Chapter 3 -

The life of the Messiah in prophecies

 

 

 

 

- (Acts 8:26-35) And the angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south to the way that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza, which is desert.

27  And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship,

28  Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet.

29  Then the Spirit said to Philip, Go near, and join yourself to this chariot.

30  And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understand you what you read?

31  And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.

32  The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth:

33  In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth.

34  And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray you, of whom speaks the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man?

35  Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached to him Jesus.

 

In the verses from the Acts above, there is an interesting description of a eunuch of Candace, queen of Ethiopia. The eunuch was reading the writings of the prophet Isaiah but did not completely understand what he was reading. He did not comprehend whether the prophet was referring to himself or to someone else, which is why he asked Philip for advice. Philip helped him understand the Bible passage.

   Also now when we read the prophets, we should study what they prophesied about the Messiah’s coming and his life. In the Scriptures, there are numerous prophecies connected with the Messiah, and we should study them so that we can get a good overall picture of His life. 

   Below, we will look at old Jewish sources and commentaries written by several respected rabbinical authorities. It might surprise many people to learn that these sources provide a very similar description to the description of the Messiah we find in the New Testament. There are very few differences. We will list each prophecy and then identify the fulfillment of that prophecy.

 

AN offspring of THE woman who will crush THE head of satan

 

One prophecy about the Messiah was that He would crush the head of the serpent (Satan) and restore humanity’s relationship with God.

   In Genesis 3 we learn that when the first man and woman lived in the Garden of Eden they fell out of God’s grace and entered into sin when they acted on the lie of the serpent (Satan). God responded by putting enmity between humans and Satan; He promised them that the seed of woman would appear who would “…bruise (Satan’s) head.” Through this seed, humans would be restored to their place with God. First, the woman’s seed would have to be wounded, which is probably a reference to his death.

   As far as the fulfillment of this promise is concerned, the New Testament indicates clearly that it was fulfilled in Yeshua. He crushed the head of Satan on the cross through his death and resurrection. Yeshua was the offspring of the woman who was to fulfill God’s promise:

 

Prophecy:

 

- (Gen 3:15) And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; it shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.

 

Fulfilment:

 

- (Hebr 2:14-15) For as much then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;

15  And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

 

 - (1 John 3:8) He that commits sin is of the devil; for the devil sins from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

 

The New Testament teaches that the Messiah was the person who would bruise the head of the serpent. Interestingly, old Jewish sources do the same. Jewish sources teach that the Messiah is the offspring of the woman who will finally bruise the head of the serpent and fulfill God’s promise to restore the offspring of the woman. We will consider some respected Jewish rabbis’ explanations of Gen 3:15:

 

Jonathan Ben Uzziel was regarded as the wisest student of Rabbi Hillel. Ben Uzziel explained that this offspring of the woman is, "the Messiah king, who is wounded to heel.”

 

Radak, Rabbi David Kimchi, stated that this verse is associated with the Messiah. He emphasized that the Messiah is a descendant of King David:

 

"You bring salvation for your people, by the Messiah, through the hand of the son of David, who will wound Satan, who is the head of evil room, king and prince..."

 

In Midrash (Shemot Rabbaa 30), the Fall of man and corruption of all tribes as a consequence of that Fall were described in an interesting way. The quote explains that the Messiah, who is a descendant of the family of Peres and from the tribe of Judah, will finally fix the situation. The quote also describes the final occasion when death will be destroyed eternally.

   (Paul wrote as well, 1 Cor 15:26: The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death./ In Revelation 21:3-4 is said the same: “And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away."):

 

"This is the history of Peres and it has a deep significance. (...) When Holy God created His world, there was no angel of death yet. (...) But when Adam and Eve fell into sin, all the tribes were corrupted. And when Peres rose, the history started to come true by him, for from him the Messiah will be descended and during his days, the Holy God will swallow death, as has been said: He will destroy death eternally.”

 

The Messiah bore our sins and died for the sake of them

 

The quote above (Midrash: Shemot Rabbaa 30) states that "… when Adam and Eve fell into sin, all the tribes were corrupted." In the New Testament we read the same message: that sin entered the world through one man. Paul wrote in Romans 5:12, “Why, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed on all men, for that all have sinned.”

 

However, the good news is that even though people have fallen into sin and sinned, the Scriptures indicate that Yeshua has already borne our sins. This is how He fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah 53, which referred to this several times:   

 

Prophecy:

 

- (Isa 53:5,6,8,11,12) But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was on him; and with his stripes we are healed.

6  All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

8  He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.

11  He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.

12  Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he has poured out his soul to death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

 

Fulfillment:

 

- (1 Peter 2:23,24) Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judges righteously:

24  Who his own self bore our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live to righteousness: by whose stripes you were healed.

 

 - (1 John 3:5) And you know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.

 

 - (John 1:29) The next day John sees Jesus coming to him, and said, Behold the Lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world.

 

 - (1 Cor 15:3) For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures

 

 - (1 Peter 3:18) For Christ also has once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit

 

The New Testament teaches that the Messiah bore our sins; what do the old Jewish sources teach about the Messiah?  

   They teach the same thing. In Jewish sources we find that one task of the Messiah is to bear our sins, that He is wounded for the sake of our sins, and that He dies for the sake of our sins -- just as the New Testament teaches. Many sources refer to this atonement through the Messiah. We will study some of them below.

 

Rabbi Elia de Vidas – who lived in the 17^th century – wrote simply that the Messiah is wounded for the sake of our sins. If someone will not accept this, he will suffer and carry his own sins:

 

"So the Messiah suffers for the sake of our sins and He will be wounded; and who does not want for the Messiah to be wounded for the sake of our sins, he will himself suffer and bear his own sins."

 

In the Lochot Habberit (242 a) we read much the same message about the atonement of the Messiah as found in the New Testament: that He will give his life to death for people (compare Matt 20:28: ... Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered to, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many."):

 

"He (the Messiah) will give Himself and His life to death, and His blood will reconcile His people.”

 

Rabbi Maimonides wrote in his commentary (in Midrash rabba, p. 660), that the Messiah took the sins on his shoulders and that He had to suffer because of this. This took place so that no one of Israel would get lost (cmp. John 3:16: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.):

 

"God made already in the beginning a covenant with the Messiah, and told Him, 'My righteous Messiah, those who are entrusted to you, their sins will bring to your shoulders a heavy burden and your ears will hear a large shame and your mouth will taste bitterness and your tongue will stick to the roof of your mouth and your soul will be powerless under grief and sigh. Do you submit to this?' And He answered, 'I will receive happily all these pains, so that no one of Israel will get lost.' Immediately when the Messiah had accepted all these pains in His love, as has been written in the book of Isaiah 53:7, He was oppressed and afflicted.”

 

Midrash of the book of Ruth refers to the sufferings of the Messiah and that He has been wounded for the sake of our sins. It explains the verse of book of Ruth 2:14 as follows:

 

"... baptize your piece of bread to wine vinegar, are those sufferings, about which has been written that He has been wounded for the sake of our sins.”

 

In Pesikta Rabbat (35-37), which is a part of the Midrash literature, we find that the suffering of the Messiah happened for the sake of people’s sins. He had to go through many difficult tribulations and be the object of derision because of those sins (compare Matt 26:38-39: Then said he to them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even to death: tarry you here, and watch with me. And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as you will.):

 

"Our rabbis have taught; once the patriarchs will arrive to him in the month of Nisan (about the time of the Passover) and say, Ephraim, the Messiah our righteousness, although we are your fathers, You are greater than we, because You have suffered for the sake of the sins of our children and You have experienced difficult and large trials... You have become an object of laughter and derision among the nations of the world for the sake of Israel, and You have sat in the dark and depth... Your skin has been torn off and your body has dried up like a tree... and Your power is like a pot shard. All this You have suffered for the sake of the sins of our children.”

 

Also in another Midrash (Midrash Bamidbar Rabbaa, par. 12) is found a reference to the idea of atonement (compare 2 Cor 5:19: To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, not imputing their trespasses to them; and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.) It refers to “Metatron,” who is often identified with the Messiah:

 

Simultaneously, when Israel was building the temple, the Holy God commanded the angels to make into the paradise ‘a cabin for a young man, whose name is Metatron, that he would take the souls of righteous people to God and to reconcile the sins, which Israel has done in the Diaspora’.

 

THE Messiah bore our illnesses

 

The Messiah came to repair all the consequences of the Fall including the diseases that entered then. He took them all on Himself, as was prophesied in the book of Isaiah. We learn in the New Testament that Yeshua did this for us:

 

Prophecy:

 

 - (Isa 53:4, 5,10) Surely he has borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

5  But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was on him; and with his stripes we are healed.

10  Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he has put him to grief: when you shall make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.

 

Fulfillment:

 

- (Matt 8:16-17) When the even was come, they brought to him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick:

17  That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bore our sicknesses.

 

- (1 Peter 2:21,24) For even hereunto were you called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow his steps:

24  Who his own self bore our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live to righteousness: by whose stripes you were healed.

 

  Old Jewish sources teach the same message as found in the New Testament.

   One of these references is found in the book of Zohar, which explains that the Messiah is to take each illness, pain and punishment on Himself:

 

"It is written, 'He was pierced for our transgressions' and so on. The Messiah (...) will take each illness, every pain and all punishment of Israel on himself; they will all come and remain on Him. And if He hadn’t in this way lightened the burden of Israel and taken it to bear, so a single person wouldn’t have been able to bear the punishment of Israel for offences of the law; and like this it is written: Surely He took up our infirmities."

 

From the Talmud of Babylon (Sanhedrin 98), we can find the same subject that the Messiah took up our diseases:

 

"The Messiah – what is His name? The rabbis said: His name is 'Leper, learned man’, for it has been written that He carried our sorrows and took up our infirmities. We deemed Him a leper, we supposed that God smote and afflicted him.”

 

The so-called Musaf prayer is one of the annual prayers of Yom Kippur and apparently dates back to the 9^th century. In the Musaf prayer we learn that it is by the wounds of the Messiah that we are healed, and that the Messiah has carried the sins of the people:

 

"The Messiah, our righteousness, has turned away from us. We have been beaten broken and because of that, we have no spokesperson. Our crimes and the yoke of our bad deeds are a heavy burden. But He has been wounded for our sins. He carries our sins on His shoulders, so that we would get forgiveness. And by His wounds we are healed; it has come the time to create an eternal new creation.”

 

Birth in Bethlehem

 

The birth of the Messiah in Bethlehem came true in Yeshua, because he was born there.

   Several Jewish authorities explaining Micah 5:2 refer to the Messiah’s birth in Bethlehem. These refer to the prophecy that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem, in the same town where King David was born (1 Sam 17:12). It is noteworthy that today the town of Bethlehem is not inhabited by Jews. Only Arabs live there now, and it is known as an Arabic town.

 

Prophecy:

 

- (Micah 5:2) But you, Bethlehem Ephratah, though you be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall he come forth to me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

 

Fulfillment:

 

- (Matt 2:1-2) Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,

2  Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

 

Task begins from Galilee

 

Prophets saw that the Messiah would affect much of the area of Galilee and would give it a new brilliance.

   This can be said of Yeshua, who lived in Galilee and moved from there to other places. Also, the word "Light", which appears in these and other verses, is, in the Jewish sources, often associated with the Messiah. Light is regarded as one name for the Messiah. 

 

Prophecy:

 

- (Isa 9:1-2) Nevertheless the dimness shall not be such as was in her vexation, when at the first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, and afterward did more grievously afflict her by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, in Galilee of the nations.

2  The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, on them has the light shined.

 

Fulfillment:

 

- (Matt 4:12-17) Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, he departed into Galilee;

13  And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelled in Capernaum, which is on the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim:

14  That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying,

15  The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles;

16  The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.

17  From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

 

Anointed with THE Spirit

 

The phrase "anointed with the Spirit" can be applied to Yeshua better than to anyone else. We read in several Bible passages that Yeshua was anointed with the Spirit. He healed sick people, freed people from demons, and helped people in many other ways, just as his disciples did later on.

   Many old Jewish sources connect Isaiah 11:1-2 and 61:1-3 with the Messiah. Good examples of that are the texts below, which refer also to the family tree of the Messiah.  

 

"This is how Judah benefited, for from him were descended Peres and Esrom, from whom king David and the king Messiah came, he, who will save Israel; look at how many difficulties the Holy God gave, until he raised the king Messiah from Judah, him, about whom has been written, “The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him." (Midrash Tanhuma, Bereshit va-jeshev.)

 

 Why do your brothers praise you, Judah (verse 8), because the whole Israel is called Jews according to you, and not only therefore, but also because the Messiah will come from you, He who will save Israel, as has been written, “And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, Isa 11:1." (Midrash Tanhuma, Bereshit vajehi, 64.)

 

Prophecy:

 

- (Isa 11:1-2) And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:

2  And the spirit of the LORD shall rest on him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD

 

- (Isa 42:1) Behold my servant, whom I uphold; my elect, in whom my soul delights; I have put my spirit on him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.

 

 Fulfillment:

 

- (Matt 3:16) And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, see, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting on him

 

Prophecy:

 

- (Isa 61:1-3) The Spirit of the Lord GOD is on me; because the LORD has anointed me to preach good tidings to the meek; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;

2  To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;

3  To appoint to them that mourn in Zion, to give to them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.

 

Fulfillment:

 

- (Luke 4:14-21) And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about.

15  And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all.

16  And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.

17  And there was delivered to him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,

18  The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,

19  To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

20  And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him.

21  And he began to say to them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.

 

- (Acts 10:38) How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.

 

Sinless

 

Another feature of the prophesied Messiah is that he should live a pure life absolutely free of wrong-doing. As described in the book of Isaiah, the Messiah would be described as “God’s righteous servant.”

    This feature of purity is found in Yeshua. Both His closest disciples and his enemies testified to Yeshua’s purity and goodness. This is important because it would have been easy for his disciples to see his faults, and his enemies surely would not have provided any statements of a positive nature.  One example of these positive statements is found in the Talmud, in which it was written about Yeshua’s crucifixion that he was, "near the kingdom of God" (Sanhedrin 43. a.):

 

Prophecy:

 

- (Isa 53:9,11) And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.

11  He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.

 

Fulfillment:

 

- (1 Peter 2:21-22) For even hereunto were you called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow his steps:

22  Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:

 

- (1 John 3:5) And you know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.

 

 - (Hebr 7:26) For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;

 

- (Luke 23:4) Then said Pilate to the chief priests and to the people, I find no fault in this man.

 

 - (Matt 27:3-4) Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,

4  Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see you to that.

 

- (Matt 27:19) When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying, Have you nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him.

 

 - (Luke 23:39-41) And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If you be Christ, save yourself and us.

40  But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Do not you fear God, seeing you are in the same condemnation?

41  And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man has done nothing amiss.

 

- (John 8:45-46) And because I tell you the truth, you believe me not.

46  Which of you convinces me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do you not believe me?

 

THE Public arrival In Jerusalem

 

The prophecy of Zechariah (Zec 9:9) foretells that a gentle king will ride in Jerusalem on an ass. Yeshua rode into Jerusalem on an ass. Only Yeshua’s entry fit this prophecy:

 

Prophecy:

 

- (Zec 9:9) Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, your King comes to you: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding on an ass, and on a colt the foal of an ass.

 

- (Gen 49:10-11) The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and to him shall the gathering of the people be.

11  Binding his foal to the vine, and his ass’s colt to the choice vine; he washed his garments in wine, and his clothes in the blood of grapes:

 

- (Ps 118:24-26) This is the day which the LORD has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

25  Save now, I beseech you, O LORD: O LORD, I beseech you, send now prosperity.

26  Blessed be he that comes in the name of the LORD: we have blessed you out of the house of the LORD.

 

Fulfillment:

 

 - (Matt 21:1-11) And when they drew near to Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, to the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples,

2  Saying to them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway you shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them to me.

3  And if any man say ought to you, you shall say, The Lord has need of them; and straightway he will send them.

4  All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying,

5  Tell you the daughter of Sion, Behold, your King comes to you, meek, and sitting on an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass.

6  And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them,

7  And brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon.

8  And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strewed them in the way.

9  And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.

10  And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this?

11  And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.

 

Old Jewish authorities recognized Zechariah (Zec 9:9) – a king who is riding on an ass – to be a prophecy about the Messiah. In the Talmud (Sanhedrin 97. b) we read that the son of David will arrive during a generation, which is either completely righteous or completely sinful. If that generation is sinful, he will come as a gentle person riding on an ass:

 

"The son of David will arrive during a generation which is either completely righteous or completely sinful; during a time that is completely righteous, such as has been written Isa 60:21, all your people will be righteous and possess the land forever; or during a time when all people are sinful, as has been written Isa 59:16, “He saw that there was no one, He was appalled that there was no one to intervene… in my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven (Dan 7:13), and it has been written, gentle and riding on an ass: if they are righteous, He will come with the clouds of heaven, if not, gentle and riding on an ass.”

 

The Midrash (Midrash Kohelet Rabbati 1.) refers to the coming of a gentle Messiah who rides into the city on an ass. This was done by Yeshua.

   In addition, the Messiah was compared to the first savior, to Moses. We have already noted similarities between them:

 

"Such as was the first savior, so will be the last. As is said about the first savior (Ex 4:20): he took his wife and son and put them on the back of an ass, the same has been said about the last savior, that he is gentle and rides on an ass (Zec 9:9). Such as the first savior gave manna (Ex 16), such as has been written, look, I give to rain for you bread from heaven, so also the last savior will give manna, such as has been written (Ps 72:16), let corn abound throughout the land. Such as the first savior opened a spring, so the last savior will give water, such as has been written (Joel 3:18), and a fountain will flow out of the LORD’s house.”

 

Rabbi Saabia Gaon (882 942 A.D, Mikraoot Gedolot) explained the verse of Zec 9:9 to students. He, too, associated the verse with the Messiah:

 

"He is the Messiah our Righteousness; and has it not been written about the Messiah that he is gentle and rides on an ass; but he arrives as humble and not as proud with horses; and as far as the coming with the clouds of heaven is concerned, there is a question of the heavenly host of the angels, and in this is that greatness which the Creator gives the Messiah.”

 

A Righteous helper and A GOOD shepherd

 

Two features associated with the Messiah were that he had to be a righteous helper and a good shepherd. This is found in many prophecies – Zec 9:9, Isa11:1-5, Isa 42:1-4 – and others. Old Jewish sources associate these characteristics with the Messiah.

   As far as the Lord Yeshua is concerned, in Him these prophecies came true perfectly. He was a very good shepherd who pitied people's weaknesses, he paid no heed to who people were, and all weary and burdened people could always go to Him. There is certainly nobody but Yeshua who better fits the description of the prophesied Messiah.

 

Prophecy:

 

- (Zec 9:9) Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, your King comes to you: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding on an ass, and on a colt the foal of an ass.

 

- (Isa 42:1-4) Behold my servant, whom I uphold; my elect, in whom my soul delights; I have put my spirit on him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.

2  He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street.

3  A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment to truth.

4  He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law.

 

Fulfillment:

 

- (Matt 14:14) And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.

 

 - (Hebr 4:15) For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

 

- (Matt 11:28-30) Come to me, all you that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

29  Take my yoke on you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and you shall find rest to your souls.

30  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

 

Prophecy:

 

- (Isa 11:1-5) And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:

2  And the spirit of the LORD shall rest on him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD;

3  And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears:

4  But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth: with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.

5  And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.

 

Fulfillment:

 

- (Matt 22:16) And they sent out to him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that you are true, and teach the way of God in truth, neither care you for any man: for you regard not the person of men.

 

Prophecy:

 

- (Isa 40:10-11) Behold, the Lord GOD will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him.

11  He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.

 

Fulfillment:

 

- (John 10:11-14) I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd gives his life for the sheep.

12  But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep, and flees: and the wolf catches them, and scatters the sheep.

13  The hireling flees, because he is an hireling, and cares not for the sheep.

14  I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.

 

Miracles and preaching THE gospel

 

Just as miracles were associated with Moses’ life they were also part of Yeshua’s work. As did Moses the “first saviour,” Yeshua, too, healed the sick, raised people from the dead, released the imprisoned and helped people. This fit the Scriptural prophecies of the Messiah.

   We find an interesting dialog written in the Talmud (Sanhedri 97. b). One sign by which the Messiah will be known is that he will sit at the place of the poor and the sick, and will both release and bind people:

 

"Will I get to the future world? Elijah answered, if the Lord allows. Rabbi Yehoshua Ben Levi said, I see two and I heard a third voice (the mystery of three numbers). He asks still, When will the Messiah arrive? Elijah answered, Go and ask himself! Then rabbi Yehoshua asked, Where will he stay? At the gate of Rome! And what is the mark, by which he will be known? He will sit at the place of the poor and the sick, and he will release and bind them simultaneously: one he releases and one he binds.”

 

Prophecy:

 

- (Isa 42:1, 6, 7) Behold my servant, whom I uphold; my elect, in whom my soul delights; I have put my spirit on him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.

6  I the LORD have called you in righteousness, and will hold your hand, and will keep you, and give you for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles;

7  To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.

 

Fulfillment:

 

- (Matt 11:2-6) Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples,

3  And said to him, Are you he that should come, or do we look for another?

4  Jesus answered and said to them, Go and show John again those things which you do hear and see:

5  The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.

6  And blessed is he, whoever shall not be offended in me.

 

- (Mark 7:37) And were beyond measure astonished, saying, He has done all things well: he makes both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak.

 

 - (John 7:31) And many of the people believed on him, and said, When Christ comes, will he do more miracles than these which this man has done?

 

Prophecy:

 

- (Isa 61:1-3) The Spirit of the Lord GOD is on me; because the LORD has anointed me to preach good tidings to the meek; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;

2  To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;

3  To appoint to them that mourn in Zion, to give to them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.

 

Fulfillment:

 

- (Luke 4:16-21) And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.

17  And there was delivered to him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,

18  The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,

19  To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

20  And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him.

21  And he began to say to them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.

 

 - (Luke 4:43) And he said to them, I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also: for therefore am I sent.

 

- (Luke 8:1) And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and showing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him,

 

THE will of THE Lord comes true THROUGH him

 

The most important feature of the prophesied Messiah was that the will of the Lord would come true through him. That was more important than anything else, even miracles.

   Concerning the life of Yeshua, we can truly say that the will of God was fulfilled through Him. He always did the will of His Father (John 4:34). He himself told people, "Which of you convinces me of sin?” (John 8:46); and, "And he that sent me is with me: the Father has not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him. As he spoke these words, many believed on him.” (John 8:29, 30). 

 

Prophecy:

 

- (Ps 40:6-8) Sacrifice and offering you did not desire; my ears have you opened: burnt offering and sin offering have you not required.

7  Then said I, See, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me,

8  I delight to do your will, O my God: yes, your law is within my heart.

 

Fulfillment:

 

- (Hebr 10:5-10) Why when he comes into the world, he said, Sacrifice and offering you would not, but a body have you prepared me:

6  In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin you have had no pleasure.

7  Then said I, See, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do your will, O God.

8  Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin you would not, neither had pleasure therein; which are offered by the law;

9  Then said he, See, I come to do your will, O God. He takes away the first, that he may establish the second.

10  By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

 

- (John 8:28-30) Then said Jesus to them, When you have lifted up the Son of man, then shall you know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father has taught me, I speak these things.

29  And he that sent me is with me: the Father has not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.

30  As he spoke these words, many believed on him.

 

- (John 17:4-5) I have glorified you on the earth: I have finished the work which you gave me to do.

5  And now, O Father, glorify you me with your own self with the glory which I had with you before the world was.

 

Prophecy:

 

- (Isa 53:10) Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he has put him to grief: when you shall make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.

 

Fulfillment:

 

- (John 4:31-34) In the mean while his disciples prayed him, saying, Master, eat.

32  But he said to them, I have meat to eat that you know not of.

33  Therefore said the disciples one to another, Has any man brought him ought to eat?

34  Jesus said to them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.

 

- (John 6:38) For I came down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him that sent me.

 

Speaks according to THE will of THE Father

 

One feature of the Messiah was that he would speak according to the will of His Father. The promise given to Moses said that God would raise up from among people a prophet like Moses. If someone then would not listen to him, he would be held responsible for that before God.

  Yeshua spoke according to the will of His Father. Always when He spoke, He uttered the will of His Father. The most important message given by Him was about eternal life, because He did not come to condemn the world, but to save it. If Yeshua’s words were true and we reject His words, then we also reject eternal life:

 

Prophecy:

 

- (Deut 18:18-19) I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brothers, like to you, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak to them all that I shall command him.

19  And it shall come to pass, that whoever will not listen to my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.

 

Fulfillment:

 

- (John 8:24-27) I said therefore to you, that you shall die in your sins: for if you believe not that I am he, you shall die in your sins.

25  Then said they to him, Who are you? And Jesus said to them, Even the same that I said to you from the beginning.

26  I have many things to say and to judge of you: but he that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him.

27  They understood not that he spoke to them of the Father.

 

- (John 8:28-30) Then said Jesus to them, When you have lifted up the Son of man, then shall you know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father has taught me, I speak these things.

29  And he that sent me is with me: the Father has not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.

30  As he spoke these words, many believed on him.

 

- (John 12:47-50) And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.

48  He that rejects me, and receives not my words, has one that judges him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.

49  For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.

50  And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatever I speak therefore, even as the Father said to me, so I speak.

 

King

 

One name of the Messiah is King. In the book of Zechariah it was prophesied that a king would come to Jerusalem riding on an ass. Several other verses that we are going to look at also refer to the kingship of the Messiah.

   These verses perfectly describe the Lord Yeshua. People regarded Him already in his time as a king, and He described Himself as being greater than Solomon, the greatest king of Israel (Matt 12:42: The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here.).

   It’s important to note that He described His kingship as being not of this world, but another world. He explained that His kingship had not yet been fully fulfilled, but it would be fulfilled at a later time (Luke 19:12: He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.).

  

Prophecy:

 

- (Zec 9:9) Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, your King comes to you: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding on an ass, and on a colt the foal of an ass.

 

Fulfillment:

 

- (John 12:12-15) On the next day much people that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem,

13  Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that comes in the name of the Lord.

14  And Jesus, when he had found a young ass, sat thereon; as it is written,

15  Fear not, daughter of Sion: behold, your King comes, sitting on an ass’s colt.

 

Prophecy:

 

- (Jer 23:5) Behold, the days come, said the LORD, that I will raise to David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.

 

Fulfillment:

 

- (Luke 1:32-33) He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give to him the throne of his father David:

33  And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

 

- (John 1:47-49) Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and said of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!

48  Nathanael said to him, From where know you me? Jesus answered and said to him, Before that Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.

49  Nathanael answered and said to him, Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.

 

- (Matt 27:35-37) And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and on my clothing did they cast lots.

36  And sitting down they watched him there;

37  And set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

 

Prophecy:

 

- (Micah 5:2) But you, Bethlehem Ephratah, though you be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall he come forth to me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

 

Fulfillment:

 

- (Luke 19:11-12) And as they heard these things, he added and spoke a parable, because he was near to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear.

12  He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.

 

- (John 18:36-38) Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.

37  Pilate therefore said to him, Are you a king then? Jesus answered, You say that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Every one that is of the truth hears my voice.

38  Pilate said to him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews, and said to them, I find in him no fault at all.

 

- (Rev 19:11,16) And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he does judge and make war.

16  And he has on his clothing and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

 

Priest

 

One name of the Messiah is priest. It appears in Psalm 110, in which He is called a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek. The same psalm also refers to how He sits at God’s right hand and now only waits that His enemies to be made a footstool for His feet.

   These verses fit Jesus very well. He really came to be the eternal high priest in the order of Melchizedek, just as Paul described in the letter of Hebrews. He has gone to Heaven and sits on the right side of God, as described in several Bible verses:

 

Prophecy:

 

- (Ps 110.1-4) The LORD said to my Lord, Sit you at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.

2  The LORD shall send the rod of your strength out of Zion: rule you in the middle of your enemies.

3  Your people shall be willing in the day of your power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: you have the dew of your youth.

4  The LORD has sworn, and will not repent, You are a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.

 

Fulfillment:

 

- (Hebr 5:5-6) So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said to him, You are my Son, to day have I begotten you.

6  As he said also in another place, You are a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

 

- (Hebr 6:20) Where the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

 

- (Hebr 10:12-13) But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;

13  From now on expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.

 

- (1 Peter 3:22) Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject to him.

 

- (Eph 1:20-21) Which he worked in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,

21  Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:

 

Prophet

 

Another name given to the Messiah is “prophet,” which was included in the promise given to Moses.

  People regarded Yeshua to be a prophet, and to be the fulfillment of the promise given to Moses. In addition, Jesus described Himself as a prophet “greater than Jonah …” through whom the whole population of Nineveh repented when he preached there. (Matt 12:41: The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.)

 

Prophecy:

 

- (Deut 18:15,18,19) The LORD your God will raise up to you a Prophet from the middle of you, of your brothers, like to me; to him you shall listen;

18  I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brothers, like to you, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak to them all that I shall command him.

19  And it shall come to pass, that whoever will not listen to my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.

 

Fulfillment:

 

- (Matt 21:10-11) And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this?

11  And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.

 

- (John 6:14) Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world.

 

 - (John 7:40) Many of the people therefore, when they heard this saying, said, Of a truth this is the Prophet.

 

- (Matt 21:44-46) And whoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.

45  And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spoke of them.

46  But when they sought to lay hands on him, they feared the multitude, because they took him for a prophet.

 

- (Acts 3:22,23,26) For Moses truly said to the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up to you of your brothers, like to me; him shall you hear in all things whatever he shall say to you.

23  And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.

26  To you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.

 

THE Prince of peace and peace by him

 

Various names have been given to the Messiah, and one of them is the Prince of Peace, as found in Isaiah 9:6. Chapter 53 of the book of Isaiah tells of peace that can be gotten by the Messiah. Old Jewish sources associate both these passages with the Messiah.

   When we consider the fulfillment of these verses, we find they fit Yeshua: He promised to give the world His own peace, which is quite different than the peace we see in the natural world. The Bible also teaches us that we can find peace with God through the Lord Yeshua -- just as prophesied in the book of Isaiah:

 

Prophecy:

 

- (Isa 9:6) For to us a child is born, to us a son is given: and the government shall be on his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

 

Fulfillment:

 

- (John 14:27) Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you: not as the world gives, give I to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

 

- (Phil 4:6-7) Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

7  And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

 

Prophecy:

 

- (Isa 53:5) But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was on him; and with his stripes we are healed.

 

Fulfillment:

 

- (Rom 5:1) Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ

 

Judge

 

One role of the Messiah is that of judge. He will at one time condemn people, as indicated in Psalms 2, Isaiah 11:1 4, Jeremiah 23:5, and other verses. Old Jewish sources have always considered these verses to be Messianic prophecies.

   We believe that these prophecies will be fulfilled at the latest when Yeshua returns to Earth to establish the millennium (we also referred above to how Yeshua mentioned a man of noble birth who “went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return” - Luke 19:12). After this, we must all appear before the judgment seat of God and the Messiah, so that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, good or bad:

 

Prophecy:

 

 - (Ps 2:10-12) Be wise now therefore, O you kings: be instructed, you judges of the earth.

11  Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.

12  Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.

 

- (Isa 11:1-4) And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:

2  And the spirit of the LORD shall rest on him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD;

3  And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears:

4  But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth: with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.

 

- (Jer 23:5) Behold, the days come, said the LORD, that I will raise to David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.

 

Fulfillment:

 

- (John 5:22-23) For the Father judges no man, but has committed all judgment to the Son:

23  That all men should honor the Son, even as they honor the Father.  He that honors not the Son honors not the Father which has sent him.

 

- (Matt 16:27) For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.

 

- (2 Cor 5:10) For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he has done, whether it be good or bad.

 

- (2 Tim 4:1) I charge you therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom