Redemptive Love

 

I was thinking the other day, how easy it is for us to take the phrase "Jesus Loves You" and make it common place. I like many grew up hearing this a million times. When something is said so often it almost loses its meaning especially when we take it out of the context of the cross. The cross makes the phrase come to life and has endless meaning.

But what does it really mean to be redeemed?

Google describes the definition of redemptive as "an adjective describing something that acts to save, rescue, or restore someone from error, sin, or a difficult situation. Rooted in the Latin word redimere, which means "to buy back", it points to the idea of recovery, healing, and positive transformation".

"For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake." 1Peter 1:18-20 NIV

        ** Think to yourself - Jesus, the Son of God, was chosen as our perfect Redeemer - His                     main purpose was to die, to be the perfect lamb, and buy us back from sin and                             deception, what other god has ever done that?  **

I remember the day I got so mad at God. I was in college. I was so heartbroken about all the events that were occurring in my life at the time. There were things occurring in my family that had been slowly breaking me, I had an academic advisor that was telling me I was not going to achieve my dream, that I was not good enough and then there was a relationship that I held in high esteem that broke apart. I remember feeling so disconnected and disjointed from God despite trying to maintain the relationship. In many ways, I felt like a failure. I tried to put on smile and a brave face for the world but the sheer weight of it all was more than I knew how to bear. I remember the spiritual attack I was under came from all angles. It felt like it was not going to stop. Finally under the weight of it all I broke.  I told God that if this was His kind of love, I did not want it! I got mad at God. 

When I look back, I can tell you with all honesty this was not my finest moment to put it lightly. In fact, up to this point I had been an active growing christian who read my bible everyday, prayed and went to church as often as I could and volunteered for whatever was available to help others. I can tell you from a different vantage point many years laters that God did not cause any of the events that led me to that point in my life. Often times, it is human nature to blame shift. We are looking for someone to blame, for someone else to be wrong or for it to not be of our own doing. It's easy to blame, that's the default programmed into us from this fallen world.

I heard a Pastor put it this way there are 3 types of sin:

    1) Fallen World: we go through things as a consequence of what happened in the garden of         Eden, where sin entered the world. Ever since that moment, unfair events have occurred and         is often referred to as general sin. Sometimes bad things happen as a result of our fallen             sinful condition and the cursed world where we toil daily and has nothing to do with us.

    2. Satan and demonic forces: the principalities which rule the earth. Satan and his demons             love to prowl around harassing those who love God. I know the times I am closest to God, all         literal hell breaks loose! This is not any fault of our own, it's an attack and we need to                     recognize it for what it is. How we handle the pressure and attack is what determines our             own involvement in sin. (MAJOR CONVICTION moment) I know this is probably one of the         hardest aspects to deal with. Sometimes we cannot see or understand why it's happening -         that is the hardest part. 

    3) Personal Sin: bad things happen because of our own personal sin and choices we                     make. Sometimes, it is us that creates the consequence we are fighting against - we had a         hand in making the things that go wrong in our own lives. 

Key take aways from this paragraph: 1) all sin comes from suffering which stems from our fallen world. Sometimes we are the problem and create our own prisons. But there is the last option, spiritual attack from demonic forces. But something to note here is that there are essentially two (2) aspects from where sin derives from: it comes from us and our choices and it comes from Satan/ demonic forces. Not God.

When things go wrong, it's so easy for us to get on our high horse and ride right into the middle of town to blame God. Think about Jesus. That is exactly what the crowd did when they were yelling crucify him! Nothing has changed some two thousand years later! 

This was the very lesson, God had taught me through my own personal experience:

Everyone experiences pain. A lot of people do not know how to profit or harvest from their pain. When you can learn to take your pain and turn it into growth - you can be used greatly by God. Your story becomes your testimony. Those that go through great difficulty and pain in their lives God can turn that suffering and use it for His purpose and plan - to grow you or help someone else out of the very same pit. You become better instead of bitter. We have to fight daily to make our problems small and make God bigger. At the end of the day, we have find the end of ourselves. I know, for me, this is what happened. I was focusing so much on all the problems I failed to see what God was actually doing right before my very eyes.

I mentioned a failed relationship above, at the time, this seemed so devastating. In the midst of my own rebellion - God intervened. I thought in that moment, I was versed on all the things I needed to know. I thought I knew best - and that my friend, is what we call pride. Pride can be a very powerful motivator for a lot of things in our lives. Think about this, it was pride that got Satan/ Lucifer kicked out of heaven. So that must be a pretty serious crime!

Despite my attempt to run from God, He was running after me like the prodigal daughter I was. For the first time I heard God speak to me, I was running full force in trouble - But God in the moment said to my spirit " STOP! You are going to ruin the plans I have for you". When I think back on what the voice sounded like, it was authoritative and strong but it wasn't scary, it had a lovingness about it. Only God could do that combo!  I remember feeling like I was hearing things, I was looking all around for the voice. I thought for a moment,  I was going crazy! But deep down in my spirit I knew His voice. It's a funny thing when you know you are doing something wrong and God calls you out on it -- it's not like you really have to ask where that came from? It's the Holy Spirit convicting you, because DEEP down in your soul you KNOW!  Immediately, I was convicted, and made the right decision to run away from sin like the story of Joseph. Run Forrest, Run!!! 

At this point, in my little journey of rebellion, this act of intervention made me more mad at God! Can you believe that?! But sadly it's true. I really liked this guy and I wanted it to work out!! Flash forward a few short months later. This same guy I had put on a pedestal, who I also got mad at God over, ended up sleeping with a mutual friend. Poof, all that I thought I knew about this guy went up in smoke in a fury! I remember walking into my room and just sitting on the end of my bed. I was so deep in thought about everything that had been going on. I felt deep conviction about that pride I had in my heart, because I started asking myself the important questions like what my life would have been like if I had made all the decisions I wanted to. How would that have actually played out? After some time had passed the realization clicked - my choices would have caused me grave harm - emotionally, spiritually and mentally. God really knew what He was doing when He intervened! In that moment, I remember randomly picking up a CD, I had not listened to (I know these things are almost obsolete now) and looking at track titles, I picked the song The Promise. I played it. I sat there listening to every word - it was saying all the things my heart was screaming to say but didn't have the words for! In that moment, the ice began melting away from my heart and I felt a warmth and love that cannot be explained.

(The song was: The Promise by Plus One- I will put it in the weekly song page) 

I got on my knees before God completely broken. I began to cry - and then I asked God to explain to me why?! I learned in that moment, God wants us to be honest with him. I had been taught to never question God - but in that moment, all my fear, doubts, pain and just pure brokenness was laid bare - I told God everything. I laid it out flat. I remember feeling - God's Love. But not the Jesus loves you on Sunday kind of love. This was way more complicated and complex and went deeper than anything I had ever known or experienced. Despite having been a Christian since I was 9 - I had never experienced redemptive love in that way before. I also had never been in that kind of serious rebellion against God before either.  It was through my pain that God was meeting me where I was and showing me just how much he truly cares and loves me. (and even YOU the reader who is reading this) God so deeply and profoundly loves us! It's not just a saying! Not one bit! Love is an action word for God.

There is a verse in the Bible that talks about God being near to the broken hearted. I can attest that this is true. As I kept praying and asking God all the why's I could think of - like why did he intervene when He knows I knew better -God knew I had attended many church services, attended many bible studies and went to how many retreats -- Let me count the ways I knew better than to 1) get mad at God 2) Blame God 3) Tell God to get out my life. Let's just say there were zero excuses. Yet, He was a gentle and kind and a loving father in this moment. I was so deep in my prayer asking forgiveness for my prideful ways that I had a vision of Jesus coming up out of the clouds. When I asked God one more time - why did he save me from my own destructive ways - in my vision he out-stretched His arms, as if being nailed to the cross again, and said to my spirit - "I LOVE YOU THIS MUCH"! He told me, "I knew you did not know where to put all that anger you have been carrying so I took it for you and carried it". It was in this moment - This was God's redemptive love!! While I was yet a sinner - Christ died for me.  My mind was blown. How can Jesus die for us knowing that we willing want to go our own way and make a total mess of our lives. How can the human mind comprehend this type of unconditional love? This is something to this day, I still marvel over. As the answer to this question, I will never be able to ever answer. Other than to simply say - Jesus paid the ultimate price to show us just how far he would go to show us He LOVES us! No one has ever willingly died for another person's sin until Jesus nor will there be another to do it. 

“Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!” Romans‬ ‭5‬:‭7‬-‭9‬ ‭NIV‬‬

"You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule. “You’re blessed when you feel you’ve lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭5‬:‭3‬-‭4‬ ‭MSG‬‬

After hearing the song The Promise, God used that Christian group to lead me to a book called "You are Not Your Own" written by Jason Perry on of the member of the group. This book changed my life!!  Again, God was busy at work doing what he does best. This book was a testimony from a guy my age going through and fighting the exact same battle! What are the chances? The book also described the steps he took to give God his all once again. I learned in that moment, that even in our mistakes God can still do his best work in us. We don't have to be perfect for God to use us. In fact, it's when we learn from our pain and we turn it into our greatest triumph where God shines even brighter. It's thriving in spite of circumstances, we choose to rise and stand tall. When you step into that light - the demons tremble because all their sad and pathetic attempts to destroy you FAILED! This is how we win over spiritual attacks in our lives! Take pain and turn it into victory! 

When we are at our lowest, God can still make a way!! There could not have been a more perfect book for me to find that day. It was a divine intervention from above. The hand of God is amazing but you trust Him, head His voice and go where He leads you. God lead me to that song and that song lead me to the book which pointed back to Jesus! God pursues after us! Think about this for a moment - look at your life - is there a logical reason for the God of the universe to chase after you or I? After all the things we do? He created us, why wouldn't He want us to choose Him? He put thought into each and every one of us - He knows the number of hair on our heads. Who else knows you like that? There is no one!  Just like you have a deep longing to be picked, to be chosen to be someone's number one -  God choose you! But just as badly, He also wants you to choose him back!

“Suppose one of you had a hundred sheep and lost one. Wouldn’t you leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the lost one until you found it? When found, you can be sure you would put it across your shoulders, rejoicing, and when you got home call in your friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Celebrate with me! I’ve found my lost sheep!’ Count on it—there’s more joy in heaven over one sinner’s rescued life than over ninety-nine good people in no need of rescue." Luke 15:4-7 MSG

As an encouragement, even if you don't see God moving in your life He is. God works like the wind -you cannot see the wind but you can see the effects of it!! There is so much noise all around us all the time. The spiritual oppression from demonic forces have locked up and chained so main people. Look at the world around us - we are starving for love and connection. We are told in our spirits that God is so far away, He doesn't care and doesn't see you where you are - in pain. But that is a lie. God is waiting for us to run to him and tell him all our problems. He wants to give you strength - the strength that you lack on your own-  to face another day. To whisper to your soul that you are loved and you matter and have a purpose.

When life gets hard and you get angry and want to blameGod for your circumstances - STOP - think about the 3 categories of sim discussed above-  it is your own doing?  Is this a spiritual attack? Is it just circumstantial. Remember, these areas are not God's doing. Remind yourself we live in a fallen sinful world. Just look around - we are in a sad state of affairs. We have a real enemy - Satan and his demons. Stay vigilant, as sometimes when going through a demonic  attacks, we can sin in response to it because we get weak and we listen to the enemy's slippery little lies. If something is whispering negative thoughts - understand where that is coming from and turn from it. Run to God and have victory over that moment! God does not want us to stay where we are. He wants us to turn away from sin and return to Him.  When you turn around and run back to your Heavenly Father, just remember, Jesus will be running to meet you with arms wide open!  God is a gentleman and will not force His love upon us - we have to open our heart and receive it. When we do, true healing can begin and we will find victory and triumph in our lives.

Challenge Questions:

What ways in your life has God been trying to show you He loves you? Has he been trying to get your attention? Are you tooo busy to listen? Too angry to hear him? Are you running away from him? Do you feel like you are too far gone for Jesus to love you? 

Let me tell you, if you said yes to any of these - God loves you! He was beaten and nailed to a cross to show you, at what lengths He will go to rescue and save you! JESUS LOVES YOU AS FAR AS THE EAST IS FROM THE WEST WITH OUTSTRETCH ARMS!!! 

"Could it be any clearer? Our old way of life was nailed to the cross with Christ, a decisive end to that sin-miserable life—no longer captive to sin’s demands! What we believe is this: If we get included in Christ’s sin-conquering death, we also get included in his life-saving resurrection. We know that when Jesus was raised from the dead it was a signal of the end of death-as-the-end. Never again will death have the last word. When Jesus died, he took sin down with him, but alive he brings God down to us. From now on, think of it this way: Sin speaks a dead language that means nothing to you; God speaks your mother tongue, and you hang on every word. You are dead to sin and alive to God. That’s what Jesus did." Romans 6:6-11 MSG

A Reflection on Church, Community, and Living Out Our Faith

 

Some months ago, I wanted to branch out and explore different churches here in Massachusetts. I will definitely say there is something to be said about Churches in South, many of them are warm and inviting. Compared to the Northern counterparts. In particular take Florida as an example, when you walk in the doors, you will usually get greeted with a bubbly personality and may even be asked questions to strike up a conversation. In contrast up here in the North, I usually get greeted with a smile and just find a seat quietly, look around and feeling awkward.

This got me thinking about churches and what makes them a place where people feel wanted, accepted and a part of a community. I started thinking about to some of my first experiences with church, it was at First Baptist Church (FBC) of Fort Lauderdale. When my family and I started attending FBC it was back in 1990. I remember the first time I walked into the sanctuary. We were running late and the orchestra and choir had already begun to singing and playing. I was astounded by the sound of the music - there were 250 faces singing the most beautiful songs I had ever heard and a full orchestra with almost every instrument you could think of. I was about 9 years old. I could have sworn that was what it was going to sound like when we got to heaven. Beautiful and in unison and standing proudly proclaiming Jesus as Lord. I had no idea then how much that church was going to change my life in the best of ways!

I think back on those early days with such fondness and wonder. God used the congregation of that church to minister to my family and I in profound ways that completely shaped the person I became. 

At that time, that my dad had been significantly injured and was out of work. We were struggling financially to pay our rent. Someone in the church heard about this struggle. We got a phone call to go check the mailbox and there was a check for the exact amount we needed for rent in our mailbox! I remember my mom crying and getting down on her knees and just thanking God in that moment. Some weeks later we got another call, go check outside there are groceries there. We go outside and our empty fridge was filled with food. 

"Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me." ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭25‬:‭37‬-‭38‬, ‭40‬

Another example, I was being homeschooled at the time and was very active in the church, but I must have mentioned in passing that I really wanted to learn how to play the clarinet so I could join the orchestra someday. Someone heard that I wanted to learn the clarinet and they reached out to one of the clarinet players in the orchestra and told him about me. They asked would he be willing to help teach me. He told them that we would be delighted to teach me! My mom was an amazing seamstress so a deal was struck. To pay for clarinet lessons my mom would do his mending. The only thing left was a clarinet. Someone donated a clarinet and dropped it off at the church office! I got a call that they had something specifically for me. When I got to the church office, the smiling lady behind the desk handed me a clarinet. I opened it and was so overjoyed! With my new teacher, I started learning music theory, learning to sight read music and learning to play songs!  I was off to making a joyful racket with all the honking and squeaking one learning a clarinet does! (If you have ever played this instrument you KNOW what I am talking about) God bless my parents for putting up with me.  

Bunny trail moment:

    A about a year ago, my mom was digitizing all of our old family home videos. Hidden in the midst of my church plays and various outing and vacations we had done there was a clip. This clip was us at a retreat on the beach, we were staying at a cabin. My mom woke up before my dad. I had a mischievous idea to grab my beloved clarinet and play right near his head.My mom laughed and thought it was a brilliant idea. So I went off to put it together. I decided I was not going to play a song but I was going to make a series of honks! I remember the sheer joy I had thinking about this little plan I had. I go into the bedroom where my dad was peacefully sleeping and started honking away! I was so proud of myself. My dad woke up instantly as you would expect and once he realized it was me making that awful racket he smiled and threw a pillow at me and we all bust out in laughter. This moment was caught on camera. Think of the joy that would have missed without that Clarinet! HAHAHA 

Why do I go into such detail? Because I want to share with you what it means to be part of a bible believing, spirit filled church. Where the people are so in love with Jesus that it overflows into people's lives and it changes them forever! You walk in to a church and walk out a changed person for the better! This is what the church should be!!

I can tell you as a kid I learned the power of what being in community was really all about. They say that it takes a village to raise a child and I can telly you God brought me the best village in town! :) It was because of the Sunday services, Sunday school, youth retreats, camps etc- where I learned who Jesus was. I watched the leaders around me and they all were people that lived out loud what they believed. It's because of their genuineness and authenticity that I  believed Jesus was all he said He was! I was changed and made better because of it. I knew, saw and experienced the real love of God through His people. My bible came to life! 

“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.” ‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭4‬:‭10‬-‭11‬ 

"This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.” ‭‭1 John‬ ‭3‬:‭16‬-‭18‬ ‭

I bring these things up to simply remind and challenge the importance of being Jesus' hands and feet in this very sick and dying world around us. Just telling someone that you will pray for them is great.  But showing up and providing for a need before anyone asks for help is something that is so much more powerful!!! You will never know the impact you will make in that person's life!! I can tell you, I was one such person. I was changed by the generosity of an amazing congregation who loved and served Jesus with all their hearts. I do not know to this day who helped myself and my family or interceded on my behalf for clarinet lessons. But I am all the better for it today! It was not lip service where they told my family and I they would pray for us. No! It was above and beyond that! These were not people who gave lip service on Sunday. They lived it everyday and did so with purpose, caring and selflessness. What if we as christians truly lived out our faith like this? Can you imagine the impact on our communities?! Can we be challenged to make a difference one people's lives around us? To be the hands and feet of Jesus?

“What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend. You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.” James‬ ‭2‬:‭14‬-‭24‬ ‭

I have such a burden right now for the body of Christ to get back to the basics and remember all that Jesus has done for us and to show that love to others. The church is not here for our entertainment. It's for us to come into communion with Jesus and learn about him, get convicted of sin so we can change our ways, to know we are a broken and fallen people without God, and to be in fellowship with fellow believers and to make our communities better by helping those who are in need. When we have become so self absorbed and look only to the pastor to do all the work and we take 0 responsibility or accountability for ourselves this is where the church starts to fall apart. A pastor can only do so much all on his own to make a difference in your life. At some point a person has to grow up and take responsibility for their own faith! To read God's word, really read it not just wait for Sunday to roll around. Pray really pray and cry out to God because that is where he works the miracles! In order for faith to be active and alive in your life you have to see God at work. At what point do you take your faith and give it feet? 

Challenge:

Can we lay down our pride? Can we be a people who practices forgiveness? Can we show those around us compassion, humility and kindness? Can we lay down our swords of division? Can we stop our warrior keyboards? Can we be a people that will stop hurting each other? Can we show compassion for the person and not just see the sin? Can we step outside of our own selfishness? Can we help someone in need? Can we proclaim God's goodness? Can we live like we have been covered and anointed with the blood of Jesus? Can we act in faith and obedience according to God's word and put feet to our faith? Can we show a dying world God's love for them? Can we help change someone's life for the better? Can we start to claim that Jesus in us is so much bigger than all of the principalities of this world? (this last one is HUGE) 

    I have experienced in my own life, what it is like to be chained and shackled (metaphorically) with             unbelief - with thinking my circumstances will never change, as an example. It's like the physical world     becomes so much bigger than Jesus. This is a lie straight from the pits of hell. When you stop focusing         on your problems Jesus becomes bigger and the problem becomes smaller. We have a tendency to put         God in a box and limit his power. This is our own fault, not God's. We are the ones that make Jesus               ineffective.(Oh the conviction as I am writing this!!!) I do it, you do it - we all do it! We have to get out         of our own way and let God be GOD! Ask God to heal the unbelief and brokenness within our hearts so     that we can reach out beyond ourselves to help others.

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” ‭‭Colossians‬ ‭3‬:‭12‬-‭17‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.” ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭3‬:‭5‬-‭8‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Final Thought:

There is a much bigger purpose for each of us here on earth, there is a an abundant life waiting where joy will overflow out of our lives. However, it will require us to relinquish our own selfish pursuits and indignations and pursue God's ways. Being used by God will be the most rewarding experience you will ever have and it will not only change someone else's life but it will change YOU! 

This is how God works through you and I and how real change happens in our lives.

Understanding Jesus: Fulfillment of Old Testament Prophecies

I was watching a show about Jesus in the Gospels and there were some interesting statements being made about Jesus and His divine divinity. There is a definitive correlation regarding the New Testament being the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies.

I have heard quite a few sermons over the years where the pastors fly through all the references, and you are sitting there like holy cow that was information overload! But it is so good. You really know that they did their homework. I always got the genuine sense that there was so much to be said about the Jewish text and how it intertwines with the New Testament. Jesus was the embodiment and fulfillment of each of these Old Testament prophecies.

I am taking on this task for myself, to dive into both sides of the fence and generate the links between the two.  I understand why the pastors always blitzed through all the data the way they did. The sheer volume and enormity of the details is so great that you can only really cover the high points. Unless, of course, you wanted to be on your way to getting your higher education in biblical studies! lol I can tell you, this post took my many many hours, but it was worth it! I hope you, as the reader, will find what I dug up to be interesting and informative. That it will help to deepen your own faith by knowing a bit more about the Bible and how it relates back to Jesus. It is not all-inclusive list by any means, as there are hundreds of prophecies; but it certainly covers the major high points about who Jesus said he was and who the Bible claimed Him to be.

I am so burdened in my heart for people to truly know what they believe and why. The foundation for our Christian faith is based off the Jewish laws and traditions. From there we take their prophecies, and we see Jesus emerge as the Messiah. To me, if you look at the timeframes when things were written and then you pair that to the New Testament it is quite remarkable to see how God unfolds His plan. It's so intricate and spanned well over 1000 years of writings, over 300 prophecies spanning over 15 books of the Bible to cover my list of 29. This does not consider all the different authors who did not all live in the same time span or even in proximity to one another. How can that happen without divine orchestrated intervention? How can one man fit all of these prophecies? If the Gospels were forged, how do all 4 disciples write almost the same account of events if they did not happen? Not to mention the disciples were not together when they wrote the gospels and some of them were not written within the same timeframe. (You can see this outlined below.) In many cases, there were multiple eyewitness accounts. To have one man fulfill all of these, to me, is still a miracle all on its own. When you really lay this out, it is the actual claim of the gospels - Jesus was the Messiah and a miracle from God and that God orchestrated all the events surrounding Jesus in order to fulfill each prophecy and to show us through every step of His plan who Jesus was. God never intended to hide his best creation, His Son! He wanted us to know Him, love Him and accept his gift of salvation! 

Let's first start with when these 15 different books of the Bible were written to give the timeframe of when the prophecies were made. Next, I will dive into the 29 high level prophecies throughout the Bible that point to Jesus.  I will provide the Old Testament prophecy and then provide the New Testament fulfillment. It is my hope to put this in the most simplified manner possible. 

Biblical Writings

1) Genesis - ~1450-1410 BC thought to have been written by Moses 

2) Exodus - 1440- 1400 BC written by Moses 

3) Numbers - 1450-1410 BC written by Moses

4) Isaiah - ~739- 681 BC Isaiah is known as the messianic prophet and served under the reign of kings Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah.

5) Micah - ~735-700 BC - during the reign of Kings Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah in Judah 

6) Hosea - ~753-722- during this time the northern kingdom of Israel, as it was on the verge of being conquered by the Assyrian Empire. Jewish temple was built. Hosea wrote direct accounts of his life and prophecies later in his life. 

7) Malachi - ~450-430 BC - Malachi lives 100 years after Babylonian exile. Oddly enough Malachi did not leave identifying markers of his life. He preached messages of judgments as the people were turning away from God. 

8) Psalm - ~1500 - 1000 BC by far the largest spread - Primarily written by King David 

9) Zechariah - ~570-420 BC - is an account of Zechariah's life and prophecies. He was a levite born in Babylon. Book of  Ezra it states that Zechariah and Haggai were together also in Nehemiah he is mentioned as well.

10) Matthew - ~55-65 AD, it is believed Matthew lived in Palestine when writing the gospel.

11) Mark - ~55-59 AD,  it is believed Mark livd in Rome when writing the gospel.

12) Luke - ~58-65 AD, it is believed Luke lived in Antioch Syria when writing the gospel.

13) John - ~ 70-85 AD,  it is believed John lived in Ephesus and Patmos when writing the gospel.

14) Acts - ~60-90 AD written by Luke Pauls companion and it is believed he was in Rome when writing

15) Hebrews - ~64-68 it is believed to have been written by Paul, but this is not for certain, it is also believed to have been written during Nero's persecution of Christians in Rome. 

Prophecies (Old Testament and New Testament References)

1) Descendant of Abraham - (Genesis 22:18) (Matthew 1:1-17 and Luke 3:23-38)

Genesis 22:18 - is when Abraham did not without Issac as a sacrifice God promised in verse 18 - "through your offspring all nations will be blessed, because you have obeyed me." 

Matthew and Luke both give an account of Jesus lineage showing he was in Abraham's direct line.

2) Tribe of Judah / House of David - (Genesis 49:10) (Matthew 1:1-17)  

Genesis 49:10 - “The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until he to whom it belongs shall come and the obedience of the nations shall be his.” NIV

Genesis 49:10 - The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh comes. NKJ

The Hebrew word Shiloh is believed by many scholars to be another name for Messiah

Matthew 1:1-17 is Jesus' lineage showing he is a descendant of David / House of Judah

3) Conceived by a virgin  - (Isaiah 7:14) (Matthew 1:18-25 and Luke 1:26-38)  

Isaiah 7:14  “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” 

Most of us are familiar with the Matthew and Luke account of Jesus birth. :)

4) Born in Bethlehem - (Micah 5:2) (Matthew 2:6, Luke 2:1-20)

Michael 5:2 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.”

Ephrathah was a district in which Bethlehem was located

Again both New Testament references go along with Christ's birth telling us he was born in Bethlehem 

5) Messiah would come and dwell in our midst - (Zechariah 2:10-12) (Matthew 1:23)    

Zechariah 2: 10-12 "Shout and be glad, Daughter Zion. For I am coming, and I will live among you,” declares the Lord. “Many nations will be joined with the Lord in that day and will become my people. I will live among you and you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me to you. The Lord will inherit Judah as his portion in the holy land and will again choose Jerusalem.”        

Matthew 1:23- “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).”

6) Messiah Taken to Egypt as a child - (Hosea 11:1) (Matthew 2:13-15)

Hosea 11:1 “When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son.”

Matthew 2:13-15 “When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him." So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called my son.”

7) Anointed by the messenger of the Lord - (Isaiah 40:3-5) (Acts 10:38, Matthew 3:3)

 Isaiah 40:3-5 “A voice of one calling: “In the wilderness prepare the way for the Lord; make straight  in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. And the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all people will see it together. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

 Matthew 3:3 “In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.”

Acts 10:38 “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.”        

8) Anointed by the Holy Spirit - (Isaiah 11:2) (Luke 4:18; Acts 4:27, Acts 10:38, Hebrews 1:9)

Isaiah 11:2 “The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him— the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord—

Luke 4:18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free,”

Acts 4:27 “Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed.”

Acts 10:38 “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.”  

Hebrews 1:9 “You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy.” 

9) Minister in Galilee - (Isaiah 9:1) (Matthew 4:12-17, Mark 1:14-16) 

Isaiah 9:1 “Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the nations, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan—”

There were at least 2 eye witness accounts of these events.

Matthew 4:12-17 “When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he withdrew to Galilee. Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali— to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah: “Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles— the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.” From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”

Mark 1:14-16 “After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, they were fishermen."

10) Messiah will perform miracles - (Isaiah 35:5-6) (Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John all  accounts)

 Isaiah 35:5-6 “Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy. Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert.”

All 4 gospels. There were at least 4 eye witness accounts of these events.

11) Messiah will preach the good news - (Isaiah 61:1) (Matthew 24:14, Luke 4:18, Luke 4:43, Mark 16:15)

Isaiah 61:1 “The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners"

There were at least 3 eye witnesses to these events.

Matthew 24:14 “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.”

Luke 4:18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free,”

Mark 16:15 “He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.”

12) Messiah will cleanse the temple and John the Baptist would prepare the way for the Messiah  - (Malachi 3:1) (Matthew 11:10 and Matthew 24, Daniel 9:27, 11:31)

Malachi 3:1 “I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come,” says the Lord Almighty.”

Daniel 9:27 “He will confirm a covenant with many for one ‘seven.’ In the middle of the ‘seven’ he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And at the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him.”

Daniel 11:31 “His armed forces will rise up to desecrate the temple fortress and will abolish the daily sacrifice. Then they will set up the abomination that causes desolation.”

Matthew 11:10 “This is the one about whom it is written: “ ‘I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.’”

Matthew 24:15 “So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination that causes desolation,’ spoken of through the prophet Daniel—let the reader understand—” (Jesus was referencing Daniel 9:27)

13) Messiah will enter Jerusalem riding on a donkey - (Zechariah 9:9) (Matthew 22:5, Mark 11:1-1, Luke 19:28-44 and John 12:12-19)  

Zechariah 9:9 “Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”

All of the gospels mention Jesus riding into Jerusalem on a donkey that means there were at least 4 eye witnesses of the event.

Matthew 22:5 “Say to Daughter Zion, ‘See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey."

14) Rejected by the Jewish people - (Psalm 118:22, Isaiah 53:3) (Matthew 21:42, Mark 12:10, John 5:18, John 7:52, John 8:39-59, John 10:22-43, Luke 20:17-19)

Psalm 118:22“The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone;”

Isaiah 53:3 “He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.”

Matthew 21:42 “Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: “ ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes’ ?”  

John 5:18 “For this reason they tried all the more to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.

John 7:52 They replied, “Are you from Galilee, too? Look into it, and you will find that a prophet  does not come out of Galilee.” [The earliest manuscripts and many other ancient witnesses do not  have John 7:53—8:11. A few manuscripts include these verses, wholly or in part, after John 7:36,  John 21:25, Luke 21:38 or Luke 24:53.]”

 John 8:39-59 “Abraham is our father,” they answered. “If you were Abraham’s children,” said Jesus, “then you would do what Abraham did. As it is, you are looking for a way to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham did not do such things. You are doing the works of your own father.” “We are not illegitimate children,” they protested. “The only Father we have is God himself.” Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on my own; God sent me. Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your         father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me! Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me? Whoever belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.” The Jews answered him, “Aren’t we right in saying that you are a Samaritan and demon-possessed?” “I am not possessed by a demon,” said Jesus, “but I honor my Father and you dishonor me. I am not seeking glory for myself; but there is one who seeks it, and he is the judge. Very truly I tell you, whoever obeys my word will never see death.” At this they exclaimed, “Now we know that you are demon-possessed! Abraham died and so did the prophets, yet you say that whoever obeys your word will never taste death. Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died, and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are?” Jesus replied, “If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me. Though you do not know him, I know him. If I said I did not, I would be a liar like you, but I do             know him and obey his word. Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw  it and was glad.” “You are not yet fifty years old,” they said to him, “and you have seen Abraham!" “Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!” (this is a packed passage that has some pretty awesome stuff in it if you will take a moment to read it through)

Luke 20:17-19 “Jesus looked directly at them and asked, “Then what is the meaning of that which is written: “ ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone’ ? Everyone who falls on that  stone will be broken to pieces; anyone on whom it falls will be crushed.” The teachers of the law and the chief priests looked for a way to arrest him immediately, because they knew he had spoken this parable against them. But they were afraid of the people.”

15) Messiah will be rejected by a friend - (Psalm 41:9) (Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John all accounts)

Psalm 41:9 “Even my close friend, someone I trusted, one who shared my bread, has turned against me.”

The 4 Gospel accounts tell the story of Judas - 4 different eye witnesses

16) Messiah will be betrayed for 30 pieces of silver - (Zechariah 11:12) (Matthew 26:14-16 and Matthew 27:3-10)

Zechariah 11:12 “I told them, “If you think it best, give me my pay; but if not, keep it.” So they paid me thirty pieces of silver.” (Biblical context here to pay a Shepard 30 pieces of silver was an insult, this was the price of a slave gored by an ox. Here we see that Jesus was sold for the price of a marred slave)

Matthew 26:14-16 “Then one of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?” So they counted out for him thirty pieces of silver. From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over.”

Matthew 27:3-10 “When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders. “I have sinned,” he said, “for I have betrayed innocent blood.” “What is that to us?” they replied. “That’s your responsibility.” So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself. The chief priests picked up the coins and said, “It is against the law to put this into the treasury, since it is blood money.” So they decided to use the money to buy the potter’s field as a  burial place for foreigners. That is why it has been called the Field of Blood to this day. Then what             was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: “They took the thirty pieces of silver, the price set on him by the people of Israel, and they used them to buy the potter’s field, as the Lord commanded me.    

17) Messiah will die a humiliating death - (Psalm 22 , Isaiah 53, and Daniel 9  (Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John all accounts)

Psalm 22 “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from my cries of anguish? My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer, by night, but I find no rest. Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One; you are the one Israel praises. In you our ancestors put their trust; they trusted and you delivered them. To you they cried out and were saved; in you they trusted and were not put to shame. But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by everyone, despised by the people. All who see me mock me; they hurl insults, shaking their heads. “He trusts in the Lord,"  they say, “let the Lord rescue him. Let him deliver him, since he delights in him.” Yet you brought me out of the womb; you made me trust in you, even at my mother’s breast. From birth I was cast on you; from my mother’s womb you have been my God. Do not be far from me, for trouble is near and there is no one to help. Many bulls surround me; strong bulls of Bashan encircle me. Roaring lions that tear their prey open their mouths wide against me. I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint. My heart has turned to wax; it has melted within me. My mouth is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth; you lay me in the dust of death. Dogs surround me, a pack of villains encircles me; they pierce my hands and my feet. All my bones are on             display; people stare and gloat over me. They divide my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment. But you, Lord, do not be far from me. You are my strength; come quickly to help me. Deliver me from the sword, my precious life from the power of the dogs. Rescue me from the mouth of the lions; save me from the horns of the wild oxen. I will declare your name to my people; in the  assembly I will praise you. You who fear the Lord, praise him! All you descendants of Jacob, honor him! Revere him, all you descendants of Israel! For he has not despised or scorned the suffering of the afflicted one; he has not hidden his face from him but has listened to his cry for help. From you          comes the theme of my praise in the great assembly; before those who fear you I will fulfill my vows. The poor will eat and be satisfied; those who seek the Lord will praise him— may your hearts live forever! All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the  nations will bow down before him, for dominion belongs to the Lord and he rules over the nations. All the rich of the earth will feast and worship; all who go down to the dust will kneel before him— those who cannot keep themselves alive. Posterity will serve him; future generations will be told  about the Lord. They will proclaim his righteousness, declaring to a people yet unborn: He has done it!”

All 4 gospels. There were at least 4 eye witness accounts of these events.

18)  Humiliating Death - Rejection - (Isaiah 53:3) (Luke 13:34; John 1:10-11)               

Isaiah 53:3 “He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.  Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.”        

Both Gospel accounts talk about Jesus crucifixion in detail - multiple accounts.

19) Humiliating Death - Mocking - (Psalm 22:7-8) (Matthew 26:67-68, Mark 16:45, Luke 22:63-65)

Psalm 22:7-8 “All who see me mock me; they hurl insults, shaking their heads. “He trusts in the Lord,” they say, “let the Lord rescue him. Let him deliver him, since he delights in him.”

Matthew 26:67-68 “Then they spit in his face and struck him with their fists. Others slapped him and said, “Prophesy to us, Messiah. Who hit you?”

Mark 14:45 Then some began to spit at him; they blindfolded him, struck him with their fists, and said, “Prophesy!” And the guards took him and beat him.

Luke 22:63-65 “The men who were guarding Jesus began mocking and beating him. They blindfolded him and demanded, “Prophesy! Who hit you?” And they said many other insulting things to him.”

Once again we have multiple eye witness accounts

20) Humiliating Death - Beating - (Isaiah 52:14) (Luke 22:63-65, Matthew 27:26, Mark 15:15, John 19:1)

Isaiah 52:14 “Just as there were many who were appalled at him— his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any human being and his form marred beyond human likeness”

Matthew 27:26 / Mark 15:15  “Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.”

Luke 22:63-65 “The men who were guarding Jesus began mocking and beating him. They blindfolded him and demanded, “Prophesy! Who hit you?” And they said many other insulting things to him.”

21) Piercing of his hands and feet - (Psalm 22:16, Zachariah 12:10, Isaiah 53:5) (John 20:25, John 20:27, Luke 24:39

Psalm 22:16 “Dogs surround me, a pack of villains encircles me; they pierce my hands and my feet.”

Zachariah 12:10 “And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son.”

Isaiah 53:5 “But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.”

John 20:25 “So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.

John 20:27 “Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”

Luke 24:39 “Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.”

22) Piercing of his side - (Zechariah 12:10) (John 19:34)

Zechariah 12:10 “And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son.”

John 19:34 “Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water.”

23) Executed with thieves - (Isaiah 53:12) (Matthew 27:38, Mark 15:27, Luke 23:33)

Isaiah 53:12 Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.” (Interesting fact: this verse is believed to be interpreted to mean transgressors were looked at as being treated like a criminal.)

Matthew 27:38 / Mark 15:27 “Two rebels were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left.

Luke 23:33 “When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not  know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.”

Once again 3 eye witness recorded events saying the same thing.

24) Executioners will cast lots for his clothing - (Psalm 22:18) (Matthew 27:35, Luke 23:34 and  John 19-23-24)

Psalm 22:18 “They divide my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment.”

All 4 gospels tell a similar event by 4 different people.

25) Gall and vinegar to drink - (Psalm 69:21) (Matthew 27:34 and 27:48, Mark 15:23)

Psalm 69:21 “They put gall in my food and gave me vinegar for my thirst.”

Matthew 27:34 There they offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall; but after tasting it, he refused to drink it.”

Matthew 27:48 “Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink.”

Mark 15:23 “Then they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it.”

Interesting fact here gall was a bitter substance made from a poisonous plan such as wormwood or myrrh.

26) None of his bones will be broken - (Psalm 34:20, Numbers 9:12, Exodus 12:46) (John 19:36) 

Psalm 34:20 “he protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken.”

Numbers 9:12 “They must not leave any of it till morning or break any of its bones. When they celebrate the Passover, they must follow all the regulations.”

Exodus 12:46 “It must be eaten inside the house; take none of the meat outside the house. Do not break any of the bones.”

John 19:36 “These things happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken,”

27) Messiah will be buried in a rich mans tomb - (Isaiah 53:9) (Matthew 27:57-60, Luke 23:50-56, John 19:38-42)

Isaiah 53:9 “He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth.”

 Matthew 27:57-60 “As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away.”

Luke 23:50-56 “Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of the Council, a good and upright man, who had not consented to their decision and action. He came from the Judean town of Arimathea, and he himself was waiting for the kingdom of God. Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen cloth and placed it in a tomb cut in the rock, one in which no one had yet been laid. It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was about to begin. The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment.”

John 19:38-42 “Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jewish leaders. With Pilate’s permission, he came and took the body away. He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds. Taking Jesus’ body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with                 Jewish burial customs. At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid. Because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.”

28) Messiah will rise from the dead - (Psalm 16:10, Psalm 49:15, Hosea 6:2, Daniel 12:2) (All 4 Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John all point to Jesus rising from the dead)

Psalm 16:10 “because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, nor will you let your faithful one see decay.”

Psalm 49:15 “But God will redeem me from the realm of the dead; he will surely take me to himself.”

Hosea 6:2 “After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will restore us, that we may live in his presence.”

Daniel 12:2 “Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt.”

All 4 gospels and at least 4 eye witness accounts.

29) Ascend into heaven - (Psalm 68:18, Psalm 24:7-10,  Psalm 110:1,  Daniel 7:13-14, Isaiah 53) (Acts1:9-11,  Luke 24:50-51, Ephesians 4:8 - multiple verses in Colossians, Philippians  and 1 Timothy)

Psalm 68:18 “When you ascended on high, you took many captives; you received gifts from people, even from the rebellious— that you, Lord God, might dwell there.”

Psalm 24:7-10 “Lift up your heads, you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, you gates; lift them up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is he, this King of glory? The Lord Almighty— he is the King of glory.”

Psalm 110:1 “The Lord says to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”

Daniel 7:13-14 “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is  one that will never be destroyed.

Acts 1:9-11 “After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”

Luke 24:50-51 “When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven.”

Ephesians 4:8 “This is why it says: “When he ascended on high, he took many captives and gave gifts to his people.”