A Clear & Future Hope
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http://www.forthright.net
Straight to the Cross
COLUMN: Hands-on Faith
A Clear & Future Hope
Barry Newton
In the 8th century B.C. a prophetic message rang
out filled with hope about the future coming of
God's Servant./1 Centuries later, Matthew's pen
pointed out how Jesus had fulfilled this prophecy
of Isaiah 42:1-4./2 However, one aspect of that
prophecy continues to be fulfilled today, namely,
"in his name the nations will put their hope."/3
What is it about Jesus that continues to cause
people from diverse cultures to place their hope
in him?
People from every point on the globe persist in
fulfilling this prophecy uttered in the 8th
century B.C. because they have found in Jesus a
clear and future hope. As we look at Scripture,
the center of their hope was announced by angels
before his birth and became a reality with his
death and resurrection.
To Joseph, the heavenly messenger had informed him
that his wife to be, Mary, would have a son and he
was to be called Jesus, which means Savior,
because He would save His people from their
sins./4 To Mary, an angel had announced that God
would give her Son the throne of His father David.
Furthermore, not only would He reign, but His
kingdom would never end./5
While on earth, Jesus acknowledged and taught
about His destiny, which had been foretold through
the prophets/6 and heralded by angels. On the one
hand, Jesus announced that He had come to free
people of their guilt through being lifted up to
die for them./7 On the other, He acknowledged that
He was the King of the Jews./8
Although Jesus had taught about who he was and why
he had come, with his death and resurrection this
good news became a reality which has been offered
to the world. Jesus' dying cry from the cross, "It
is finished", epitomizes his obtainment of the
reason why he was born. With his death, genuine
freedom from guilt became a real possibility for
our lives.
Regarding Christ's enthronement over an
everlasting kingdom, Peter told those on the day
of Pentecost that Christ's resurrection from the
dead fulfilled God's announcement to king David
that one of his descendants would be placed upon
his throne./9 God has made Jesus both Lord and
Messiah. Not only with his resurrection did Jesus
begin to reign, and he must reign until the end,
his resurrection also guarantees that those who
belong to him will be raised to life to receive an
eternal inheritance./10
Jesus' death and resurrection are the center of a
clear and future hope. Because of what his death
and resurrection mean for our lives the nations
continue to put their hope in him.
1/ Isaiah 42:1-4
2/ Matthew 12:18-21
3/ Matthew 12:21
4/ Matthew 1:20-21
5/ Luke 1:32-33
6/ Isaiah 9:1-7; 52:14-53:12; Micah 5:2; Zechariah
9:7
7/ Mark 10:45; John 8:23-24
8/ John 18:36-37
9/ Acts 2:30-36
10/ 1 Corinthians 15:20-25
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