This passage is filled with amazing prophecies of both Jesus first and second comings to earth.
The question that struck me is - would there have been any way for the Jews of that time to realize that these prophecies spoke of Christ's first and second coming?
We have the benefit of seeing this from hindsight. We know that Jesus was born, grew up, ministered to people for 3 years and then was crucified and rose from the dead again, returning to heaven until the unknown but certain day of His second return.
But they didn't.
And I wonder. Who would I have believed Jesus to be if I had lived when He came the first time?
Because His coming did not fulfill all of the prophecies - some are yet to be fulfilled.
Consider Zechariah 9:9 and 10
Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. I will take away the chariots from Ephraim and the war-horses from Jerusalem, and the battle bow will be broken. He will proclaim peace to the nations. His rule will extend from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth.
Verse 9 was obviously fulfilled with the triumphal entry of Jesus riding into Jerusalem (Matthew 21:1-11). But Verse 10 has yet to be fulfilled.
Were those who didn't believe that Jesus was the Christ skeptical/unbelieving because they were expecting all the prophecies to be fulfilled at once? A possibility that's for sure.
We have the gift of the Holy Spirit (promised in Zechariah 12:10 and fulfilled at Pentecost), we have the benefit of both the Old Testament and New Testament.
We are without excuse.
What will we do with these blessings? Give the Word a cursory glance now and again, or worse yet, leave it on the shelf collecting dust? Ignore the Spirit's nudges in our hearts?
With greater knowledge comes greater responsibility. Let us not abuse the amazing priviledge we have been given.
One thing is certain, just as the prophesies of Christ's birth have been fulfilled, so will the prophecies of His second coming be fulfilled. We do not know the timing, and so we need to be prepared - in obedience and spiritual readiness.
Come Lord Jesus!
Tomorrow's passage: Ezra 6:14-22, Ezra 4:6, Esther 1-4
2 comments:
Amen!
I wonder about that, too. There are so many prophecies that speak of freedom and national restoration, that it doesn't surprise me, in a way, that the majority of the Jews didn't believe Jesus was the Messiah. He didn't deliver them the way they'd understood the prophecies foretelling it.
But even now, there is so much disagreement as to who and what the term "Israel" refers to in this New Testament age, and I'm beginning to wonder if we're missing the point. Whether the Israel mentioned in the New Testament is literally the nation of Israel or whether it's a play on the meaning of the name and indicates all who are God's children, I sometimes think our focus needs to rather be on SIMPLY BEING READY. On studying the Word of God and getting to know God, so that, even if we don't ever fully understand Him (and we won't in this life), that we will recognize when He does do what He says He will do.
Because He will. And how sad it will be for those who've been so caught up in their differences that they miss the fulfillment altogether.
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