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The Gift that Keeps on Giving! Part II | |
The other day, I was sitting in my chair nice and comfortable with my fuzzy blanket resting after a long day. My daughter yelled in from another room to ask me to do something for her. Well, I reeeeally didn't want to leave my comfortable, warm place to go and help her. I told her I didn't want to get up - just make do on your own. |
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When we cried out to God for salvation (even before we cried out), Jesus could have done the same thing I did. He was not only sitting in a nice comfortable chair, He was in Heaven! Fortunately for us, He chose to leave His chair, His glorified body, the presence of God, and all of the wonders of Heaven to help us. John 3:13(Hover you mouse curser over the scripture references to read the verses.) Jesus left his comfortable chair with a purpose. He came to walk blamelessly on this earth in a body just like ours and suffer and die as payment for our sin. We have already seen how His birth fulfilled many Old Testament prophecies. Now we will look at some of the prophecies that were fulfilled through His life. 1. Purpose of His Life
2. First Miracle in Galilee:
3. Heal the blind and sick:
4. Enter the Temple with authority
5. Speaks in parables:
6. Jesus a prophet:
7. Jesus - Meek and Mild:
8. Minister to the Gentiles:
9. Adored by Children:
10. Ride on a donkey
11. Despised and Rejected:
The Old Testament points to the coming of the Messiah. They spoke in the prophecies many details about
"No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven - the Son of Man.",
"The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach 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, to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor.",
"He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up,and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom.And he stood up to read.The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him.Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:'The Spirit of the Lord is on me,because he has anointed meto preach good news to the poor.He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind,to release the oppressed,to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.'Then he rolled up the scroll,.gave it back to the attendant and sat down.The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him,.and he began by saying to them,'Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.'",
"Nevertheless, there will be no more gloomfor those who were in distress.In the past he humbled the land of Zebulunand the land of Naphtali,but in the futurehe will honor Galilee of the Gentiles,by the way of the sea, along the Jordan-The people walking in darknesshave seen a great light;on those living in the landof the shadow of deatha light has dawned. You have enlarged the nationand increased their joy;they rejoice before youas people rejoice at the harvest,as men rejoice when dividing the plunder.",
"Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum,which was by the lakein the area of Zebulun and Naphtalito fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah:'Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali,the way to the sea, along the Jordan,Galilee of the Gentilesthe people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.'",
"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 wildernessand streams in the desert.",
"So he replied to the messengers,'Go back and report to Johnwhat you have seen and heard:The blind receive sight,.the lame walk,those who have leprosy are cured,the deaf hear,the dead are raised,and the good news is preached to the poor.'",
"'Has this house, which bears my Name, become a den of robbers to you? But I have been watching! declares the LORD.... I will thrust you from my presence, just as I did all your brothers, the people of Ephraim.'",
"Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. 'It is written,' he said to them, 'My house will be called a house of prayer, but you are making it a den of robbers.'",
"I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter hidden things, things from of old-",
"Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in parables;he did not say anything to them without using a parable.So was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophet:'I will open my mouth in parables,I will utter things hidden since the creation of the world.'",
"The LORD said to me: 'What they say is good. I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers; I will put my words in his mouth, and he will tell them everything I command him. If anyone does not listen to my words that the prophet speaks in my name, I myself will call him to account.'",
"But this is how God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, saying that his Christ would suffer. Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, and that he may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you even Jesus. He must remain in heaven until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets. For Moses said, 'The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you must listen to everything he tells you. Anyone who does not listen to him will be completely cut off from among his people.'",
"He will not shout or cry out, or raise his voice in the streets. A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice",
"Aware of this, Jesus withdrew from that place. Many followed him, and he healed all their sick, warning them not to tell who he was. This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: 'Here is my servant whom I have chosen, the one I love, in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations.He will not quarrel or cry out; no one will hear his voice in the streets. A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out, till he leads justice to victory. In his name the nations will put their hope.'",
"'Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him and he will bring justice to the nations.'",
"Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: 'Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.'",
"From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise because of your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger.",
"The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them. But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple area, 'Hosanna to the Son of David,' they were indignant. 'Do you hear what these children are saying?' they asked him. 'Yes,' replied Jesus, 'have you never read, 'From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise'",
"Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.",
"As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, 'Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, tell him that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.' This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: 'Say to the Daughter of Zion, See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.'",
"Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.",
"Even after Jesus had done all these miraculous signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him. This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet: 'Lord, who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?'"
He fulfilled all those words of the prophets. Some of these prophecies may have been in some ways easier to fulfill - in that He could have read and studied and made them happen unlike details about being born, but why would anyone want to. He was despised and rejected and eventually killed. And what about the miracles? People who were blind could see. Deaf could hear. Lame could walk. Dead were even raised. He could have been putting on a show, but as many people as there were who followed Him around to see these miracles, there would have been somebody somewhere who would have discovered He was a fake, if that were the case. This series will continue next month with prophecies fulfilled by the death of Christ. | |
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