…when he predicted the sufferings of the Messiah …
The suffering of the Messiah is the pivotal event in all human history. Without a willing Messiah, humanity would have eventually burned itself up. In the final analysis, after all the souls were counted, God would not have had much to show for his trouble. The rest of us would have ended up in the eternal garbage bin, languishing forever in the vacuum of rejection we had crafted for ourselves.
But that is not how it played out. Instead, the God who created us became our savior. More than that, our salvation was not an impulsive gambit. It was not a last-minute effort to save the day. Instead, our God knew from the very beginning that a savior would be needed. (See Genesis 3: 14-15) He also knew who that savior would be, and the point in history when salvation needed to occur.
It is interesting now that I think about it. I wonder if the moment of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross was timed to meet a certain need? Was there some reason it had to be when it was? Was the moment Jesus died on the cross literally the pivotal point in human history, like the fulcrum of an old fashioned seesaw?
We may never know the answer to the question of why the crucifixion happened when it did, but God has explained why it needed to happen. Jesus tells us that he came to give his life as a ransom for many. (Matthew 20: 28) We also know something that the prophets themselves did not know. We know when Jesus was to come to earth and suffer for our sins.
They say that hindsight is 20/20, so maybe it is not fair to claim that we know when Jesus came, but we do. And that is what the prophets wanted to know: When? God provided the clues that something was going to happen. Would knowing “when” have changed anything for the prophets? Not if it happened after their lifetime. Yet they wanted to know. They desperately wanted to know. And now we do.
Application: Cherish our place in history and how much we can know that generations before us could only wonder about.
Food for Thought: Why was it important for God to foretell the coming Messiah?
It was important for Him to foretell of the coming messiah for at least three reasons. First, it served as proof that He is the God who stands outside of time who knows all. Second, it reveals His desire to be in relationship as He communicates truth to those created in His image. Third, it protected us from false messiahs as He gave specific information so we could clearly identify the true messiah based on His perfect word.
Rich,
Excellent synopsis of why prophecy is important. Thank you!!
2 Peter 1:20-21—Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, through human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
All God’s people have always come to Him in faith. We have trusted in all He is and seek to humbly obey His will in all we do. God cares for us so much He took the time to tell all sinners, I will not condemn you to and eternity dominated by sin ( separated from God ), I will limit your time on earth and provide a way out. ( Genesis 3;15-24 ).
Abram believed the LORD, and it was credited to him as righteousness. ( Genesis 15:6 ).
The Scripture was fulfilled which says, “And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness,” and he was called the friend of God ( James 2:23 ).
By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in godly fear built an ark to save his family. By faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith ( Hebrews 11:7 ).
The people of the O.T. were made righteous by faith in the coming Messiah, we are saved by the Messiah who has come and given Himself for our sins, we find strength and comfort knowing He will come again as God has instructed the writers of the Bible to record for our benefit.
Ron,
You have presented an interesting perspective. Not only did God know when the Messiah would appear, but those who lived by faith knew that the Messiah was coming. Their faith in Him is really no different than our faith in Him.
Job 19:25 comes to mind: “I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth.“
👍🏻