Gospel Essentials 'unadulterated' Class Notes--

Did Old Testament People Know About Jesus?

March 25, 2001

Class is based on a comment from a woman criticizing the Book of Mormon, for, in her words, it portrays the prophets fortelling Jesus. She further defended her statement by claiming that "The Old testament did not prophecy of Jesus the way the New Testament did

What do these four unrelated scriptures have to do with anything.

Ramah--Jeremiah 31:15

Eat bread--Psalms 41:9

Parables-- Psalms 78:2

Jonah--Jonah 1:1

Play tape again

(shows grace, mercy salvation, and feasts of Israel are plan of salvation)

I Samuel 3:21 And the Lord appeared again in Shiloh; for the Lord revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the Lord.

Points to make:

All the prophets prophesied of Jesus. Paul asked, “which of them didn’t you persecute and kill?” Point was, that they were all trying to tell the story. The only ones who gained admission to their scriptures were the ones whose message was ‘concealed.’

Acts 7:52 Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which showed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers.

See history through the vantage point of a disobedient child, the house of Israel.

To what were the writers referring when they said ‘it is written’ or ‘has been said be the prophets’ --the Old Testament!

Why unclear words at times (give examples of how the words were nested in other statements, that wouldn’t be obvious to a casual or even in depth reading)—Jews desired it so, according to the book of Mormon.

Jacob 3:22 But behold, the Jews were a stiff-necked people; and they despised the words of plainness, and killed the prophets, and sought for things that they could not understand.

Jacob 3:23 Wherefore, because of their blindness, which blindness came by looking beyond the mark, they must needs fall:

Jacob 3:24 For God hath taken away his plainness from them, and delivered unto them many things which they can not understand, because they desired it.

Jacob 3:25 And because they desired it, God hath done it, that they may stumble.

Keep in mind, the New Testament ‘gospels’ were not written as a diary, day by day in the apostles life with Jesus; rather, a retrospective look back, in perspective, once the gospel was clear to them. During Jesus earthly ministry, the apostles were often confused, without understanding to Jesus parables, and prophesies. After he returned, all four gospels record Jesus then re-explaining all things to them from the beginning. (i.e. road to Ameus, etc.,) What did he accomplish with each one? He started from the beginning of the Old Testament, and taught how the entire law of Moses and the prophets’ messages all pointed towards him. This enabled the New Testament prophets to teach those around, what the Old Testament really meant.

John Restores all things!

Give the illustration of Samuel slaying lamb. (Enemy is at the door—hurry, Samuel! What is he found doing? Slaying a lamb.) What does this appear to be on the surface? Keeping the Mosaic Law. What do we learn about Samuel from new and old testament writings? Samuel prophesied about Jesus, and had him revealed to him. Therefore, with this knowledge, what was Samuel really doing? He was acknowledging to God that it was only through the sacrifice of the only begotten, that we had any hope of salvation. He was living with the understanding of Grace, under the Mosaic law. Keeping a dead law because of the commandment, in light of knowledge of Jesus Christ

Taken out of context….one might believe that even the New Testament claims that Jesus wasn’t made know of prior to the New Testament:

Ephesians 3:4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ,
5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;

But how does the sentence continue…?
6 That the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel;

The point, in context, was not that Jesus was not revealed in the past, but that previous ages did not understand that the Gentiles also had the promise of salvation!

Romans 15:9 And that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name.

John 8:56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day; and he saw it, and was glad.

The Book of Mormon was very clear regarding Israel’s prophets’ messages of Christ: Alma 16: Zenos, Zenock was stoned for speaking of him; Moses lifted up the brazen serpent.

Moses, serpent

John 3:14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up;

Helaman 3:47 Yea, did he not bear record, that the Son of God should come? And as he lifted up the brazen serpent in the wilderness, even so shall he be lifted up who should come.

Numbers 21:9 And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole; and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.

II Kings 18:4 He removed the high places, and brake the images, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the brazen serpent that Moses had made; for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it; and he called it Nehushtan.

Alma 16:177 Do ye remember to have read what Zenos, the prophet of old, has said concerning prayer or worship?…

Alma 16:184 And it is because of thy Son that thou hast been thus merciful unto me; therefore I will cry unto thee in all mine afflictions; for in thee is my joy; for thou hast turned thy judgments away from me, because of thy Son.

Alma 16:185 And now Alma said unto them, Do ye believe those scriptures which have been written by them of old?

Alma 16:186 Behold, if ye do, ye must believe what Zenos said; for behold, he said, Thou hast turned away thy judgments, because of thy Son.

Alma 16:187 Now, behold, my brethren, I would ask, if ye have read the scriptures? If ye have, how can ye disbelieve on the Son of God?

Alma 16:188 For it is not written that Zenos alone spake of these things, but Zenock also spake of these things; for behold, he said, Thou art angry, O Lord, with this people, because they will not understand of thy mercies which thou hast bestowed upon them, because of thy Son.

Alma 16:189 And now my brethren, ye see that a second prophet of old has testified of the Son of God; and because the people would not understand his words, they stoned him to death.

Alma 16:190 But behold, this is not all; these are not the only ones who have spoken concerning the Son of God.

Alma 16:191 Behold, he was spoken of by Moses; yea, and behold, a type was raised up in the wilderness, that whosoever would look upon it might live. And many did look and live.

Alma 16:192 But few understood the meaning of those things, and this because of the hardness of their hearts.

Alma 16:193 But there were many who were so hardened that they would not look; therefore they perished.

Alma 16:194 Now the reason they would not look, was because they did not believe that it would heal them.

Alma 16:195 O my brethren, if ye could be healed by merely casting about your eyes, that ye might be healed, would ye not behold quickly, or would ye rather harden your hearts in unbelief, and be slothful, that ye would not cast about your eyes, that ye might perish?

Alma 16:196 If so, wo shall come upon you; but if not so, then cast about your eyes and begin to believe in the Son of God, that he will come to redeem his people, and that he shall suffer and die to atone for their sins;

Alma 16:197 And that he shall rise again from the dead, which shall bring to pass the resurrection, that all men shall stand before him, to be judged, at the last and judgment day, according to their works.

Taken from http://www.linkline.com/personal/dcpyle/reading/bodineco.htm

The early Christian writer, Justin the Martyr (Dialog with Trypho, 72), accused the Jews of removing passages from synagogue copies of the scriptures. One of the references, which he claimed was excised from the Book of Ezra, read:

This Passover is our Savior and our refuge. And if you have understood, and your heart has taken it in, that we shall humble him on a standard, and thereafter hope in him, then this place shall not be forsaken forever, says the God of hosts. But if you will not believe him, and listen to his declaration, you shall be a laughingstock to the nations.

Now, whether this statement of Justin concerning the deliberate removal of a scripture that clearly alludes to the Savior be true or not, or whether or not it happened to a number of other scriptural passages, is not of serious consequence to the point being made. The discovery of a pre-Christian fragment among the Dead Sea Scrolls has caused quite a stir. Found in Qumran cave 4 and known as fragment 4Q246, this fragment of a pre-Christian apocalypse reveals that an eschatological king:

shall be great upon the earth, [O King, all (people) shall] make [peace], and all shall serve [him. He shall be called the son of] the [G]reat [God], and by his name shall be hailed (as) the Son of God, and they shall call him Son of the Most High. (Translated by Mr. Hershel Shanks, the Editor of Biblical Archaeology Review)

Contrary to Ms. Bodine's dogmatic declaration, this pre-Christian text is definitely valid evidence that at least some individuals of the pre-New Testament era expected a future King, who would also be titled the Son of God!

What do we know about Jesus from the prophets?

He would be born of a Virgin

Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and shall bear a son….

Matthew 2:1 Now, as it is written, the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise. After his mother, Mary, was espoused to Joseph, before they came together she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.

Matthew 2:6 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son…

He would be born in Bethlehem

Micah 5:2 But thou, Beth-lehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

Matthew 3:5 And they said unto him, It is written by the prophets, that he should be born in Bethlehem of Judea, for thus have they said,

He would be slain for our transgressions with transgressors

	Isaiah 53:12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death; and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.		Mark 15:33 And the scripture was fulfilled which said, And he was numbered with the transgressors.

He would be despised:

	Isaiah 53:3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.		John 5:18 Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he had not only broken the Sabbath, but said also that God was his father, making himself equal with God.

He would be rejected

Isaiah 53:3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.	John 12:37 But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him;
	Mark 8:33 And he began to teach them, that the Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.

He would be called a Nazarene

	Matthew 3:23 And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.

Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder; and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 53:4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows; yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

He would rise from the dead

	Luke 24:45 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day;

Angels would watch over him

	Psalms 91:11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.		Luke 4:10 For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee; and in his hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.

He would be a stumbling block to the Jews

	Isaiah 28:16 Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; he that believeth shall not make haste.		Romans 9:33 As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumbling stone and rock of offense; and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

Whoever believed on him (i.e. to keep his commandments) would not perish

	Isaiah 28:16 Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; he that believeth shall not make haste.		Acts 10:43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.

He would be the unblemished sacrifice of God

	Genesis 22:10 And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering. So they went both of them together; and they came to the place of which God had told him.		John 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and said; Behold the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sin of the world!

One would precede Jesus in His earthly ministry (John the Baptist) (Luke 7:27)

	Malachi 3:1 Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me…		Luke 7:27 This is the one of whom it is written, Behold I send my messenger before thy face, who shall prepare thy way before thee.

None of His bones would be broken

Exodus 12:46 (regarding the Israelites Passover lamb…)In one house shall it be eaten; thou shalt not carry forth aught of the flesh abroad out of the house; neither shall ye break a bone thereof.

Psalms 34:20 He keepeth all his bones; not one of them is broken.

John 19:36 For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken.

Jesus would require the sacrifice of a broken heart and contrite spirit.

	Psalms 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.		3 Nephi 4:49 And ye shall offer up unto me no more the shedding of blood; yea, your sacrifices and your burnt offerings shall be done away, for I will accept none of your sacrifices and your burnt offerings; and ye shall offer for a sacrifice unto me a broken heart and a contrite spirit.

Would crucified by the Jews

	Acts 2:36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.		Zechariah 12:10 And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications; and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, …

He would bring salvation to the Gentiles

Isaiah 49:6 And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel; I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.

Isaiah 60:3 And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.

Romans 15:9 And that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name.

His redemption of His people would include riding on a donkey’s colt.

	Zechariah 9:9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem; behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.		John 12:14 And Jesus, when he had sent two of his disciples and got a young ass, sat thereon; as it is written,

He would be esteemed as naught.

	Isaiah 53:3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.		Mark 9:10 And he answered and told them, saying, Elias verily cometh first, and prepareth all things; and teacheth you of the prophets; how it is written of the Son of Man, that he must suffer many things, and be set at naught.

One who ate bread with Him would betray Him: (Here is absolute proof that the words spoken to David were from JESUS—HE WAS KNOWN OF BY DAVID AND ALL THE PROPHETS—HE WAS DESCRIBING HIS OWN BETRAYAL)

	Psalms 41:9 Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.	John 13:18 I speak not of you all; I know whom I have chosen; but that the Scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me.

Would be hated without cause

	Psalms 35:19 Let not them that are mine enemies wrongfully rejoice over me; neither let them wink with the eye that hate me without a cause.		John 15:25 But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause.

None who were ‘given’ to him would be lost

	John 18:9 That the saying might be fulfilled, which he spake, Of them which thou gavest me have I lost none.

His garments would be parted and gambled for

	Psalms 22:18 They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.		John 19:24 They said therefore among themselves, Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be; that the Scripture might be fulfilled, which saith, they parted my raiment among them, and for my vesture they did cast lots. These things therefore the soldiers did.

Jonah’s three days would be a type for Christ’s three days of death. (Matt 16:4)

Jonah 1:17 Now the Lord had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.	Mark 8:12 Verily I say unto you, There shall no sign be give unto this generation, save the sign of the prophet Jonah; for as Jonah was three days and three nights in the whale's belly, so likewise shall the Son of Man be buried in the bowels of the earth.

Christ’s prophets were from the beginning of the world (Luke 11:51). Prophesying of what???Jesus!

Luke 11:51 That the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation; from the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zacharias, who perished between the altar and the temple.

Luke 24:26 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

Abraham saw the day of Christ

	John 8:56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day; and he saw it, and was glad.

Samuel had the Lord revealed to him.

	I Samuel 3:21 And the Lord appeared again in Shiloh; for the Lord revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the Lord.		Acts 3:24 Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days.

He was seen in the fire with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego

	Daniel 3:25 He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.

Moses would write about Jesus

Deuteronomy 18:15 The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken;

Luke 14:36 And Jesus answered, saying, Ye know not Moses, neither the prophets; for if ye had known them, ye would have believed on me; for to this intent they were written. For I am sent that ye might have life. Therefore I will liken it unto salt which is good;

David would write about Jesus and Judas :

	Acts 1:16 Men and brethren, this Scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus.		Luke 24:43 And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the Psalms, concerning me.

All the prophets foretold of the day of Jesus

Exodus 6:3 And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob. I am the Lord God Almighty; the Lord JEHOVAH. And was not my name known unto them?

Matthew 11:14 Yea, as many as have prophesied have foretold of these days.

Luke 16:17 Then said Jesus unto them, The law and the prophets testify of me; yea, and all the prophets who have written, even until John, have foretold of these days.

He would take refuge in Egypt

	Hosea 11:1 When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt.		Matthew 3:15 And was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord, by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my Son.

He would preach to the spirits in the prison house/Hell.

Isaiah 24:22 And they shall be gathered together, as prisoners are gathered in the pit, and shall be shut up in the prison, and after many days shall they be visited.

Luke 4:18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor, he hath sent me to heal the broken- hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and the recovering of sight to the blind; to set at liberty them that are bruised;

He would take away the sin of man:

	Psalms 85:2 Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people; thou hast covered all their sin. Selah.		Acts 10:43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.

He would gather the lost sheep of Israel

Jeremiah 23:3 And I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all countries whither I have driven them, and will bring them again to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and increase.

Zechariah 10:8 I will hiss for them, and gather them; for I have redeemed them: and they shall increase as they have increased.

Luke 3:5 For behold, and lo, he shall come, as it is written in the book of the prophets, to take away the sins of the world, and to bring salvation unto the heathen nations, to gather together those who are lost, who are of the sheepfold of Israel;

Jesus’ disciples would scatter when He was captured in the mount of olives

	Zechariah 13:7 Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the Lord of hosts; smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered; and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones.		Mark 14:28 And Jesus said unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night; for it is written, I will smite the shepherd and the sheep shall be scattered.

He would die with guilty men (numbered with the transgressors)

Isaiah 53:12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death; and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

Matthew 27:43 Then were there two thieves crucified with him; one on the right hand, and another on the left.

Mark 15:33 And the scripture was fulfilled which said, And he was numbered with the transgressors.

He would reveal great mysteries in parables

Psalms 78:2 I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings of old;	Matthew 13:34 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.

He would have wounds in his hands. The Jews wouldn’t realize their transgression until after he returns to them.

Zechariah 13:6 And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends.