Sermons
Great Expectations Part 2
Great Expectations 2
Introduction:
1. In a previous lesson we considered “The Great Expectations” created by O.T. prophecies.
2. Among these texts were Gen. 3:15 referring to an enmity between the descendants of the serpent (devil) and those of the woman.
3. Gen. 12:1-3 narrows this descendancy through Abraham. It was promised that he would become a great nation, receive a land, and bless all the families of the earth.
4. 2 Sam. 7:12ff focused attention on the Davidic king whose kingdom would last forever.
5. We observed that Zacharias, Simeon, and Anna in Luke 1 and 2 were expecting God to act to bring redemption and consolation in the fulfillment of such passages.
6. In Acts 2 Peter proclaimed Jesus as the fulfillment of the prophecies, crucified, but raised from the dead and seated at the right hand of God.
7. This study will consider additional O.T. texts and concepts that flesh out “The Great Expectations” that the descendants of the woman (the people of God) had in the first century.
Discussion:
I. O.T. prophecies anticipated a coming redeemer who would fulfill three roles: prophet, priest, and king.
A. Our previous study focused on his role as king.
1. A scepter would not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his
feet. The obedience of the nations would belong to him (Gen. 49:10).
2. David’s throne would be established forever (2 Sam. 7:12-13).
3. Other O.T. texts add to this kingly expectation.
a. Zech. 9:9 (quoted in Matt. 21:5) refers to the king coming riding on a
donkey.
b. Isa. 9:6-7 says the government will rest on His shoulders and identifies Him
as the Prince of Peace.
c. Dan. 7:13-14 identifies the king as “the son of man.” Cf. Acts 7:54-57.
4. All the kings before Jesus were shadows corresponding to Him.
B. The coming redeemer would also be a priest.
1. Psa. 110:4 indicates that he would be a priest forever after the order of
Melchizedek.
2. This passage is quoted in Heb. 5:6; 7:17, 21 and applied to Jesus.
3. In Melchizedek and Jesus, the roles of king and priest come together (Heb.
7:1-3). The perpetuity of Jesus’ priesthood is anticipated in the
correspondence with Melchizedek. He is to be a priest forever. This has
implication regarding His resurrection and ongoing service as priest.
4. Melchizedek (and the Levitical priesthood) were shadows corresponding to
Jesus.
C. The coming redeemer was a prophet.
1. Deut. 18:15-22 speaks of a prophet like Moses.
2. Moses and the prophets after him were shadows corresponding to Jesus the
Prophet par excellence.
3. Jesus is presented in the N.T. as the Word of God (Jn. 1:1, 14).
4. He claimed to speak the word of truth from God, His Father (Jn. 8:31, 38, 42-
43). Cf. Jn. 4:19, 25-26.
5. Peter quotes Deut. 18:15, 18 in Acts 3:19-24 of Jesus.
6. Stephen does the same in Acts 7:37.
7. Hebrews presents Jesus as God’s Son through whom God has spoken (Heb.
1:1-2a; 2:1-4).
D. You may not believe in God. You may not believe the Bible is a revelation from
God. You may not believe in Jesus. But it cannot be denied that the Bible
teaches all these things. It presents Jesus as predicted Prophet, Priest, and
King. To deny Jesus denies the Bible. To deny Jesus denies prophecy. To
deny Jesus denies the intervention of God in the history of man. It all stands or
falls together.
II. There is additional evidence . . .
A. Isaiah speaks of the coming redeemer as the coming of God to His people.
1. Isa. 7:14: He is “Immanuel” meaning “God with us.”
2. Isa. 9:6 describes Him as “Mighty God.”
3. The Jews recognized that Jesus was claiming to be deity (Jn. 5:18). The
Father and the Son are distinguishable, but both are God (deity).
4. The Son acts as agent of the Father, but also is deity, equal with God.
B. There was the prediction of the coming of the kingdom of God.
1. Dan. 2:44-45 is one such prediction. We have already noted Dan. 7:13-14.
2. We have already seen such predictions in Gen. 49:9-10.
3. John preached the kingdom at hand (Matt. 3:2).
4. Jesus taught the disciples to pray, “Your kingdom come. Your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven” (Matt. 6:10).
C. There was the prediction of the coming of a new covenant.
1. The covenant idea permeates the O.T. It represents God as the sovereign
King over Israel and over all nations.
2. Israel had broken her covenant with God.
3. Jer. 31:31ff says, “Days are coming when I will make a new covenant . . ..”
4. When Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper He said, “This is the blood of the
covenant poured out for forgiveness” (Matt. 26:28). 1 Cor. 11:25 says, “This
cup is the new covenant in My blood.”
5. Heb. 8:8ff quotes Jer. 31 and indicates a transition from the old to the new.
D. Because Israel had been unfaithful to her covenant relationship with God, there
was the need for restoration. This restoration would involve an outpouring of
the Spirit, new life, unity and changed behavior.
1. Only a remnant would be recovered (Jer. 23:3; Isa. 11:11).
2. Ezekiel 36:24-28 and Isa. 24-27 make it clear that this would involve ethical
changes.
3. Included within this vision is new life and a reunion of Judah and Israel (Ezek.
27:11-28).
4. Peter uses Joel 2 on the day of Pentecost which reflects on the pouring forth
of the Spirit in the last days. It is the time when “everyone who calls on the
name of the Lord will be saved” (Acts 2:17-21).
5. It was a glorious expectation for those willing to submit to the King.
E. But for those unwilling to submit to the King the day of the Lord means
judgment and wrath.
1. Amos said, “Alas, you who are longing for the day of the Lord, for what
purpose will the day of the Lord be to you? It will be darkness and not light.
. . . even gloom with no brightness in it” (5:18-20).
2. Isaiah said, “For the Lord of hosts will have a day of reckoning against
everyone who is lifted up, that he may be abased. . . . The pride of man will
be humbled and the loftiness of men will be abased; and the Lord alone will
be exalted in that day” (2:12, 17).
3. Zephaniah said, “Near is the great day of the Lord, near and coming very
quickly; listen, the day of the Lord! In it the warrior cries out bitterly. A day of
wrath is that day, a day of trouble and distress, a day of destruction and
desolation, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness,
a day of trumpet and battle cry against the fortified cities and the high corner
towers. I will bring distress on men so that they will walk like the blind,
because they have sinned against the Lord; and their blood will be poured out
like dust and their flesh like dung” (1:14-17).
4. This is what John preached. Repent for the kingdom is at hand (Matt. 3:2).
He spoke of the wrath of God, and the burning of the chaff with unquenchable
fire (Matt 3:7-12).
Conclusion:
1. There is a decision to be made; a response to be given to The Great Expectations created by the promises of God.
2. The coming of the King, the Prophet, the Priestdemands that we accept Him and His work.
3. The coming of God, the coming of the Kingdom, the coming of a new covenant, demands our submission. It demands our repentance.
4. If there is no repentance the day of the Lord is a day of judgment, darkness and death in the execution of the wrath of God against sinners!
