A Biblical Vision, Part I: Mastering the Old Testament Witness to Christ

Ses s i on 6: The Ol d Tes tament and the Fu l f i l lment of Mes s i an i c Pred i c t i ons 113

Isa. 9.1-7 But there will be no

III. Principles and Implications for Old Testament Study

gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations. [2] The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined. [3] You have multiplied the nation; you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as they are glad when they divide the spoil. [4] For the yoke of his burden, and the staff for his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian. [5] For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire. [6] For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. [7] Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forever more. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

How can the study of Messianic prophecy strengthen our spiritual development and prepare us for credible witness in urban ministry?

A. Principles in our study of the Old Testament

1. What is foretold about the Messiah in the Old Testament is fulfilled in the person of Jesus of Nazareth in the New Testament. This is the heart and soul of the importance of Messianic prophecy.

2. From Gen. 3.15 to Mal. 4.2, the Old Testament makes predictive statements about the coming of the Messiah that relate directly to Jesus. The New Testament records the fulfillment of many of these predictive statements in the contexts of the Gospels and the Epistles (e.g., that Messiah would be born of a woman, through the line of Shem, from the seed of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, born of a virgin, in the city of Bethlehem, ride as King into Jerusalem, etc.).

3. Jesus’ understanding of fulfillment of the Messianic prophecy expanded and reinterpreted the view of many of his contemporaries in his cross and resurrection.

4. The Old Testament prophecy of a future new age of Messianic glory has been fulfilled already in the first advent of Jesus of Nazareth. The complete consummation of that age, however, is yet future, awaiting his second coming.

B. Critical implications

1. The predictions of the prophets regarding Messiah in the Old Testament were finally fulfilled in the history of Jesus of Nazareth recorded in the New Testament.