Prophecy and Fulfilment of the Lord Jesus Christ

Jesus would be the messenger of the new covenant.

Prophecy
Malachi 3:1c
"BEHOLD, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of hosts."

Fulfilment
Luke 4:43
"And he said unto them, I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also: for therefore am I sent."

Additional Fulfillment Examples
(John 6:68, 14:24, 18:37), (Hebrews 2:3)

Jesus would be the new covenant.

Prophecy
Jeremiah 31:31
"Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:"

Isaiah 42:6c
"I the Lord have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles;"

Fulfilment
Matthew 26:28
"For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins."

Additional Fulfillment Examples
(Mark 14:24), (Luke 22:20), (Hebrews 12:24 8:8-13, 10:14-22, 12:24)

Jesus would come to make an end to sins.

Prophecy
Daniel 9:24a
"Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy."

Fulfilment
Galatians 1:3-5
3 Grace be to you, and peace, from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, 4 Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father: 5 To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen."

Additional Fulfillment Examples
(John 3:16, 10:11), (Acts 8:30-35), (Romans 5:6), (1 Corinthians 15:3)

Jesus would provide freedom from the bondage of sin and death.

Prophecy
Isaiah 61:1-2c
1 "THE Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; 2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;"

Fulfilment
John 8:31-32
31 "Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;"
32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

John 1:29
"The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world."

Romans 8:2-4
2 "For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit."

Additional Fulfilment Examples
(John 8:34), (Romans 3:19-20, 3:28, 6:11, 6:14, 6:17-18, 7:6, 7:14, 7:22-23), (1 Corinthians 15:56-57), (2 Corinthians 3:15-17), (Galations 1:4, 2:6, 3:9-13, 5:1), ( Philippians 3:9), (2 Timothy 2:26), (Titus 2:13-14), (Hebrews 2:14, 9:14, 9:26), (1 Peter 2:24), (1 John 1:9, 2:2, 3:5), (Revelation 1:5)

Notes
The phrases "to proclaim liberty to the captives" and "the opening of the prison to them that are bound" are closely related as they speak of man's enslavement to the power of sin and Satan, which leads to our absolute inability to keep God's Law, and ultimately to death. (2 Timothy 2:26) speaks of "...the snare of the devil" and how mankind is "taken captive by him at his will." Since Adam, all men are born with the "sin gene." We are captive to sin in our lives, and by ourselves defenseless against the prince of this world, Satan. (James 2:10) says "For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all."

God created the Law, which was holy and just, and He also created a sacrificial system of atonement because man could not measure up to the perfection of the law. But it was not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins (see Psalm 40:6, 51:16), (Isaiah 11:1), (Hosea 6:6), (Hebrews 9:6-15, 10:1-22). The sacrifical system was a foreshadowing of the ultimate sacrifice to come, Jesus "...the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." In (Matthew 5:17) Jesus says "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil." Man's sin needed to be paid for by man, but only one man was sinless and therefore worthy, such a man who was not born of a human father like all those since Adam, but of the Holy Spirit of God ( Luke 1:34-35). Jesus' death at Calgary was the fulfilment of the Law.

"The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:56-57). Jesus has the keys to unlock to doors of sin's prison (Revelation 3:7). "STAND fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage" (Galatians 5:1).

Jesus would proclaim a period of grace.

Prophecy
Isaiah 61:1-2d 1 "THE Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; 2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;"

Fulfilment
John 5:24
"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life."

Romans 6:14
"For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace."

Titus 2:11
"For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,"

Additional Fulfillment Examples
(John 1:17), (Acts 13:39, 15:11, 16:31), (Romans 3:24, 5:15, 10:9, 11:6), (Ephesians 2:5, 4:7), (Titus 3:7), (2 Corinthians 6:1-2), (2 Timothy 2:1)

Notes The "acceptable year of the Lord" can be likened to the "day of salvation" in (Isaiah 49:8) where at a precise point in the human timetable God, through His grace, would willingly unveil His plan of redemption and extend salvation to all that accept that His son Jesus died for their sins, and rose from the dead providing eternal life to all that believe.

Instead of being accountable to a set of perfect and divine laws that the imperfect man could never achieve, God provides a way for all men to have salvation by the substitutionary sacrifice of one man who did in fact achieve the law. Only through the sacrifice of one who had never sinned could those who had sinned be saved. Just as the act of one man unleashed the disease of sin unto all mankind, so the act of one man provides the antidote. When someone accepts Jesus as their Lord and Savior, God's Holy Spirit indwells that person with a new awareness of sin, and a desire to keep God commandments. See (Ezekiel 36:24-28) for a description of how the Holy Spirit will indwell the regathered people of Israel at the second coming of Jesus.

(Jeremiah 31:31) says "Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah." Thus the death of the Messiah signified the end of the period of the Law and the beginning of the period of Grace. In a graphic example of the end of the period of the Law, (Matthew 27:50-51) records, "Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent."1 The veil was a curtain within the temple that acted as a divide between the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies. It separated the priests in the temple from the most sacred inner room. Once a year, on the Day of Atonement, the high priest seeking forgiveness for all of Israel's sins, would go into the Holy of Holies and sprinkle blood upon and before the ark. With the mission of Messiah complete, the era of sacrifices (that were a model of the ultimate sacrifice to come) was over. Now in this new covenant, the period of grace, we have a great High Priest who through His shed blood cleansed us of our sins and made it possible for us to come before the presence of God.

The phrase "...the acceptable year of the Lord" is seen as a type of "year of Jubilee" described in (Leviticus 25:10), "And you shall consecrate the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout all the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a Jubilee for you; and each of you shall return to his possession, and each of you shall return to his family." Just as indentered servants were set free, so mankind, who has been a slave to that great antagonist Satan, shall be set free as salvation and forgiveness for sins is provided through the work of Jesus. We are free to reunited with God, and walk with Him again as Adam once did.

Finally, "...the acceptable year of the Lord" has is also understood by some to refer to the comfort, deliverance, and the blessings bestowed upon Israel at the onset of the Messianic age to come. However it is recorded in ( Luke 4:20) that Jesus, after reading this passage, stated that "...This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears"2 and thus in the fullest sense "...the acceptable year of the Lord" is the period of Grace which continues from the death and resurrection of Jesus, until this present day. Yet the period of Grace will not last forever. Have you accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior? At the time of "the day of vengeance of our God" described in (Isaiah 61:2), it will be too late for those who have not already accepted Jesus. Do not delay, now is the day of salvation.

1. An earthquake announced the emergence of the period of Grace, note the dramatic environmental events that accompanied the giving of the Law from Mount Sinai in (Exodus 19:16), "And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled."

2. (Luke 4:16-21) records and many Bible commentator's note that while reading (Isaiah 61:1-2) in a synagog, Jesus stopped and closed the book after reading up to "to preach the acceptable year of the Lord," in verse 2 and said "This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears." Jesus purposely did not read the remainder of (Isaiah 61:2) which spoke of the "vengeance of our God" because that was a prophecy to be fulfilled at His second coming. This is an often-referenced example of how just a space between two words in prophecy can represent thousands of years. This is particularly true in Isaiah.

Jesus would die for the sins of the world.

Prophecy
Isaiah 53:8d
"He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken."

Daniel 9:26b
"And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself..."

Fulfilment
1 John 2:2
"And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world."

Hebrews 2:9
"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."

Additional Fulfillment Examples
(John 3:16, 10:11, 9:30), (Acts 8:30-35), (Romans 5:8, 6:9-10), (Galatians 1:3-4), (1 Peter 3:18), (1 John 2:21 4:10)

Jesus would give up his life to save mankind.

Prophecy
Isaiah 53:12b "Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors: and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors."

Fulfilment
Luke 23:46 "And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost."

Additional Fulfillment Examples
(John 3:16, 9:30, 10:11), (Acts 8:30-35), (Romans 5:8, 6:9-10), (Galatians 1:3-4), (Hebrews 2:9), (1 Peter 3:18), (1 John 2:21, 4:10)

Jesus would be as a sacrificial lamb.

Prophecy
Isaiah 53:7c
"He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth."

Fulfilment
John 1:29
"The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world."

John 19:14-18
14 "And it was the preparation of the passover, and about the sixth hour: and he saith unto the Jews, Behold your King. 15 But they cried out, Away with him, away with him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar. 16 Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led him away. 17 And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha: 18 Where they crucified him..."

Ephesians 5:2
"And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour."

Additional Fulfillment Examples
(John 1:36), (Ephesians 5:2), (Hebrews 7:27, 9:28), (1 Peter 1:19)

Jesus would be an offering for sin.

Prophecy
Isaiah 53:10b
"Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand."

Fulfilment
Matthew 20:28
"Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many."

Ephesians 5:2
"And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour."

Additional Fulfillment Examples
(Luke 23:46), ( John 1:29, 10:17-18), ( Romans 3:25), ( 2 Corinthians 5:21), ( Hebrews 10:7-10), ( 1 John 4:10)

Jesus's offering of himself would replace all sacrifices.

Prophecy
Psalm 40:6-8a
6 "Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required. 7 Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me,
8 I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart."

Fulfilment
Hebrews 10:10-13
10 "By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:
12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
13 From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool."

Additional Fulfillment Examples
(Galatians 1:4), ( Ephesians 5:2), ( Hebrews 9:28, 10:5-9)

Jesus's blood would be shed to make atonement for all.

Prophecy
Isaiah 52:15
"So shall he sprinkle many nations; the kings shall shut their mouths at him: for that which had not been told them shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall they consider."

Fulfilment
Revelation 1:5
"And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,"

Additional Fulfillment Examples
(Matthew 26:28), (Hebrews 9:14), (1 Peter 1:2, 1:19), (1 John 1:7)

Notes
Reference (Leviticus 4:6); "And the priest shall dip his finger in the blood, and sprinkle of the blood seven times before the Lord, before the vail of the sanctuary." Also reference ( Leviticus 17:11); "For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul."

Jesus would be the sin-bearer for all mankind.

Prophecy
Isaiah 53:6a
"All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all."

Isaiah 53:11d
"He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities."

Isaiah 53:12d
"Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors: and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors."

Fulfilment
Galatians 1:4 "Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:"

Hebrews 9:28
"So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many..."

2 Corinthians 5:21
"For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him."

Additional Fulfillment Examples
(John 1:29), (2 Corinthians 5:21), (Hebrews 9:28), (1 Peter 2:24, 3:18), (1 John 2:2, 3:5) (Galatians 1:4),

Jesus would bear and carry upon himself the sins of the world.

Prophecy
Isaiah 53:4b
"Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted."

Fulfilment
1 Peter 2:24
"Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed."

1 Peter 3:18
"For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:"

Additional Fulfillment Examples
(John 15:13), (Galatians 1:4), (Ephesians 5:2), (Hebrews 9:28), (1 John 2:2, 3:5)

Jesus would bear the penalty for mankind's transgressions.

Prophecy
Isaiah 53:5a
"But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed."

Fulfilment
Luke 23:33
"And they crucified him..."

Hebrews 9:28
"So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation."

Additional Fulfillment Examples
(Matthew 26:28), ( Romans 4:25), ( 1 Corinthians 15:3), ( Galations 1:4), ( Titus 2:13-14), ( 1 Peter 3:18)

Jesus's sacrifice would provide peace between man and God.

Prophecy
Isaiah 53:5b
"But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed."

Fulfilment
Colossians 1:20
"And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven."

Ephesians 2:13-18
13 "But now, in Christ Jesus, ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;
16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.
18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father."

Additional Fulfillment Examples
(Acts 10:36-40) ( Romans 5:1)

Jesus would justify man before God.

Prophecy
Isaiah 53:11c
"He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities."

Fulfilment
Romans 5:8-9
8 "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him."

Additional Fulfillment Examples
(Acts 13:39), (Romans 5:18), (1 Corinthians 6:11), (1 Peter 3:18)

Jesus would be the intercessor between man and God.

Prophecy
Isaiah 59:15-16b
15 "...And the Lord saw it, and it displeased him that there was no judgment. 16 And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him."

Fulfilment
Matthew 10:32-33
32 "Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.
33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven."

Romans 8:34
"Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us."

Additional Fulfillment Examples
(Luke 18:8, 23:34), (Hebrews 7:25), (1 John 1:21), (Revelation 3:5)

Jesus would intercede to God in behalf of mankind.

Prophecy
Isaiah 53:12e
"Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors: and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors."

Fulfilment
Luke 23:34
"Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do."

Additional Fulfillment Examples
(Matthew 10:32-33), (Luke 18:8), (Hebrews 7:25), (1 John 1:21), (Revelation 3:5)

Jesus's atonement would enable believers to be his brethren.

Prophecy
Psalm 22:22
"I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee."

Fulfilment
Hebrews 2:10-12
10 "For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
11 For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,
12 Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee."

Matthew 12:50
"For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother."

John 20:17
"-Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God."

Additional Fulfillment Examples
(Matthew 25:40), (Luke 8:21), (Romans 8:29), (Revelation 3:21, 12:10, 19:10)

Jesus would come to provide salvation.

Prophecy
Isaiah 59:15-16a
15 "...And the Lord saw it, and it displeased him that there was no judgment.
16 And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him."

Fulfilment
John 6:40
"And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day."

1 Thessalonians 5:8-10
" 8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.
9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him."

Additional Fulfillment Examples
(Matthew 26:28), (Luke 2:25-32, 3:6, 19:10), (John 3:16), (Colossians 2:13-15), (Hebrews 5:9, 9:28)

Notes
Isaiah 59:16 speaks of the salvation God brought through Jesus at His first coming. A similar verse is found in Isaiah 63:5, which looks to the judgement against Israel's enemies that Jesus administers at His second coming.

Jesus would bring salvation.

Prophecy
Zechariah 9:9d
"Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass."

Fulfilment
Luke 19:10
"For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost."

Titus 2:11
"For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,"

Additional Fulfillment Examples
(Matthew 26:28), (Luke 2:25-32, 3:6, 19:10), (John 3:16-17, 6:40), (Colossians 2:13-15), (1 Thessalonians 5:8-10), (Hebrews 5:9, 9:28)

Notes
Reference (Isaiah 62:11); "Behold, the Lord hath proclaimed unto the end of the world, Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy salvation cometh; behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him."

Jesus would have a ministry to the "poor," the believing remnant.

Prophecy
Zechariah 11:7
"And I will feed the flock of slaughter, even you, O poor of the flock. And I took unto me two staves; the one I called Beauty, and the other I called Bands; and I fed the flock."

Fulfilment
Matthew 9:35-36
35 "And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.
36 But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. "

Matthew 11:4-5
4 "Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see:
5 The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them."

Additional Fulfillment Examples
(Matthew 4:23, 12:37, 21:31), (Luke 4:18, 22:42-43), (John 7:45-46)

Notes
The Hebrew words "aniyye hatson" translated as "O poor of the flock" in verse 7 speaks of the truly God-fearing people of the nation Israel. In his book "Visions and Prophecies of Zechariah," David Baron expounds "... "the poor of the people," or as the word also means, "the needy," "the weak," "the afflicted," is almost invariably used in the Hebrew Bible of the pious or godly in the nation..." 1 Even in judgement God has mercy on the remnant, the humble few who do believe and honor the word of God.

(John 6:35) quotes Jesus, "... I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst." And so Jesus "fed the flock" by spreading the truth of God's word and His redemption to all of the people, but only a small number would accept the "bread of life" He offered. The majority of the people would reject Jesus' message, but even in the periods of history when Israel had turned from the Lord, God would always leave a remnant of righteous people through which He could advance His purposes. Charles Feinberg states, "When he fed the flock, he was in truth feeding the poor or humble of the flock (Zeph 3:12). He fed them all for the sake of the remnant among them." 2 (Zechariah 11:11) further validates this interpretation as it says "... the poor of the flock that waited upon me knew that it was the word of the Lord." In (John 10:27) Jesus says, "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me." See (James 2:5) and (1 Corinthians 1:26-29) for more on God's plan for the poor of the world.

"... And I took unto me two staves; the one I called Beauty, and the other I called Bands," in the Eastern culture a shepherd would sometimes carry two sticks. The first was a straight stick (rod) was used to protect the flock, to beat off animals attempting to attack the sheep. In addition, a shepherd would use this rod to rule, guide, and correct sheep. The second stick was a hooked or crooked stick (staff) used to keep the flock together, to keep sheep from straying, or to corral them for feeding. The staves in verse 7 are symbolic of the aspirations of the shepherd. The stick called "Beauty" (also called "Favour" or "Grace") is from the Hebrew word "no'am" which means "agreeableness," i.e. "delight," "suitableness," "splendor or grace," or "pleasant(ness)" 3 and is symbolic of God's divine favour and protection for His people Israel. Verse 10 validates this interpretation as the staff Beauty is broken to symbolze that God's covenant of protection for the nation Israel is broken. The stick called "Bands" (also called "Union" or "Bonds") is from the Hebrew word "hobhlim" which means "binders" or "to bind" and is symbolic of God's intention to firmly unite the people of Israel in brotherhood by the work and leadership of the Good Shepherd. Verse 14 confirms this interpretation when after Jesus, the Good Shepherd has been rejected, God says he will break the brotherhood between Judah and Israel.

1. David Baron, "Visions and Prophecies of Zechariah" page 391
2. Charles Feinberg, "The Minor Prophets" page 326
3. Strong's "Hebrew and Chaldee Dictonary of the Old Testament"

Jesus would offer salvation to all mankind.

Prophecy
Joel 2:32
"And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the Lord hath said, and in the remnant whom the Lord shall call."

Fulfilment
Romans 10:12-13
" 12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."

Additional Fulfillment Examples
(Matthew 10:32-33), ( John 3:16-18, 3:36, 5:23-24), ( Acts 2:21)

Jesus would come to bring Israel back to God.

Prophecy
Isaiah 49:5b
"And now, saith the Lord that formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob again to him, Though Israel be not gathered, yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the Lord, and my God shall be my strength."

Fulfilment
Matthew 15:24
"But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel."

Matthew 10:5-7
5 "These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:
6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand."

Additional Fulfillment Examples
(Matthew 23:37), ( Luke 1:30-33), ( Acts 5:31, 10:36, 13:23)

Jesus would come to Zion as their Redeemer.

Prophecy
Isaiah 59:20
"And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the Lord."

Fulfilment
Luke 2:38
"And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem."

John 10:11
"I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep."

Additional Fulfillment Examples
(Luke 2:25-32), (John 4:25-26), (Romans 11:26), (1 Corinthians 1:30), (1 Timothy 2:5)

Notes
This verse applies to both Jesus' first and second coming. The word "Redemeer" is a form of "Redemption" which means deliverance from some type of bondage by means of a payment or ransom.

Those who refused to listen to Jesus would be judged.

Prophecy
Deuteronomy 18:15-19c " 15 I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. 16 According to all that thou desiredst of the Lord thy God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, Let me not hear again the voice of the Lord my God, neither let me see this great fire any more, that I die not. 17 And the Lord said unto me, They have well spoken that which they have spoken. 18 I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. 19 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him."

Fulfilment

John 12:48-50
48 "He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.
49 For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.
50 And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak."

Acts 3:22-23
22 "For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you.
23 And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people."

Additional Fulfillment Examples
(Matthew 10:32-33), (John 3:18, 3:36, 8:24), (Romans 11:20-21)

Notes
In (John 3:17-18) Jesus says, " 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." Again in (John 8:24) Jesus says, "I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins." (Acts 4:12) records, "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."

Jesus would reject those who did not believe in him.

Prophecy
Psalm 2:12b
"Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him."

Fulfilment
John 3:36
"He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him."

Additional Fulfillment Examples
(Matthew 10:32-33), (John 3:18, 5:23-24)