Topical Studies
What the Bible says about
Christ as Messiah
(From Forerunner Commentary)
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Isaiah 9:6-7
This revelation does little to define the Messiah in His appearance as a human to crush the ruler of this world and free humanity from the serpent's spiritual grip. However, it describes the greatness of His leadership that will be reflected in the wisdom of His works before being enthroned as the ruler of the World Tomorrow. As King of kings, He will be the Mighty God who rescues and then endlessly rules humanity in the peace it has always desired but could never achieve.
John W. Ritenbaugh
Leadership and Covenants (Part Eleven): Signs
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Zechariah 9:9
Zechariah 9:9 is a well-known prophecy, fulfilled at Christ's first coming, that contains the common theme of shouting that accompanies God's presence. In this prophecy, the shouting by the people of Zion/Jerusalem would be on account of their King coming to them, bringing salvation. Jesus Christ fulfilled this prophecy of the Messiah entering Zion on a donkey during His triumphal entry into Jerusalem (Matthew 21:1-5). Yet it was not just His riding on a donkey that was fulfilled; the detail regarding shouting also came to pass. A tremendous cry went up from the people. Whether they recognized it or not, the multitudes were announcing the presence of their King: Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying: “Hosanna to the Son of David! 'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!' Hosanna in the highest!” And when He had come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, “Who is this?” So the multitudes said, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee.” (Matthew 21:9-11) The King—the Son of David—was in the presence of the multitudes, and they were crying out—they were shouting, as was only fitting. Of course, He had been among them for three-and-a-half years, and His presence did not evoke shouting everywhere He went. His entry, however, was an extraordinary occasion to draw attention to the fact that God was present and something significant was happening. He had been among them for half a prophetic week, healing, teaching, warning, and performing signs, but now His earthly work was almost finished. He fulfilled Zechariah 9:9 by entering Jerusalem on a donkey in the lead-up to the covenant memorial of Passover. For those with eyes to see, what was happening was as plain as day: They were shouting in celebration, honor, and recognition of their King. As Zechariah prophesied, He had salvation for those who would accept Him. Hosanna, a transliterated Hebrew word, is a plea that means “save now” or “save, we pray.” The people were shouting, “Save now!” while their King entered Jerusalem with salvation. They took the words they called from Psalm 118:25-26, a Messianic psalm. Some had made the connection, but not everyone was pleased (Luke 19:37-40). As was their custom, the Pharisees were offended by Him because they felt threatened. Since they focused only on their own positions, they could not see God. Jesus answered them with a declaration that if His people failed to shout, the stones themselves would take up the cry! Part of His statement deals with the creation—whether men or stones—rightly praising Him as the Creator. Shouting was not just fitting but absolutely required on this occasion. His words about stones crying out may also refer to Habakkuk 2:11, a prophecy of woe against those who covet unlawful gain, those who feather their nests at the expense of others, something He accused the Pharisees of doing (see Matthew 23:16-26). In that verse, God says, “The stone will cry out from the wall, and the beam from the timbers will answer it.” In other words, the stones and other parts of the house would cry out as it crumbled on the occupants. In this case, Jesus' words were both a defense of the people's appropriate shouting in His honor and an allusion to destructive judgment upon a wicked house. Christ Himself foretold the people's shouting the words of Psalm 118—“Save now . . .. Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!” He uttered the prophecy during His final journey to Jerusalem (Luke 13:34-35). He was still some distance from Jerusalem when He prophesied that the city would not see Him until the citizens proclaimed the words of Psalm 118. When some of them indeed shouted, “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!” He entered Jerusalem on a donkey as their King with salvation, thus fulfilling Zechariah 9:9. Though some welcomed Him, His reception by the religious authorities was entirely hostile, and as He foretold, their house was left desolate shortly thereafter. They had searched the Scriptures after a fashion, trying to gain eternal life for themselves, but their rotten hearts would not allow them to see that the Scriptures testified of Jesus of Nazareth. In the same way, many religious Jews today observe the Day of Shouting (Yom Teruah) without acknowledging that the shouting points to the divine King, Jesus Christ. And as Jesus prophesied, they will not see Him until they proclaim, “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!”—that is, until they acknowledge Him as Messiah.
David C. Grabbe
The Shout of a King
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Matthew 16:13-23
Peter proclaims Jesus to be the Messiah, and Jesus speaks of building His church and being crucified and resurrected. This was a major step forward in the disciples' understanding, and it corrected the erroneous prophetic teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees. However, from the incident that occurs in verses 22-23, we can see that Peter—and probably the other disciples also—were not yet fully convinced of it.
Richard T. Ritenbaugh
Why the Transfiguration?
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Luke 2:11-14
The title "Christ the Lord" would probably have been said as "Messiah Adonai" in the Aramaic that these shepherds spoke. This is a not-so-subtle intimation that this newborn child was not only the promised Messiah, but also the One known as "the Lord" in the Old Testament. The angel is not merely announcing the birth of a special baby in Bethlehem but that God had been born as a human being (Matthew 1:23; John 1:14)! In verses 13-14, Luke writes: "And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!'" Here appears another BOOM! in the evangelist's narrative. Suddenly, there was not just one angel in the glory of the Lord, but a whole host of them all around the quivering shepherds. Not only were they visible, they were singing as only angels can, praising God. Their presence heightens the importance of the announcement. The angels are obviously overjoyed that this greatly anticipated event in God's plan had finally taken place. Another huge step in God's purpose had been accomplished. Note, too, that this was not just a small, heavenly choir but the heavenly host that appeared in full force. God's vast army came to add their voices to the announcement that their great Captain had just been born! The hymn they sang, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!" requires some explanation. Glory is the Greek word dóxa, which means "praise, recognition, honor, worship"—the height of reverence and adulation that we could give or say to God. "In the highest" is a somewhat controversial phrase in that, as a superlative, it could modify either "glory" or "God." Thus, it could refer to the highest glory or the highest God (or even God in the highest heaven). There is a possibility that in the Aramaic, the words the angels sang may have been "Glory to the Most High God," since that is a common title of God in the Old Testament. They also sing of peace on earth. One of Christ's titles is "The Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6), and He who had just been born would eventually bring peace on earth. He would do it first through His sacrifice, making peace between God and sinful man (Romans 5:1), and later He would return in glory, bringing peace to the earth with the sword (Revelation 19:11-21). He will have to impose peace at His second coming, but once He does, the earth will have real peace. Only through the birth of God's Son in Bethlehem could the process of bringing true peace to the earth begin. The final words in the angels' song are "goodwill toward men," a long-disputed phrase. However, most modern experts in Greek agree that the whole clause should be translated, "Peace on earth among men of His good pleasure." This implies that God was bringing peace and joy especially and specifically to those to whom He had granted favor or extended grace. During the Passover sermon Jesus gave His disciples, He says, "Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you" (John 14:27). His disciples, numbering a mere 120 (Acts 1:15), were the only ones who could really experience peace because they comprised the extent of those with whom God had found favor. Yet, within days, thousands more had been converted, and God's peace began to expand. Real peace, a fruit of God's Spirit (Galatians 5:22), can only be produced in those in whom God's Spirit dwells (Romans 8:14). Right now, members of God's church are the only people on earth who can really have godly peace on earth because "unto us a Child is born. Unto us a Son is given" (Isaiah 9:6). We are the "men of His good pleasure." Jesus tells His disciples in Luke 12:32: "Do not fear little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." We are the ones who have this favor from God. The angels' song is a declaration to us that God is with us, just as He was with Mary when He overshadowed her (Luke 1:35). As spiritual Israel and spiritual Zion, we are the apple of His eye (Deuteronomy 32:9-10; Zechariah 2:7-8), and He will do all He can to bring us to salvation and into His Kingdom. These passages mean so much more than what we usually see in a Christmas pageant, a nativity scene out on the town common, or hear in a catchy jingle. What we see in these announcements are elements of the way God works, and they should strengthen our faith in Him and what He is doing. They should solidify our hope in the resurrection because, not only did the Father bring His Son into the world just as prophesied, but He also guided Jesus through a perfect human lifetime to His sacrificial death for us all, resurrecting Him from the grave exactly three days and three nights later, as Jesus had said was the only sign of His Messiahship (John 2:18-22). That glorious Holy One ascended to heaven and now sits at the right hand of God as our High Priest. He is the Head of the church and our soon-coming King. He promises us, "I will never leave you nor forsake you" (Hebrews 13:5), as well as, "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also" (John 14:3). He now awaits the word from His Father to return to this earth to set up His Kingdom. What great confidence we can have that all this will happen as planned, and we will be part of it! As the angels sang to the shepherds in the field, "Glory to the Most High God and peace on earth among those He favors!"
Richard T. Ritenbaugh
The Birth of Jesus Christ (Part Two): Nativity
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Luke 3:21-22
No sign announcing His identity could be more clear. The long-awaited Promised Seed, Messiah, Redeemer, Savior, and Creator—all in one living, divine Being—had arrived on earth to do His work and was duly announced as no other had ever been.
John W. Ritenbaugh
Leadership and Covenants (Part Eleven): Signs
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John 6:30-31
They say, in effect, "If You are greater than Moses, then perform a sign greater than that which Moses did when he gave Israel bread from heaven." They obviously do not believe His claim to Messiahship.
John W. Ritenbaugh
Eating: How Good It Is! (Part Four)
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