Messiah: Gentiles Come to His Light

“I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles, That You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth. Sing, O heavens! Be joyful, O earth! And break out in singing, O mountains! For the Lord has comforted His people, And will have mercy on His afflicted.” (Isaiah 49:6b, 13. NKJV. [Read Isaiah 49:1-13]. “For so the Lord has commanded us: ‘I have set you to be a light to the Gentiles, That you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth.’ 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.” (Acts 13:47-48. NKJV). “For He says: ‘In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you.’ “ (2 Corinthians 6:2, NKJV).

Multiple prophecies of the life and ministry of Jesus were foretold in the Old Testament. This devotional series on prophecies/fulfillments about Jesus Christ are only a few of the rich store we have for our study and spiritual enlightenment. A recent devotional looked at the Wise Men coming from the East to worship the Christ Child. When Christ stood on the Mount of Olives ready to ascend back to God the Father, He told his gathered disciples: “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1: 8. NKJV.) The Great Commission given by Christ has been the marching orders for evangelical Christians from that time about 33 A. D. until the present, and, indeed, until the Lord shall return again.

Because Christians were faithful to this Commission of Christ, even we, who are Gentiles, came to the light. Many in the centuries since Christ’s ascension have been martyred for the faith. Because they would not recant their beliefs, they met death at the hands of persecutors. But despite the hard times Christians have endured from then until now (and some are still enduring), the prophecy of Isaiah and others has and is continuing to come true. The Lord’s comfort and mercy—and salvation—are extended to all who will believe and follow. When Jesus saw a man who was blind from birth and healed him, He said in the hearing of His disciples: “I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work.” (John 9:4, NKJV). Just as Jesus felt an urgency to do the work of God while He walked on the earth as a man, so we, in receiving His Great Commission must work “while it is day”—while we have opportunity. 2 Peter 3:9 makes clear why the Lord delays His second coming: “The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (NIV). God wants all to repent and believe. But one day His patience in waiting for people to come to His Light will run out. Let us therefore be faithful to witness and invite others to the Light.

c Ethelene Dyer Jones; Tuesday, December 28,2010

Messiah: Declared to Be the Son of God

“I will declare the decree: The Lord has said to Me, ‘You are my Son, Today I have begotten You. Ask of Me, and I will give You The nations for Your inheritance, And the ends of the earth for Your possession.’ “ (Psalm 2:7-8. NKJV) “And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.’ “ (Matthew 3:17. NKJV). [Read Psalm 2; Mark 1:11; Revelation 2:26—27).

Continuing with Old Testament prophecies concerning the Messiah, and New Testament fulfillment, we look today at the magnificent concept of the Messiah foretold to be the Son of God. Its achievement was in Jesus, God’s beloved Son. Psalm 2 was used as a coronation hymn for the inauguration of Israel’s kings. It appears to be based on Nathan’s prophecy in 2 Samuel 7:8-16 concerning David and his kingdom which promises to “establish the throne of his kingdom forever. ‘I will be his Father, and he shall be My Son.’ “ (v. 13-14). When Paul preached his fiery evangelistic sermon in Antioch of Pisidia, he quoted Psalm 2:7 in Acts 13:33: “God has fulfilled this for us their children, in that He has raised up Jesus. As it is also written in the second Psalm: ‘You are My Son; Today I have begotten You.’ “

The only possible way we can understand how the psalmist living and writing hundreds of years before Jesus’ birth could forthsee that He would come, and be the very Son of God, is through God’s revelation. Through the eyes of faith, the psalmist was able to write of what would occur to keep God’s kingdom going, even to the ends of the world.
This Messianic psalm shows that God had a greater intention than just promulgating the Kingdom of Israel. From David’s line would come the one who would save His people from their sin. God has power and authority to work out His will in the world and to rule over it. No human monarchy can overrule God. God allows human leaders of nations to function, but above and behind it all, God is working His purpose out. God’s message makes a difference everywhere it is proclaimed, even in the market places of life and in the halls of government. “Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession.” (Psalm 2:8). This promise of the Messianic reign is still being worked out. What did Jesus say of it, and of the coming kingdom and the end of the age? “And the gospel must first be preached to all nations.” (Mark 13:10). This time may be closer than we think. The gospel goes out daily to unreached millions. Missionaries are faithful to spread the word. Television, satellite transmission, the printed word, the spoken word, e-mails and facebook, to name a few, all declare that Jesus is the Son of God and that He is establishing His kingdom, repentant heart by trusting heart. The Messiah was predicted to be the Son of God. He came the Son of God, born of a virgin, lowly, and many esteemed Him not. But accepted or not, believed or not, that does not change the eternal status of the Son of God, the Savior of the world! Selah!

c Ethelene Dyer Jones; Friday, December 3, 2010