Foundations of Messianic Prophecy -Part 01

Chris Rodriguez: Shalom, and welcome to Messianic Perspectives, a daily program where we look into the scriptures from a distinctive first-century Jewish point of view. Today our Bible teacher, Steven Gaer, begins his six-part series on the foundations of Messianic Prophecy. Steven is a longtime friend of ours and has his own organization, Sojourner Ministries, dedicated to exploring the Jewish heart of Christianity. Steven also currently serves as teaching pastor at Messianic Congregation, Beth Sar Shalom in Plano, Texas. This is Chris Rodriguez, and I'll have some important information for you at the end of our program, so be sure to have a pencil and paper ready. And now, with today's teaching, here's Steven Gaer.
Steven Gaer: Shalom. This is Steven Gaer. And today, we're going to begin a rather lengthy series, but a very important series, on Messianic Prophecy. And not just looking at the Messianic prophecies, but discussing not only the Christian views of the prophecies, but contrasting and comparing with rabbinic views of the Messianic prophecies, and looking at interpretations of the prophecies and the great Messianic expectation that the Jewish people have had for their entire history. The first thing I want to talk to you about is just why Messianic Prophecy matters. You don't hear very much about Messianic Prophecy anymore, and some people may have forgotten just why it is so critical and important for believers to have a great grasp on. You see, there's a great theme that flows from one end of the Hebrew Scriptures to the other, and that theme is of Messianic Promise. You see, the Messianic hope has left an indelible impression on the Jewish people throughout their entire history, and in particular for over the past 2,000 years. The heart-rending cry of a people for Melech Messiah, for King Messiah, to finally arrive, has been as heartfelt and as heart-rending as their 19th-century long hope of eventual return to the holy city of Jerusalem. The plea for a God-sent deliverer to ease their national pain, to relieve their suffering, to restore justice to a morally and ethically upside-down world, to once again restore the Jewish people to their homeland, to grant peace and security, to punish evildoers, to answer all the unanswered questions that have accumulated over two millennia famously awaits fulfillment only when Messiah comes. The first area of importance I want to discuss has to do with the centrality of Messianic Prophecy to the New Testament. You see, Messianic Prophecy is a fundamental area of study for any committed student of scripture. Jesus, Yeshua, made his entry into human history at the very moment when the Jewish community's Messianic expectations were vigorous and Messianic concepts were robust. The Roman occupation of Israel, following immediately upon a century of self-government under the Hellenized Hasmonean priest-kings, well, that had galvanized the Jewish imagination. The Messianic flame blazed brightly. And it's only within this theological, historical, sociological, and cultural context that someone can fully appreciate the New Testament accounts of Jesus' entrance onto the Jewish stage. You see, the testimony of the New Testament is vividly clear that Jesus, that Yeshua, is the fulfillment of Jewish Messianic expectation, oh, and then some. Although, honestly, he shattered the confines of pre-existing descriptive categories, the Messiah whom God sent to his people, well, he turned out to be much more spectacular figure than anyone had previously imagined. As a matter of fact, there was a lot of confusion in the New Testament era over exactly how the numerous and the varied Messianic prophecies that are studded throughout the Old Testament correlated together. Yet, time and again, throughout the New Testament, it is Messianic Prophecy that becomes the razor-sharp instrument through which the Gospel is both proclaimed and explained. Let me give you an example. In Luke 24, verses 25, 26, 27, Jesus said to them, "O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken. Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into his glory?" Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, he explained to them the things concerning himself in all the scriptures. I want you to notice in that passage that it doesn't say beginning with Moses and a prophet, beginning with Moses and a few of the prophets, beginning with Moses and most of the prophets, it says all the prophets. And notice that it doesn't say some of the scriptures, a few of the scriptures, select of scriptures, it says all the scriptures. And then Luke 24, verse 44, about 20 verses ahead, Jesus continues. And he says, "These are my words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things, again, not some things, not a few things, not a couple of things, but all things which are written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled." Then of course, there's the famous passage of Philip with the Ethiopian Eunuch in Acts chapter 8, and I'll just quote you one verse just to make my point. Acts chapter 8, verse 35. Philip speaking to the Ethiopian Eunuch, who asked who Isaiah was speaking of, himself or another. And Philip opened his mouth and beginning from this scripture, he preached Jesus to him. So, not just the one scripture that the Ethiopian Eunuch was reading, but from this scripture, beginning from this scripture, he preached Jesus. So, there was a variety to choose from. Well, let's not neglect Paul. Paul makes this point as well in the book of Acts, Acts chapter 17, verses 2 and 3. And it reads as follows, "And according to Paul's custom, he went to them." That's to the Jewish people in the synagogues. "And for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the scriptures." "Explaining and giving evidence that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead and saying this Jesus whom I am proclaiming to you is the Christ, is the Messiah." So, if there aren't a tremendous number of scriptures of Messianic prophecies that point to the Messiah that will take development to discuss, what was Paul talking about for three Sabbaths? It would have been a very short conversation indeed, unless he had a plethora of material from which to draw. And in the next chapter, Acts chapter 18, verses 27 and 28, it reads as follows: "And when he wanted to go across to Achaia, the brethren encouraged him and wrote to the disciples to welcome him, and when he had arrived, he greatly helped those who had believed through grace." That's the context, here's the important verse: "For he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, demonstrating by the scriptures that Jesus was the Christ, that Yeshua was indeed the Messiah." Again, not much of an argument if there's only a couple of Messianic prophecies, but there are scads of them. Of course, we're going to see them explained and developed. We'll look at them in depth and in detail in weeks to come. But now I want to move from the centrality of Messianic Prophecy in the New Testament to the centrality of Messianic Prophecy in Judaism itself. What was the Jewish expectation of the Messiah? Contrary to what many understand, throughout Jewish history, there has always been a variety of Messianic expectation. In particular, at the time of Jesus, at the time of Second Temple Judaism, there was no monolithic single perception concerning the coming Messiah. The Messianic ideal in the first century was by no means static and fixed. It was still very much in flux and development. The anticipated Messianic figures ran the gamut from King to Priest, to Prophet, and back again, and include multiple combinations of all three. And within this state of flux, the scope of Messianic expectation stretched over a broad range of possibilities. Let's explore a couple of those. There existed the portrait of Messiah as the idealized Davidic King, who would be God's conquering warrior, vanquishing nations and establishing the supremacy, the primacy of Israel. There was the portrait of the Messiah as an ultimate priestly leader who would die on behalf of his people. There was an imaginative dual rendering of two separate but related Messiahs. One Messiah, Messiah ben Yosef, Messiah Ben Joseph, the son of Joseph, who was destined to die. And the other, Messiah ben David, Messiah son of David, who was destined to conquer. And then there was the mysterious and enigmatic superhuman figure, mystically elevated to a semi-divine status. And finally, there's even indication in certain limited circles that there was no specific Messianic hope at all. I'll tell you, Judaism as a faith system during the time of Jesus existed as not one mighty current of doctrine and one current of belief, but as diverse faith streams dependent upon the influence and authority of various sects, parties, rabbis, and traditions. It's accurate not to think in terms of a single Judaism, but rather various Judaisms, plural, being in existence at the time of the Gospel. These faith streams of Judaism converged at the time of the Gospel, and we're going to talk about that more in our next session. Until then, I'm afraid I'm going to have to leave you in suspense. This is Steven Gaer. I'll see you next time.
Chris Rodriguez: Thank you, Steve. If you missed part of this series or would like to share it with a friend, you'll be glad to know that it's available on one convenient compact disc for the suggested gift of just $6. Just point your web browser to our online store at MessianicSpecialties.com and search for Foundations and place your order with our secure server. If you'd prefer ordering by phone, just call our toll-free order line at 1-800-926-5397 and our operator will be glad to assist you. That number again is 1-800-926-5397. Of course, you can still order by mail. Just address your request to Messianic Perspectives, P.O. Box 345, San Antonio, Texas 78215. And as always, when you're in touch with us, whether it's through the mail or by phone or even on the internet, if you would please, mention the call letters of this station. If you listen to our program by logging onto our webcast on Oneplace.com, we'd like to know that too. This is Chris Rodriguez. Join us tomorrow for another edition of Foundations of Messianic Prophecy, right here on Messianic Perspectives. Messianic Perspectives is heard Monday through Friday at this same time, right here on this fine station. This program is sponsored by CJF Ministries in San Antonio, Texas, and is made possible on this station by the freewill contribution of our listeners in this area.