Happy Easter!
How can we know that Jesus is the Messiah? Is our belief based on a blind shot in the dark? Or is there something supernatural about the life of Jesus?
Why have so many brilliant men and women (such as Isaac Newton and Martin Luther King, Jr.) been convinced that there is something more than this natural world? Part of that reason is because the Bible somehow transcended time–and told of a coming Savior–hundreds and even thousands of years before he was born.
How else could we trust the claims of anyone saying they were a messiah who deserved to be worshiped? Even if this messiah appeared in heaven with all of his angels with him, how would we know we could trust him–without a supernatural confirmation? This is what the Old Testament was–a road map leading us to the true Messiah. Every part of the story, from the sacrifice of Isaac to the Exodus and beyond, is imbued with types and shadows of Jesus. The Law points us to Jesus. The Feasts point us to Jesus. The prophets point us to Jesus. Here is a list of some of those fulfilled prophecies:
http://www.accordingtothescriptures.org/prophecy/353prophecies.html
Last week, the small community I live in suffered a great loss. One of our young people, a precious friend of my daughter, was killed in the line of duty as a police officer by a “skinhead” who was robbing a bank. This was Trevor’s first day alone on the job. The young man grew up in our community and was greatly loved. His parents were grieved and kissing his body. Do we tell these parents there is no hope to see their son again?
No! We have the hope that there is something more than this life. And through the Old Testament we can trust that Jesus has come to us through a source that is beyond this world. We live in a mysterious universe. Do we know what’s out there?
Do we know for sure that there is no justice system in the universe? This is what the life of Christ fulfills. Justice. According to the apostle Paul’s letter to the Roman church, “the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23) Because Jesus led a sinless life, the universal justice system declared that Jesus didn’t deserve death. That’s why he was raised from the dead! And Jesus said”
“I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.” (John 11:25)
THE FAITHFUL CHURCH 