The start at the beginning of this series click here.
So far we have seen how Jesus spoke as if He was God. He words had higher authority than the Scriptures. To be persecuted on account of Him was the same as being persecuted on account of God. He claimed to be actively present in times before Abraham’s birth. Except for the latter, He spoke from Himself and did not need to make the connection obvious.
There is a prophetic picture of this Messiah who is God. As Jesus was not blatant about His identity, the prophets are not either. But the trail is interesting.
But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Too little to be among the clans of Judah, From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, From the days of eternity. (Micah 5:2)
Matthew’s account of Jesus’ birth tells of the magi from the east seeking the place of the new king’s brith. The scribes in Herod’s court quote the first half, “He will be born in Bethlehem.” But look at the second half of this verse, “His goings forth are from long ago, from the days of eternity.” There is a hint here of Jesus being God. Who else would be from the days of eternity. I say hint, for one might push back and say the promise of Him is from eternity. But you have to insert that notion. Micah writes, “His goings forth…” in response to “One will go forth…”
Isaiah has an interesting pairing of prophecies concerning One who will rule in Jerusalem and bring peace through justice.
Here is the first: And many peoples will come and say, "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, To the house of the God of Jacob; That He may teach us concerning His ways And that we may walk in His paths." For the law will go forth from Zion And the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. And He will judge between the nations, And will render decisions for many peoples; And they will hammer their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not lift up sword against nation, And never again will they learn war. (Isaiah 2:3,4 see also Micah 4:2,3)
Here is a prophecy of the LORD reigning and judging in Jerusalem and in judgment bringing peace. The prophecy seems to be of a direct connection—and it is the nations that are coming to Him.
Here is the second: Then a shoot will spring from the stem of Jesse, And a branch from his roots will bear fruit. The Spirit of the LORD will rest on Him, The spirit of wisdom and understanding, The spirit of counsel and strength, The spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD. And He will delight in the fear of the LORD, And He will not judge by what His eyes see, Nor make a decision by what His ears hear; But with righteousness He will judge the poor, And decide with fairness for the afflicted of the earth; And He will strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, And with the breath of His lips He will slay the wicked. Also righteousness will be the belt about His loins, And faithfulness the belt about His waist. … They will not hurt or destroy in all My holy mountain, For the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD As the waters cover the sea. Then in that day The nations will resort to the root of Jesse, Who will stand as a signal for the peoples; And His resting place will be glorious. (Isaiah 11:1-5, 9,10) [Note: the stem of Jesse is David. Jesse was David’s father]
There are many poetic parallels between Isaiah 2 and Isaiah 11. In Isaiah 2, it is the LORD who is the agent. In Isaiah 11, it is the Messiah. And in between these parallel passages Isaiah writes:
For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, On the throne of David and over his kingdom, To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness From then on and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this. (Isaiah 9:6,7)
Isaiah 9 seems to marry Isaiah 2 and Isaiah 11 and even Micah 5. A child born in Bethlehem whose goings forth are from eternity, who will reign with perfect justice in Jerusalem and bring peace. A child born whose name is Mighty God and Eternal Father.