Our Blessed Hope – Part 1: Who is this Jesus?

This series of articles for The Believer

No matter the concerns, triumphs, or outright failures that a day may bring, there is always one prayer that crosses my lips at least once before I settle in for the night. Any idea what it might be? No. Well, it is simple, “Come, Lord Jesus, come!” The anticipation of my Lord’s return is something that gives me (and countless other Christians around the world) an immeasurable hope. In fact, in Titus 2:13, the Apostle Paul refers to the Lord’s coming as our, “…blessed hope…” This hope burns brightly in me. Is this because I want to escape the trials and tribulations of this world? Some days, yes, it feels that way! Given the choice, who wouldn’t want to leave this world of troubles and enter an eternity of peace ruled by Christ? But, most of all, it isn’t escaping this world that I want. I desire to go primarily because I want to be with my Lord. He is my Creator, my Savior, the only person who knows me completely, and He has paid the horrific price required for all my sins. Nothing that this world vainly promises comes close to the joy I will experience being with Him. I will stay here in this weary world as long as He calls me to be. Nevertheless, I echo Paul who said in Philippians 1:21, “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (NASB). For me there is nothing more appealing than being with my Savior. And yet, as I tarry here, my hope is to be as prepared as for his coming as I possibly can be. As such, this series of articles for The Believer’s Byline will explore the topic of our Lord’s second coming – Our Blessed Hope.

Don’t Be Deceived:

First, let me establish that this series will not seek to guess or even speculate as to the specific timing of the Lord’s coming. At the time of the Apostle Paul, at least 2,000 years of evangelism and hardship still remained ahead for the Church. Today, it would be foolish to think we still have all the time in the world left, but we still don’t know the specifics. Christ simply warned us to be constantly ready, saying in Matthew 24:43-44, “But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into. For this reason you must be ready as well; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will” (NASB). The Bible makes it clear that no one knows the day or hour when Christ will return, and rightly so (Mark 13:32). And Jesus warned in Matthew 24:4-5, “See to it that no one misleads you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will mislead many people” (NASB).

Deception would seem to be guaranteed during the end times, so how do we keep from being deceived, friends? By doing our homework! To put it simply, we study our Bibles! As a schoolteacher, I am reminded of the idea behind the pop quiz. You know the type – those annoying little exams that show up when you least expect them and are likely the least prepared. Yet, a diligent student does all his homework and keeps up with his studies. Though the quiz may come unexpectedly, he is prepared for it, and he passes it with flying colors. We are to be the same way about God’s word and the hope of Christ’s coming. Though we don’t know exactly when Christ is coming, we know He will, and we must be prepared. The Apostle Paul said in 1 Thessalonians 5:4-6:

But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness, so that the day would overtake you like a thief; for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; so then, let’s not sleep as others do, but let’s be alert and sober” (NASB).

Paul’s challenge here adds another factor – the call to holy living, which I will also address in this study. However, for the now the main point I want to emphasize is that this study will be about being ready and understanding what the scriptures says about Christ’s coming – not about setting dates. Jesus is coming when we least expect it. We need to be ready!

My Standpoint:

I have been a teacher in Christian schools for the last 17 years. In that time I have attended many meetings, but I will never forget the one where an administrator said ever so sarcastically, “We Christians always agree on everything.” To that remark the entire faculty erupted in almost hysterical laughter. While the commentary did tickle our funny bones for the moment, it is a sad commentary on the Church. The one group of people on this planet that is supposed to be of one mind often is not. I suppose that is because the Church a collection of sinners, saved by grace alone. And because it seems in our very nature to disagree there are many standpoints on the timeline of the end times. To name a few there are the pre-tribulation, post-tribulation, mid-tribulation, literal millennium, and amillennium standpoints. Whatever personal standpoint you may take we do know these basic truths about the end times.

No one knows the day or hour (Mark 13:32).
There will be a time of Great Tribulation that will cover all the earth (Matthew 24:21-22).
And most importantly JESUS IS COMING BACK (Matthew 24:30)!

Personally, I hold to the Pre-Tribulation Rapture/ Literal Millennium standpoint. This is a well-established biblical standpoint held by many Christians. I have spent many years of personal study to come to this standpoint, so for the sake of this study this is the standpoint I will follow in my articles. However, with everything you hear from any teacher of the Word, check this stuff out for yourself. Don’t blindly follow what any teacher says, rather, be like the Bereans who “…received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so” (Acts 17:11 NASB). My commitment is to be accurate and thorough, but even I have much to learn. And when it comes down to it, our personal viewpoints about the End Times are not going to get us into Heaven if we’re right, and they won’t get us sent to Hell if we’re wrong. Only genuine faith in Christ saves as He spelled out clearing in John 3:16 saying, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life” (NASB).

Who is this Jesus?

So who is this Jesus? Now, that may seem like a simple question, but it is important to answer before we jump into our study. He is, as Peter said, “…the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16 – NASB). He is our Savior, and the only means by which we can approach God the Father. But why is He all these things? Simply because He said so? Of course not! Recall Matthew 24:4-5, “Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,” and will deceive many.”

If Jesus simply showed up in Israel one day, and said He was the Christ, but did nothing to prove it, He would have been no better than any of the other false Christs out there. I do not say this to be disrespectful to the Lord, but of one thing we can be certain – God always keeps his word. Jesus would often not provide a sign when someone demanded it, but He fulfilled everything the Messiah was supposed to. Throughout the Old Testament we receive a resume’, if you will, for the Messiah. Through prophecy He was described hundreds even thousand of years before He was born.

The study of Christ’s Messianic qualifications is a massive undertaking unto itself. Therefore I will only outline ten prophecies here. However, I encourage you to study on and see that of the distinct messianic prophecies listed in the Old Testament, Jesus fulfilled them all. When He comes again in power and glory there are more prophecies for Him to fulfill, and I promise you He will do so just as He said. Consider these prophecies that came true literally, as they were described.

The Messiah will be the seed of a woman. This messianic requirement is laid out in Genesis 3: 15, “And I will put enmity between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.” Since modern medicine has proved that the “seed” or sperm comes from men the way the Messiah was to be conceived in and of itself was amazing. We see this prophecy fulfilled in Jesus in Galatians 4:4 which reads:

But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.”

A Descendent of Abraham: Genesis 12:3 describes the fact that in Abraham all the families of the world shall be blessed. Jesus is the only one who could have accomplished this, and Matthew 1:1 and the following genealogy describe him as a descendant of Abraham.

A Descendent of Isaac: In Abraham’s moment of weakness when he believed his descendants would come through Ishmael God told him in Genesis 17:19 that Isaac would bear his descendants. In the third Chapter of Luke yet another genealogy of Jesus is given dating all the way back to Adam. Isaac is listed in verse 34.

A Descendent of Jacob: In the poetic verse of Numbers 24:17 a pagan by the name of Balaam has a vision of the coming Hebrew Messiah. He writes:

I see him, but not now;
I behold him, but not near;
A star shall come forth from Jacob,
A scepter shall rise from Israel,
And shall crush through the forehead of Moab,
And tear down all the sons of Sheth.

If one had any doubt that this Star of Jacob was the future Messiah, he need read only the next two verses and read of His glorious triumph over Edom.

From the Tribe of Judah: Genesis 49:10 reads:

The scepter shall not depart from Judah,
Nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet,
Until Shiloh comes,
And to him shall be the obedience of the peoples.”

In this verse, God promises that law and order will not depart from the tribe of Judah until Shiloh comes to it. Scholars have translated the word Shiloh to mean, “To Whom it Belongs.” Like Seed this is another representation of Messiah, because only the Messiah could take the ruling scepter. In verse 33 of the Luke 3 genealogy, we learn that Jesus is in fact a descendant of and a member of the tribe of Judah.

Heir to the Throne of David: Often prophetic language can be both confusing and misleading. That is one of the great things about God. He reveals knowledge and understanding to us when he deems it is appropriate, not before. However, Isaiah has many Messianic prophecies that get straight to the point. Isaiah 9:7 is one of these. It reads:

There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace,
On the throne of David and over his kingdom,
To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness
From then on and forevermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this.”

Can anyone doubt that this passage refers to the coming Messiah who was to be the Jews’ eternal king? Now a reader of Luke 3:31, which lists Jesus as a descendant of David through Joseph, might say wait Joseph was not Jesus’ real father. But in fact just as adopted sons have all the rights biological sons have, Jesus was Joseph’s legal heir. Joseph as a direct descendant of David was heir to the throne, making Jesus heir to the throne as well. Some have also reasoned that Luke’s genealogy relates Mary’s family tree. If that is the case she is also a descendant of David. Making Jesus heir to the throne, lock, stock, and barrel.

Born in Bethlehem: Micah Chapter 5 describes the coming Messiah. Verse 2 specifically states that He was to be born in Bethlehem. I can imagine the ancient residents of that tiny community beaming with pride that the Savior of humanity was to be born in their small community. Even so, I am certain they never imagined the King of Kings and Lord of Lords would have to be born in a stable with the odor of manure and animals all around Him. Hardly a fitting welcome for a King, but Luke’s gospel describes His birth in just such a place fulfilling this ancient prophecy.

Born of a Virgin: Another of those blunt passages, Isaiah 7:14 describes the Messiah, there called Immanuel, as being born of a virgin. Matthew quotes this verse in 1:23, and Luke affirms the fact that Jesus was indeed born of a virgin in verse 1:34, where Mary confesses that she has never had sexual relations.

Slaughter of Children following His Birth: One of the interesting things about Biblical prophecy is the fact that it can have multiple fulfillments. An immediate fulfillment for those to whom it is given, and an ultimate fulfillment usually culminating in the life of the Messiah. Jeremiah 31:15 reads:

Thus says the Lord,
‘A voice is heard in Ramah,
Lamentation and bitter weeping.
Rachel is weeping for her children;
She refuses to be comforted for her children,
Because they are no more.’”

Genesis says that Rachel, wife of Jacob was buried in Ephrath, near Bethlehem. Originally the passage was meant for the Israelites taken away in the Babylonian captivity. However, Matthew 2:17-18, which again quotes the verse, ascribes this slaughter to the murderous actions of King Herod the Great when he ordered the killing of baby boys under two years of age in the hopes of wiping out the Messiah.

Messiah will come out of Egypt: Another example of dual fulfillment of prophecy Hosea 11:1 describes God calling Israel out of Egypt. In this verse he calls Israel his “son.” This is of course symbolic, however Matthew attributes this verse to Jesus God’s actual and legitimate Son. Thus Jesus becomes the complete fulfillment of this prophecy.

These ten prophecies barely scrape the surface of the prophecies that Jesus fulfilled. Prophecy can be a bit difficult, and I must confess that my faith has been tested in the study of it. However, I have learned that my faith needs to exceed my understanding. With time, study, and most of all prayer the prophecies begin to make sense. Of one thing we can be certain though. Jesus is the Christ, Son of the Living God. With this basic understanding we can begin our study of his triumphant return.

References

Scriptures have been taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE ® Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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