THE GOSPEL OF LUKE: - Vital Christianity

The disciples of Jesus’ day should have been familiar with many of the propheciesconcerning the birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ since they had the HebrewScriptures to study. Some of these are:194Micah 5:2 states that the Messiah, who was foretold from ages past, would be born inthe town of Bethlehem. This was fulfilled according to Luke 2:4-5,7.Isaiah 7:14 states that the Jesus would be born of a virgin. This was fulfilledaccording to Luke 1:26-27,30-31.Hosea 11:1 states that Egypt is where God called his Son from. This was fulfilledaccording to Matthew 2:14-15.Isaiah 53:5 states that the Messiah would be scourged. This was fulfilled according toMatthew 27:26.Isaiah 53:12 states that the Messiah would be murdered with criminals. This wasfulfilled according to Mark 15:27Psalms 22:16 states that the Messiah would be pierced in his hands and feet. This wasfulfilled according to John 20:25-57Psalms 22:17-18 states that the Messiah’s garments would be gambled away. Thiswas fulfilled according to Matthew 27:35.Isaiah 53:9 states that the Messiah would be buried with the rich, even though he wasput to death as a wicked man. This was fulfilled according to Matthew 27:57-61.Psalms 16:10 states that the Messiah would be resurrected. This was fulfilledaccording to Mark 16:6-7.No one other than Jesus of Nazareth has or could have done these things. Isaiah 35 evenreveals what kinds of miracles the Messiah would perform.Although Jesus could have orchestrated His life to make it look like He was the Messiahin the case of certain “miracles,” such would have been impossible in the case of others. No onecan orchestrate when they are born or how they are treated when they die. And who decides whoJesus is to be executed with and who has the power to raise themselves from the dead?In his book Science Speaks, Peter Stoner claims that for one man to fulfill just eight of theprophecies mentioned in the Bible requires a probably of 1 out 10 17 . If we had that many silverdollars we could cover the state of Texas two feet deep. The probability of one man fulfilling asmany as 48 of the Bible’s prophecies equals the probability of 1 in 10 157 .JESUS AND THE GENTILES (18:32)It is interesting that Luke does not lay blame to the religious establishment in terms ofJesus’ arrest and trial. Instead, he refers to the handing over of Jesus to the Gentiles:“He will be handed over to the Gentiles” (v. 32).