Dear Explorer,
Re-Read Matthew 16:24
Yesterday we talked about the disciples trying their best to understand what the Messiah would do and be.
The Jewish version of that day was that the “Messiah” would come and set up an earthly kingdom, overthrow the Roman government and conquer the whole world.
Why did they believe that?
Because that's what the prophets said according to the Jewish Scripture (Old Testament). And they believed the prophets.
Whoa! If you were to study the prophesies of the Old Testament you would find that the prophecies rarely gave a timeline. Some of the prophecies were about Jesus' advent (birth, life and death on the cross) and some prophecies were about the 2nd coming and the future Kingdom when Jesus will rule and there will be world peace. But they are all mixed together. We know that now, but they didn't at that time.
Here are 5 Old Testament prophecies. Remember there are over 300 prophecies about the Messiah. Looking at each of these 5, can you distinguish between the two time periods? Mark them as either 1st (Jesus' birth, life, death) or 2nd (when Jesus will return sometime in the future) or both!
Isaiah 2:3-4
Isaiah 9:6-7
Isaiah 11:1-9
Isaiah 53:1-6
Daniel 2:44
My answers are 2nd, both, both, 1st, 2nd.
Can you see why the disciples, the Pharisees and other Jewish leaders might be confused? I don't think Jesus was harsh with the Jewish leaders about their confusion. I think He was harsh with them because when He confronted them with all the evidence, they still chose to reject Him.
Jesus encouraged their questions back then, and He encourages your questions today. Don't be afraid to ask Him for clarification or explanations. He encourages us to seek Him with all our heart and promises that if we do, we'll find Him. (Jeremiah 29:13).
There will always be Scriptures that you don't fully understand, questions that won't be answered, and conundrums about your faith. Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens), the famous author, said, “It ain't those parts of the Bible that I can't understand that bother me, it is the parts that I do understand.”
In His service, dale
Next study