Christ’s first coming

Every lamb offered was a prophecy. Every sanctuary rite pointed forward to the Messiah. The morning and evening sacrifices were daily reminders. The Old Testament is saturated with the pattern of proclaiming the soon coming Savior.

In addition to those often repeated spiritual principles, there were more specific events and characteristics recorded. Some of them are listed below with their Old Testament references and New Testament fulfillments.

born of a woman (Genesis 3:15; Matthew 1:20; Galatians 4:4)

born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2; Matthew 2:1; Luke 2:4-6)

born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:22-23; Luke 1:26-31)

descendant of Abraham (Genesis 12:3; Genesis 22:18; Matthew 1:1; Romans 9:5)

descendant of Isaac (Genesis 17:19; Genesis 21:12; Luke 3:34)

descendant of Jacob (Numbers 24:17; Matthew 1:2)

from tribe of Judah (Genesis 49:10; Luke 3:33; Hebrews 7:14)

heir to David’s throne (2 Samuel 7:12-13; Isaiah 9:7; Luke 1:32-33; Romans 1:3)

throne anointed and eternal (Psalm 45:6-7; Daniel 2:44; Luke 1:33; Hebrews 1:8-12)

called Immanuel (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23)

called from Egypt (Hosea 11:1; Matthew 2:14-15)

massacre of children at birthplace (Jeremiah 31:15; Matthew 2:16-18)

messenger prepares the way (Isaiah 40:3-5; Luke 3:3-6)

preceded by a forerunner (Malachi 3:1; Matthew 11:10)

rejected by his own people (Psalm 69:8; Isaiah 53:3; John 1:11; John 7:5)

a prophet (Deuteronomy 18:15; Acts 3:20-22)

preceded by Elijah (Malachi 4:5-6; Matthew 11:13-14)

declared the Son of God (Psalm 2:7; Matthew 3:16-17)

called a Nazarene (Isaiah 11:1; Matthew 2:23)

bring light to Galilee (Isaiah 9:1-2; Matthew 4:13-16)

speak in parables (Psalm 78:2-4; Isaiah 6:9-10; Matthew 13:10-15, 34-35)

sent to heal the brokenhearted (Isaiah 61:1-2; Luke 4:18-19)

priest after the order of Melchizedek (Psalm 110:4; Hebrews 5:5-6)

called King (Psalm 2:6; Zechariah 9:9; Matthew 27:37; Mark 11:7-11)

enter Jerusalem on a donkey (Zechariah 11:12; Matthew 21:4-5)

praised by children (Psalm 8:2; Matthew 21:16)

betrayed (Psalm 41:9; Zechariah 11:12-13; Luke 22:47-48; Matthew 26:14-16)

buy potter’s field with price money (Zechariah 11:12-13; Matthew 27:9-10)

falsely accused (Psalm 35:11; Mark 14:57-58)

silent before his accusers (Isaiah 53:7; Mark 15:4-5)

spat upon and struck (Isaiah 50:6; Matthew 26:67)

hated without cause (Psalm 35:19; 69:4; John 15:24-25)

crucified with criminals (Isaiah 53:12; Matthew 27:38; Mark 15:27-28)

given vinegar to drink (Psalm 69:21; Matthew 27:34; John 19:28-30)

hands and feet pierced (Psalm 22:16; Zechariah 12:10; John 20:25-27)

mocked and ridiculed (Psalm 22:7-8; Luke 23:35)

garments parted (Psalm 22:18; Luke 23:34; Matthew 27:35-36)

bones not broken (Exodus 12:46; Psalm 34:20; John 19:33-36)

forsaken by God (Psalm 22:1; Matthew 27:46)

pray for his enemies (Psalm 109:4; Luke 23:34)

side pierced (Zechariah 12:10; John 19:34)

buried with rich (Isaiah 53:9; Matthew 27:57-60)

resurrected (Psalm 16:10; Psalm 49:15; Matthew 28:2-7; Acts 2:22-32)

ascend to heaven (Psalm 24:7-10; Mark 16:19; Luke 24:51)

sit at God’s right hand (Psalm 68:18; 110:1; Mark 16:19; Matthew 22:44)

a sacrifice for sin (Isaiah 53:5-12; Romans 5:6-8)

return a second time (Daniel 7:13-14; Revelation 19)

The death of Christ upon the cross made sure the destruction of him who has the power of death, who was the originator of sin. When Satan is destroyed, there will be none to tempt to evil; the atonement will never need to be repeated; and there will be no danger of another rebellion in the universe of God. That which alone can effectually restrain from sin in this world of darkness, will prevent sin in heaven. The significance of the death of Christ will be seen by saints and angels. Fallen men could not have a home in the paradise of God without the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. Shall we not then exalt the cross of Christ? The angels ascribe honor and glory to Christ, for even they are not secure except by looking to the sufferings of the Son of God. It is through the efficacy of the cross that the angels of heaven are guarded from apostasy. Without the cross they would be no more secure against evil than were the angels before the fall of Satan. Angelic perfection failed in heaven. Human perfection failed in Eden, the paradise of bliss. All who wish for security in earth or heaven must look to the Lamb of God. The plan of salvation, making manifest the justice and love of God, provides an eternal safeguard against defection in unfallen worlds, as well as among those who shall be redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. Our only hope is perfect trust in the blood of Him who can save to the uttermost all that come unto God by Him. The death of Christ on the cross of Calvary is our only hope in this world, and it will be our theme in the world to come. Oh, we do not comprehend the value of the atonement! If we did, we would talk more about it. The gift of God in his beloved Son was the expression of an incomprehensible love. It was the utmost that God could do to preserve the honor of his law, and still save the transgressor. — E. G. White

God, who needs nothing, loves into existence wholly superfluous creatures in order that He may love and perfect them. He creates the universe, already foreseeing - or should we say “seeing”? there are no tenses in God - the buzzing cloud of flies about the cross, the flayed back pressed against the uneven stake, the nails driven through the mesial nerves, the repeated incipient suffocation as the body droops, the repeated torture of back and arms as it is time after time, for breath’s sake, hitched up. If I may dare the biological image, God is a “host” who deliberately creates His own parasites; causes us to be that we may exploit and “take advantage of” Him. Herein is love. This is the diagram of Love Himself, the inventor of all loves. — C.S. Lewis

Jesus Christ lived in the midst of his enemies. At the end all his disciples deserted him. On the Cross he was utterly alone, surrounded by evildoers and mockers. For this cause he had come, to bring peace to the enemies of God. So the Christian, too, belongs not in the seclusion of a cloistered life but in the thick of foes. There is his commission, his work. ‘The kingdom is to be in the midst of your enemies. And he who will not suffer this does not want to be of the Kingdom of Christ; he wants to be among friends, to sit among roses and lilies, not with the bad people but the devout people. O you blasphemers and betrayers of Christ! If Christ had done what you are doing who would ever have been spared’ (Luther). — Dietrich Bonhoeffer

God has chosen to save the world through the cross, through the shameful and powerless death of the crucified Messiah. If that shocking event is the revelation of the deepest truth about the character of God, then our whole way of seeing the world is turned upside down… all values are transformed… God refuses to play games of power and prestige on human terms. — Richard Hays

Unless you see yourself standing there with the shrieking crowd, full of hostility and hatred for the holy and innocent Lamb of God, you don’t really understand the nature and depth of your sin or the necessity of the cross. — C.J. Mahaney

The history of the condescension, humiliation and sacrifice of our divine Lord does not with many stir the soul, and affect the life any more, nor awaken deeper interest, than to read of the death of the martyrs of Jesus. Many have suffered death by slow tortures. Others have suffered death by crucifixion. In what does the death of God’s dear Son differ from these? It is true he died upon the cross a most cruel death; yet others, for his dear sake, have suffered equally, as far as bodily torture is concerned. Why was the suffering of Christ more dreadful than that of other persons who have yielded their lives for his sake? If the sufferings of Christ consisted in physical pain alone, then his death was no more painful than that of some of the martyrs. Bodily pain was but an item in the agony of God’s dear Son. The sins of the world were upon him, also the sense of his Father’s wrath as he suffered the penalty of the law. It was these that crushed his divine soul. It was the hiding of his Father’s face, a sense that his own dear Father had forsaken him, which brought despair. The separation that sin makes between God and man was fully realized and keenly felt by the innocent, suffering Man of Calvary. He was oppressed by the powers of darkness. He had not one ray of light to brighten the future. And he was struggling with the power of Satan, who was declaring that Christ was in his hands, that he was superior in strength to the Son of God, that God had disowned his Son, and that he was no longer in the favor of God any more than himself. If he was indeed still in favor with God, why need he die? God could save him from death. Christ yielded not in the least degree to the tormenting foe, even in his bitterest anguish. Legions of evil angels were all about the Son of God. Yet the holy angels were bidden not to break their ranks and engage in conflict with the taunting reviling foe. Heavenly angels were not permitted to minister unto the anguished spirit of the Son of God. It was in this terrible hour of darkness, the face of his Father hidden, legions of evil angels enshrouding him, the sins of the world upon him, that the words were wrenched from his lips, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me.” — E. G. White

The word “Christianity” is already a misunderstanding; in reality there has been only one Christian, and he died on the cross. — Friedrich Nietzsche

We sinned for no reason but an incomprehensible lack of love, and He saved us for no reason but an incomprehensible excess of love. — Peter Kreeft

Before we can begin to see the cross as something done for us, we have to see it as something done by us. — John Stott

It is to the Cross that the Christian is challenged to follow his Master: no path of redemption can make a detour around it. — Hans Urs von Balthasar

The greatest gift that God could bestow upon men was bestowed in the gift of his beloved Son. The apostle says, “He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?” There was nothing held in reserve. No second probation will ever be provided. If the unspeakable gift of God does not lead man to repentance, there is nothing that ever will move his heart. There is no power held in reserve to act upon his mind, and arouse his sensibilities. The whole character of God was revealed in his Son, the whole range of the possibilities of heaven is displayed for the acceptance of man in the Son of the Infinite One. The way for man’s return to God and heaven has no barriers. The matchless depths of the Saviour’s love have been demonstrated; and if this manifestation of God’s love for the children of men does not prevail to draw men to himself, there is nothing that ever will. — E. G. White

Start a daily habit of reading from Psalms 22, 69, 88, Isaiah 53, and the Gospels.

Did Jesus have to die? Why or why not?

Did Jesus die the second death? (see Rev. 20)

Did Jesus die for you? Did you die in Christ?