“You teach the Bible”– a young woman asked, “Are you teaching reading?”
“No”, I explained, “The Bible is an amazing book that I help people to study”
She looked a bit mystified, so told her how the Bible was written over many centuries and contains stories, beautiful poetry, accurate history– like that of Jesus’ life– and much more, including predictions.
It took a while to explain to her the meaning of ‘predictions‘, but then I continued, “Some of the most amazing of the Bible’s predictions foretold the coming of Jesus– In amazing detail, foretelling the manner of His birth, death, life, and ministry.”
“Jesus?” She responded– And I realize that she hadn’t made the connection.
“Iesu-kiristo– Jesus Christ”, I told her, giving His name in Japanese and English.
She understood, then asked the meaning of His name.
I explained that Jesus was not an uncommon name then– it meant, God Saves. Christ was Greek for anointed one. In Hebrew, Jesus was the Messiah the savior promised in writings by Jewish prophets for hundreds of years.
Our conversation continued, but I was impressed by this exchange how, although Japanese are, to varying degrees, exposed to quite a bit of Western culture and history, they know far less than I often assume– about the book– the Bible, and the person– Jesus, that have shaped me, Western culture and, in fact, the world to an incredible degree.
I should remember that although I grew up in Western culture, I also knew little about the Bible. Of course, I thought of myself as a Christian– yet I don’t think I could have explained what that meant– until one day I discovered what it meant…
That story is in, That Book and That Man– Part Two
As a child growing up– in a small town near Detroit, Michigan– I remember often seeing large Bibles displayed in people’s homes. However, I don’t remember anyone who actually read them.
Many people try reading the Bible, but never make it past the first couple chapters of Genesis – right around the ‘who begat who’s– I was no exception and never thought much about it until, when I was eighteen, someone read to me what Jesus said in the Bible book of John:
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (NKJV)
That was clear to me– I was loved by God!– And Jesus, the expression of that love, had given His life to the world―to me. I asked Him to come into my heart– my life– receiving Him, His promise of eternal life, and His love, care, freedom, truth, peace, and happiness.
You can also simply pray a similar prayer:
Dear Jesus, thank You for giving Your life for me. Please forgive me for the wrong things I’ve done, come into my heart, give me Your free gift of eternal life, and teach me more about Your love. Amen.
Having met the author, I began reading the Bible– studying it– and, just as I told the young lady, I found it to be an amazing book. Contrary to what I expected– and to my relief– I discovered that it wasn’t about being ‘religious’, but about living a life of love– loving God and letting Him love others through us.
Okay, so I cashed the ‘check’ of Heaven as soon as it hit my hand– but, if you would like to maybe have a look at the signature before you carry it to the bank, you’ll have to check out, That Book and That Man– Part Three
If the Bible is a love letter from the Creator to us– did He sign it?– Yes. God used prophecies– inspired predictions given to men– prophets– who foresaw events before they happened.
An example of one whom God helped peer into the future is Job, whose name is borne by what is perhaps the oldest book in the Bible. Job said, “I know that my Redeemer (Savior; Messiah) lives, and in the later days He shall stand upon the earth.”– Job was looking forward more than a thousand years to just where we look back two thousand years– to the pivotal event of the Bible and history– Jesus’ life on earth.
Job’s prediction is old, but it’s not, by far, the most amazing or most specific. Perhaps a quarter of what is recorded in the Bible is– or were– predictions. I add ‘were’, because many of them, perhaps half, have already come to pass– most about God’s dealings with ancient Israel, but also amazing predictions of the rise and fall of kings and kingdoms– even world empires, and– some of the most specific and amazing– prophecies about Jesus– His birth and its location, His life and ministry and detailed descriptions of His betrayal, judgment, manner of death and burial.
I’ve listed just ten of the about 300 inspired predictions about the coming Messiah– first the Old Testament book with chapter number and verse from 500 to 1000 years B.C. followed by it’s New Testament fulfillment in Jesus Christ:
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Zechariah 11: 12… Matthew 26: 14–15– betrayer paid with 30 pieces of silver.
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Psalms 22: 18…Mark 15: 24– soldiers divided and gambled for his clothes.
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Psalms 22: 16… John 20: 27– hands and feet pierced
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Micah 5: 2… Matthew 2: 1– Bethlehem, the birthplace of the Eternal King.
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Psalms 34: 20… John 19: 33– no bones broken, although both thieves did.
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Isaiah 53: 9… Matthew 27: 57, 59–60– laid in a rich man’s tomb.
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Zechariah 9: 9… John 12: 13–14– hailed as king, riding on the colt of an ass.
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Isaiah 7: 14… Matthew 1: 18– Emmanuel– ‘God with us’– born of a virgin.
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Isaiah 53: 7… Matthew 26: 62–63a– silent before His accusers.
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Isaiah 53: 12… Matthew 27:38– crucified with thieves.
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