there have been many great religious leaders telling men how to worship God and get to heaven. No prophet has recorded in advance the details of the life of one of these leaders. God gave His inspired prophets a lot of information about Christ. This alone should prove that God sent His Son into the world. His Name is JESUS. These prophecies are found in several different books in the Old Testament, Copyright especially 2000 the Psalms Everyday and Publications Isaiah. We will Inc. gather these verses together in this order: *1. The Son of God *2. The Son became a Man *3. The Perfect Man *4. He was tempted by Satan 5

6 Prophecies About Christ *5. His work here on earth *6. Israel rejected Him *7. Judas betrayed Him *8. He died on the cross *9. Christ rose from death *10. He returned to heaven *11. His work in heaven today *12. The Lord will come again as King *13. Pictures of Christ *14. How to Understand the Bible You should read in your own Bible every verse as given. At the end of each chapter or section is a list of the most important prophecies in the chapter and the New Testament verses showing their fulfillment. In each chapter of this book some paragraphs are marked with a * and a number. At the end of the book is a list of the verses which shows where you can find each verse. This will help you understand what this book says about every verse. Read and study God's Word. You will know God better, and learn more about His Son. The words of Christ are the words of God. PROPHECY FULFILLMENT Isaiah 40:8 Matt.5.18; 24.35; Mark 13.31; Luke 21.33; 1 Pet.1.24,25

1 The Son of God God's great plan was to send His Son into this world to save men and win them back to Himself. We are not surprised to learn that He told His faithful prophets that His Son was coming. Since God is One, this is the same as saying that God Himself will come to earth. *1.1 The LORD was Shepherd of King David, Ps. 23.1. God said that He would come as the Shepherd of His people, Isa. 40.10,11. He will rule over all, He will feed and gently lead His sheep. He will carry those who are young and weak. He will gather His sheep who are far away, and appoint shepherds to feed and protect them, Jer. 23.3,4. Jehovah will come and search for His lost sheep, Ezek. 34.12, and gather them again, Micah 2.12. The Lord Jesus, God's Son, is the Good Shepherd who gave His life for the sheep, John 10.11. God raised the Great Shepherd from death, Heb.13.20. Now in heaven He feeds and leads His sheep, John 10.4,9,27. He is the Bread of life, John 6.35,41,51,58. He commands us where to go and what to do and say, John 10.16; 20.21; Matt. 28.19; Mark 16.15. He sent the Holy Spirit like Himself, John 14.16,18; 16.7,13; Acts 1.8. As Chief Shepherd He will return and give rewards to those who have helped Him care for His sheep, 1 Pet.5.4. PROPHECY FULFILLMENT Isaiah 40:10,11; Jer.23.3 John 10.11,16; Heb.13.20; 1 Pet.5.4 Ezekiel 34:12; Micah 2:12 Matt. 28.19; Mark 16.15 *1.2 Jehovah created all things, Ps.102.25-27. He will never change, but earth and the heavens will become old and God will put them 7

8 Prophecies About Christ away. The Holy Spirit tells us that all things were created through the Son, John 1.3; Col. 1.16; Heb. 1.2. In Heb. 1.10-12, the words of Psalm 102 are used to show that Christ is greater than angels, He is the Son of God. God is the Creator of all, Isa. 40.26,28; 41.20; 42.5; 43.1,7,15; 45.8,12,18; 54.16. Here on earth He was the same. He could create bread and fish for 9,000 men to eat, Matt.14.21; 15.38; Mark 8.19,20; Luke 9.14; John 6.10. He made 100 or 200 gallons of water into the best wine, John 2.6-10. Ezekiel saw a great prophetic vision of God in glory, Ezek.1.1,28, yet He appeared as a Man, Ezek.1.26. The Son became Man, the Lord Jesus, and He is on the throne in heaven, Rev. 3.21; 5.6. Only God should be worshipped, Isa. 42.8; Ps. 97.7, yet the Holy Spirit used this word about angels worshipping Christ, Heb. 1.6. The heathen worship idols and the spirits behind the images, 1 Cor. 8.5; 10.20. These evil spirits want the worship of men but they will all bow before Christ. The old Greek translation of Psalm 97.7 says that all His angels should worship Him. The Hebrew Bible says all the gods and the King James Version does the same. But the Spirit used the Greek word for God in Hebrews 1.6. The Lord Jesus accepted worship from men, Matt. 8.2; 9.18; 14.33; 15.25; 20.20; 28.17; Luke 24.52; John 9.38. Before the end all will worship Him, men, angels, wicked spirits, John 5.23; Phil.2.10. PROPHECY FULFILLMENT Ps.102.25-27 Heb. 1.2,10-12; John 1.3; Col.1.16 Isa. 40.26,28; 41.20; Matt. 14.21; 15.38; Mark 8.19; Isa. 42.5; 43.1,7,15; Luke 9.14; John 2.2; 6.10; Rev.1.8; 45.8,12,18 2.8; 22.13 Ezek.1.26,28 Rev. 3.21; 5.6 Ps. 97.7; Isa. 42.8 Heb.1.6; Matt. 8.2; 9.18; 14.33; 15.25; 20.20; 28.17; Luke 24.52; John 9.38; 5.23; Phil. 2.10 *1.3 Jehovah is the Eternal, the First and the Last; Isa. 40.28; 44.6; 48.12; and with the last, 41.4. The Coming One had been active from

The Son of God 9 eternity, Mic. 5.2. Christ is the First and the Last, Rev. 1.11,17; 2.8; 22.13. He is God. Messiah is called the Branch, because He is a Descendant of David, see * 3.2. God promised that He would raise up a righteous Branch, who would save God's people, Isa. 4.2; Zech. 3.8; 6.12, and be called Jehovah our Righteousness, Jer. 23.5,6; 33.15. These verses say that the Savior would be God and Man. God made Christ righteousness for us, 1 Cor. 1.30. Christ is called Righteous, 1 Jn. 2.1, and the righteous Judge, 2 Tim. 4.8. Jehovah calls Himself the King of Israel and the Redeemer, Isa.44.6. He will raise up His King who will reign, Ps. 2.6; Jer. 23.5. Messiah came as King but was rejected by Israel, Luke 19.38; 23.2,37. God called this King His Son, Ps. 2.7. This is Christ, Matt. 3.17; 17.5; Mark 9.7; Luke 3.22; 9.35; Acts 13.33; Heb. 1.5; 5.5; 2 Pet.1.17. The LORD is the Redeemer in Isaiah 43.14; 44.6,24; 47.4; 48.17; 63.16, in the future, 1.27; 41.14; 49.7,26; 54.5,8; 60.16; also Job 19.25; Prov. 23.11; Jer. 50.34. He promised to come, He did come, to redeem all who believe, including Israel, Isa. 59.20; Rom. 11.26. Christ has redeemed us, Gal. 3.13; 4.5; Tit. 2.14; 1 Pet.1.18,19; Rev. 5.9. PROPHECY FULFILLMENT Isa. 40.28; 41.4; 44.6;48.12 Rev. 1.11,17; 2.8; 22.13 Mic. 5.2 Matt. 2.1 Ps. 45.6,7 Heb.1.8 Isa. 4.2; Jer. 23.6; 1 Cor.1.30; 2 Tim. 4.8; 1 Jn.2.1 Zech. 3.8; 6.12 Ps. 2.6; Isa. 4.2; Jer. 23.5; Luke 19.38 33.16; Zech. 3.8; 6.12 Ps. 2.7 Acts 13.33; Heb. 1.5; 2 Pet. 1.17 Isa. 1.27; 41.14; 49.7,26 Gal. 3.13; 4.5; Tit. 2.14; 1 Pet. 1.18,19; Rev. 5.9 *1.4 In the great prophecy in Isa.9.6 God gave His Son, who is called

10 Prophecies About Christ the Mighty God. In this same verse there are three other Names of the Messiah proving that He is God: WONDERFUL. The Angel of the LORD said this was His Name in Judg.13.18, translated as secret" in many Bibles. We believe that the Son at times appeared to God's people and is called the Angel or Messenger of Jehovah. See Gen. 16.10,11; 22.15,16. Our Lord has done wonderful things, Isa. 25.1; 28.29; 29.14; Matt. 21.15; Luke 4.22; Heb.2.4. COUNSELLOR. God has all wisdom and Christ is the Wisdom of God, 1 Cor.1.24. God has made Him wisdom unto us, 1 Cor.1.30, and freely gives us wisdom when we need it and ask for it, Jas. 1.5-7. FATHER OF ETERNITY. Christ could say that He and the Father are one, John 10.30, but in Isa. 9.6 the meaning is as God He is the Source of the eternal ages. God made His plans before He created the world, 1 Cor. 2.7; Eph. 1.4; 1 Pet. 1.20. Christ is called King of the ages, 1 Tim. 1.17. No creature nor all together, can defeat God's plans when His time comes. He is also in this verse, PRINCE OF PEACE. The Lord died for our sins, went back to heaven, until the time comes for Him to rule the world as King. Then, and not before then, there will be peace in all the earth. See *12. Through the Lord we have now peace with God, Rom. 5.1, and in our hearts, Phil. 4.7. In Psalm 45.6,7 David praised God because He reigns righteously forever. But the Spirit of God shows us that these are the words of God to His Son, Heb.1.8,9. This is confirmed because God anointed Him. The word Christ means the Anointed One. The Lord Jesus will reign as King over the world for a thousand years. This could not be a promise to David, it is a prophecy of the Messiah. In Hebrews 1 God is the Speaker, verses 1,5,6,7,8,13. In verse 8, the Spirit shows God was speaking to the Son, and called Him God. But in verse 9, God, His God, anointed Him, and also speaks of His fellows, those who share something with Him. As God He is alone, by Himself. But He became a Man, and so shares many things with us.

The Son of God 11 These Old Testament verses show that the coming Messiah would be God, in other words, that God Himself would come to save man. PROPHECY FULFILLMENT Isaiah 9.6 Luke 4.22; Matt. 21.15; 1 Cor. 1.24,30; 1 Tim. 1.17 Rom. 5.1; Phil. 4.7

2 The Son Became Man God created man, Adam and Eve. At first they had fellowship by walking together in the Garden of Eden in the cool part of the day. This became impossible when Adam and Eve disobeyed God's command. God's great enemy, Satan, deceived Eve, and by sinning they had to die. *2.1 But God had the great Plan of Redemption to bring men back to Himself. So He had to tell Satan and Eve and Adam that He would punish them. But at the same time He told Satan that the woman would have children, and one of them called the Seed would defeat and destroy Satan, Gen. 3.15. A Man would be the Savior of men, Gal.4.4. We have seen, in *1, that God Himself would come as the Redeemer. Angels are spirits serving God, Ps. 104.4; Heb. 1.7. But the wages of sin is death, Gen. 2.17; 3.19; Rom. 6.23. God could have sent an angel to save men, but angels cannot die. So the Son of God became a Man and died on the cross for our sins. Christ fulfilled this promise and was born a child of His mother, a Descendant of Adam, Luke 3.38. He defeated Satan, Matt. 4.10; Luke 4.8; 10.18. At the end He will crush Satan's head and throw him into the lake of fire, Rev. 20.10. God defeated Satan by the Man Christ Jesus and even little children could praise Him, Ps. 8.2; Matt. 21.16. Man's position was under the angels, but over the animal world, even wild animals, birds and fish, Ps. 8.5-8. Man lost his position by sinning, but Jesus was the Son of Man, the perfect Man, Head of all, Heb. 2.7,8. We see Him on 12

The Son Became Man 13 earth controlling the fish, Matt.17.27; Luke 5.4,6; John 21.6. Soon we shall see Him as Lord of all. PROPHECY FULFILLMENT Gen. 3.15 Gal. 4.4; Luke 3.38 Matt. 4.10; Luke 4.8; 10.18; Rev. 20.10 Ps. 8.2 Matt. 21.16 Ps. 8.5-8 Heb. 2.7,8; Matt. 17.27; Luke 5.4,6; John 21.6 *2.2 The Blesser of all men was to be a Descendant of Abraham, Gen. 12.3; 22.18; Acts 3.25; Heb. 6.14, and Isaac, Gen. 17.19; 21.12; 26.4, and Jacob, Gen. 28.14. The Lord Jesus was a direct Descendant of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, Rom. 9.5,7; Heb. 11.18, legally, through Joseph, Matt. 1.2,16; physically, through Mary, Luke 3.23, 34. This blessing is for Gentiles also, Ga1. 3.8,14, through the gospel, Rom. 15.29, in Christ, Eph. 1.3. To justify (Gal. 3.8) means to remove all the guilt of sin. We are justified through faith in Christ, and this is one of the great blessings He brings. Abraham rejoiced when Isaac was born and his name means laughter. Abraham knew that in this son all nations would be blessed. God told Abraham to sacrifice Isaac but stopped him before he killed him. God may have given him a prophetic view of Calvary, when his future Seed would die. Anyway Abraham saw Christ's day and was glad, John 8.56. God spared Isaac, but not His own Son, Rom. 8.32. The promise to Abraham's Seed was only fulfilled through one Man, Christ Jesus, Gal. 3.16. PROPHECY Gen.12.3; 22.18 FULFILLMENT Acts 3.25; Heb. 6.14; Matt.1.2; Luke 3.34; Rom.15.29; Gal. 3.8,14; Eph. 1.3 *2.3 Jacob had twelve sons, but eleven would give honor to Judah, Gen. 49.8. Jesus was born of this tribe, Matt.1.3; Luke 3.33; Heb. 7.14. As Victor He is like a Lion, Gen. 49.9; Rev. 5.5. The false prophet spoke by the Holy Spirit when he said that there would be a great King in Israel, Num. 23.21; 24.2,7,17,19. Christ came as King,

14 Prophecies About Christ was rejected, but will come again with great power, Matt. 2.2; 27.11; Luke 19.38; John 1.49; 1 Tim. 6.15; Rev. 17.14; 19.16. Another prophecy was that God would raise up a prophet like Moses, Deut. 18.15-19. This was fulfilled in Christ, John 6.14; Acts 3.22; 7.37. So the Lord Jesus is Prophet and King, as prophesied. The Son of God became Man, to do His Father's will and to save all who believe in Him. God also promised the Christ that He would be a Priest forever, Ps. 110.4. Only the tribe of Levi could serve as priests, only the sons of Aaron, Num. 18.1,7,8; Ezra 2.62; Neh. 7.64. King Uzziah tried to serve as a priest, but God judged him at once, 2 Chron. 26.16-21. There was one who was king of Salem and priest of the most high God, Melchizedek, Gen. 14.18. The Lord Jesus is Priest, not in the order of Aaron, but of Melchizedek, Heb. 2.17; 3.1; 4.14; 5.6; 6.20; 7.17,21,26; 8.1; 9.11; 10.21. The high priest could enter the most holy place once a year, Lev.16.12-14; Heb. 9.7. Our High Priest entered heaven itself, with His own blood, Heb. 9.11,12,14,24. Aaron prayed for the people, Num. 6.23-27; 16.47,48. The Lord lives to pray for us, Luke 22.32; John 17.9; Heb. 2.18; 7.25. He is also called the Mediator and Advocate, 1 Tim. 2.5; Heb. 8.6; 9.15; 12.24; 1 Jn. 2.1. He is merciful and made peace for us with God, Heb. 2.17; 3.2. He can understand our weakness and problems, Heb. 4.15; 5.2. He is holy, harmless, pure, separate from sinners, higher than heaven, Heb. 7.26. Our perfect Priest! He gives us authority to enter God's presence and worship Him, Heb. 10.21,22. In fact He leads us in praising God, Ps. 22.22; Heb. 2.12. PROPHECY FULFILLMENT Gen. 49.8,9 Heb. 7.14; Rev.5.5 Num. 24.19 1 Tim. 6.15; Rev. 19.16 Deut. 18.18 Acts 3.22 Ps. 110.4 Heb. 6.20; 7.17

3 The Perfect Man *3.1 All admit that Jesus was a Man. We have seen in *2 that He was God the Son. This is important because all enemies deny it. He became a Perfect Man but never ceased to be God. He was perfect, meaning He was a complete Man, body, soul and spirit. In this He was like all men. He was also perfect in that He never sinned. In this point He was completely different from all other men. Let us consider the verses which prophesy that He would be a Man, yet without sin. The first promise was that man's Savior would be a Descendant of Eve, Gen. 3.15; *2.1. So the Savior was a Man, a descendant of Adam, Luke 3.38. The command said, Obey or die. God could show love to His creature, if a substitute died for man. God gave Adam and Eve a picture of this when He provided animal skins to cover them, Gen. 3.21. But the life of an animal could not be equal to the life of a man. It is true that God commanded Israel to offer many animal sacrifices, Lev. 4.24. But God required a perfect life, Ps. 51.16; Mic. 6.6-8, which no one was ever able to claim, until Christ, *3.6. The Spirit told of One who would come and please God in all things, Ps. 40.6-8; Heb. 10.5-7. Opened ears means willing to hear and obey. God prepared a human body for Him who would do all His will. PROPHECY FULFILLMENT Descendant of Adam Gen.3.15 Luke 3.38 Animal sacrifice not sufficient Ps. 40.6-8 Heb.10.4-7 *3.2 The Spirit prophesied the line of ancestors of the Messiah, see 15

16 Prophecies About Christ *2.2. God promised David that his Descendant would be King, 2 Sam. 7.12; 1 Chron. 17.11,12. See also Isa. 9.7; Jer. 23.5; Ezek. 37.24; Acts 13.23. The descendants of Solomon were very wicked and God said none of them would reign as king of Judah, Jer. 22.30. But Mary was a descendant of David through Nathan, Luke 3.31. Messiah is called the Branch of Jesse, David's father, Isa.11.1. But in Isa.11.10 He is the Root of Jesse. How could He be both? Because as God He is Creator and Source of all men. As a Man He was the descendant of Jesse and David. See also Matt. 22.45. In Rev. 22.16 the Lord calls Himself the Root and Offspring of David. We noted in *3.1 that a Sacrifice would be required to pay man's debt of sin. But there are millions of men, and many millions of sins. The Lord Jesus laid down an infinite life, enough for God to forgive all sins. PROPHECY FULFILLMENT Descendant of David Isa. 9.7; Jer. 23.5 Luke 3.31; Acts 13.23; Rev. 22.16 *3.3 God formed man out of the dust of the earth and breathed into him the breath of life, Gen. 2.7. We know something of the body of man, but the Scripture also speaks of his soul and spirit, 1 Thes. 5.23. With our soul we can think, feel and make decisions. The soul is not the same as the spirit, Heb. 4.12. With our spirit we can know and worship God, John 4.24. Our salvation affects our bodies, Rom. 8.23, our souls, 1 Pet. 1.9, and our spirits, Heb. 12.23. Christ was a complete Man, *3.1. On His last day, His soul was sorrowful, Matt. 26.38. He committed His spirit to His Father, Luke 23.46. They laid His crucified body in a cave, John 19.40. The Lord Jesus as all men felt hunger, Matt. 4.2; 21.18, and thirst, John 19.28. He was tired after long walking, John 4.6,7. He was tempted but holy, and suffered when tempted, Heb. 2.18. He did not have a sinful nature, as all other descendants of Adam have, Heb. 4.15; Jas. 1.14. As a Man, He trusted in His Father, Isa. 8.17; Heb. 2.13. Most men love their children. The Lord Jesus was never married, but He loved His disciples as His children, Isa. 8.18; John 13.1; 21.5; Heb.2.13.

The Perfect Man 17 PROPHECY FULFILLMENT Body, Soul and Spirit Genesis 2.7 Matt. 26.38; Luke 23.46; John 19.40 Isa. 8.17,18 Heb. 2.18 *3.4 In every way, Christ was like man, Heb. 2.17, but He never had a father on earth. King Ahaz was afraid of the Syrian armies and the Lord sent Isaiah to strengthen his faith by a sign, Isa. 7.10-12. Ahaz did not have enough faith even to ask for a sign, so the Lord gave one anyway. The prophet said that a virgin or a young woman would have a baby, and two kings would die before the child grew up, Isa. 7.13-16. It was no great sign that a young woman would have a baby, but this word also means a woman without a husband, a virgin. The Spirit of God used the word virgin when explaining the birth of the Lord Jesus, Matt. 1.22,23; Luke 1.35. In the Greek language, this word only means a woman who never had a husband. Mary and Joseph were not married until after Jesus was born, Matt. 1.20,25. This was the only virgin birth ever, before or since. It was a wonderful way for the Son to become a Man. He had a perfect body as a Man, but not the sinful nature of Adam and all his descendants, 1 Jn. 3.5. So the manner of Christ's birth was prophesied long before, also the time and place. The Spirit showed Daniel the prophet there would be 483 years from the king's command to rebuild Jerusalem to the day Christ presented Himself as King to Israel, Dan. 9.25. Artaxerxes gave a command to rebuild Jerusalem in 444 B.C. Caesar Augustus was the Roman Emperor when Jesus was born, Luke 2.1. The Jews counted 360 days in a year, and Bible teachers have figured it out exactly. See *8.1a. Micah was still more definite as to where the Messiah should be born, Bethlehem, Mic. 5.2. Joseph and Mary lived in Nazareth, far north of Bethlehem. But God moved Caesar Augustus to order all people to be registered. So Joseph took Mary and they went to Bethleham, Luke 2.4. The Lord Jesus was born there, Matt. 2.1,5,6. The Ruler of Israel came from this small village, but He had done

18 Prophecies About Christ many things, even in the past eternity, Mic. 5.2. So we see the Son of God became also the Son of Man. PROPHECY FULFILLMENT His birth Isa.7.14 Matt. 1.23; Luke 1.35 Place Mic. 5.2 Luke 2.4; Matt.2.1 *3.5 It was also prophesied that God would call His Son out of Egypt, Hos.11.1. This was true of Israel when they were slaves of Pharaoh. God called Israel His servant, Isa. 41.8,9; 43.10; 44.1,2,21; 48.20, but they often failed and disobeyed Him. So the Spirit used the words of Hos. 11.1 as true also of God's faithful Servant, Matt. 2.15; *3.7. King Herod wanted to kill Jesus who the wise men said was King, Matt. 2.2. So God warned Joseph through His angel to flee to Egypt, Matt. 2.13,15. Herod was so angry that he killed all the babies in Bethlehem and round about. In this way he fulfilled another prophecy about the wives weeping for their dead children, Jer. 31.15; Matt. 2.16-18. Herod soon died and the angel told Joseph he could now safely return to the land of Israel, Matt. 2.19,20. Even so Joseph was afraid of Herod's son, so he went back to Nazareth. The prophets did not say that Messiah would be called a Nazarene, but as God's perfect Servant He would be more than a Nazarite. In the Old Testament a man or woman could take a vow and serve the Lord in a special way for a certain time, Num. 6.2-21. In the Lord's days, Nazareth was despised, John 1.46. So was the Lord Jesus, Isa. 53.3; Luke 10.16; John 1.11; *6.3, and called a man of Nazareth, John 19.19. So Matt. 2.23 is a general prophecy and was fulfilled in a general way. PROPHECY FULFILLMENT Hos. 11.1 Matt. 2.15 Jer. 31.15 Matt. 2.18 *3.6 The Lord was a complete Man, He was also a morally perfect Man. David praised the Lord for bringing him up out of the pit of sin,

The Perfect Man 19 Ps.40.2. He prophesied about the perfect Man, who offered Himself because He knew that God would not forgive sin just because of animal sacrifices, Ps. 40.6-8. The Son used these words when He came into this world, to do His Father's will, Heb. 10.5-9. God knew that His Son hated sin and loved righteousness, so He anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and joy, Ps. 45.7; Heb. 1.9; Matt. 3.16; Mark 1.10; Luke 3.22; John 1.32; Acts 10.38. The Spirit often spoke of a perfect man, but He knew that there would only be One, Christ. For example, in Psalm 37.31 He described the righteous Man, really a prophecy of the coming Savior. Psalm 119 shows the desire of any righteous man or woman, perfectly fulfilled only in Christ, for example, verses 16,24,30,47,97,103,127. In Psalm 1.1-3 the Spirit described the righteous Man. Psalm 15 contains still more detail. In Psalm 14.1, no one is righteous, until Christ came. But the coming Priest would have clean hands and a pure heart, Ps. 24.3,4. He could enter the temple, and as King reign on the hill of Jehovah, Ps. 2.6. This King of glory is the LORD Himself, Ps. 24.7,10. The true Servant of God burns with a desire to honor Him, Ps. 69.9; Rom. 15.3. The disciples remembered this when the Lord drove out of the temple those who were making it a means of personal profit, John 2.17. A man with only one sin must die for it. Only the perfectly sinless One, the Son of God, could die as Savior of men. The Lord Jesus did not know any sin, 2 Cor. 5.21. He never did any sin, Isa. 53.9; 1 Pet. 2.22. There was nothing of a sinful nature in Him, 1 Jn. 3.5. Hallelujah, what a Savior! PROPHECY FULFILLMENT His moral perfections Ps. 40.6-8 Heb.10.5-9 Ps. 45.7 Matt. 3.16; Mark 1.10; Luke 3.22; John 1.32; Acts 10.38; Heb.1.9 Ps. 69.9 John 2.17; Rom.15.3 Isa. 53.9 2 Cor. 5.21; 1 Pet. 2.22; 1 Jn. 3.5

20 Prophecies About Christ *3.7 The Lord Jesus was not only the perfect Man, He was God's perfect Servant. Isaiah was called a servant of Jehovah, Isa. 20.3; 44.26; 49,5; 50.10. By inspiration he showed that God expected Israel to be His servant, Isa. 41.8; 43.10; 44.1,2,21; 45.4; 48.20. But Israel disobeyed and did not spread the glory, Ps. 96.3,10; Isa. 6.10. So the Spirit told the prophet about God's perfect Servant. God told the prophet that Israel would hear Isaiah but not obey, Isa. 6.9,10. This was also a prophecy of Christ, Matt. 13.14,15; Mark 4.12; Luke 8.10; John 12.39,40; Acts 28.26,27. You might think that God's servant in Isa. 42.1 means Isaiah, but verses 3 and 4 could not be true of the prophet. The Spirit shows us that He was speaking of Christ, Matt. 12.18-21. The Lord God and His Spirit certainly sent Christ, Isa. 48.16; John 3.34. God's pleasure was in Him, Matt. 3.17; 12.18; 17.5; Mark 1.11; 9.7; Luke 3.22; 9.35. He was God's Elect, 1 Pet. 2.6. God's Spirit came upon Him, Isa. 61.1; Matt. 3.16; *3.6. His voice was never heard stirring up trouble against the government. He was kind to all weak people, and provided a fair and righteous basis for God to be gracious. He will never get tired until He sets up righteous government all over the world. Now millions of Gentiles hear the gospel and believe in His Name. The Lord Jesus was kind to all, as prophesied in Isa. 61.1,2; Luke 4.18,19. He was anointed by the Holy Spirit, preached the gospel to poor people, Matt. 4.23; 9.25; 11.5; Mark 1.15; Luke 7.22; Acts 10.38, and delivered sinners from their bonds, for example, Luke 7.37,48; Mary Magdalene, Luke 8.2; John 20.1,16. He preached peace with God, Nah. 1.16; Acts 10.36. One thing Jesus did not do while here on earth. He proclaimed the acceptable year of the Lord, Luke 4.19; 2 Cor. 6.2. But the day of vengeance is still future, Luke 21.22; Rom.12.19; 2 Thes.1.8. PROPHECY FULFILLMENT Perfect Servant Isa.6.9,10 Matt.13.14,15; Mark 4.12; Luke 8.10; John 12.39,40; Acts 28.26,27 Isa. 42.1-4 Matt. 12.18-21; 3.17; 17.5; 1 Pet. 2.6

The Perfect Man 21 Isa. 48.16 John 3.34 Isa. 61.1,2 Luke 4.18,19; 7.21,22; Matt. 4.23; Acts 10.38 *3.8 The prophecy of Isa. 35.5,6 was partly fulfilled when Christ healed the lame, deaf and dumb, and gave sight to the blind, Matt. 11.5; 15.30; 21.14; Mark 7.7; Luke 7.22. No prophet or apostle could restore sight, John 9.32, only God, Ps. 146.8. But Christ will return and set up His Kingdom and then these things will be common once more. We touched on the prophecy of the Branch of Jesse, Isa. 11.1,2 in *3.2. The rest of that prophecy says that the fullness of the Spirit would be on Him: the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, of counsel and might, of knowledge and the fear of Jehovah. In Rev. 1.4 and 4.5 we read of seven Spirits of God, and in Rev. 3.1 and 5.6, Christ has the seven Spirits of God. The number seven in the Bible stands for completeness, as in seven days each week. So seven Spirits of God means the fullness of the Holy Spirit, in all the earth. The Spirit was given to Christ without limit, John 3.34. Christ is the wisdom of God, 1 Cor. 1.24, and is for us the wisdom of God, 1 Cor. 1.30; *1.4. Christ is a Light to the Gentiles, Isa. 49.6. He was the Light of the world, John 1.4; 8.12; 9.5; 12.46, and has commanded us to take the light of the gospel to all men, Matt. 5.14; Luke 1.79; Acts 13.47; 26.18. More about God's righteous Servant, He would justify many people, Isa. 53.11. We are justified through faith in Christ, Acts 13.39; Rom. 3.24,26,28; 4.5,25; 5.1,9,16; 8.30,33; 1 Cor. 6.11; Gal. 2.16; 3.11,24; Titus 3.7. His service went much further than to the Jews only, Isa. 9.1,2; 49.6; Matt. 4.15; 12.18-21; Luke 2.32; Acts 11.18; Gal. 3.14. Everything Christ said and did was His Father's will, and great glory will be His, Isa. 52.13; Matt. 24.30; Luke 21.27. We pray it will be soon! PROPHECY FULFILLMENT Isa. 35.5,6; Matt. 11.5; 15.30; 21.14 Isa.1 1.1,2; 48.16 John 3.34; Rev. 1.4; 3.1; 5.6; 1 Cor.1.24

22 Prophecies About Christ PROPHECY FULFILLMENT Isa. 49.6 John 8.12; 12.46 Isa. 53.11 Acts 13.39; Rom. 3.24,28; 4.5,25; 5.1,9,16; 8.30,33; 1 Cor. 6.11; Gal. 2.16; 3.11,24; Tit. 3.11 Isa. 9.1,2 Matt. 4.15; 12.18,21; Luke 2.32; Acts 11.18; Gal. 3.14 Isa. 52.13 Matt. 24.30; Luke 21.27

4 Tempted by Satan *4.1 We have seen that the first promise of Christ is in Genesis 3.15. The woman would have a Child or Seed, who would finally destroy Satan. Through the Bible and all history we can see how Satan has tried to rob God of His honor by attacking those who worship Him. Satan uses two methods: he tries to deceive people so they will not believe God; second, he often tries to kill them. Adam's first son Cain, was a follower of Satan, 1 Jn. 3.12, and killed his brother Abel. The Spirit gave David some wonderful promises that God would guard from danger the believer who kept close to Him, Ps. 91.1. We have seen in the Psalms there are promises for the perfect man, *3.6. We believers can claim parts of these promises, but the Spirit was really looking forward to the Perfect Man, the Man Christ Jesus. Ps. 91.1,9: The Lord Jesus was always with His Father, John 14.9; 16.32. He trusted in God, Ps. 91.2; Heb. 2.13. Ps. 91.15,16: The Lord prayed to His Father, Matt. 11.25,26; Luke 23.34,46; John 11.41; 12.28; and to God, Matt. 27.46; Mark 15.34. God and the truth protected the Lord Jesus, Ps. 91.4; John 1.14; 8.46; 14.6. God protected Him from danger. Satan is like a person trying to trap birds. God delivered Him, Ps. 91.3. When Jesus allowed John to baptize Him, He saw the Spirit of God coming down upon Him like a dove. God spoke from heaven saying that Jesus was His beloved Son. The Spirit led Christ into the wild country to be tempted by Satan. He was not afraid, Ps. 91.5. The Lord had all human feelings, sorrow, anger, but He never showed fear. (Some Bibles in Heb. 5.7 say He feared, but this word really means respect for God). Jesus ate no food for forty days, so when He was weak Satan tried to put a doubt in His mind by saying, If you are the Son of 23

24 Prophecies About Christ God. Then he told Him to prove He was the Son of God by turning a stone into bread. The Lord knew fully well who He was, and that He had all power. But He would not take any advice from Satan. He refused to use His power as God to avoid His suffering from hunger as a Man. He used the Scripture, which says that man needs every word of God as much as natural food, Deut. 8.3; Matt. 4.4. Second, Satan tried the same method by using a promise from Ps. 91.11,12. He told the Lord to jump off the top of the temple. He would be safe because the angels would keep Him. Malachi also prophesied that Messiah would suddenly come to the temple, Mal. 3.1. So perhaps Israel would receive Him. The Lord again refused because the promise in Psalm 91 is in case He should trip on a stone and fall accidently. To jump down on purpose would be putting God to the test, to see if He would fulfill His promise, Matt. 4.7; Luke 4.12. The Lord Jesus would also remember the next verse in Psalm 91, which promises that Messiah would have victory over the lion and the snake. Both of these creatures are pictures of Satan, 1 Pet. 5.8; Rev. 12.9; 20.2. Of course Satan did not want to remind the Lord about this verse. So he tried again by offering to make Christ King of the world at once, if He would just fall down and worship him. This might be a strong temptation for a man who wanted to avoid the suffering of the cross. But any faithful Jew would remember God's command and refuse to worship a creature, Matt. 4.10. But the Lord did not resist Satan by claiming to be God's Son whom Satan should have worshipped. He was God the Son but He had become a Man, and would not use His power as God to resist temptation. He could have made stones into bread, or called on the angels to keep Him from harm. As a Man He used Scripture to resist Satan. We can do the same, 1 Pet. 5.7,8. Scripture is our sword in the spiritual battle, Eph. 6.17. So He commanded Satan to go away, Matt. 4.10, which he did, Luke 4.13. God's promises to the Perfect Man were fulfilled. On earth the Lord gained victory over Satan, Matt. 12.29; Luke 10.18; 13.16; Acts 10.38. Finally He will bruise Satan's head and Satan will be thrown into the Lake of Fire, Rev. 20.10. You might think that God did not fulfill the promises of Ps.

Tempted by Satan 25 91.14-16. God did not keep His Son from dying, the whole plan of salvation depended on that. But He delivered Jesus from death on the third day, by raising Him again, see *9. His life on earth was only about 33 years, but now He has eternal life and cannot die again, Heb.10.12. PROPHECIES FULFILLMENT Gen. 3.15; Ps. 91.13 Matt. 4.10; Luke 10.18; Rev. 20.10 Ps. 91.3,5 Luke 4.13 Ps. 91.1,2,9 Heb. 2.13; John 1.18; 10.38; 14.10,11,20 Ps. 91.15,16 Matt. 11.25,26; Luke 23.34,46; John 11.41; 12.28 Ps. 91.4 John 1.14; 14.6

5 His Work Here on Earth.1 Forerunner.2 Miracles, Gospel, Light, Rock, Peace, Water of Life, Forgiveness, Parables *5.1 The Lord was about thirty years old when He was baptized and started His great work. We have only one record of His early life after Joseph moved the family to Nazareth. This was when the Lord Jesus was twelve and is found in Luke 2.40-52. It was fitting that some one should announce that such an important Person was coming. The Holy Spirit revealed to Isaiah that a man would come and prepare the people for Messiah, Isa. 40.3-5. He was to say that they should be ready for Jehovah to come: it was the way of Jehovah, v.3, and His glory would appear, v.5. This messenger was John the Baptist, Luke 3.4-6. The Lord promised to send His messenger to prepare His way, Mal. 3.1; Matt. 11.10; Mark 1.2; Luke 7.27. John knew that he was the messenger for Messiah, John 1.23. God told John that he would know the Messiah because he would see the Spirit come down on Him like a dove, John 1.33. John was a priest, the son of a priest, Luke 1.5,63. He was taught the Old Testament and he was filled with the Holy Spirit from birth, Luke 1.15. His father knew that John would be the prophet of God, Luke 1.76. He would have the voice of one crying in the desert, telling people to prepare the way for the Lord, Isa. 40.3-5; Matt. 3.3; Mark 1.3; Luke 3.4-6. John came in the power and spirit of Elijah, Mal. 4.5,6; Matt.11.14; Luke 1.17. John knew his duty and privilege, John 1.23. He knew that Jesus was the Son of God, Isa. 40.9; John 1.34. 26

His Work Here on Earth 27 PROPHECY FULFILLMENT Isa. 40.3 Matt. 3.3; Mark 1.2,3; Luke 3.4 Isa. 40.4,5 Luke 3.5,6 Isa. 40.9 John 1.34 Mal. 3.1 Matt.11.10; Mark 1.2; Luke 7.27 Mal.4.5 Luke 1.17 *5.2 The Holy Spirit prophesied that the Messiah would do many great miracles. The deaf would be able to hear, blind to see, lame people could walk and jump, Isa. 29.18; 35.5; 42.7. The Lord Jesus did these things and many more, Matt. 11.5; Mark 7.32,35; 9.25; John 20.30. The Lord showed God's love to these poor people, and proved that He was the Son of God, John 2.11,23; 3.2; 7.31; 14.11. Still more important, He would bring good news of salvation, because God is on the throne, Isa. 52.7 (also Isa. 61.1,2, see *3.7.). Christ came and brought good news, Matt. 4.23; 9.35; 11.5; Mark 1.14; Luke 4.18,19; 7.22; 20.1. He commanded His disciples and us to do the same, Mark 16.15. The Spirit says that those who offer peace have beautiful feet, Christ the first, Isa. 52.7; Rom. 10.15. God offers peace to sinners, Isa. 57.19. This is for Israel, Acts 10.36, and Gentiles, 2 Cor. 5.19,20. God invited poor, thirsty people to come and drink the water of life, Isa. 55.1. Christ provided this Water of life, John 4.14; 7.37. We can give this water to others, through the Spirit, John 7.38,39. The Lord supplies eternal life without money or price, Rev. 21.6. He is Redeemer and King, and alone can forgive sins, Isa. 43.14,15,25. Christ is the same, Luke 5.21,24. God promised to give His Servant the ability to speak words of wisdom, and to tell Him what to say, Isa.50.4,5. This was fulfilled perfectly in the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, John 8.28,29; 12.49. Jehovah offered rest for men if they would obey His laws, but they refused, Jer. 6.16. He came to earth and said He would give rest to all who come to Him, Matt. 11.29. God commanded Israel to bring sacrifices, but He really demanded a good life, Hos. 6.6. Christ taught the same thing, Matt. 9.13, but He fully revealed God's mercy by becoming the perfect Sacrifice, Heb. 9.26; 10.12.

28 Prophecies About Christ God promised that light would shine on the Gentiles, Isa. 9.2; 42.6; 49.6; Matt. 4.16. Christ was the Light of the world, Luke 1.79; 2.32; John 1.4; 8.12; 9.5; 12.46; Acts 26.23. He has commanded us to take the light of the gospel to all nations, Matt. 5.14; Acts 13.47; 26.18. A solid Rock is a picture of God, Pss. 18.2,31,46; 28.1; 31.2; 42.9; 62.2,6,7; 71.3; 78.35; 89.26; 92.15; 94.22; 95.1. He promised that He would send Christ as a Foundation and Corner Stone, Isa. 28.16; 1 Cor. 3.11; Eph. 2.20; 1 Pet. 2.6. Those who believe in Christ will never be ashamed, Rom. 9.33; 10.11, but all others will be broken or crushed, Isa. 8.14; see *6.1. The Master Teacher often taught great truth by means of parables, Matt. 13.3,13. This also fulfilled the prophecy, Ps. 78.2; Matt. 13.35. PROPHECY FULFILLMENT Isa. 29.18; 35.5; 42.7 Matt.11.5; Mark 7.12; 9.25; John 2.23; 3.2; 7.31; 14.11; 20.30 Isa. 52.7 Matt. 4.23; 9.35; Mark 1.14; Luke 4.18; 7.22; 20.1 Isa. 57.19 Acts 10.36; 2 Cor. 5.19,20 Isa. 55.1 John 4.14; 7.37-39; Rev. 21.6 Isa. 43.14,15,25 Luke 5.21,24 Jer. 6.16 Matt. 11.29 Hos. 6.6 Matt. 9.13; Heb. 9.26; 10.12 Isa. 9.2; 42.6; 49.6 Matt. 4.16; Luke 2.32; John 1.4; 8.12; 9.5; 12.46; Acts 26.23 Isa. 50.4,5 John 8.28; 12.49 Isa. 28.16 1 Pet. 2.6; Rom.9.33; 10.11; 1 Cor. 3.11; Eph. 2.11 Ps. 78.2 Matt. 13.35

6 Rejection *6.1 We have considered the Rock as a prophecy of Christ, *5.2, but He was also like a Stone. David used Gentile workmen to lay the great stones for the temple, 1 Chron. 22.2. These men refused to use a certain stone, which was later chosen for the most important place, Ps. 118.22,23. This is a picture story of the Lord Jesus when the Jews rejected Him, Matt. 21.42,44; Mark 12.10,11; Luke 20.17,18; Acts 4.11. God has highly exalted Him and will do more still in the near future. See *10. The Spirit went on to say in Psalm 118.23,24 that it was the work of the Lord, and the day of the Lord. The people replied by prayer and praise, Ps. 118.25,26. Christ as the Stone is a strong Foundation. But Isaiah 8.14 says that many do not believe; to them He is a Stone of stumbling, Rom. 9.32,33; 1 Pet. 2.8. See also *5.2. PROPHECY Ps.118.22 FULFILLMENT Matt. 21.42; Mark 12.10,11; Luke 20.17; Acts 4.11 Isa. 8.14 Matt. 21.44; Rom. 9.33; 1 Pet. 2.8 Ps.118.23-26 1 Pet. 2.7 *6.2 Israel said they worshipped Jehovah but their hearts were far away from Him, Isa. 29.13. This was prophetic of what they would do when the Lord came to earth as their Messiah, Matt.15.8; Mark 7.6. The Spirit showed the prophet that Messiah would present Himself to the nation of Israel, riding on a donkey, Zech.9.9. This was 29

30 Prophecies About Christ the custom of the judges of Israel, Judg. 5.10 and Christ did the same, Matt. 21.4,5; Mark 11.3,7; Luke 19.30,35; John 12.14. For Christ it showed that He was not yet coming with great honor and power, Isa. 62.11; John 12.15. The people from the country fulfilled the prophecy of Psalm 118.26 by using these words to praise the Lord Jesus. They cried Hosanna, which in Hebrew means, Save, we pray, Matt. 21.9,15; Mark 11.9,10; Luke 19.38; John 12.13. Jesus' welcome at that time did not last long, Matt. 21.15, but believing Israel will use these words when they see Him, Zech. 12.10; Matt. 23.39; Luke 13.35; Rev. 1.7. PROPHECY FULFILLMENT Isa. 29.13 Matt.15.8; Mark 7.5 Zech. 9.9 Matt. 21.4,5; Mark 11.7; Luke 19.35; John 12.14 Ps. 118.26 Matt. 21.9; Mark 11.10; John 12.13 *6.3 Isaiah and the other prophets knew what it meant to be rejected by Israel. None accepted the LORD as being the all-powerful God, Isa. 53.1. The nation was no better in Jesus' days, John 12.38; Rom. 10.16. However, many of the Jews did believe, and had peace with God, Isa. 54.13; John 6.45. God planned that His temple would be for all people, Isa. 56.7. Israel did not tell the nations about God's love, and used the temple for their own profit and crimes, Jer. 7.11; Matt. 21.13; Mark 11.17; Luke 19.46. God saw Jesus grow up like a beautiful plant; Israel was like dry ground, Isa. 53.2. Nor could they see any beauty in the Lord. True, the elders of Nazareth at first saw Him with increasing wisdom and grace, Luke 2.40,52, but they soon turned against Him. In the synagogue, they admired the gracious words He spoke, but then tried to kill Him, Luke 4.22,28. The people of Israel were spiritually blind and foolish, Jer. 5.21. They were no better when the Lord came to them, Matt. 13.13. We noticed that the Messiah lived in Nazareth, a despised village, *3.5. In Isaiah 52.13 God is plainly speaking of Messiah, He

Rejection 31 acted wisely and will be exalted above all. The Spirit continues to speak of Messiah in chapter 53. In 53.3 He is despised and rejected by men, and by Israel, the people of Isaiah. Christ came to His own people, but they did not receive Him, Ps. 69.8; Luke 10.16; John 1.11. Their temple was destroyed, Jer. 22.5; Matt. 23.38; Luke 13.35. We will see how they treated Him in chapters 7 and 8. Isaiah saw Israel as a vine, carefully planted by God, but it did not bring forth good fruit for God's glory, Isa. 5.1,2. The Lord Jesus used this picture to show that Israel refused to give God what was His due. In fact, they killed His servants and were about to kill His Son, Matt. 21.33-40; Luke 20.9-16. The Lord Jesus was also the Man of sorrows. He was angry because people would not believe, Mark 3.5. He wept in sorrow over Jerusalem, Luke 19.41. His people hated Him though He had done them no wrong, Ps. 69.4; John 15.25. PROPHECY Isa. 56.7; Jer. 7.1 Isa. 53.1 Isa. 54.13 Isa. 53.2; Jer. 5.21 Isa. 53.3 Ps. 69.8 Jer. 22.5 Isa. 5.1,2 Isa. 53.3 Ps. 69.4 FULFILLMENT Matt. 21.13; Mark 11.17; Luke 19.46 John 12.38; Rom. 10.16 John 6.45 Matt. 13.13; Luke 4.28 Luke 10.16 John 1.11 Matt. 23.38; Luke 13.35 Matt. 21.33,38; Luke 20.9.15 Luke 19.41 John 15.25

7 The Betrayal *7 King David valued the good advice of a friend, called Ahithophel. But David's son Absalom tried to get the throne for himself, even if he had to kill his father to do so. Unhappily, Ahithophel forsook David and gave his support to Absalom. This hurt David and he prayed that this man would give foolish advice to Absalom, 2 Sam.15.31. David is a picture of Christ, who treated Judas Iscariot as a friend, like the eleven other apostles, Acts 1.16,17. But he turned against the Lord, Ps. 41.9; John 13.18. Judas was greedy and stole money, John 12.6. Satan entered, Luke 22.3, and Judas agreed to betray his Lord for thirty pieces of money, as the prophet said, Zech. 11.12; Matt. 26.15; Mark 14.10,11; Acts 1.16. Judas showed the priests the Man they wanted, by kissing the Lord Jesus, Matt. 26.49,56; Mark 14.43. He never enjoyed the money. David prayed that God would punish the one who had turned against him, Pss. 69.25; 109.7. Judas tried to return the money to the priests but they used it to buy a field, Zech.11.13. Judas killed himself there, Matt. 27.3,7,9,10; Acts 1.18. The eleven apostles named Matthias to take his place, Acts 1.20,26. PROPHECY Ps. 41.9 Zech. 11.12 Zech. 11.13 Ps.109.8 Ps. 69.2 FULFILLMENT John 13.18 Matt. 26.15,56 Matt. 27.3,5,7,9,10 Acts 1.16,18 Acts 1.20 32

8 Crucified We have seen that the Spirit of God prophesied how Christ would be betrayed into the hands of His enemies. That same day He was condemned to die and was nailed to the cross. Hundreds of years before, God's servants had prophesied many details of His death, all fulfilled that day. We approach this study carefully, because men were killing their Creator and Savior. *8.1 a) Rejection date We have studied prophecies of His rejection and their fulfillment in *6. Also in *3.4 we learned the date of His life on earth. Now we will look more closely at the date. Daniel lived at the time when God sent the Babylonians to destroy the temple and all Jerusalem, Jer. 52.4,13. The Lord revealed to Daniel that Messiah would be cut off 69 weeks after the King of Persia permitted the Jews to rebuild their city, Dan. 9.25,26. A week means seven, here seven years, 483 years in all. Later King Artaxerxes commanded the Jews to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, Neh. 2.18. This points to the time when the Lord was crucified, cut off'. We need the help of old history books to see the year when Christ died, for example, the years of Tiberius, Luke 3.1. (For more details see my book The Prophet Daniel, page 60; or the Believer's Bible Commentary by William MacDonald on page 1086). Christ came and suffered at exactly the right time, Luke 3.1; Rom. 5.6; Gal. 4.4. PROPHECY Dan.9.25,26 FULFILLMENT Luke 3.1; Rom.5.6; Gal.4.4 33

34 Prophecies About Christ *8.2 b) In the Garden The Lord Jesus gave His disciples some wonderful teaching, in the upper room, and as they walked, John 13-17. They went to the Garden of Gethsemane, perhaps about 9 p.m. in the evening. He warned the disciples that they would all leave Him when He was arrested, Matt. 26.31; Mark 14.27; John 16.32. This fulfilled the prophecy of Zech. 13.7; Matt. 26.56; Mark 14.50; John 18.8. Then He prayed to God, as prophesied in Ps. 69.1,2; Matt. 26.39,42; Mark 14.36; Luke 22.42. As Man, He prayed that He would be spared from the cup of suffering. As the Perfect Man, He asked rather that the Father's will should be done. PROPHECY FULFILLMENT Zech. 13.7 Matt. 26.31,56; Mark 14.27,50; John 16.32; 18.8 Ps. 69.1,2 Matt. 26.39,42; Mark 14.36; Luke 22.42 *8.3 c) Trials Judas came with a crowd of people and soldiers to arrest the Lord Jesus. We have seen in *7 that he was fulfilling prophecy. He kissed the Lord so the soldiers would know the one they wanted. Then they took Him to the palace of the chief priest, John 18:13, and then to Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin, the highest council of the Jews. The Scripture said that false witnesses would be used against Christ, Pss. 35.11; 109.2. There were plenty of these, Matt. 26.59-61; Mark 14.55-59. But the Lord did not answer them, Isa. 53.7; Matt. 26.63; Mark 14.61; Acts 8.32. An officer of the judge, Caiaphas, the high priest, struck the true Judge on His face, Micah 5.1; John 18.22. The priests condemned Him to death, then began to spit on Him, Matt. 26.67. The people insulted Jehovah's servant, Isaiah, by spitting on his face, Isa. 50.6. The Roman soldiers did the same to the Lord Jesus, Mark 15.19. PROPHECY FULFILLMENT Pss. 35.11; 109.2 Matt. 26.59-61; Mark 14.56,57 Isa. 53.7 Matt. 26.63; Mark 14.61 Isa. 50.6 Matt. 26.67; Mark 15.19

Crucified 35 *8.4 The Jews and the priests hated the Lord Jesus even though He had never done anything bad to them, Pss. 35.19; 69.4,19; John 15.25. Even His half-brothers, Ps. 69.8, the sons of Mary, urged Him to go to dangerous Jerusalem, John 7.1,3,5. The Sanhedrin sent Him to Pilate and demanded that He should be crucified. The common people despised Him, Ps. 22.6; Matt. 27.40. They laughed at Him because He said He trusted in God, Pss. 22.7,8; 42.10; Matt. 27.43; Luke 23.35. They mocked Him because He said He was Christ the King, Matt. 27.29,42; Mark 15.18; Luke 23.37; John 19.3. Finally Pilate agreed to crucify Him. So they led Him away to Calvary, John 19.16. This meant that they drove nails through His hands and feet, Ps. 22.16. (Some modern Bibles use different words in this verse, but the New Testament says He was crucified, and old history books prove that the Roman custom was to pierce the criminal's hands and feet). See also Luke 24.39,40; John 20.20,27. Israel will remember what they did, Zech. 12.10; John 19.37; Rev. 1.7. It was prophesied that Christ would be numbered with criminals, Isa. 53.12. So they crucified Him with two others, Mark 15.28; Luke 22.37; 23.33. The soldiers could claim the clothing of the person crucified. They divided up between them what Jesus was wearing, but cast lots to see who would get the one long robe He had on, Luke 23.34; John 19.23,24. This was the exact fulfillment of the prophecy in Ps. 22.18. PROPHECIES FULFILLMENT Pss. 35.19; 69.4,8,19 John 15.25; 7.1,3,5; Ps. 22.6 Matt. 27.40 Pss. 22.7,8; 42.10 Matt. 27.29,42,43; Mark 15.18; Luke 23.35,37; John 19.3 Ps. 22.16 Luke 24.39; John 19.16,37; 20.20,27 Ps. 22.18 Luke 23.34; John 19.23,24

36 Prophecies About Christ *8.5 Seven Cries from the Cross We have seen, *8c, that the Lord remained silent when they accused Him. He did not beg for mercy. Then after He was crucified the Lord spoke seven times: 1) He prayed for those who opposed Him, Ps. 109.4, for sinners, Isa. 53.12. He asked His Father to forgive them because they did not really know who He was, Luke 23.34. 2) For example, the two thieves crucified with Christ. One of these repented and confessed Jesus as Lord. He was at once forgiven and the Lord said he would not suffer long on the cross but would go to Paradise that day with Him, Luke 23.43. 3) It is hard to breathe hanging on a cross and the Lord was suffering great pain. He saw His mother Mary standing with John His apostle. We never read of Joseph, Mary's husband, after Matt. 2.19, Luke 2.43, and John 1.45. It seems that he had died, and we know that his sons did not believe in Jesus. So the Lord made arrangements for John to take care of His mother when He died, John 19.26,27. We see that the Perfect Man obeyed the fifth Commandment, Ex. 20.12. 4) Our Lord was crucified about the third hour, 9 a.m. Around noon God sent darkness over the earth for three hours, Matt. 27.45; Mark 15.33. This was not a natural eclipse, it was a special miracle to cover the suffering of His beloved Son. At three o'clock the Lord Jesus cried out to God, in the Aramaic language, asking why He forsook Him, Matt. 27.46; Mark 15.34. The Lord was speaking as a Man, using the language of Ps. 22.1. He knew He had to die, Isa. 53.5,8, on a cross, Matt. 20.18,28; 26.2,38; Luke 18.33; John 3.14; 8.28; 12.32; Acts 8.33. 5) Christ came from heaven, for one thing, to fulfill the law and the prophets. One prophecy remained, that they gave Him poison or sour wine to drink, Ps. 69.21. Before crucifixion they offered Him wine with gall, to make the pain less severe, which He refused, Matt.27.34. His fifth cry from the cross He asked for something to drink. They gave Him some sour wine, which He took, to fulfill the Scripture, John 19.28. 6) Now He had finished His great work, John 19.30. He