“Jesus was teaching His disciples and telling them, “The Son of Man is to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill Him; and when He has BEEN KILLED, He will RISE THREE DAYS LATER.” But they DID NOT UNDERSTAND this statement, and they were afraid to ask Him.” (Mark 9:31-32) They, as all the Jewish people were NOT TAUGHT about a SUFFERING MESSIAH (How can God the son be killed?). During the prophetic period of Israel’s history, THE JEWISH PEOPLE, IN THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF HIS FIRST COMING (to them has not happened yet), WERE TAUGHT THAT GOD WOULD.
- RAISE UP A REDEEMER: from the seed of David, “For a child will be born to us, a Son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, PRINCE OF PEACE. There will be NO END TO THE INCREASE OF HIS GOVERNMENT or of peace, On the throne of David and over His kingdom, To establish it and to UPHOLD IT WITH JUSTICE AND RIGHTEOUSNESS From then on and FOREVERMORE.” (Isaiah 9:6-7) THIS REDEEMER WOULD,
- BRING PHYSICAL DELIVERANCE: from their Gentile enemies, “The Spirit of the LORD WILL REST ON HIM, The spirit of wisdom and understanding, The spirit of counsel and strength, The spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD. And He will STRIKE THE EARTH with the rod of His mouth, And with the breath of His lips He will SLAY THE WICKED.” (Isaiah 11:2-4)
All of the above will happen at His SECOND COMING, THIS IS CHRIST’S FIRST COMING, “He was despised and forsaken of men, A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; And like one from whom men hide their face HE WAS DESPISED, and WE DID NOT ESTEEM HIM. Surely our griefs He Himself bore, And our sorrows He carried; Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, Smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was WOUNDED FOR OUR TRANSGRESSIONS, He was BRUISED FOR OUR INIQUITIES; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by HIS STRIPES WE ARE HEALED. All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the LORD HAS LAID ON HIM THE INIQUITY OF US ALL.” (Isaiah 53:3-6) A WAY HAD TO BE MADE TO PAY FOR OUR SINS!!! Jesus said this about Himself, “For I tell you that this which is written must be FULFILLED IN ME, ‘AND HE WAS NUMBERED WITH TRANSGRESSORS‘; for that which refers to Me has its fulfillment.” (Luke 22:37)
The Jews in Israel are STILL LOOKING for the first coming of Christ, they have been deceived (that is why they will accept the anti-christ)! That is why they cried out about Jesus, “Pilate said to them, “What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” THEY (the Jews) ALL SAID TO HIM, “LET HIM BE CRUCIFIED!” (Matthew 27:22)
Your personal Pastor -Bill Stockham