Christ in Jeremiah

~ Jesus Christ Is The Righteous Branch—The Lord Our Righteousness ~

The Bible is about Jesus Christ  ~  “Jesus said to them, ‘How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!  Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter His glory?’  And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning Himself” (Luke 24:25-27).

In the Book of Jeremiah we see The Messiah—Jesus Christ several ways.  First, and foremost, He is the Righteous Branch and the Lord our righteousness. 

“‘Behold, the days are coming,’ says the Lord, ‘that I will perform that good thing which I have promised to the house of Israel and to the house of Judah: ‘In those days and at that time I will cause to grow up to David a Branch of righteousness; He shall execute judgment and righteousness in the earth. In those days Judah will be saved, and Jerusalem will dwell safely.  And this is the name by which she will be called: THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.’  “For thus says the Lord: ‘David shall never lack a man to sit on the throne of the house of Israel; nor shall the priests, the Levites, lack a man to offer burnt offerings before Me, to kindle grain offerings, and to sacrifice continually.’” And the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah, saying, “Thus says the Lord: ‘If you can break My covenant with the day and My covenant with the night, so that there will not be day and night in their season, then My covenant may also be broken with David My servant, so that he shall not have a son to reign on his throne, and with the Levites, the priests, My ministers.  As the host of heaven cannot be numbered, nor the sand of the sea measured, so will I multiply the descendants of David My servant and the Levites who minister to Me.’”  Moreover the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah, saying, “Have you not considered what these people have spoken, saying, ‘The two families which the Lord  has chosen, He has also cast them off?’  Thus they have despised My people, as if they should no more be a nation before them.  “Thus says the Lord: ‘If My covenant is not with day and night, and if I have not appointed the ordinances of heaven and earth, then I will cast away the descendants of Jacob and David My servant, so that I will not take any of his descendants to be rulers over the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  For I will cause their captives to return, and will have mercy on them’” (Jeremiah 33:14-26, see also 31: 27-34). 

Comment  ~  We have only touched the surface of Christ in Jeremiah.  For example, Jesus Christ is also seen in the Book of Jeremiah in the weeping prophet and as the King of Israel.  Also much more could be said about Christ—The Righteous Branch and The Lord our Righteousness.

additional comments: 

1.  The complete fulfillment of these images of our Messiah are still in the future.

2.  The book of Jeremiah is quoted in the New Testament:  Jeremiah 38:15 ~ Matthew 2:18.

3.  While on earth Jesus Christ often quoted the Scriptures including at least once from the Book of Jeremiah:  Jeremiah 7:11  ~   Matthew 21:13 and Mark 11:17.

4.  Compare these passages from Jeremiah with New Testament passages:   

Jeremiah 9:24  ~  1 Corinthians 1:31 and 2 Corinthians 10:17

Jeremiah 17:10  ~  Revelation 2:23 

Jeremiah 23:3  ~  2 Corinthians 6:17-18

Jeremiah 37:22  ~  2 Corinthians 6:16

Jeremiah 38:1 ~  2 Corinthians 6:16

Jeremiah 38:31-34  ~  Hebrews 8:8-12 and Hebrews 10:16-17 

Jeremiah 39:38  ~  2 Corinthians 6:16

The Apostle Paul told us the Scriptures present many shadows of things to come but the reality is found in Jesus Christ (Colossians 2:17). 

~~~ EXPLANATORY “JESUS CHRIST IN EVERY BOOK OF THE BIBLE” SERIES ~~~   

(1)  Approximately once a month ALN posts an overview of how Jesus Christ is seen in a specific book of the Bible.

(2)  In most cases these posts only scratch the surface regarding Jesus Christ in the particular book.

(3)  These posts will typically be in the same order as the books are found in the Bible.

(4)  These serial posts are in addition to our other ALN postings.

(5)  Subscription to ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog is simple—just use the link on the left sidebar.  Once subscribed you will not miss future posts.

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

If you found this post personally interesting or helpful, you are welcome to add a link to it on your own blog or website. 

If you would prefer to copy this post, please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight (http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/).

Messiah, 181

~ Messiah Would Be A Blessing To Gentiles, 8 ~

“Search the Scriptures—they testify of Me.”

— Jesus Christ (John 5:39)

The Scripture

“And now the Lord speaks—the One who formed Me in My mother's womb to be His servant, Who commissioned Me to bring Israel back to Him.  The Lord has honored Me, and My God has given Me strength.  He says, ‘You will do more than restore the people of Israel to Me.  I will make You a light to the Gentiles, and You will bring My salvation to the ends of the earth.’  The Lord, the Redeemer and Holy One of Israel, says to the One who is despised and rejected by the nations, to the One who is the servant of rulers: ‘kings will stand at attention when you pass by.  Princes will also bow low because of the Lord, the faithful One, the Holy One of Israel, Who has chosen You." (Isaiah 49:5-7, NLT).

The Messiah  

“But when Jesus knew it, He withdrew from there.  And great multitudes followed Him, and He healed them all.  Yet He warned them not to make Him known, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying:  ‘Behold!  My Servant whom I have chosen, My Beloved in whom My soul is well pleased!  I will put My Spirit upon Him, and He will declare justice to the Gentiles.  He will not quarrel nor cry out, nor will anyone hear His voice in the streets.  A bruised reed He will not break, and smoking flax He will not quench, till He sends forth justice to victory; and in His name Gentiles will trust’” (Matthew 12:15-21). 

“For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.  And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: ‘The Deliverer will come out of Zion, and He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob; for this is My covenant with them, when I take away their sins’” (Romans 11:25-27).  “And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, ‘In you all the nations shall be blessed.’  So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham” (Galatians 3:8-9). 

~~~ EXPLANATORY “MESSIAH” NOTES ~~~   

(1)  Each Saturday ALN posts an example of a Hebrew Scriptures prophecy (or foreshadowing) related to the coming Messiah which was fulfilled in the birth, life, death, or resurrection of Jesus Christ.

(2)  While extensive it will not be a complete list—there are hundreds of prophecies of the coming Messiah which have been fulfilled by one man—Jesus Christ at His First Coming.

(3)  It is important that there are many more prophecies of the Messiah, yet unfulfilled, which Christians believe will be fulfilled at the time of His Second Coming.  A particularly relevant Scripture verse in this regard is: “Do not despise prophesies” (1 Thessalonians 5:20).

(4)  These posts will typically consist only of Scripture—which speaks for itself.  Sometimes italicized or bold font will be used by ALN for emphasis.

(5)  The numbering of these fulfilled prophecies of the Messiah is used to differentiate individual posts. It is not chronological (either by time of the prophecy or by sequence in the life of the Messiah).  The posting sequence will, for the most part, be in the order that the prophecies appear in Scripture.

(6)  Because of the chosen methodology (#5 above) we will find many specific prophecies repeated multiple times throughout the Scriptures.

(7)  These serial posts are in addition to our regular Tuesday ALN postings on random topics.

(8)  Subscription to ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog is simple—just use the link on the left sidebar.  Once subscribed you will not miss future posts.

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

If you found this post personally interesting or helpful, you are welcome to add a link to it on your own blog or website. 

If you would prefer to copy this post, please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight (http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/).

EXTRA: Media Event

~ Author Interview on the “Christian Author’s Show” ~

All day Monday, December 8, 2014, the “Christian Author’s Show” will be running an interview with yours truly regarding the book “GOD LIGHT: Sunlight Sonlight.” 

On Monday click on this link to go to the interview: http://www.wnbnetworkwest.com/WnbAuthorsShowChristian.html

For those of you who may not be familiar with the book “GOD LIGHT” it is a truly unique book which shows the many parallels between natural sunlight and spiritual Sonlight. 

The book has won six national and international literary awards. 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

NOTES:

(1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page.

(2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column.

(3)     You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website. 

(4)     You may COPY any ALN post, but please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/ .

Quote: Discernment

~ Distinguishing Between Alternatives ~

Do you have a good decision-making process?

The following is an excerpt from a book.

Discernment has to do with the ability to distinguish between alternatives—decision-making based on principles. Discernment is a critical component of the Christian life. It takes life out of the realm of the mechanical and puts it into the realm of the decisional. Discernment takes knowledge and sensitivity to the Spirit of God. Spiritual discernment brings about action on the requirements and relationships required to live a life in accordance with God’s general will.

What about decision-making? Your decisions will not be pleasing to God unless they are based on knowledge of His desires for you. How can you know what God wants at a specific decision point? That is what you are about to examine.

Paul wrote to the Colossians, “we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding” (Colossians 1:9). Clearly Paul understood that you can know God’s will and he linked it to wisdom and understanding. Following the general will of God is the solid base for spiritual understanding and Godly wisdom. Paul defines wisdom’s source as God through Jesus Christ. “But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption” (1 Corinthians 1:30).

~ from “THY WILL BE DONE ON EARTH: Understanding God’s Will for You” by Robert Lloyd Russell, pgs 88-89 (ISBN: 9781606474303)

Learn more about this important book at Amazon, the Publisher, or the Author’s website. 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

If you found this post personally interesting or helpful, you are welcome to add a link to it on your own blog or website. 

If you would prefer to copy this post, please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight (http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/).