A Spider Upon Catching a Fly
Although Jesus’ miraculous birth sufficiently evidences him as the Messiah, Jesus’ works and miracles further verifies it and emphasizes his greatness. According to the prophesies of the Old Testament, the Messiah would be “a prophet among the brethren,” anointed with the Holy Spirit , and teacher of parables. Fulfilling these prophesies, Jesus prophesized about his Father and Heaven and was referred to as being a “great prophet” who has “risen” among the people. Also, teaching at synagogues, as described in Luke 4:15, speaking confidently about the book of the prophet Esaias to the poor, preaching deliverance to captives, and preaching the acceptable year of the Lord, Jesus was clearly anointed with the Holy Spirit who, according to Christian belief, is the spirit that gives one the ability to do such great acts. Furthermore, the preacher of 31 parables (18 of which are thoroughly discussed by Luke), Jesus clearly was the teacher of parables. In addition to his great works that have fulfilled the prophesies of the Old Testament, Jesus’ miracles evidence his superiority and genuinely reflect him as the Messiah. From his miracle of making water made into wine at Cana, in which Jesus miraculously turns water in six stone jars of water into wine at a wedding, to his miracle of his appearance to seven apostles and aiding them in catching fish in a fishless sea after his resurrection , Jesus expressed a power nonexistent to man—a power which evidences him as God-sent and as the Messiah.
Evidently the Messiah of both Jewish and Christian faiths, Jesus exemplified the Messiah and fulfilled the prophesies of the Old Testament in his death. According to the prophesies of the Old Testament, the Messiah would be betrayed by a friend—His own “familiar friend, in whom [He] trusted, which did eat of [His] bread, hath lifted up his heal against [Him]” —sold for thirty pieces of silver—“So they weighed for his price thirty pieces of silver” —and would be pierced in the hands and feet—“for dogs have compassed [Him]: the assembly of the wicked has induced [Him]: they pierced [His] hands and feet” —much as Jesus was betrayed by his apostle, Judah, for thirty pieces of silver, and was, in Calvary, crucified “one on the right hand, and the other on the left.” More so, it was declared in the prophesies that the Messiah would be resurrected—He “shall not die, but live and declare the works of the Lord” and be “raised so that [He] may requite” the people, as was fulfilled by Jesus as described in Acts of “the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption” and that “God hath fulfilled the same… he hath raised up Jesus again” and will “rise from the dead the third day.” Furthermore, the ascension of the Messiah was prophesized, “hast ascended on high, hast led captivity captive, hast received gifts for men…” and was fulfilled by Jesus’ own ascension in which, [next page]