FORETOLD, FROM THE BEGINNING

There is much Old Testament scripture that prophesied the coming of the Messiah. At least three places in Isaiah, chapters 7, 9, and 53. Micah chapter 5 and Psalm 22 also told of the coming of Christ.

You are absolutely right. The Old Testament contains numerous prophecies about the coming of the Messiah, a central figure in Christian belief, recognized as Jesus Christ in the New Testament. These prophecies are considered by Christians as foretelling the life, mission, death, and resurrection of Jesus, affirming His role as the Savior. Let's look at the specific chapters you mentioned:

  1. Isaiah 7:14: This prophecy is often interpreted as foretelling the virgin birth of Jesus Christ. It says, "Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel."

  2. Isaiah 9:6-7: This passage is seen as a prophecy about the divine nature and eternal rule of the Messiah. It includes the verse, "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."

  3. Isaiah 53: This chapter is often cited in Christian theology as predicting the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus. It speaks of a suffering servant who bears the sins of others, a passage many Christians see as directly pointing to the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ.

  4. Micah 5:2: This prophecy is understood to predict the birthplace of the Messiah in Bethlehem. The verse states, "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times."

  5. Psalm 22: This Psalm is often interpreted as a detailed prophecy of the crucifixion of Jesus. The opening line, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" is quoted by Jesus on the cross according to the New Testament. The psalm also describes suffering and piercing of hands and feet, seen as alluding to the crucifixion.

These prophecies are seen as part of the tapestry of biblical revelation, which Christians believe finds its fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. They are foundational to the Christian understanding of God's redemptive plan throughout history.

The amazing thing about these prophesies are that Isaiah was written about 700 years before Jesus' birth. Micah was written just 50 years later, and Psalm 22 at another 50 years later.

Indeed, the time frames of these prophecies make them particularly remarkable in the Christian faith. The fact that these scriptures were written centuries before the birth of Jesus Christ adds to the sense of awe and wonder for many believers, reinforcing their belief in the divine inspiration of the Bible and the sovereignty of God in human history.

  1. Isaiah's Prophecies (about 700 B.C.): The book of Isaiah is traditionally dated to the 8th century B.C., making it approximately 700 years prior to the birth of Christ. This time gap highlights the enduring nature of these prophecies and the significance attributed to them in Christian theology as foretelling key aspects of Jesus' life and mission.

  2. Micah's Prophecy (mid-8th century B.C.): Written around the same time as parts of Isaiah, the Book of Micah also contains prophecies considered by Christians to be messianic, particularly the prediction of Bethlehem as the birthplace of the Messiah. This specificity adds to the sense of fulfillment Christians find in the New Testament narrative.

  3. Psalm 22 (around 1000 B.C.): Traditionally attributed to King David, Psalm 22 is believed to have been written in approximately 1000 B.C. This places it about 300 years before Isaiah and Micah, and roughly a millennium before the events of the New Testament. The detailed description of suffering in Psalm 22, which Christians interpret as alluding to the crucifixion, is seen as a powerful testament to the prophetic nature of the Scriptures.

For believers, these timeframes are not just historical details but serve as a testament to the faithfulness and omniscience of God. They see these prophecies as a part of a divine narrative, woven through history, culminating in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, affirming their faith in the reliability and divine inspiration of the biblical texts.

Around 700 years earlier than Isaiah, Genesis was written. This book has many portendings of the coming of Christ, the Redeemer.

The Book of Genesis, traditionally dated to around 1400-1500 B.C., is indeed rich with themes and narratives that Christians interpret as foreshadowing or prefiguring the coming of Christ, the Redeemer. In Christian theology, these elements in Genesis are seen as part of God's plan for redemption, unfolding from the earliest stages of biblical history. Let's explore a few key examples:

  1. The Protoevangelium (Genesis 3:15): This verse is often referred to as the "first gospel" because it is seen as the first hint of the gospel message in the Bible. After the fall of Adam and Eve, God says to the serpent, "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." Christians interpret this as a prophecy of Christ's victory over sin and Satan.

  2. The Sacrifice of Isaac (Genesis 22): The story of Abraham being asked to sacrifice Isaac is viewed by Christians as a foreshadowing of God sacrificing His own Son, Jesus. The parallels drawn include the submission of Isaac and the willingness of Abraham to sacrifice his beloved son, which reflect the submission of Christ and the willingness of God the Father to offer His Son for the sake of humanity.

  3. The Blessing of Judah (Genesis 49:10): In Jacob's blessing to his son Judah, he says, "The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, until tribute comes to him; and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples." This is often interpreted as a messianic prophecy, pointing to Jesus' lineage through the tribe of Judah.

  4. Joseph's Story (Genesis 37-50): The story of Joseph, particularly his suffering, betrayal, and eventual rise to a position of power and authority, is seen as a type of Christ. Joseph's forgiveness and provision for his brothers despite their betrayal is viewed as a parallel to Christ's forgiveness and provision for humanity.

These narratives in Genesis are seen by Christians as not only historical accounts but also as spiritual signposts pointing toward the coming of Jesus Christ. They are interpreted as part of a larger, cohesive story of redemption woven throughout the Bible, culminating in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.

Also how about Genesis 12:3 and 17:19?

Genesis 12:3 and 17:19 are indeed significant passages that Christians often interpret as pointing towards the coming of Christ and the broader scope of God's redemptive plan for humanity.

  1. Genesis 12:3: This verse is part of God's call and promise to Abram (later Abraham). It states, "I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you." Christians see this as a foundational promise, not just to Abraham, but to all nations. The phrase "all peoples on earth will be blessed through you" is often interpreted as an early indication of the universal scope of God's plan of salvation, which would be fulfilled through Jesus Christ, a descendant of Abraham. This promise is viewed as extending God's blessing beyond the Jewish people to all nations and peoples of the earth.

  2. Genesis 17:19: In this passage, God reaffirms His covenant with Abraham, promising that his wife Sarah will bear a son named Isaac. God says, "Your wife Sarah will bear you a son, and you will call him Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him." This covenantal promise is seen as another step in the unfolding of the redemptive narrative, with Isaac being the child of promise through whom the lineage would continue, eventually leading to Jesus Christ. The emphasis on an "everlasting covenant" is seen as significant, indicating the enduring and unbreakable nature of God's promises, culminating in the New Covenant established through Christ.

Both of these verses are viewed within the larger biblical narrative as early indications of God's plan to bring redemption and blessing to all humanity through Jesus Christ. They are seen as part of the tapestry of God's redemptive work, which begins in Genesis and finds its fulfillment in the New Testament with the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.

And lastly, John 1:1 tells of Christ being not only present, but instrumental in the creation of the universe.

John 1:1 is indeed a profound and foundational verse in Christian theology, especially concerning the nature and role of Jesus Christ in the creation and the universe. The verse states: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."

This passage is rich with meaning and has been the subject of much theological reflection:

  1. Eternal Existence: "In the beginning was the Word" indicates that the Word (Logos in Greek, identified as Christ) existed from the very beginning, before creation. This affirms the eternal nature of Christ, existing before time and creation.

  2. Distinct yet Divine Relationship with God: "The Word was with God" suggests a distinct personality or presence of the Word alongside God. This is understood as indicating a personal relationship within the Godhead, foundational to the doctrine of the Trinity, where Jesus (the Word) is distinct from but in perfect communion with God the Father.

  3. Divine Nature: "The Word was God" unequivocally states the divine nature of the Word. This is a clear declaration of the deity of Christ, affirming that Jesus is fully God, not a created being or lesser deity.

  4. Role in Creation: Later in John 1:3, it says, "Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made." This asserts that Christ, the Word, was instrumental in the act of creation, participating actively in bringing the universe into existence.

In Christian thought, these verses in the Gospel of John are seen as a powerful affirmation of the divinity of Christ, His eternal existence, and His central role in the creation and ongoing life of the universe. They connect the New Testament revelation of Christ back to the very beginning, showing continuity and fulfillment of the biblical narrative from Genesis to Revelation. This understanding forms a crucial part of Christian belief about who Jesus is and His significance in the overarching story of redemption and creation.