Effie Darlene Barba

We began this journey of faith along the road to Emmaus on March 19, 2019 as this series began with Jesus explaining how all of prophecies spoken of Him were true.  These two disciples who listened to Him that day had their eyes opened to the full truth.  The birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ was foretold with exacting detail.  There were no surprises that God had not already known and foretold.  Christ came for this purpose so that men, women, and children might have a means of salvation.  Life was brought to those spiritually dead because of sin—that is all who would believe and accept this gift of salvation.  Over the course of this study, the truth of Jesus Christ has been verified.  Just as all these prophecies came true, so will those prophecies of the future be fulfilled as well.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.  Do not be carried ^[b]about with various and strange doctrines. For it is good that the heart be established by grace, (Hebrews 13:8-9 NKJV).  God has given us such magnificent grace. He never changes and always fulfills His promises as He does His prophecies.  Joshua speaking of Him wrote:  Not one word of all the good promises that the Lord had made to the house of Israel had failed; all came to pass (Joshua 21:44).  Yet, despite this, the people failed to follow God, turned to worship idols instead since the idols allowed them to indulge in self-exaltation and lascivious living, fulfilling their sinful desires of the flesh.  Still, Jesus came to pay the penalty for their sins and ours as promised. The old testament prophecies regarding the Messiah came true as promised.

Prophecies Yet to be Fulfilled:

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If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation (Romans 10:9-10).

This series of messages present the truths of prophecies foretold in the Old Testament coming alive in Jesus Christ.  From His humble birth to the cross, every detail was foretold of and fulfilled with such accuracy.  Proof of His being the Messiah, the son of God who came to pay the price of sin for us once and for all.  His sacrifice meaningless without God’s miraculous resurrection of His Son from the dead on the third day as promised.  Jesus is seated on the right hand of God ever making intercession for all of us who believe in Him, desiring His gift of salvation, and grasping hold of this truth.  God raised Him from the Dead and with that same power He raises us from the spiritual death in which we dwell into newness of life in Him, by Him and through Him.

Psalm 119: 1,4 foretells this. “The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool…The Lord hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.” Note, the words used here in Hebrew are: the Lord Yahweh (Jehovah) said unto Adonai (LORD).  God the Father said to God the Son, “Sit thou at my right hand.”  The Son in perfect obedience did all that the Father asked of Him.

Psalm 16: 9-11 

Continue reading “God Raised Him From the Dead. Why Is This Important?”

Darkness fell across the entire earth, although this was midday.  The sun, the moon and the stars blackened as Christ hung upon the cross.  God’s full wrath and judgement fell upon Christ for our sin.  The utter darkness that covered the earth was not only recorded in Scripture; but also, was recorded by two first century historians.  They were Thallus and Phlegon who recorded that an unexplainable darkness fell upon the land during the reign of Tiberius Caesar during a time of a full moon. These historians reported that the darkness lasted from the 6^th to the 9^th hour, which is what we call 12 noon to 3 pm now.  Furthermore, they wrote of earthquakes that occurred around the same time which were also unexplained.

Prior to this, Jesus had shown forth such grace and mercy, despite His agony.  He had prayed for His accusers and those who nailed Him to the cross (Luke 23:34).  Then, He offered salvation to the thief who professed belief in Him (Luke 23:43).  Finally, with great compassionate love He asked John to care for His mother (John 19:25-27).  When one considers the beatings His body had endured, the nails driven into His hands and feet, the thorns piercing His brow with blood pouring down, the severe dehydration, the difficulty breathing on a cross, the pain throughout His muscles, and most likely a pericardial effusion reducing the outflow of blood-the fact that He even spoke is miraculous. Much less with such love, compassion, and grace.

A Gracious Glimpse

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It was as if they never heard the truth about His impending death, though He told them. Furthermore, all of scripture foretold it.  Yet, they only wanted to hear only what they wished to be true.  They could quickly remember the promises that He would one day establish His Kingdom on earth; but did not understand this could not be done yet.  It could not be done until the full provision for humanity’s salvation from their own sin was accomplished.  That could only be done by God providing the final sacrificial lamb as promised in Genesis 3:15 and 22:8. The only perfect, unblemished lamb that could pay the price once and for all.  Establishing the means of salvation, that all who believe in Him might gain spiritual life eternally with Him, in Him, and through Him.

Just as Daniel predicted, the Messiah arrived into Jerusalem on the exact day predicted in Daniel 9:25.  Yet, all who read Daniel wanted to believe the 70^th week of years immediately would follow the 69^th week of years.  However, what Daniel wrote was that “after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself” (Daniel 9:26).  Jesus tried to tell them; although they did not listen.   From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day (Matthew 16:21)

He was cut off not for himself; but, rather for our sins.   But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man (Hebrews 2:9).

Details Foretold in Psalm 22

Continue reading “One Detailed Portrait of Christ’s Death Foretold”