Form Two Notes
God Meets Us in Jesus Christ
St. Luke’s Gospel
Introduction
Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John record the life of Jesus Christ and His ministry in the four Gospel books. We shall trace the life and ministry of Jesus Christ as written by St. Luke to Theophilus. St. Luke was a medical doctor.
Old Testament Prophecies About the Messiah
Introduction: Read 2 Samuel 7:13, Isaiah 7:10-16
Messiah
The word Messiah is from the Hebrew word meshiach, which means “the anointed”; thus, a Messiah is one called, anointed, and appointed by God to serve Him.
Prophecy
A prophecy refers to a prediction of what will happen in the future.
Messianic Prophecies are predictions made by the prophets describing the coming of a righteous King who will rule Israel according to God’s will.
- The origin of the Messianic prophecies in the Bible starts with Prophet Nathan’s prophecy to King David.
Note:
The Romans ruled the Israelites before the birth of Jesus. They hated Roman leadership and longed for someone of their own to lead them into victory over Roman rule.
The prophets of Israel (the Old Testament) communicated a message that God would send a Messiah to bring all people into a lasting relationship with Him. The prophets had different ideas about the Messiah compared to Jewish expectations, which hoped for a political King to lead them into victory over Roman rule. The prophets spoke of a religious Messiah—to free them from sin.
Topic Outcomes
By the end of this topic, you should be able to:
- Explain the Old Testament prophecies about the coming of the Messiah.
- Relate the concept of the Messiah in the Old and New Testaments.
- Explain the link between the Old and the New Testament.
- Discuss the role of John the Baptist.
Old Testament Prophecies About the Coming of the Messiah
(i) Nathan’s Prophecy (2 Samuel 7:3–17 and Psalms 89:20–38)
David proposed to build God a house. Nathan, the prophet, was given a message (an oracle) for David. In this prophecy, God told Nathan to tell King David that:
- God would ensure that the Kingdom of David would last forever.
- An heir from David’s lineage would rule.
- David’s heir shall build a house for God’s name. God would establish the throne of His Kingdom forever.
- David’s heir shall be God’s son and God shall be his father.
- David’s house and Kingdom shall be established forever.
David died, but God’s mercy shall not depart from the heir of David. Hence, the promise that the Kingdom of David shall last forever referred to the Messiah who was to come. David is an ancestor of Christ.
(ii) Isaiah’s Prophecy – Isaiah 7:10–16; 9:1–7; 61:1–2; and 63
In these readings, Isaiah prophesied that the Messiah would be:
- Born of a virgin.
- A boy, born of a virgin and called ‘Emmanuel,’ meaning “God with us.”
- A Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace.
- Filled with the Spirit of God.
- Anointed by God.
- Sent to preach the good news to the poor, bring liberty to captives, and proclaim the year of favor from God.
- Isaiah also prophesied that the Messiah would be the suffering servant (Isaiah 53).
Characteristics of the Suffering Servant – Isaiah 53
- He would bear the sins of humankind.
- He was oppressed, afflicted, despised, and rejected by men.
- He bore suffering and disgrace submissively.
- He was mocked, spat on, and wounded.
- He was innocent of sin yet treated as a criminal.
- He was pierced and wounded in the sides.
- He was crucified with thieves and made intercession for sinners.
- He was buried in a rich man’s tomb.
(iii) Jeremiah’s Prophecy – Jeremiah 23:5–6
God promised to raise up a branch who shall:
- Be chosen as King, a righteous descendant of David.
- Prosper.
- Rule wisely, doing what is right and just in the world.
- Execute justice on the earth.
- Ensure that Judah and Israel are safe and live in peace.
- Be called ‘the God our righteousness’ – ‘The Lord our salvation.’
What does the term ‘righteous branch’ mean?
(iv) Micah’s Prophecy (Micah 5:1–5)
Micah prophesied that:
- The Messianic King shall come from Bethlehem.
- He shall lead with authority.
- He will bring peace.
(v) The Psalmist Prophecy (Psalm 41:9 and 110:1–2)
David spoke of:
- Betrayal by a close friend.
- Messiah is referred to as ‘the Lord.’
- The Messiah shall rule and reign in the midst of enemies.
Summary
Nathan, Isaiah, Jeremiah, the Psalmist (David), and Micah prophesied of a Messiah to come. The Jews expected a Messiah who would be a political leader, a victorious ruler, and a King. They expected a Messiah:
- Who would lead his people into a time of great national power and prosperity.
- In whose reign there would be no illness, no sorrow, no injustice.
- In whose reign there would be no fear.
- In whose reign the land would be filled with joy and peace.
- Who shall rule forever.
Revision Questions
- Describe the prophecy of Jeremiah concerning the Messiah.
- What does the term Messiah mean?
- Highlight the Jewish expectations of the Messiah in the Old Testament.
- Did Jesus Christ fulfill the Old Testament prophecies concerning the Messiah? How?
- Which prophets in the Old Testament prophesied about the expected Messiah?
The Concept of the Messiah in the New Testament
The concept of Messiah is found in Luke 1:26–38; 2:1–23; 23:1–35; 24:50–51. The writer of Luke’s Gospel makes it clear that Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament prophecies concerning the coming of the Messiah. How did He do this? Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament prophecies because:
- Jesus was born from the lineage of David (Matthew 1).
- Angel Gabriel said the child to be born shall rule forever (Luke 1:32) – Nathan’s prophecy.
- Jesus was born of Mary, a virgin, as foretold by Isaiah 7:14.
- Messiah is called Emmanuel, Isaiah’s prophecy (Matthew 1:18–25).
- Jesus was born in Bethlehem – Micah’s prophecy.
- The Messiah would be a ‘Son of David’ – Nathan and Jeremiah’s prophecies. Jesus was referred to as a ‘Son of David’ (Luke 18:38).
- Jesus would bring salvation, said by Simeon during the dedication of Jesus (Luke 2:29–32). This was a fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy.
- Jesus referred to Himself as the Messiah by reading the scroll (Isaiah 61:1–2 and Luke 4:18–19).
- Isaiah prophesied that the Messiah would perform miracles. Jesus performed many miracles.
- The prophecy of the suffering servant (Isaiah 53) was fulfilled through the passion, death, and crucifixion of Jesus Christ.
- We see Jesus betrayed by one of His disciples – a friend, fulfilling the Psalmist prophecy.
Note that the Jews in the New Testament expected a Messiah who would deliver them from Roman rule. Jews expected Jesus to be a political leader or king. However, Peter called Him ‘the Christ of God’ (Luke 9:20). Matthew called Him King of the Jews (Matthew 2:2). Hence, Jesus came as a Spiritual Leader and King, not as a political Leader or King.
Self-Assessment Questions
- What does the name Emmanuel mean?
- Explain the concept of the Messiah in the New Testament.
Annunciation of the Birth of John the Baptist
Introduction
The parents of John the Baptist were Zechariah and his wife Elizabeth. Zechariah’s name meant ‘God has remembered.’ Elizabeth’s name meant ‘God has sworn.’
John the Baptist
1. The Annunciation – Read Luke 1:5–25
Zechariah was a priest. He and his wife Elizabeth were old, good, and righteous people of God, but they did not have a child. They were barren. God gave them a child, John the Baptist. His birth was announced to his father, Zechariah, when he was in the temple offering incense. An angel appeared to Zechariah and told him that his prayers had been heard. His wife Elizabeth would bear a son. The angel said the child would be called John, which means ‘God is gracious.’ The child:
- Will be set aside to serve God.
- Will be filled with the Holy Spirit.
As an adult, John:
- Will be a Nazarite. He should neither cut his hair nor drink wine.
- Shall turn many hearts of people to the Lord their God.
- Shall also turn the hearts of the fathers to their children.
Zechariah expressed unbelief to these words. Angel Gabriel told him that he shall be mute until the fulfillment of God’s words.
The Birth, Circumcision, and Naming of John the Baptist
Elizabeth gave birth to a son. This brought great joy to her and Zechariah. The cousins and neighbors of Elizabeth wanted the child to be named Zechariah after the father, but Elizabeth insisted on the name John. When Zechariah was asked to name the child, he wrote down the name John. On the eighth day, the child was named John as the angel had said. John was circumcised on the eighth day according to Jewish traditions.
After naming his child John, the mouth of Zechariah opened immediately and he started to speak. He sang a song – referred to as Benedictus in Luke 1:67–79. As he sang the Benedictus, Zechariah prophesied that God had:
- Raised up a horn of salvation on the house of David.
- Remembered His covenant with Abraham.
Zechariah said this about his child John:
- He shall be the prophet of the Most High.
- The child John shall prepare the way of the Lord by:
- Calling men to forgiveness.
- Showing men the light of salvation.
- Guiding people into peace.
The Role of John the Baptist
The role of John the Baptist is found in Isaiah 40:3–5, Malachi 3:1, 4:5–6, and Luke 7:20–35.
John the Baptist had an important role to play according to the angel who announced his coming birth.
His role was to:
- Be a prophet with qualities of Elijah (see Malachi 3:1, 4:5).
- Announce the good news to come just like Elijah did.
- Be the link between the Old Testament and New Testament.
- Prepare the way for the Lord.
- Announce the coming of God’s reign that was near.
- Preach a baptism of repentance.
- Baptize with water.
- Introduce people and his disciples to the Messiah – Jesus Christ.
- Fulfill the prophecy of Elijah that a messenger was sent before the coming of the Messiah. John the Baptist was likened to Elijah.
Topic Review Questions
- Outline the qualities of John as described by angel Gabriel to Zechariah.
- Why was John referred to as the second Elijah?
- What lessons do Christians learn from the annunciation of the birth of John the Baptist?
- Describe the birth of John the Baptist.
