_|_ | C O P | N E T The Prophesized Gospel A Sunday School Lesson College Level Azer Bestavros Foreword -------- The Old Testament is not simply an account of the relationship between God and humanity in general and the chosen people in particular. It is not just a book where the history of Israel is recorded. On the contrary, the Old Testament points to the one act of salvation that is the core of the Christian Faith. The following verses are only few of the many prophesies and references about the birth, life, passion, death, and resurrection of our Lord. Many of these verses were written hundreds and even thousands of years before incarnation. They were written by great Prophets (like Moses and Isaiah) and great kings like (David), who (with God's inspiration) spoke of events that they have never experienced or witnessed. So when the Prophet Isaiah speaks of the "Virgin Birth" and the "newborn Mighty God and Everlasting Father", or when King David speaks of "pierced hands" and "divided garments", we know that guided by the Holy Spirit they were talking about the birth and passion of the Incarnate Word! The quoted verses below are from the New King James translation of the Bible and match almost identically the corresponding verses of the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, which relies on the Dead Sea Scrolls (in addition to all the classic manuscripts of the Old Testament), discovered earlier in this century and which date back long before Christianity. Wherever appropriate, we have added [ between square brackets ] the appropriate references to verses in the New Testament, or references to earlier texts. The stricking accuracy of many of the prophesies in the Old Testament about our Lord's plan for salvation through the suffering, death, and resurrection of His own word Jesus Christ, is compelling. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Promise of Salvation -------------------- Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmity between you [the serpent/devil] and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel." Psalms 118:26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD! We have blessed you from the house of the LORD. Jeremiah 23:5 "Behold, the days are coming," says the LORD, "That I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness; a King shall reign and prosper, and execute judgment and righteousness in the earth. Jeremiah 23:6 In His days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell safely; now this is His name by which He will be called: THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. Daniel 7:14 Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His kingdom the one which shall not be destroyed. John the Baptist's mission -------------------------- Isaiah 40:1 "Comfort, yes, comfort My people!" says your God. Isaiah 40:2 "Speak comfort to Jerusalem, and cry out to her, that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned; for she has received from the Lord's hand double for all her sins." Isaiah 40:3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness: "Prepare the way of the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Isaiah 40:4 Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low; the crooked places shall be made straight, and the rough places smooth; Isaiah 40:5 the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together; for the mouth of the LORD has spoken." Malachi 3:1 "Behold, I send My messenger, and he will prepare the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple, even the Messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight. behold, He is coming," says the LORD of hosts. Advent ------ Isaiah 7:14 "Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel. Isaiah 40:9 O Zion, you who bring good tidings, get up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, you who bring good tidings, lift up your voice with strength, lift it up, be not afraid; say to the cities of Judah, "Behold your God!" Isaiah 40:10 Behold, the Lord GOD shall come with a strong hand, and His arm shall rule for Him; behold, His reward is with Him, and His work before Him. Isaiah 60:1 Arise, shine; For your light has come! and the glory of the LORD is risen upon you. Isaiah 60:2 For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; but the LORD will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you. Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Micah 5:2 "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting." Isaiah 9:2 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them a light has shined. Isaiah 60:3 The Gentiles shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. Jeremiah 31:15 Thus says the LORD: "A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation and bitter weeping, Rachel weeping for her children, refusing to be comforted for her children, because they are no more." Christ's miracles ----------------- Isaiah 61:1 "The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; Isaiah 35:5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Isaiah 35:6 Then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the dumb sing. Isaiah 40:11 He will feed His flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom, and gently lead those who are with young. Isaiah 42:2 He will not cry out, nor raise His voice, nor cause His voice to be heard in the street. Isaiah 42:3 A bruised reed He will not break, and smoking flax He will not quench; He will bring forth justice for truth. The Holy Passion ---------------- Zechariah 9:9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, lowly and riding on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey. Isaiah 53:3 He is despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Psalms 41:9 ``Even my close friend whom I trusted, he who shared my bread, has lifted up his heel against me.'' [see Mark 14:10] Zechariah 13:7 ``Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, against the man who is close to me!'' declares the Lord Almighty. [see Mark 14:50] Zechariah 11:12 I told them, "If you think it best, give me my pay; but if not, keep it." So they paid me thirty pieces of silver. [see Matthew 26:15] Zechariah 11:13 And the Lord said to me, "Throw it to the potter" --- the the handsome price at which they priced me! So I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them into the house of the Lord to the potter. [see Matthew 27:3-7] Isaiah 53:8 He was taken from prison and from judgment, and who will declare His generation? For He was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgressions of My people He was stricken. Psalms 69:20 Reproach has broken His heart, And He is full of heaviness; He looked for someone to take pity, but there was none; And for comforters, but He found none. Isaiah 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. Zechariah 13:7 Strike the Shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered. [see Matthew 26:31] Good Friday ----------- Psalms 69:19 You know how I am scorned, disgraced and shamed; all my enemies are before me. [see Matthew 27:28] Isaiah 50:6 He gave His back to the smitters, and His cheeks to them who plucked out the beard; He did not hide His face from shame and spitting. [see Matthew 27:26, 30] Isaiah 53:7 He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so He opened not his mouth. [see Matthew 27:13, 14] Isaiah 53:4 Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. Isaiah 53:5 But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. [see John 19:16] Psalms 22:16 For dogs have surrounded Me; The assembly of the wicked has enclosed Me. They pierced My hands and My feet; [see Matthew 27:35] Psalms 22:18 ``They divide my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing.'' [see John 19:24] Psalms 69:3 I am worn out calling for help; my throat is parched. [see John 19:28] Psalms 69:21 They put gall in my food and gave my vinegar for my thirst. [see John 19:29] Psalms 22:17 People stare and gloat over me. [see Matthew 27:36] Psalms 22:7 All those who see Him laugh Him to scorn; They shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying, Psalms 22:8 "He trusted in the LORD, let Him rescue Him; Let Him deliver Him, since He delights in Him!" [see Matthew 27:41, 43] Psalms 109:25 I also have become a reproach to them; When they look at me, they shake their heads. Psalms 22:1 My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? Why are You so far from helping Me, And from the words of My groaning? [see Matthew 27:46] Psalms 109:26 Help me, O LORD my God! Oh, save me according to Your mercy, Psalms 109:27 That they may know that this is Your hand; That You, LORD, have done it! Psalms 22:13 They gape at Me with their mouths, As a raging and roaring lion. Psalms 22:14 I am poured out like water, And all My bones are out of joint; My heart is like wax; It has melted within Me. [see John 19:34] Psalms 22:15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd, And My tongue clings to My jaws; You have brought Me to the dust of death. Exodus 12:46 It [the Passover lamb] must be eaten inside one house; take none of the meat outside the house. Do not break any of the bones. [see John 19:33, 36] Psalms 34:20 He guards all my bones; Not one of them is broken. Psalms 22:17 I can count all My bones. They look and stare at Me. Isaiah 52:14 Just as there were many who were appalled at him -- his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any man and his form marred beyond human likeness. [see John 19:5, 14] Zechariah 12:10 And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son. [see John 19:34] Psalm 22:31 They will proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn -- for he has done [completed] it. [see John 19:30] Genesis 3:15 .... he will crush your head, and you will strike his heal. [see John 12:30-33] Daniel 9:26 "... The Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself;" [see John 11:49-52] Isaiah 53:9 And they made His grave with the wicked; but with the rich at His death, because He had done no violence, nor was any deceit in His mouth. [see Matthew 27:57-60] Isaiah 53:10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When You make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in His hand. Isaiah 53:11 He shall see the travail of His soul, and be satisfied. by His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many, for He shall bear their iniquities. Isaiah 53:12 Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great, and He shall divide the spoil with the strong, because He poured out His soul unto death, and He was numbered with the transgressors, and He bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. [see Luke 23:34] Easter ------ Psalms 16:9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices; My flesh also will rest in hope. Psalms 16:10 For You will not leave my soul in Sheol, Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption. Psalms 118:22 The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone. Psalms 118:23 This was the Lord's doing; It is marvelous in our eyes. Psalms 118:24 This is the day which the LORD has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it. Psalms 24:7 Lift up your heads, O you gates! And be lifted up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in. Job 19:25 For I know that my Redeemer lives, and He shall stand at last on the earth; Psalms 24:8 Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, The LORD mighty in battle. Psalms 24:9 Lift up your heads, O you gates! And lift them up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in. Psalms 24:10 Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, He is the King of glory. Selah New Covenant ------------ Isaiah 42:6 "I, the LORD, have called You in righteousness, and will hold Your hand; I will keep You and give You as a covenant to the people, as a light to the Gentiles, Isaiah 42:7 To open blind eyes, to bring out prisoners from the prison, those who sit in darkness from the prison house. Zechariah 9:10 I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the horse from Jerusalem; the battle bow shall be cut off. He shall speak peace to the nations; His dominion shall be 'from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth.' Jeremiah 31:31 "Behold, the days are coming," says the LORD, "when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah; Jeremiah 31:32 "not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, though I was a husband to them," says the LORD. Jeremiah 31:33 "But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel: After those days, says the LORD, I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. Jeremiah 31:34 "No more shall every man teach his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,' for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them," says the LORD. "For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more." Isaiah 44:3 For I will pour water on him who is thirsty, and floods on the dry ground; I will pour My Spirit on your descendants, and My blessing on your offspring; Joel 2:28 "... I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions; Joel 2:29 And also on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days. Psalms 17:15 As for me, I will see Your face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness. Psalms 49:15 But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave, For He shall receive me. Selah Isaiah 26:19 Your dead shall live; together with my dead body they shall arise. Awake and sing, you who dwell in dust; for your dew is like the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead. Daniel 12:2 And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt. Daniel 12:3 Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament, and those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever. Hosea 13:14 "I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death. O Death, I will be your plagues! O Grave, I will be your destruction! Pity is hidden from My eyes. Malachi 3:2 "But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner's fire And like fuller's soap. Malachi 3:3 He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer to the LORD an offering in righteousness. Zechariah 13:6 "And someone will say to Him, 'What are these wounds in Your hands?' Then He will answer, 'Those with which I was wounded in the house of My friends.' ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- _|_ This article is one of many more articles about the Coptic Orthodox | Church, the Christian Apostolic Church of Egypt. These articles can be | retrieved from Copt-Net archives at http://pharos.bu.edu/cn/Menu.html COP|NET For more information, contact Copt-Net server at CN-request@cs.bu.edu -------------------------------------------------------------------------------