He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible
and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all
things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in
him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church;
he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything
he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness
dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether
things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood,
shed on the cross. (Col 1.15ff)
I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. (John 17.4)
For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost."
(Luke 19.10)
"And the former priests, on the one hand, existed in greater numbers,
because they were prevented by death from continuing,but He, on the other
hand, because He abides forever, holds His priesthood permanently.Hence,
also, He is able to save forever those who draw near to God through Him,
since He always lives to make intercession for them.
"An adopted son was considered like a son born in the family. He could
no longer inherit from his natural father. He was no longer liable for
old debts (a loophole eventually closed [in Roman Law]). So far as his
former family was concerned, he was dead." (NIV Bible Dictionary, s.v.
"Adoption")
and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation
to those who are waiting for him.
"Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.
"There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.
"He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God-- children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.
"The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
"John testifies concerning him. He cries out, saying, "This was he
of whom I said, `He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was
before me.' " From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing
after another. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came
through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God, but God the One and
Only, who is at the Father's side, has made him known.
Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet The last enemy to be destroyed is death. (1 Cor 15.24ff)
For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through
the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved
by His life.(Rom 5.10)
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was
rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty
might become rich.
But the LORD was pleased To crush Him, putting Him to grief; (Is 53.10)
The nature of the sacrificial Lamb of God...
"For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly." (Rom 5.6)
"But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, 5 to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.(Gal 4.4)
All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast-all whose names have not been written in the book of life belonging to the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world. (Rev 13.8)
And for this reason He is the mediator of a new covenant, in order that since a death has taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were committed under the first covenant (Heb 9.15)
in the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised
long ages ago, 3 but at the proper time manifested, even His word,
in the proclamation with which I was entrusted according to the commandment
of God our Savior; (Titus 1.2)
The Son of Man is to go, just as it is written of Him; (Matt 26.24)
Remember how He spoke to you while He was still in Galilee, 7 saying that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again (Lk 24.7)
The prophets who prophesied of the grace that would come to you made careful search and inquiry, 11 seeking to know what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow. (1 Peter 1.10f)
He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of
dry ground.
He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his
appearance that we should desire him.
He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar
with suffering.
Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we
esteemed him not.
Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows,
yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted.
But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our
iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds
we are healed.
We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his
own way;
and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth;
he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her
shearers is silent,
so he did not open his mouth.
By oppression and judgment he was taken away. And who can speak of
his descendants?
For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression
of my people he was stricken.
He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his
death,
though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth.
Yet it was the LORD's will to crush him and cause him to suffer,
and though the LORD makes his life a guilt offering,
he will see his offspring and prolong his days,
and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand.
After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light of life and
be satisfied;
by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many,
and he will bear their iniquities.
Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,
and he will divide the spoils with the strong,
because he poured out his life unto death,
and was numbered with the transgressors.
For he bore the sin of many,
and made intercession for the transgressors.
And I said to them, If it seems right to you, give me my wages; and if not, forbear. And they weighed for my wages thirty pieces of silver. And the Lord said to me, Cast it into the treasury, the good price at which I was paid by them. And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them into the treasury in the house of the Lord. (Zech 11.12f, Soncino CD)
Some of the rabbi's saw this as prediction of a Suffering Messiah, Messiah Son of Joseph as forerunner of Messiah Son of David:
"It is well according to him who explains that the cause is the slaying of Messiah the son of Joseph, since that well agrees with the Scriptural verse, And they shall look upon me because they have thrust him through, and they shall mourn for him as one mourneth for his only son; (Zech 12.10) ...Our Rabbis taught, The Holy One, blessed be He, will say to the Messiah, the son of David (May he reveal himself speedily in our days!), 'Ask of me anything, and I will give it to thee', as it is said, I will tell of the decree etc. this day have I begotten thee, ask of me and I will give the nations for thy inheritance.14 But when he will see that the Messiah the son of Joseph is slain, he will say to Him, 'Lord of the Universe, I ask of Thee only the gift of life'. 'As to life', He would answer him, 'Your father David has already prophesied this concerning you', as it is said, He asked life of thee, thou gavest it him, [even length of days for ever and ever]. (Talmud, Mas. Sukkah 52.a)
"The Messiah will ask the Holy One: Master of the universe, will my suffering last many years?
The Holy One will reply: Upon your life and the life of My head, I have decreed for you a period of seven years. But if your soul is saddened by the prospect of your suffering, I shall at this moment banish these sinful souls.
"The Messiah will say: Master of universes, I take this suffering upon myself with joy in my soul and gladness in my heart, so that not one person in Israel may perish; that not only those who are alive may be saved in my days, but also those who are buried in the earth; not only those who died in my days, but also those who died ever since the days of Adam up to the time of redemption; and that not only these may be saved in my days, but also those who died as abortions; and that not only abortions, but all those the thought of whose creation came to Your mind but who were not created. Such are the things I desire, and for these I am ready to take upon myself [whatever You decree].
"The sages said: During the seven-year period preceding the coming of (Messiah] son of David, iron beams will be brought and loaded upon the Messiah [son of Jo- seph's] neck, until his body is bent low. Then he will cry and weep, his voice will rise up to heaven, and he will say to God: Master of the universe, how much can my strength endure? How much can my spirit endure? How much my breath before it ceases? How much can my limbs suffer? Am I not flesh and blood?
"At that time the Holy One will say to him: Ephraim, My true Messiah, long ago, ever since the six days of creation, you took this ordeal upon yourself At this moment, let your pain be My pain. Ever since the day the wicked Nebuchadnezzar came up and destroyed My house, burned My Temple Hall, and banished My children among the nations of the world--and this I swear by your life and the life of My own head--I have not been able to ascend My throne. And if you do not believe Me, see the night dew that has fallen on My head.
"At these words, the Messiah will reply: Master of the universe, now
I am reconciled. The servant is content to be like his Master. [Pesikta
Rabbati, Piskas 35-37; cited in The Book of Legends, pp396]
Why are you so far from saving me,
so far from the words of my groaning?
O my God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer,
by night, and am not silent.
Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One; you are the praise of Israel.
In you our fathers put their trust; they trusted and you delivered
them.
They cried to you and were saved; in you they trusted and were not
disappointed.
But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by men and despised by the
people.
All who see me mock me; they hurl insults, shaking their heads:
"He trusts in the LORD; let the LORD rescue him.
Let him deliver him, since he delights in him."
Yet you brought me out of the womb; you made me trust in you even
at my mother's breast.
From birth I was cast upon you; from my mother's womb you have been
my God.
Do not be far from me, for trouble is near and there is no one to help.
Many bulls surround me; strong bulls of Bashan encircle me.
Roaring lions tearing their prey open their mouths wide against
me.
I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint.
My heart has turned to wax; it has melted away within me.
My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to
the roof of my mouth;
you lay me in the dust of death.
Dogs have surrounded me; a band of evil men has encircled me,
they have pierced my hands and my feet.
I can count all my bones; people stare and gloat over me.
They divide my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing.
To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. "He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth." 23 When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. (1 Pet 2.21)
Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. (Matt 16.24)
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something
to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a
servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance
as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death- even death on
a cross! (Phil 2.5-8)
16 In the case of a will, it is necessary to prove the death of the one who made it, 17 because a will is in force only when somebody has died; it never takes effect while the one who made it is living. (Heb 9.15f)
He forgave us all our sins, 14 having canceled the written code,
with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us;
he took it away, nailing it to the cross. 15 And having disarmed the
powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing
over them by the cross. (Col 2.13f)
Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets;
I
have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 I tell you the
truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the
least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything
is accomplished. (Matt 5.17)
For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews on behalf of God's truth, to confirm the promises made to the patriarchs 9 so that the Gentiles may glorify God for his mercy (Rom 15.8)
For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes"
in Christ. (2 Cor 1.20)
Now when they had traveled through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they
came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. 2 And according
to Paul's custom, he went to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with
them from the Scriptures, 3 explaining and giving evidence that
the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead (Acts 17.1f)
"As for the person who hears my words but does not keep them, I do
not judge him. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save it.
48 There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words;
that very word which I spoke will condemn him at the last day. 49 For
I did not speak of my own accord, but the Father who sent me commanded
me what to say and how to say it. (John 12.47ff)
I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the
city until you have been clothed with power from on high." (Luke 24.49)
And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. (I John 4.14)
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. (John 10.10)
"The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach
good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the
prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed,
19 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." (Luke 4.18ff)
Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24 but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength. (1 Cor 1.22ff)
May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is a new creation. (Gal 6.14-15)