R sbc
Sunday Morning
May 23,2004
Series: “ Jesus Christ The Sum & Substance of The Bible”
Sermon # 2
Subject: “The Witness of The Law and The Prophets”
Text: John 1:43-51
Intro: May I take a few minutes to remind you this morning of what I said last week. I am preaching this series of message for three reasons: (1.) So that we can love the Lord even more. (2.) So that we can see more fully of the worth of Christ. (3.) So that we can appreaciate what Christ has done for us more fully.
We saw they were looking for a extradordinay prophet, A totally different King to rule over them, a substitute to atone for their sins, thus did Jesus christ meet all these expectation and many more.
Be assured this morning that the life of the Lord Jesus Christ was not presented in vague sense in the Old Testament. Our text mention that very thing. It is said by Nathannael “ We have found him of whom” then he mentions two things...
(1.) The law of Moses...
They gave a crediable witness of the Lord Jesus Christ. In fact when we read in the Book of Hebrews it clearly states that Moses followed Christ: Hebrews 11:25-26 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; 26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.
Then we read in the book of Corinthians that the people whom he lead followed the Lord Jesus Christ likewise: 1 Corinthians 10:4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.
What a powerful testimony to the LORD JESUS CHRIST. No wonder Jesus refers to himself as water because you see even in the Old testament he is referred to as water. John 4:13-14 Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: 14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.
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So it is clear that Moses followed him and wrote of him, and that his people followed him and believe in him.
(2.) The Prophets:
Acts 10:43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. When one studies the Old Testament from our standpoint, we can see far into these prophecies of the great detail of Christ through their writings and teachings.
A.T. Pierson, who affirmed that there are over 300 prophecies realting to the Lord Jesus Christ. Dr. James Smith in his book on What the Bible teaches about the Promised Messiah shows that there are 73 key prophecies in the old testament about the Messiah.Paul uses the prophets and their saying to declare the gospel in his missionary journeys.
Acts 26:21-23 For these causes the Jews caught me in the temple, and went about to kill [me]. 22 Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come: 23 That Christ should suffer, [and] that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles.
In this second message I want to focus a few things the prophets did say about the LORD JESUS CHRIST.
I... “OF HIS BIRTH”
Micah 5:2 But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, [though] thou be little among the thousands of Judah, [yet] out of thee shall he come forth unto me [that is] to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth [have been] from of old, from everlasting.
This is a prophecy of the place of his birth, that is the town. And as you know this is where Christ was born. John 7:42 Hath not the scripture said, That Christ cometh of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was?
Note that the discussion was from the Old Testament writings of the LORD JESUS CHRIST. It happen as it was predicted: Matthew 2:1 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,
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1st. Isaiah said he would have a miraclous birth: Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
2nd. Isaiah spoke of the his ministry: Isaiah 9:6-7 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting
Father, The Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of [his] government and peace [there shall be] no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
In this prophecy we see a number of things that are important. I have quoted these verse many times for they are worth quoting. Look at it with me, turn and follow me in your bible.
1st. The goverment:
This speaks of his dominion. His rule of authority. Believe me when I say that Christ Jesus our Lord is Sovereign of Heaven and earth. That his sphere of goverment reaches far beyoond the walls of this church and embraces the entire universe. Then it reaches into the very heaven itself.
The great prophet Daniel said of the Lord Jesus Christ dominion and goverment being the same thing..Daniel 7:13-14 I saw in the night visions, and, behold, [one] like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. 14 And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion [is] an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom [that] which shall not be destroyed.
2nd. Where it was laid: “upon his shoulder”
This speaks of the one that would have the power and the ability to handle the great resposiblity of this vast kingdom. Make sure that you perceive this morning that Christ is well capable of handling his end of this vast Kingdom. He can bear every burden that is laid upon him. Matthew 11:28-30 Come unto me, all [ye] that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke [is] easy, and my burden is light.
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3rd. The Character of the messiah’s names:
What array of names given to him, the wonderful wonder of his name, the absolute cousellor, the power might, the eternal existence, the peace provider. Jesus Christ is all this and more.
II... “ THE NATURE OF HIS MINISTRY WAS PROPHESIED”
Isa 61:1-3 Give a detail discription of the coming Messiah and what he would do when he came. As I said in the beginning of htis message this thing was not done in a closet, it was not obscure, it was widely published. The great problem these people had was not with the message but their interpretation of it. Just like today many read what it said about Jesus and come up with so off the wall meaning of it. His ministry was clearly outlined in this passage.
Isaiah 61:1-3 The Spirit of the Lord GOD [is] upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath 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 unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto 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.
If you remember Jesus laid hold of this particular passage and read it. It was clear of whom it was speaking of.
Luke 4:18-20
I will reframe from giving you any details of this passage for later I will bring a message on the Ministry of Christ that will cover some of these things. But hte main this morning is to see that Jesus Christ is the Sum and the Substance of the whole Bible.
Revelation 19:10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See [thou do it] not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
This means that any prophecies of the old and the new have for their focus the Lord Jesus Christ and his glory.
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III... “ THE GREAT GENTLENESS OF CHRIST WAS PROPHECIED”
Isaiah 42:1-4 Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, [in whom] my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon 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 unto 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.
Matt 12:18-21 is the fullfilment of this great prophecy. I like what MH says about these verses... Christ claim that he was meek and lowly in heart and that he was.
Meekness is that spirit that excepts what God does and how he deals with and count it as good..This is what Jesus did. He never complained, he never fought against his Fathers will. At an early age listen to what he said:
Luke 2:48-49 And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing. 49 And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?
The many cups that Christ drink of for us was with a total meek spirit. He was no doubt the one that was to come.
Conclusion:
Let me point you this mornign to the one and the only one that can...
1st. Save the viloest of sinners here today: 1 Timothy 1:15 This [is] a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
2nd. Give A Security evey soul he saves: John 10:28-29 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any [man] pluck them out of my hand.
29 My Father, which gave [them] me, is greater than all; and no [man] is able to pluck [them] out of my Father's hand.
3rd. Give a Strong consolation to all who flee to him:
Hebrews 6:18-20 That by two immutable things, in which [it was] impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: 19 Which [hope] we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;
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20 Whither the forerunner is for us entered, [even] Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of
4th. Send away every sin that you have every committed or will commit:
Revelation 1:5-6 And from Jesus Christ, [who is] the faithful witness, [and] the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, 6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him [be] glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.