What Is the Good News of Yeshua? (Part 19)

Over the course of nearly half a millennium, the kings and kingdoms of Israel underwent sweeping and turbulent change. The nation split itself in two, and each separate kingdom was plagued by their own sin and recurring foreign subjugation.

Yet even while God’s covenantal people were managing to almost completely forsake their set-apart purpose, the voice of the God of Revelation had not been silent. In the midst of such grave disobedience and completely avoidable upheaval, God continually raised up admonishing prophets to also foretell the restoration of the kingdom—indeed, of the entire world—through the coming Son of David… the one and only Messiah.

As it is written in the prophets, this Messiah’s origins would be “of old”—His beginnings from “the days of antiquity” (Mi. 5:2). Adonai would raise Him up from among His people Israel as “a prophet like” Moses, putting His own words into his mouth that his brothers may hear and heed (De. 18:15-19). He would make atonement once and for all, as “a priest forever” in an eternal and perfect priestly order (Ps. 110:4). His “scepter will not turn aside from” Judah (Ge. 39:10), for He will be the everlasting King of the Jews.

This Messiah would come from the line of David—a “righteous sprout” raised up to him (Je. 23:5)—a fruitful “shoot… from the stem of” his father (Is. 11:1,10). He would “reign on the throne of David and over his kingdom” for the rest of time (9:7), and, like David before Him, Adonai would declare Him to be “My son” (Psalm 2:7). “The [Spirit] of Adonai will rest on him” (Is. 11:2) because Adonai will anoint Him “to proclaim good news to the afflicted” (61:1). He will bear the Name of “Adonai our righteousness” (Je. 23:6), and “He will call his name Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Father of Eternity, Prince of Peace” (Is. 9:6).

This Messiah would be born in the Judean city of Beth­lehem (Mi. 5:2), and live by Israel’s Sea of the Galilee (Is. 9:1-2). The sign of His birth would be His pregnant virgin mother (Is. 7:14), with the exact timing of His arrival perhaps forecasted in advance (Da. 9:24ff). He would be heralded by a messenger, preparing “the way of Adonai” for Him in the Israeli deserts (Is. 40:3, Mal. 3:1). He would open blind eyes and unstop deaf ears (Is. 35:5-6); He would carry our sicknesses (53:4), proclaiming the salvation and liberty that can set everyone free (61:1).

This Messiah—Israel’s King—would enter Jerusalem in lowliness and humility (Zec. 9:9), yet He would be “despised and rejected” (Is. 53:3, Ps. 118:22) by those gathered against Him—“against Adonai and against His Messiah” (Ps. 2:1f). Upon Him would fall the disgraces of those who would resist and condemn and denounce Him (69:9). His lying enemies would be abundant and powerful—each of them “hating [Him] without cause” (35:19, 69:4).

And as it is written in the prophets, this Messiah would be betrayed by a close companion, one with whom He would break His last Passover’s bread (41:9). Those nearest to Him would desert Him in His greatest hour of need, like a scattered flock whose shepherd had been stricken (Zec. 13:7). He would be oppressed and afflicted by those judging Him, yet answer the accusations against Him with silence (Is. 53:7-8). And though He would have “done no wrong”, with no deceit found in His mouth (53:9), He would be convicted with—and stand counted among—the worst of sinners (53:12).

This Messiah would be repeatedly struck and spat upon (50:16)—His body pierced at his hands and feet and side (Ps. 22:16, Zec. 12:10). In the midst of His distress, He would be scorned and despised—insulted and mocked for His ability to save (Ps. 22:7-8). Those who mercilessly scourged Him would “cast lots for [His] clothing” (22:18), and provide only vinegar-wine for His thirst (22:15, 69:21). Yet despite the excruciating agony, “not one of [His bones would be] broken” (34:20, cf. Ex. 12:46), and in His death, He would be laid to rest in a rich man’s grave (Is. 53:9).

Then the Creator of the Universe would raise up this Messiah from the dead (Ps. 16:10), and with Him would come Israel’s salvation (Is. 49:5)—and the salvation of everyone (49:6)—from their sin:

And he was pierced for our violations, Crushed for our causes of guilt, The chastisement for our peace is on him, And by his wound there is healing to us. All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each to his own way we have turned, And Adonai has caused the guilt of us all To meet upon him. He had been oppressed and afflicted, And he opened not his mouth; As a lamb to the slaughter he was brought…. And Adonai had delighted to crush him. He had made him sick. If his soul will make a guilt offering, He will see his seed—he will prolong his days, And the pleasure of Adonai will prosper in his hand. From the suffering of his soul he will see—he will be satisfied. Through his knowledge, the righteous one—My servant—Will give righteousness to many, And their causes of guilt he will bear. (Isaiah 53:5-8, 10-11, mjlt)

So it is written in the prophets.

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