Are we worshiping the true Messiah

 

When it comes to the observation and celebration of the Feast of First Fruits, the Sunday the Lord Jesus Christ ascended to the Father after His Resurrection, let us examine the scriptures and see whether we are worshiping the true Messiah, or whether we are worshiping an impostor. I will try to condense this article as much as possible since most of us do not like reading long articles, but first, let us establish the facts.

On two occasions the Jews requested from Jesus Christ a sign to prove His Messiah-ship, the first occasion was after His first recorded miracle of turning water into wine, and soon afterwards driving out both men and animals from the temple, and over turning the tables; the Jews demanded of Him saying, “What miraculous sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this!”

Jesus’ reply was, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.” The Jews replied, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?” But the temple He was referring to was His body (John 2:18-21).

On the second occasion, some of the teachers of the law (Scribes) and Pharisees said to Jesus, “Teacher, we want to see a miraculous sign from you.” Jesus answered, “A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a miraculous sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth” (Matthew 12:38-40).

There was no ambiguity in the mind of Jesus Christ, as to how many hours constitute a day and a night; because, when He was told that Lazarus, the one whom He loved was sick, He replied, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” Then He said to His disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.” But His disciples replied, “Rabbi, a short while ago the Jews tried to stone you, and you are going back there? Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours in daylight? A man who walks by day will not stumble, for he sees by this world’s light. It is when he walks by night that he stumbles, for he has no light” (John 11:4-10).

In this context one has to conclude that, when Jesus said that He was going to spend three days and three nights in the heart of the earth, He literally meant seventy-two (72) hours, and not part of a day as a day, as it is commonly taught.

On another occasion some Pharisees came to Jesus and said to Him, “Leave this place and go somewhere else. Herod wants to kill you.” Jesus replied, “Go tell that fox, I will drive out demons and heal people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will reach my goal (be perfected)” (Luke 13:31-32).

This He said in reference to what He would be doing during the three days and three nights He would spend in hell, as alluded to by Peter who wrote; “For Christ died for sin once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit, through whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water’ (1 Peter 3:18-20).

These spirits to whom the gospel was preached whilst in hell were judged according to men in regard to the body. And those who heard the voice of the Lord lived. As it is written: “I tell you the truth, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live” ((1 Peter 4:6;John 5:25).

Jesus Christ at least on three occasions predicted His death to His disciples when He said to them that; “He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that He must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.” And, "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death, and deliver Him to the Gentiles to mock and to scourge and to crucify. And the third day He will rise again." (Matthew 16:21; 17:22-23; 20:19; Luke 24:46).

So then the provoking question is, did Jesus Christ fulfill His miraculous sign precisely as He foretold, and proved His Messiah-ship? Since the sign was a test sign to prove that Jesus Christ was indeed the Messiah, anything short or beyond the stipulated three days and three nights would render Him a hoax and an impostor.

Stay tuned

To be continued

With brotherly love 

Lucius Josepjh