JUST THINKING: The Long-Awaited Messiah

      I was just thinking about the lesson I shared with my Men’s Sunday School Class this past Sunday. It was about how Jesus met the qualifications to be Messiah as laid out in biblical prophecies. Since Christmas is upon us, I felt compelled to share some thoughts about the long-awaited Messiah.

         • Messiah had to be an Israelite. God had told Abraham that from him, through Isaac, would arise a people that would become a kingdom that would never end. Later, Abraham’s grandson, Judah, was born to Isaac and Rebekah. Here is a great prophecy regarding to Messianic King or Israel. “The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until he (Shiloh) to whom it belongs shall come and the obedience of the nations shall be his. He will tether his donkey to a vine, his colt to the choicest branch; he will wash his garments in wine, his robes in the blood of grapes. His eyes will be darker than wine, his teeth whiter than milk” (Gen. 49:1-12 NIV). Remember that the day came when God changed Judah’s name to Israel. So that established the fact that Messiah had to be an Israelite.

         • Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. It was no accident that Joseph and Mary had to travel from Nazareth to the City of David, Bethlehem, where Jesus would be born. It was prophesied by the prophet Micah. “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from old, from ancient times” (Micah 4:2). That “one” is the Everlasting One. His origins are definitely from old — from ancient times. That is why the writer of Hebrews called our Lord “the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Heb. 13:8).

       “So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he was of the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn” (Luke 2:4-7).

         • Messiah would present himself riding a donkey. The previous passage from Genesis 49 stated that Messiah would tether his donkey to a vine. Triumphant kings did not ride donkeys; they rode fine steeds or camels. But the one who is King of Kings did not ride a horse — but He will one day!

      Zechariah further prophesied about this unique description of Messiah. He wrote, “Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king domes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a colt, the foal of a donkey” (Zech. 9:9). In God’s Word, there are no coincidences — only scenes of God’s eternal plan being carried out.

      Luke records the words of Jesus, “Go to the village ahead of you, as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ tell him, ‘The Lord needs it.’ They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it” (Luke 19:30- 34).

      The response of the people lined up along the roadside emphasizes this fulfillment of Zechariah’s prophecy. “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!”

         • Jesus fulfilled the qualifying criteria to be the Messiah. One day, Christ will return to rule and reign over all the nations of the earth in His Millennial Kingdom. It will not be a coincidence; it is the plan of God. God is not just a Promise Maker; He is a Promise Keeper.