“He [Jesus] needed to
go through Samaria.” John 4:4
There was a community of Samaritans who had a
Messianic expectation.
They were an Israelite Sect, rejected by the
Jews. They were a result of the
Assyrians bringing in foreigners to the Northern Kingdom of Israel who
intermarried with the Israelites. 2
Kings 17:22-24.
They believed that only the Pentateuch was Scripture. They had their own version with some 6000
mostly minor variations to the Jewish version, and a unique Samaritan command
to build an altar on Mt Gerizim. They
believed that Mount Gerizim was where Joshua built a sanctuary which was the
early place of all Israelite worship, as opposed to what eventually was
Jerusalem as the place for the Temple.
Though their religion was not correct, it still had a
messianic expectation based upon what Scriptures they had. The Samaritan woman, and the Samaritan sect,
knew this from their Scriptures, particularly Deuteronomy 18:15. Peter in his sermon in Acts 3:22-23 quotes
this Scripture and applies it to Jesus: "
When
the woman perceived Jesus was a prophet, by His knowledge of her married life, she raised this issue about the correct place of
worship. After Jesus’ response, she
expresses her expectation of Messiah—to “tell all things,”—he’ll, the Messiah, settle this.
The Samaritan woman speaks of the "Messiah." The reference in the Gospel account to "Christ" may be added to the
account for clarification. They are the
same thing. Messiah is the English transliteration
of the Greek word which is a transliteration of the Hebrew word. It means
“anointed one.” Same as “Christ.” When King David said he would not kill God’s
“anointed,” he was speaking of God’s appointed king (who was Saul). The ritual of anointing with oil was used for
the kings of Israel. It means they were Divinely
appointed, by and with Divine authority. This was also true for the high priest
and priesthood.
Jesus’ dialogue with the woman gave her reason to
think He could be the Christ. She said
to the village, "Come, see a Man who told me all things that I ever did.
Could this be the Christ?"
Jesus had said to the woman that “salvation is of the
Jews.” Some translate this as “from the
Jews.” This may be the idea. Through the Jews would come he Messiah. Yet the prophecies spoke of the salvation of
Israel: “"Blessed [is] the Lord God of Israel, For He has visited and redeemed
His people.” Luke 1:68
Yet the Samaritans of the village understood the
Christ to be the “savior of the world.” Surely
this came from the Abrahamic Covenant. Genesis 22:18: " In your
seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed,
because you have obeyed My voice."
Peter in the same sermon says the same about Christ:
Acts 3:25: "You are sons of the
prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying to
Abraham, `And in your
seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed.'
Paul says the same thing in Galatians 3:16 “Now to Abraham
and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, "And to seeds ," as of many , but as of one, "And to your
Seed," who is Christ.” Galatians 3:8-9: “And
the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith,
preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, [saying], "In you all the
nations shall be blessed. So then those who [are] of faith are blessed
with believing Abraham.”
The expectation of Christ was not only Jewish, and
it was a matter of divine revelation. The Christ was
not to be just another King or Priest, but the one through whom not only Israel
would be blessed, but all nations (the "gentiles"). This
blessing was to be “salvation”—being made right with God (justified, Justification)—"
Surely these were the “other sheep” that Jesus spoke concerning. I would define sheep as those who
have been taught by the Father, "It is written in the prophets, `And they
shall all be taught by God.' Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from
the Father comes to Me.” John 6:45
What is unique about Jesus over other religions is the
expectation of is one to come (the Christ) by special revelation that was inspired by God. Jesus’
own admission to the Samaritan woman: “I am… He.” John 4:26 Jesus clearly
admitted that He was “the Christ.”
The expectation of “the prophet” like Moses, from Deut
18:15, became understood as the Christ, not just by the Jews, but even by the
Samaritans, who held the books of Moses as Scripture. Though it may be tempting to think Moses had Joshua in mind, as his successor, we see
in the gospel writings an expectation of one called “Christ.” This may have been encouraged by the
statement later on in Deut 34:9-10 that says no prophet like Moses arose, though Joshua
followed Moses as his successor. Peter in a sermon in
Acts 3:22-23 applied the prophecy of Deut 18:15 to Christ.
In Gen 49:10,
Jacob says the scepter will not depart from Judah until Shiloh comes. The Scepter is a staff of royal
authority. Judah, the southern division of Israel, had a succession
of kings from its tribe only, unlike the Northern division of Israel of the 10 tribes. Shiloh is understood to mean “to whom it
belongs.” It is from Judah that Christ came.
Jeremiah 23:5-6 speaks of a king of David. The text says that Judah will be saved. Could this be why Jesus said to the Samaritan woman that “salvation is of
the Jews?” Or was Jesus kind of testing the woman, because the Samaritans the Christ to be the “savior of the world,” which was surely based on the Scriptures they accepted, being Genesis 22:18: for God said to Abraham, “in your seed, all nations of the earth
shall be blessed.”
The word "people" or "nation" is plural in Gen 49:10: "And to Him shall be the obedience of the people." Christ will reign over the earth: Psalm 2:8;
Daniel 7:13-14.
The
Christ is the Son of God.
On trial, Jesus is asked if He is the Christ. He says that he is.
Mark 14:61-62: 61 "But He kept silent and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked
Him, saying to Him, 'Are You the
Christ , the Son of the Blessed?'
62 Jesus said, 'I am. And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right
hand of the Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.'"
Jesus says he is; and he identifies with a prophecy
from Daniel 7:13-14:
13 "I was watching in the night visions,
And behold, One like the Son of Man,
Coming with the clouds of heaven!
He came to the Ancient of Days,
And they brought Him near before Him.
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. Daniel 7:13-14
And behold, One like the Son of Man,
Coming with the clouds of heaven!
He came to the Ancient of Days,
And they brought Him near before Him.
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. Daniel 7:13-14
Why the connection with “son of the blessed?” They must have understood that this coming
Christ was also the son of God.
Psalm 2 is such a reference: “Against the Lord and against His Anointed
[Messiah].” And 12: “Kiss the Son, lest
He be angry.” (Show reverence and trust in him to be blest. Aramaic word for
son used instead of Hebrew, maybe intentionally directed to foreign
nations.)
Psalm 110:1: “The Lord said to
my Lord.”
Isaiah 9:6: “a son is
given…the government will be...and his name will be…mighty God…”
Matthew 16:13-17: “
15 He said to them, "But who
do you
say that I am?" 16 Simon Peter answered and said, "
You are
the Christ , the Son of the
living God."
Jesus was the expected Christ of the Old Testament, and not only
that, but also the Son of God. He came
in fulfillment of prophetic expectation.
The Timing of the Christ
Christ was expected by the Jews and Samaritans
according to prophetic revelation, hundreds and thousands of years in
advance. This is just one of the unique
features concerning Jesus Christ.
Islam was created by Mohammed, yet his coming was not
prophesied; there was no expectation of a reformer of the polytheistic religion
of the Arab people.
Christ’s coming was according to timing: He came at the right time. Galatians 4:4-5: "But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. Galatians 4:4-5 It was
the right time and the focal point in time.
The timing was important, significant. He did not come in the days of Adam and Eve,
or in the days of Noah, or when Israel was developing as a nation in Egypt, or
when Israel was a united nation under Solomon, or during one of the
captivities…you get the point.
He came about 500 years after the Babylonian captivity
of Judah. He came in connection with a
people who through their relationship with God made such a coming an
anticipated and longed-for event. He
would be God’s Anointed One who would save Israel as a people both nationally
and spiritually. Certain disciples while walking on the
road to Emmaus, being sad after the crucifixion of Jesus, said, “we were hoping that it was he who was going to redeem [deliver] Israel.” Luke 24:21.
The timing was right.
He revealed Himself as the Christ, and yet many rejected him, and he was killed as prophesied, yet it would be through his death that the means
of salvation from the eternal consequences of sin would come for both Israel and the world--to whoever believed in him as the Christ, the Savior of the world.
He came when the Roman Empire exercised authority over
the Mediterranean world. Roads were
built into every part of the kingdom.
There was a common language of Greek in the empire. Jews were scattered throughout the empire (from the Assyrian and Babylonian captivities of hundreds of years ago) and monotheism and a messianic hope was taught in
their synagogues, something that developed during or after their
captivities. Gentiles were exposed to
their beliefs. Gentiles were both
proselytes to Judaism and many attended the Jewish synagogues.
We see the gentile response to Paul’s preaching in a synagogue, as in Antioch of Pisidia, Acts 13:14-16, 22-23, 38-49: Paul ..."
16 Then Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand said ... '[God] raised up for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will. 23 From this man's seed, according to the promise, God raised up for Israel a Savior—Jesus— ...38 Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins; 39 and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.' ...42 So when the Jews went out of the synagogue, the Gentiles begged that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath. 43 Now when the congregation had broken up, many of the Jews and devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.44 On the next Sabbath almost the whole city came together to hear the word of God. 45 But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy; and contradicting and blaspheming, they opposed the things spoken by Paul. 46 Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, 'It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles. 47 For so the Lord has commanded us:
I have set you as a light to the Gentiles,
That you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth.'
48 Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed."
Christ said that the “fields were white unto harvest”
in the context concerning the Samaritans in John 4:35-38. This analogy concerning fields and harvest fits with the setting and time in which it was
spoken. There were Jews and gentiles
who anticipated the coming of the Christ.
Christ came, and that message of salvation to everyone through faith in him
was to be taken to those who had been taught by God by Old Testament revelation concerning the Christ. The sowing had been done, and reaping of
the harvest was ready.
The advantage of the presence of Christ and His
miracles was not a guarantee of a positive response. Some might claim that they would
believe, if He came today--in our day. Yet many did not
believe in Him, back then, when he was there, for whatever reason.
His rejection was figured into the Divine plan, for by it would be the
way of our salvation from sin and it's eternal consequences. His rejection
would be the Divine plan for the judgment prophesied on Israel. Who He was, was evident, but because of the
degree of rejection, judgment would come on the nation of Israel, because “they did not know the time”
of their “visitation,” Luke 19:41-44.
The prophecy of the “70 Weeks” of Daniel 9:24-27 was a
timetable for the coming of Christ and the restoration of Israel nationally and
spiritually. The 70 weeks prophesy is a prophesy of 490 years (70 times 7 years) that gave a timetable for the coming of Christ. The timetable began with a decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem after the Babylonian captivity. The first 69 weeks (69 times 7 years = 483 years), would be from the decree to rebuild Jerusalem and the temple up to the time of Messiah's arrival and year of his crucifixion. The 70th Week (the last 7 years) has been postponed, since the time of crucifixion. That final 7 years, after it begins, will culminate with the second coming of Christ and the establishment of His kingdom on earth.
In Daniel 9:1-2, we read of Judah’s captivity coming
to an end, and Daniel prays for mercy. The 70 year captivity was prophesied by
Jeremiah 25:11-13, and Daniel knew this. It
was coming to a close, and Daniel sought God in prayer for His mercy on
Israel.
In Daniel 9:24-26, a timetable is given for
restoration. The angel Gabriel brings
the timetable revelation of restoration.
This timetable gives a time reference for Christ’s coming.
The 70 Weeks is 70 times 7s of years, being 490 years. The
word “weeks” is the translation of a word that means 7. It is usually understood, and fits best, to
understand these 7s as referring to years.
The 70 7s are years, being 490.
This would correspond to the number of years Israel violated the 7th
year land Sabbath for 490 years, therefore, the 70 year captivity: 2 Chronicles 36:21.
The prophecy concerns a decree that gives the
beginning of the 70 weeks and has significant end points at 7 weeks and 62
weeks, adding up to 69 weeks that comes to “messiah the prince.”
The 69 7s of years is 483 years , beginning with a
decree to rebuild Jerusalem and concluding with “Messiah the Prince.” 483 years was revealed to Daniel as passing
from the decree until the time of the Messiah.
There are three views about the beginning of the 70
weeks with a decree.
One view says it is the Artaxerxes I command to Ezra
in 457BC, using 365-day-years that comes out exact to the beginning of Christ's
ministry in AD27 (457+27-1 [1AD to 1 BC]=483).
Another popular view says it is the same Artaxerxes
who commands Nehemiah in 444BC using 360-day-years comes out exactly to the day
of Christ's triumphal entry in AD33. This has to be figured by the day,
multiply the years from 444BC to AD33 times 360 days.
The third view says it was the decree of Cyrus to
rebuild Jerusalem and the temple, according to Isaiah 44:28, following the
demise of Babylon, which brought an end to the 70 years of Jewish captivity.
This view also uses 365-day-years. This view says there is an error in the king
list of Persia; it is 82 years too long. This view sees the conclusion of the
prophecy in the final year of Christ’s life, and so using 365-day-years, it is
483 years from Cyrus’ decree to the final year of Christ.
The Cyrus view is based on Isaiah 44:28 and 2 Chronicles
36:22-23. Artexerxes 1 view is based on
Ezra 7:13, for the 365-day-year view, and Nehemiah 2 using 360-day-years.
The Fulfilled
Prophecy of Christ
Christ came to fulfill all was written of him in the “Law
of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms.” Luke 24:44 These were the Hebrew Scriptures in their 3
part classification.
Christ spoke to the disciples on the road to Emmaus (Luke
24:25-26) “all the Scriptures concerning Himself.”
The writings we have called the “Old Testament” are
the same writings the Jews had and have that were identified as the
“Scriptures.”
Jesus said that “the Scripture cannot be broken.” John
10:34-36 “Broken” is the word in Greek (“luo”) which means to loose or release.
Matthew 5:18-19: “whoever ‘breaks’ on of the least of these
commandments”: “breaks” is the Greek "luo." The idea is "to make non-binding." Scripture is binding: it must be fulfilled.
Scripture foretold Jesus’ victory over death and Satan: see Genesis 3:15; compare with Luke 22:53; Hebrews 2:14; 1First Jo 3:8
The Gentiles would be blessed through Christ as the
Seed of Abraham: Genesis 12:3, 13:15, 18:18, 22:18; cp. with Acts 3:25; Galatians 3:8, 15-16,
19
Christ was typified by the “Passover Lamb” of the Exodus: see Exodus 12:1-13, 46; cp. John 19:31-36; First Corinthians 5:7; First Peter 1:19
Christ was typified in the sacrifices in general as an
offering to God in the place of the sinner: Leveticus 16:15-16, 20-22; 17:11; cp. John 1:29; Hebrews 10:8-14
The suffering of Christ was foretold: Psalm 22:1: The cry of separation from God the Father: cp. Matthew 27:45; Hebs 10:5-14
Jesus was rejected: Psalm 22:6-8; cp.
Matthew 27:39-44
Details of the Crucifixion were foretold: Psalm 22:16-18;
cp. John 19:23-24, 32-33
He bore our sins--provided satisfaction of Divine justice--by which we
are justified: Isaiah 53:3-12; cp. Second Corinthians 5:21; Romans 3:21-26.
The Miracles of Christ
Jesus worked miracles, signs and wonders, which was
evidence that God was with Him, that He was the Christ and Son of God, as he
claimed.
Many believed he was the Christ: John 2:23. Nicodemus, a Pharisee and teacher in Israel,
said “we know you are a teacher sent from God: John 3:2; cp: Jn 12:42
If He was not the Christ, would the Christ do more
signs than He? Therefore, many believed in Him. John 7:31 Jesus said to believe the works he did so one could
know and believe he was in union with the father, John 10:37-38. The signs recorded in John were written so
people would believe Jesus was the Christ, the Son of God, and have life:. John
20:30-31.
The Deity of Christ
The gospel of John in Chapter one says "the word was
God," in verse 1, and became flesh and “dwelt among us.” The word “God” does not have a definite
article “the” in front of it as the word “God” does where it says that “the word was with [the] God." God in the second use has a qualitative
meaning: In the first use of God, it
refers to the Father, but in the second use, it speaks of deity. The Word is deity: “God [Deity] was the Word.”
In the annunciation to Mary that she would have a son,
it is revealed that he would be the son of God. To be the son of God is to be deity.
The virginity of Mary was essential in that He would not by of a human
father, but begotten supernaturally. Luke
1:26-35:
The Jews sought to stone Jesus because of His claim of
being son of God, see John 9:35-38.
Jesus asked them for which good work they would stone him: John
10:31-33. They didn’t take stock in his
works. They understood the claim and its
implications and counted it blaspheme.
Jesus then appealed to the authority of Divine
attestation: John 10:34-39. Jesus did not deny the
attribution, but he appealed to the
claim in the Psalms that they (judges or Israel) were called “gods” to whom the
word of God came. This claim in the Psalms has to be
accepted because of the authority of Scripture, even though these people were
merely human. Likewise, if God has set
His approval on and vindicated Jesus by working miracles through Him, then He
should be accepted. If God says it is
so, you have to accept it. Yet, they still refused to accept Him. Jesus escaped out of their hands. It was not time for him to die. He would die when the time was right, as the Passover lamb on Passover, as "the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world." John 1:29
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