1 day Ago By By Samuel Abbate Faith
Paul summarized the Gospel as, “Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). Critics of the scriptures point out that Paul’s ascertains are not found in the Old Testament scriptures. They accuse Paul and the Apostles of fabricating the resurrection to elevate Jesus above human status.
The scriptures are without error, they are authoritative, and they contain the Truth about God. Let us look at the evidence for the suffering, death, burial and resurrection of Jesus in the Old Testament. Prophecies concerning His suffering: (The first reference is the prediction; the second reference records its fulfillment.
) Messiah will be rejected by the people (Isaiah 53:3; Luke 13:34). Messiah will be scourged (Isaiah 50:6; John 19:1, Mark 15:15, and Matthew 27:26). Messiah will be spit on (Isaiah 50:6; Matthew 26:67; 27:30).
Messiah will have His hands and His feet “pierced” through (Psalm 22:16; John 20:25). Messiah will be silent in front of His accusers (Isaiah 53:7; 1 Peter 2:23). Messiah would have no honest witnesses against him (Isaiah 50:8; Matthew 26:59-63; Mark 14:56).
Prophecies regarding His death and burial: Messiah will be killed for the sins of His people (Isaiah 53:5 - 9; 2 Corinthians 5:21). Messiah’s bones will not be broken (legs were usually broken during crucifixion) (Psalm 22:17; John 19:33). Messiah will be buried with the rich (Isaiah 53:9; Matthew 27:57–60).
Messiah will be with criminals in His death (Isaiah 53:12; Mark 15:27). Prophecies regarding His Resurrection: (Fulfillment of these is detailed in the resurrection accounts in the Gospels). Messiah would die (Psalm 22:14; Isaiah 53:8-10a) and Messiah would be raised from the dead (Psalm 22:22, 24; Isaiah 53:10b).
Messiah would not remain dead nor His body decompose (Psalm 16:10). No Old Testament prophecy states that the resurrection would occur after three days. Jesus pointed to the account of Jonah as being a type of Jesus’ resurrection after three days.
A type is a God-designed example of a future occurrence. On two occasions when the Pharisees asked Jesus for a sign to prove that He was the Messiah. Jesus responded, that no sign would be given, except the sign of Jonah (Matthew 12:39; 16:4).
Jonah was thrown into the sea because He was running from God. A great fish swallowed him (Jonah 1:12-17). Jonah died but prayed to God from Sheol (the place where Old Testament believers were sent while awaiting resurrection) (Jonah 2:1-9).
God forgave Jonah’s disobedience and raised Jonah from the dead after three days and three nights. “For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” (Matthew 12:40).
In explaining all these truth to the disciples, Jesus “opened their minds to understand the Scriptures” (Luke 24). Please take time on Resurrection Sunday to review these scriptures..
