01.05. V. Prophecies Describing Messianic Offices

V. PROPHECIES DESCRIBING THE MESSIANIC OFFICES OF CHRIST Christ, the Anointed One

Both the words "Christ" (Greek) and "Messiah" (Hebrew) mean the Anointed One.* Since the Fall of man, and consequent separation from God (Romans 5:12), mankind has needed a Mediator, a Redeemer who can fill Man’s three basic needs. (*For examples of the use of "anointed" in the Old Testament, see Leviticus 4:3-5; Psalms 2:2; Daniel 9:25-26; 1 Samuel 2:10, etc. The word "anointed" occurs most frequently in Leviticus, 1 and 2 Samuel and in Psalms. The term "Messiah" (anointed) is applied to the high priest (Leviticus 4:3-5, Leviticus 4:16; Leviticus 6:22), who was a type-picture of Christ our High Priest. It occurs 18 times in 1 and 2 Samuel, but not always with Messianic connotation. It is found ten times in the book of Psalms, but again, not always with Messianic import. Psalms 2:2; Psalms 20:6; Psalms 28:8; Psalms 84:9; Psalms 89:51; Psalms 132:10, Psalms 132:17; we believe are Messianic. Psalms 2:2 and Daniel 9:25-26 are the outstanding passages that refer to the coming Messiah.)

(1) Sin left man guilty, lost, separated from God; hence, he needs forgiveness of sin, a restoration of a righteous character, and restoration to Divine fellowship. For this man needs a Priest. (2) Sin left man in spiritual darkness, ignorant of God; because of this, man needs a knowledge of the Word, Will and Ways of God: so, man needs a Prophet. (3) Sin, which is rebellion against God’s government, left man with a rebellious nature that expresses itself also in antagonism to his fellowmen. Since man is a social creature, a unit in society, he needs authoritative governmental supervision. Hence, he needs a King. In Old Testament times, God provided these basic needs of mankind through His chosen prophets, priests and kings. But all human instruments come short and fail-so God planned from the beginning that He would provide the perfect Prophet, Priest and King for mankind in the perfect One, His only begotten Son. In Old Testament times these three classes of public servants-prophets, priests and kings-were consecrated to office by an anointing with oil; prophets (see 1 Kings 19:16), priests (Leviticus 8:12; Exodus 29:21), kings (1 Samuel 10:1; 1 Samuel 16:12-13).

(1) CHRIST AS PROPHET The Old Testament prophet represented God to the nation and he gave His words. His message, to the people. When Messiah came, He would represent God perfectly and completely in Person, as well as in words, to Israel and to the world. When Jesus came He proved to be God’s perfect Prophet:

"No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared (revealed, manifested) Him" (John 1:18).

"He that hath seen Me hath seen the Father. Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself, but the Father that dwelleth in Me, He doeth the works" (John 14:9-10), As Prophet, the coming Messiah would be "like Moses":

"I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee (Moses), and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I have commanded him.

"And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which He shall speak in my name, I will require it of him" (Deuteronomy 18:15-19).

Moses was a remarkable character, and he was chosen above all other prophets, to set forth in type the prophetic ministry of the coming Messiah. In these outstanding points Christ was a Prophet "like unto Moses": Moses was a LAW GIVER, a LEADER, a KING (Captain), a DELIVERER; PROPHET (God’s spokesman), and an INTERCESSOR for the people, with whom God spake face to face; so there arose not in Israel a prophet, like Moses (cf. Deuteronomy 34:10-12; Numbers 12:6-8). He was the only man in Jewish history who exercised the functions of Prophet, Priest and King in one ministry.

How right the people were (John 6:14) who, when they Had seen the miracle of Jesus’ feeding the five thousand from a few loaves and fishes, said:

"This is of a truth that PROPHET that should come into the world". That prophet is also referred to in John 1:21.

Though Moses was great, Christ was infinitely greater. Moses as a "servant" was faithful; Christ as the "SON" was the perfect and omniscient PROPHET (cf. Hebrews 3:5-6) who was ever faithful to Him who appointed Him. (Hebrews 3:2) Peter summed up his sermon in the temple by these words:

"For Moses truly said unto the fathers, a prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; Him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever He shall say unto you, and it shall come to pass that every soul which will not hear that Prophet shall be destroyed from among the people" (Acts 3:22-23).

Other references are made in both Testaments to the prophetic ministry of Christ. Both Isaiah 61:1 and Luke 4:18 refer to Christ’s prophetic ministry, and both passages use the same words:

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He hath anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He hath sent Me to heal the broke hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives," etc.

(2) CHRIST AS PRIEST The Old Testament Priest, chosen by God, represented the people to God and offered sacrifices for their sins. He also had a ministry of compassion for the "ignorant and erring" (see Hebrews 5:1-4). This priesthood, of which Aaron was the first high priest, was imperfect, for the priests were sinners themselves and so they had first of all to offer sacrifice for their own sins, and then for the sins of the people (Hebrews 5:3; Hebrews 7:26; Hebrews 9:7). Moreover, their priesthood was short-lived; it was frequently interrupted by death (Hebrews 7:23). Furthermore, the offerings they offered were merely types, for "it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins" (Hebrews 10:4). But in CHRIST, God’s appointed High Priest, we have not only the perfect High Priest who lieveth forever, but He gave HIMSELF for our sins, the perfect offering, the once-for-all, complete atonement for the sins of the race!

"For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; who needeth not daily, as those high priests (of the old covenant), to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people’s: for this He did ONCE when He offered up HIMSELF.

"For the law maketh high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the SON (our High Priest), who is consecrated for evermore" (Hebrews 7:26-28). See also Hebrews 9:11-14; Hebrews 9:25-26). So by that one perfect Offering on the cross, Christ "perfected forever" them that are saved through faith in Him. (See Hebrews 10:10-14; Hebrews 9:25-28; Hebrews 7:23-28). Most of the book of Hebrews is devoted to the fact that in Christ Jesus God has given us His perfect HIGH PRIEST, who offered the perfect offering to atone for the sins of the race, and thereby give eternal life to all who accept Him as their Substitute and Saviour. Messiah gave both His body and His soul as an offering for sin and sinners (Isaiah 53:5, Isaiah 53:10)* (*In a sense, Messiah was anointed to be as a leper when He bore the sins of the world. He was truly "made sin" for us (2 Corinthians 5:21). Isaiah 53:4 intimates this. The AV reads, "We did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, afflicted." Jerome translates the first phrase, "We thought Him a leper." The word "stricken" was often used of the plague of leprosy; David Baron says of Isaiah 53:4, " ’Stricken, smitten of God, afflicted’ "-every one of these three expressions was used of the plague of leprosy; and the phrases are intended to describe one suffering a terrible punishment for sin." In Messiah’s case it was for OUR sins, not His own, that He suffered so. Marvelous Grace, that Christ actually was willing to become as a LEPER for us! In this connection, it is of more than passing interest to note that the leper who was to be "cleansed" in Old Testament times, was ANOINTED (Leviticus 15:15-20). So, one might conclude that Christ, the Anointed of God, was not only anointed to be God’s Prophet, Priest and King, but He also had an "anointing" to be the Sin-offering, and He literally became SIN ("the leprous One") for us. For such grace, such love, every believer will be eternally grateful.)

Though the Aaronic priesthood presented to the people continuously their need of atonement for their sins, and that remission of sins could only be obtained through the shedding of blood (see Hebrews 9:22), the one person chosen to picture Messiah’s ETERNAL priesthood was not Aaron, but Melchisdeck (see Heb. 5, 6, 7; Psalms 110:4). Melchisdeck as a type of Christ presents His eternal, unchanging priesthood (Hebrews 7:3, "He abideth a priest continually.") (3) CHRIST AS KING "Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion" (Psalms 2:6).

Since man is not only an individual, but a social unit, he needs a KING (Government) to supervise his community life. So God, who first ruled the people of Israel through the patriarchs, later through "captains" (leaders, like Moses and Joshua), and later yet through "judges," finally consented to give them KINGS. In God’s Messiah we have the perfect King-the "King of kings and the Lord of lords" who will have a wholly righteous, beneficent reign.

"Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. . . . and this is His name whereby He shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS" (Jeremiah 23:5-6). "And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him (Messiah), and. with righteousness shall He judge..." (Isaiah 11:2-5). See also Zechariah 9:9; 1 Chronicles 17:11-14; 2 Samuel 7:12-17; 2 Samuel 23:1-8; Numbers 24:17, etc.

God selected three great men to picture the work of Messiah as Prophet, Priest and King. Moses as prophet, Melchizedeck as priest, and David as king. The ’term "Messiah" is found eighteen times in the book of Samuel, the book giving the life of David. Hannah, the mother of Samuel, has the honor of being the first one to use the word "Messiah" as referring to the Coming One; and it refers to Christ as God’s anointed King.

"The Lord shall give strength unto His King, and exalt the horn of His anointed" (1 Samuel 2:10). The coming of Messiah as King usually refers to His second advent, when He will establish His kingdom reign of righteousness. (See Isaiah 11:1-9; Micah 4:1-5, etc.).

Many Psalms speak of Messiah as the coming King. (See Psalm 2, Psalm 45, Psalm 47, Psalm 72, etc.). In Psalm 2 we see the coronation of Messiah as King on Mount Zion (Psalms 2:6), and His inheritance of the heathen nations (Psalms 2:8). In Psalm 45 we see the majesty and beauty of the King, and His glorious Bride. In Psalm 47 we see Messiah as GOD, and His coronation as King of the earth (Psalms 47:2, Psalms 47:7).

Psalm 72 gives us the most complete picture in the book of Psalms of Messiah’s coming kingdom and His reign of righteousness:

(7)    Perfect Praise of the Lord God during Messiah the King’s Reign (Psalms 72:18-19)* (*Messiah is also presented as the Priest-King: "A Priest on His throne." The message to Joshua in Zechariah 6:13 certainly looks beyond Joshua to the Messiah, for there are statements in the passage that can be fulfilled only in One greater than man.

"Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying. Behold the man whose name is the Branch"-so identifying the message definitely as being Messianic-"He shall grow out of His place"-having a natural yet supernatural growth as a child (cf. Isaiah 53:2)-"and He shall build the temple of the Lord"-which Christ is doing even now (Ephesians 2:21-22)-"and He shall bear the glory"-the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth (John 1:14)-"and shall sit and rule upon His throne"- as King and Priest, even as Melchisedeck (Psalms 110:4)-"and the counsel of peace shall be between them both"-as King Messiah will bring peace (Psalms 72:7; Psalms 46:9), and as Priest He will bring peace through the blood of His cross (Colossians 1:20; Ephesians 1:7). In Jeremiah 30:21 is another remarkable Messianic passage, giving a similar testimony. Messiah will be the King-Priest: He will "rule" the people, and He will "draw near and approach unto God" as the perfect MEDIATOR (cf. 1 Timothy 2:5).

Turning to the New Testament we see that the "Lion of the Tribe of Judah, the root of David" (Revelation 5:5)-Christ as King-is also the One who hath "an unchangeable priesthood" (Hebrews 7:24-28). The New Testament Witness that Jesus is the Christ, the Anointed of God In the New Testament, Jesus the Christ is clearly set forth as God’s anointed Prophet (John 17:8) who gives His people God’s words, God’s anointed Priest, who "through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, to purge your conscience. . . ." (Hebrews 9:14), and as God’s coming "King of kings and Lord of lords" (Revelation 19:16). In Hebrews 1:9 Christ is seen as the anointed of God:

"Thou hast loved righteousness and hated iniquity, therefore God, even thy God, hath ANOINTED thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows."

We have referred before to Luke 4:18 where Christ said He was the One "anointed to preach the gospel to the poor" that Isaiah had spoken about (Isaiah 61:1). In Revelation 1:5 Jesus is presented as Prophet, Priest and King:

"And from Jesus Christ who is the faithful witness (Prophet), and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth (King). Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood (Priest)." And also in Hebrews 1:1-3 Christ is presented as Prophet, Priest and King:

"God .... hath in these last days spoken unto us in His Son (Prophet) who, when He had by Himself purged our sins (Priest), sat down (as King) on the right hand of the Majesty on high."

"BEHOLD" ... "GOD’S BRANCH"

Other Bible teachers have called attention to the remarkable fourfold use of the Messianic name "the BRANCH" in the Old Testament, and the frequent use of "Behold," in connection with God’s Messiah, the Branch. "Behold" is used as God’s "Ecce Homo" in the Old Testament. Taken together (the "Beholds" with "the Branch") they present a beautiful summary of the CHRIST of the four Gospels. Here is the fourfold use of "the Branch" and "Behold" as used of Messiah in the Old Testament.

(1)    As KING

"Behold the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous BRANCH, and a KING shall reign and prosper" (Jeremiah 23:5-6).

"BEHOLD-thy KING cometh" (Zechariah 9:9). This corresponds to the Gospel of MATTHEW, where Christ is presented as KING.

(2)As SERVANT OF THE LORD "BEHOLD, I will bring forth My Servant the BRANCH" (Zechariah 3:8). This corresponds to the Gospel of MARK, where Christ is presented as the SERVANT OF THE LORD.

(3)    As SON OF MAN

"Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying, BEHOLD the MAN whose name is the BRANCH" (Zechariah 6:12; Zechariah 6:13). This corresponds to the Gospel of LUKE, where Christ is pre­sented as the ideal and the representative MAN.

(4)    As the SON OF GOD

"BEHOLD your God" (Isaiah 40:9). "In that day shall the BRANCH of the LORD be beautiful and glorious" (Isaiah 4:2). This corresponds to the Gospel of JOHN, where Christ is pre­sented as the SON OF GOD-yes. GOD HIMSELF in the flesh.

These four uses of "the BRANCH" are the only four instances in the Hebrew Scriptures (except Jeremiah 33:16, which is a repetition of the thought in Jeremiah 23:5-6) where Messiah is designated by the title "The Branch." Several times Messiah is introduced in the Old Testament by the word "Behold"-as though to call special attention to HIM.* (*Professor Godet says, "Just as a gifted painter, who wished to immortalize for a family the complete likeness of the illustrious father, would avoid any attempt in combining in a single portrait the insignia of all the various offices he had filled by representing him in the same picture as general and magistrate, as a man of science and as a father of a family; but would prefer to paint four distinct portraits. So the Holy Spirit, to preserve for mankind the perfect likeness of Him who was its chosen representative. God in man, used means to impress upon the minds of the writers of the Gospels, four different images."

ALL of these four accounts of the life of Christ present Him as the MESSIAH-God’s perfect Prophet, Priest, King and Son of God-yet each has a different emphasis. In Matthew He is KING; in Mark He is the SERVANT OF JEHOVAH; in Luke He is the SON OF MAN; and in John He is the SON OF GOD.) OTHER NAMES OF MESSIAH IN THE OLD TESTAMENT There are scores of names of Messiah in the Old Testament; we mention but a few.

"The Servant of the Lord" In Isaiah, Messiah is frequently called "The Servant of the Lord," or "My Servant." (See Isaiah 42:1; Isaiah 52:13, etc.). As the "Servant of the Lord (Jehovah)" He is the exponent of righteousness and true humility, the teacher and Redeemer of mankind. He fulfills all God’s desires: hence. He is: The Second Adam-the Perfect Man The Second Israel-the Perfect Servant The Second Moses-the Perfect Prophet The Second David-the Perfect King The Second High Priest-the Perfect Priest The growing purposes of God toward the whole human race, which were manifested in the creation of Adam, the election of Israel, the raising up of Moses, the appointment of Aaron, and the call of David are "brought to their full completion by, in and through Christ" (Delitzsch). The "Shepherd"

Isaiah sees Messiah as "the Servant of the Lord"; Ezekiel sees Him as "the Shepherd of Israel" (see Ezekiel 34:23 and Ezekiel 37:24, where "David" is used as a name of Messiah. "David" means "beloved").

Christ, the truly Beloved of the Father, took both the name and the character of the true Shepherd. (See John 10).

More Names and Titles of Messiah

Messiah is frequently called "the Angel of the Lord"-the Messenger of the Lord. (See Judges 2:1; Judges 6:12-13, Judges 6:21-22). He is also "the Stone" or "the Rock" (Isaiah 8:14); "the Comer" (Isaiah 28:16); "Nail" (Isaiah 22:21-25); "Battle Bow" (Zechariah 10:4); "Shiloh" (Genesis 49:10); "Star" (Numbers 24:17), etc. The Name "JESUS" in the Old Testament In an enlightening study: "YESHUA IN THE TENACH" (The Name JESUS in the Old Testament), Arthur E. Glass points out the amazing fact that the name JESUS is actually hidden in the Old Testament, and "is found about one hun­dred times from Genesis to Habakkuk." "Every time the Old Testament uses the word SALVATION (especially with the Hebrew suffix meaning ’my’, ’thy,’ or ’His,’ with very few exceptions (when the word is used in an impersonal sense) it is identically the same word as YESHUA (Jesus) used in Matthew 1:21," says Mr. Glass. He continues: "This is actually what the angel said to Joseph:

" ’And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call His name YESHUA (SALVATION), for He shall-save His people from their sins.’ "

Let us see how it works out in a few Old Testament passages. In Psalms 9:14 David says, "I will rejoice in thy salvation." What he actually said was, "I will rejoice in thy YESHUA (Jesus)." And in Isaiah 12:2-3, we have something truly wonderful. SALVATION is mentioned three times, presenting three great facets of Jesus and His Salvation. We give them (quoting Glass) as they read in the Hebrew, with Jesus as the embodiment and the personification of the word Salvation:

"Behold, mighty One (or God the Mighty One) is my YESHUA (a reference to Jesus in His pre-incarnation eternal existence, cf. John 1:1); I will trust and not be afraid; for JAH-JEHOVAH is my strength and my song: He also is become my YESHUA (Jesus, the Word made flesh; John 1:14). Therefore, with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of YESHUA (Jesus crucified, waters of salvation flowing from Calvary, cf. John 7:37-39).