One day an older man, a priest of the order of Abijah was in the House of The Lord to burn incense. As a priest in the Holy Temple he would perform his duties while also praying. So, we see the priest praying and in the midst of performing his duties an angel appeared right next to the altar of incense, startling the old priest. The angel quickly spoke telling him not to be alarmed as he brought tidings of good news. He told Zachariah that the Lord had heard the petitions of him and his wife Elizabeth. He then announced that Elizabeth was with child, a male. He instructed Zachariah that he was to name the child John.
He also informed him that John would be filled with the Holy Spirit from the day of his birth. John would be a priest like his father and would do great things for the Lord. He will bring many Israelites to the Lord their God and baptize those whose repentance is genuine. Additionally, he will prepare the way of the coming of the Lord. In fact, John will be given a signal informing him when he is in the presence of the Lord.
As you can imagine this was a lot of information for Zachariah to digest. Yet, he stopped listening when the angel said “your wife will give you a son.” Why? Both Elizabeth and Zachariah were advanced in age. The Bible does not tell us exactly how old, but obviously older than child bearing age. It should be noted here that according to Jewish law at that time there were seven ways a Jew could be excommunicated. One of which was childlessness. Thus, Zachariah had the right to divorce Elizabeth as she had never born a child. Instead of divorcing her, he remained married and he and Elizabeth had appealed to God for a child of their own. Yet, time had slipped away and now Elizabeth was beyond child rearing age.
So, Zachariah told the angel it was not possible and he refused to believe. The angel, who is identified as Gabriel by the way, informed Zachariah that indeed it was possible since God said it would happen. Unfortunately for Zachariah, due to his disbelief he was made mute as a punishment. And he would remain mute until John was born.
Now remember that Mary had received a similar visitor and told that she too, was to give birth to a son. Incidentally, Elizabeth and Mary were related and Elizabeth was Mary’s aunt. This also means that John and Jesus were cousins. Genealogically, Elizabeth was descended from Aaron while Mary was descended from Abraham. Two women who are descendants of very important and honored houses of Jewish ancestry. Two women who would give birth to two very important men. One who was the herald for a king, the other the long awaited king.
The book of Luke tells us that Mary visited Elizabeth while they both were pregnant. However, no mention is made that they ever communicated or visited while their sons were growing into adulthood.
At the appointed time, John began his ministry. He went forth into Judea and Israel announcing the soon coming of the Messiah. He exhorted the Jews to make themselves acceptable to the Lord. He admonished them to repent and be baptized thus showing publicly their renouncement of sin.
His message was heard far and near from the fishing village to the Palace of Herod. Hundreds flocked to hear his message of the need for repentance and the soon coming of the Messiah.
John was preaching at a time when the people of Israel were ready to hear the message. Israel had been under the thumb of their oppressors for over 300 years now. They were crying out to God to rescue them and as they cried out to God there was a great number of people returning to God. As John preached repentance, people were repenting and coming to him to be baptized, symbolizing their new purity before God.
John usually conducted his baptisms in the Jordan River. Conveniently, this was in a valley which one would have to traverse if going from Galilee to Jerusalem. One day, while John was preaching and baptizing Jews who have repented their sins , John noticed an individual approaching from the direction of Galilee. When John saw Jesus, he immediately knew who he was and loudly announced “behold! Here is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29)
Why did John proclaim Jesus as the Lamb of God? If we go back to Genesis chapter 4 we find the first instance of a sacrifice being offered to God. Cain, a farmer brought the first fruits from the field as his sacrifice. Abel a shepherd brought a sheepherder brought an unblemished lamb. God chastised Cain for bringing an unacceptable sacrifice. This tells us that a sacrificial lamb was required for a sin offering after Adam and Eve were ejected from the Garden of Eden.
Later in Leviticus, Moses and Aaron are given specific instructions on how to build the Tabernacle including what each elements must be in the tabernacle, how each item is built and what materials to use. In addition, they are given specific instructions on what is an acceptable sacrifice and how to conduct the service for the sacrifice. What is the preferred sacrifice? A unblemished lamb.
As you read through the Bible you see in Exodus, Ezra, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and so forth that time after time a sacrificial lamb is slain on the altar when an individual makes his/her sin offering. The lamb is representative of Jesus and the sacrifice he will soon make for all sinners. Thus, John had been given his signal and the knowledge of who this man was as he approached.
He recognized that this man Jesus was the one all Hebrews had been hoping would soon arrive and free them from the tyranny of Rome. John also knew that Jesus did not need his type of baptism since Jesus was sinless. Jesus had nothing to confess or repent. Indeed, he said to Jesus, “I need to be baptized by you.” (Matthew 3:14)
Jesus demurred the request and stated that “it was proper to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” (Matthew 3:15). To what purpose did Jesus need baptism? What was the point?
Jesus was absolutely sinless. If he wasn’t sinless than what hope would we have to defeat Satan. All the value gained from His death on the cross would become meaningless if he did not conquer sin.
Jesus needed to be baptized because he needed to represent us, the sinner’s. He took on all our sin past, present and future and bore it on his shoulder’s as he was being nailed to the cross. As Isaiah 53 states, “He was numbered among the transgressors.” He took our place and suffered our death due to sin. Therefore, he first needed to be baptized in the Jordan to confirm our repentance. He was identifying himself with the people who he would reign over as the King. Jesus chose to identify himself with a people who felt hopeless because of sin. He made certain that the bridge between himself and those in need of the love and hope he offered was firmly in place. His baptism was also symbolic, for it was at this point he began his ministry.
There are three important occasions in a Jewish males life. The first occasion occurs within one week of birth. On that occasion three things happen; one the male is circumcised. Secondly, the child is formally presented to society and his name is pronounced. And third, the child is presented to the Lord at the temple as instructed in Leviticus 12. A sacrifice is offered, in Jesus’ case Mary and Joseph provided two Turtle Doves. This event is noted in Matthew 2:22. After the sacrifice the family presents the child to the priest who then prays over the child.
The second important event in the male child’s life occurs at age twelve when he has his Bar Mitzvah. The third occasion is when he turns 30 years of age. According to Jewish tradition a man reaches maturity at age 30. It is believed that at this age he is then able to assume all of his adult responsibilities as a male in Jewish society. When Jesus approached John for baptism, he was 30 years of age.
John led Jesus down the bank and into the river Jordan. He fully immerses Jesus and raises him back up. Jesus walks over to the bank of the river and kneels to pray. As he prayed, heaven opens up and light shines down on Jesus. The Holy Spirit descends in the form of a dove and then God proclaims, “This is my Son in whom I am well pleased.”
There has been much conjecture over the years as to whether the man we know as Jesus was really the Messiah. In the years since Jesus ascended to heaven there have been over 20 individuals who have claimed they were Christ and not Jesus of Nazareth. The Old Testament gives us several clues that assists in identifying the true Messiah and when he would appear.
Before we search some Bible Scriptures I would like to point out a couple of definitions. Many times when we speak of Jesus we include a second name; Christ. Would it surprise you to know that Christ is not a name, but a title? Christ is the English translation for the Greek word Christos. Christos means Messiah. Christos is the Greek translation of the Hebrew word Mashiach which means Anointed One. Thus, when we are saying Jesus Christ, we are really saying Jesus, the Anointed One.
When Gabriel visited Mary that fateful night he informed her that her son was to be named Jesus. Jesus is the transliteration of the Hebrew work Yeshua. Yeshua is Hebrew for Yahweh is Salvation.
So, how do we determine if Jesus of Nazareth is the real Messiah? I would like to turn to the book of Daniel. In chapters 8 and 9 of Daniel we encounter the 2300 day prophecy that informs us when certain events occur, most prominently when we can expect the Second Coming of Christ.
Daniel chapter 9 also points to when the Messiah will arrive. Lets look at verse 25. an 9:25 Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.
Dan 9:26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.
Dan 9:27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.
Now let me read these same verses in the Clear Word Bible: “This prophecy has nothing to do with the end of the seventy years of the Babylonian captivity that you’ve been studying about and the time for your people to go home. What you need to understand is that when a Persian king commands the rebuilding of Jerusalem, that’s the point in time when the 2,300 year prophecy will begin. Seven weeks or 49 years later the city will be rebuilt in spite of great opposition. 62 weeks or 434 years after the city is rebuilt, the Messiah will come and be anointed, the One whom you and your people have looked forward to for so long. These two periods, the seven weeks and the sixty-two weeks I just mentioned make up the sixty-nine weeks. This means that one week or seven years are left of the time allotted to your people. During this week the Messiah will carry out His mission and lay down his life for all people. A few years later Jerusalem and the Temple will be destroyed. War, destruction and desolation will come in on the land like a flood. These things have already been decreed. It’s during this week that God through the Messiah will ratify his covenant and extend one last call to his people. But in the middle of that week, just three and a half years into his ministry, the Messiah will be rejected by his own people and allow himself to be crucified. That’s when the ancient sacrifices and offerings will come to an end. His followers will offer God’s mercy to Israel for another three and a half years to complete the seventieth week. But the rulers will again reject God’s offer of mercy and this is what will bring about the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple. Those who would destroy the city and the Temple will also come to their end.”
So, let’s unpack these verses a little bit. The three verses tells us that a Persian king will announce the rebuilding of Jerusalem and there will be many who wish not to see this happen. After the city is rebuilt another 434 years will pass until the Messiah arrives and is anointed. However, the people will reject him and will crucify him half way through his seven year ministry. His followers will finish that week (or 3 ½ years) when the people will reject his followers also.
So, when did a Persian king announce the rebuilding of Jerusalem? The answer is found in Ezra 7 beginning with verse 11. From verse 11 to verse 26 is a copy of the decree issued by King Artaxerxes in the 7th year of his reign. That would be year 457 BC. Xerxes is giving control of Jerusalem to Ezra in which he is to act as a governor for the Babylonian king. At this time in history Babylon was in constant warfare with Egypt. By settling Jerusalem Xerxes is setting up a buffer between Egypt and Babylon. Thus, because of these hostilities Babylon is inadvertently helping fulfill the prophecy found in Daniel 9.
As you read through these texts you will see that Xerxes is being very generous. He is providing gold, food, and temple goods. He is allowing Ezra and the Hebrews to follow their God and run the government according to Jewish Law. He is also mandating that the provincial governors recognize the government of Jerusalem and provide food and monies to Ezra to help establish this new government. In verse 18 Xerxes is giving Ezra leeway to rebuild the wall around the city which fulfills Daniel 9:24 and begins the 70 week prophecy bringing us to AD 27. AD 27 is when Jesus of Nazareth was baptized.
Let’s turn our attention now to the term Anointed One. Anointing was an important function in Hebrew custom. Anointing was conducted for three main purposes: to crown the king, to sanctify the priests and to heal a person or prepare the dead for burial. God gave specific directions and ingredients for the anointing oil. Turn with me to Exodus 30:23 xo 30:23 Take thou also unto thee principal spices, of pure myrrh five hundred shekels, and of sweet cinnamon half so much, even two hundred and fifty shekels, and of sweet calamus two hundred and fifty shekels,
Exo 30:24 And of cassia five hundred shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary, and of oil olive an hin:
Exo 30:25 And thou shalt make it an oil of holy ointment, an ointment compound after the art of the apothecary: it shall be an holy anointing oil.
As you can see most of the ingredients were expensive. Furthermore, it was illegal for anyone to compound these ingredients and use it for anything other than the purposes directed by God.
In Exodus 30:30 God directs Moses to anoint Aaron and the Levites as priests using this oil.
In Luke 10:34 we find Jesus telling the parable of the Good Samaritan in which he uses the anointing oil to bind up the wounds of the man beaten and robbed.
In Judges 9:8 and 1 Samuel 9:16 we see where oil was used to anoint a king prior to confirming his appointment to rule over the people of Israel.
In 1 Samuel chapter 10 we see Samuel anointing Saul as he assumes his reign over Israel. And in 1 Samuel 16 we see David being anointed as king.
How was a person anointed? Turn to Psalms 133:2 It is like precious oil poured on the head,
running down on the beard,
running down on Aaron’s beard,
down on the collar of his robe.
3 It is as if the dew of Hermon
were falling on Mount Zion.
For there the Lord bestows his blessing,
even life forevermore
The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), Ps 133:2–3.
This method was used on kings and priests. If one was to anoint a deceased individual than the entire body was rubbed with the anointing oil. If you were using the anointing oil to heal someone then it would be applied over the injury or disease.
Remember, the anointing oil was used only for special circumstances. It was not uncommon to use regular olive oil with a fragrance attached such as Myrrh or Frankincense. This type of oil might be used to rub onto skin to make it soft. To anoint a special guest into the home or to reward a soldier returning from battle.
Finally, let us turn to scriptures that foretells the arrival of the Messiah and how to identify him.
Turn with me to Psalms 2, Psa 2:1 Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?
Psa 2:2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying,
Psa 2:3 Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.
Psa 2:4 He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision.
Psa 2:5 Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure.
Psa 2:6 Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.
Psa 2:7 I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.
In the first 6 verses, the time in history is foretold when the Messiah shall come. In Verse 7 we see that God will announce that the Messiah is “my son”.
Now turn with me to Isaiah 42:1sa 42:1 Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.
In this verse we see that God is well delighted (another word would be pleased).
Now turn with me to Isaiah 11:1 sa 11:1 And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:
Isa 11:2 And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD;
Here in Isaiah another clue as to who the Messiah is, is the fact that the Lord has anointed him with the holy spirit. You will find this claim also in Isaiah 61:1
Let us now turn to 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 brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
Luk 4:19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
Jesus is telling anyone who would listen what his ministry will be and how God has blessed and equipped him to accomplish his task on earth.
In Acts 4:7 we are told by Luke that, “ct 4:27 For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,
In Hebrew 1:9 Paul tells us, Heb 1:9 Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.
We can conclude from these verses that the disciples recognized that Jesus was the Son of God, anointed by God for his ministry and that he was the Messiah as foretold in the Old Testament Scriptures.
Let us turn back to Matthew 3:13 and the baptism of Christ. Christ is walking from the direction of Galilee through the Jordan Valley and approaches John the Baptist whereupon Christ asks John to baptize him. John recognizes who Jesus really is and replies that Jesus should be baptizing him and not the other way around.
Christ response is that John must baptize Jesus to fulfill prophecy. John conducts the baptism and Jesus climbs back up the bank of the river and begins to pray. As he is praying the heavens open up, a dove descends and settles above Jesus and a voice is heard from heaven announcing, “This is my Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
All four gospels record this event. Yet, the Gospels note that only Jesus and John saw the Holy Spirit touch down on Jesus in the form of a dove. Only one of the gospels suggests that John also heard the voice of God declare that Jesus was his son.
As far as the dove representing the Holy Spirit it is not mentioned anywhere else in the Bible except on this occasion. The dove in the Bible represents weakness, sweetness, gentleness and peace. We should remember that the dove was also used by the poor as a sacrificial offering. Mary and Joseph brought a dove to the temple when they presented Jesus for the first time to the priests. Also, you may recall that it was a dove that returned to Noah with an olive branch to signify that the flood waters had receded and that it was safe to leave the Ark.
Finally, in this tableau of Jesus’s baptism one more significant fact should be pointed. In Matthew 3:16, 17 we see all three of the Godhead present. God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. Amazing! Nowhere else in the Bible do we see all three members of the trinity come together like this.
In conclusion, I hope I have erased any doubt that Jesus of Nazareth is indeed Jesus, the Anointed One of God and our Lord and Savior. That he appeared at the appointed time as foretold in the Old Testament Scriptures. That he did indeed come to save the lost, heal the sick, preached the Love of God and finally, went to the cross for each and everyone of us.
His witness to us was true. The gospel message is true. His death rescued us. And his disciples finally recognized who he was and carried his ministry to both Jew and Gentile.
At Jesus’s baptism he assumed the responsibility for man’s sin. By his anointing of the Spirit he was crowned and empowered as both High Priest and King. Finally, by his anointing he was also prepared for the final event, his sacrifice for mankind on Calvary’s Hill.
Like John the Baptist, I would like to proclaim behold! Here is the Lamb of God. Please accept him into your heart as your Savior.
