Tag Archives: The Messiah

Thirty Musts of the Messiah

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 “I am telling you this now, before it takes place, that when it does take place, you may believe that I am He.” John 13:19 ESV1

Read John 13:18-20

At the Last Supper in the presence of His closest disciples, Jesus said these words:

“‘I am telling you this now, before it takes place, that when it does take place, you may believe that I am He’” (John 13:19).

This statement was made in context of His upcoming betrayal. This disloyalty had been predicted centuries before. Right before His comment, Jesus referenced the prophesy (see John 13:18 and Psalm 41:9).

Before too long, the disciples would be thrown into much confusion. Because the soon-to-occur events wouldn’t fit their preconceived ideas of how the Messiah would defeat their enemy, they would be tempted to doubt the Master they had followed for three and a half years was Who He said He was. So, Jesus reminded them of this Messianic prophesy.

As Jesus Himself explained:

“‘Everything written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled’” (Luke 24:44b).

If even one of the prophesies concerning the Messiah didn’t match Jesus, He would not be the promised Anointed One. So, let’s look at thirty specific Messianic prophesies and their fulfillment in Jesus Christ.

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Perplexing Questions

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“What do you think about the Christ? Whose Son is He?” Matthew 22:42a ESV1

Read Matthew 22:41-46, Mark 12:35-37 & Luke 20:41-44

One Monday morning, in Geography class, we were given a pop quiz. Each of us students was presented with a blank map of the United States and was asked to fill in the names of the states in the correct position. Some students panicked because they were unable to perform the task. But relief spread over these students when they were told that the activity had been only a pretest. The actual test would come on Friday. We were given the week to study with the warning to make the week count because anyone who did not receive a perfect grade on the final test would have to study and retake the test while everyone else was attending the Friday afternoon special assembly.

Since I could quickly identify all of the states on the pretest, I didn’t bother studying. I wasn’t worried about the consequence because I was confident I could easily ace the test. But, to my dismay, when the test day came, I could not for the life of me remember the name of the tiny triangular-shaped state just east of Maryland. Humiliated, I was forced to stay back from the anticipated gathering and retake the test.

My pride in thinking I knew all the answers for this particular test is what got me into trouble. I really did not know what I thought I knew. The Pharisees, a prominent religious group during Jesus’ time on Earth, thought they knew more about the coming Messiah than they really did. It was their pride in their knowledge of Scripture that caused them to have issues with Jesus, the very One they thought they were ready to welcome.

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The Key to Unlocking the Mystery

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His disciples did not understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about Him and had been done to Him. John 12:16 ESV1

Read Matthew 21:1-11, Mark 11:1-11; Luke 19:28-40 & John 12:12-19

Have you heard of Escape Rooms? Escape Rooms work like this: people allow themselves to be locked into a room to play a game of solving a series of puzzles within a certain amount of time to accomplish the goal of finding the key that will unlock the door and release them from their self-imposed captivity. The first Escape Room was created in 2007 in Japan out of the desire to participate in a real-life adventure like that found in point-and-click video games. The idea quickly caught on; within the next ten years, Escape Rooms began popping up all over the world. Because of the widespread interest, entrepreneurs have made businesses out of providing Escape Room experiences. Escape Rooms may be a relatively new phenomenon but the desire to solve mysteries and discover solutions to seemingly impossible predicaments is an innate human longing. Indeed, I would say it was placed in us by God Himself.

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An Invitation to a Royal Wedding

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He sent … servants, saying, “Tell those who are invited, ‘See, I have prepared my dinner … everything is ready. Come to the wedding feast.’” Matthew 22:4 ESV1

Read Matthew 22:1-14

Evidently, 1,900 people were invited to the wedding service of Prince William and Kate Middleton of England. It has been reported that one million people crowded the streets of London on April 23, 2011, hoping to get a peek at William and Kate’s wedding parade. Additionally, an astonishing two billion people watched this royal wedding on live television across several media outlets. It is estimated that the whole amazing affair, including flowers, rings, cakes, Kate’s dress, and security, cost a whopping $50 million. In terms of numbers and cost, the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on May 19, 2018, was comparable. In fact, most royal weddings cost millions of dollars and are watched by people numbering in the multi-millions.

Considering the enormous expense and interest in royal weddings, one would imagine if any person was specifically invited to such a celebration, he/she would make every effort to attend. And if anyone who had been invited found that he/she must decline the royal invitation, it appears that any one of millions of others would have gladly taken his/her place. That is what makes the following story, told by Jesus, about those who snubbed their invitation to a royal wedding so astounding.

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