Christ puts himself into the scriptures

Pretty much the entirety of Christ's earthly ministry (what he did and what he said) referenced prophecy - that being precisely the reason he did what he did and said what he said.

Here is one example:

Isaiah 49:24-25 (KJV) Shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the lawful captive delivered? 25 But thus saith the LORD, Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered: for I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will save thy children.

The questions of v24 would ordinarily be answered "No," but the LORD said he will do it. He is speaking to Zion (49:14), and "the prey...the lawful captive" are believing Israel - Zion's children - who, the LORD says, will one day be redeemed by him and inhabit her.

Now see "the mighty...the terrible...him that contendeth with thee" mapped across to "a strong man", and "I will save thy children" mapped to "divideth his spoils", in this from Christ:

Luke 11:20-22 (KJV) But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you. 21 When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace: 22 But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils.

Christ equated himself ("…if I with the finger of God...a stronger") with the LORD from Isaiah 49, and was teaching that it was he who Israel needed to rely on in order to be delivered.

Here is another one:

Micah 4:3-4 (KJV) And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. 4 But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid: for the mouth of the LORD of hosts hath spoken it.

This passage describes the reign of Christ in the kingdom. Said reign brings peace, as a consequence of which Jews will able to sit without fear under their fig tree.

Now see this early in Christ's earthly ministry:

John 1:47-48 (KJV) Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile! 48 Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee.

Humility before God ie the absence of guile is a prerequisite for entry into the kingdom (Isaiah 57:15), and thus Christ was identifying himself with the bringing in of the kingdom.


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