Semester 1 Theology

Semester 1 Exam Part Three. Essay. (1­2 pages) How is Jesus the crown and fulfillment of the Old Testament?

In Matthew 5:17, Jesus perfectly explains his mission in one sentence, “Don’t think I came to destroy the law, or the prophets. I didn’t come to destroy but to fulfill.” The Old Covenant of the Jews held many prophecies that a savior would come in the full power and glory of God. Naturally, they were blinded by the word ‘Glory’, and thought that this savior would be recognized by all as a heavenly king and great leader who would lead them before the Romans with all authority of the One above. Indeed, he would not be of human nature if he was to be the son of God. Therefore when Jesus came, they were shocked and angry. God wouldn’t send them a poor carpenter’s son for a leader....would He? But if they had only looked deeper into the scriptures, the true form of the Messiah would be revealed. The Messianic Prophecies of the Old Testament hold all the answers as to the divine nature and the power of the Messiah. They prophesy the life of Christ as we know it because Jesus fulfilled them during the course of his life.

1. He would exist before time. This is shown in Psalm 102­25:27. The Messiah would be eternal and his reign would be everlasting

2. God would come down in human form according to Jeremiah 23­5:6 where he would be both God and man.

3. The Only Son of God. God would have a son(Proverbs 30:4) and the Messiah would be the son of God(Psalm 2:7)

4. Through Genealogy. In Genesis 9:26, The Messiah would be a descendent of Shem, Abraham(Gen 12:1­3), Isaac(Genesis 17:19), Jacob(Gen 28:14), Judah(Gen 49:10), Boaz and Ruth(Ruth 4:12­17), Jesse(Isaiah 11:1), David(2 Samuel 7:12­13) and David’s son Nathan(2 Samuel 7:16)...

His coming was also prophesied by Daniel who predicted the Messiah's birth 5 centuries before it came to pass. The Old Testament also calls to mind the characteristics of the Savior. In the book of Deuteronomy, He would be a prophet like Moses. He would be a priest and King according to Zechariah 6:12­13. He would come in the spirit of Elijah, He would become the Prince of Peace and the Wonderful Counselor(Isaiah). All these things came to pass in the 33 years of Christ’s life. He spoke with a message of Grace(Psalm 45:2) in Luke 4:22 when the people all spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words which came from his lips. On the road to Emmaus, Jesus goes over the scriptures with the two disciples therefore displaying his knowledge and wisdom of the Word of God.

Jesus was sent into the World to fulfill all these things which had puzzled the Jews for centuries. He gave his life for their wellbeing. In the end some realized this. When they said, “He saved others, why can’t he save himself?” they were admitting that they thought he was the son of God but did not want to believe it. They got rid of him because they were afraid that this man was the Messiah. A man like themselves was not what they figured the Messiah would be. They were only thinking of a heavenly king that would save them from all the worry and problems of their earthly life. Even today, the Jews look forward to the coming of their messiah, even though Jesus fulfilled his work on Earth, was killed, and rose again to be one with the Father as the scriptures foretold.

In conclusion, I would like to bring to mind a few verses from Luke Chapter 4 in which the devil is tempting Jesus in the desert to go against the will of God. And the devil said to him: ‘If you are the son of God, say to this stone that it be made of bread. And Jesus answered: It is written, that Man liveth not by bread alone but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.

Jesus is implying that He was brought to earth because of the word of God, that he might fulfill it. Jesus is indeed the crown and fulfillment of the Old Testament in that he fulfilled every prophecy and every charge made about him.