The Substance of God's Plan Part 3

In the first part of this series we looked at the reason “why” a New Covenant was required. In the second part we look at part of the “how”, considering the Chosen Vessel to bring in the New Covenant and how the Blessed Mother fulfilled the “types” of the Old Testament Ark of the Covenant. Now in this next to the last part we look at the actual Incarnation, life, death and resurrection that established the New Covenant.

A Few of the Old Testament Prophecies Concerning the Incarnation

In Isaiah 9:6-7 the prophet tells the captive nation of Israel that God has not forgotten them nor His promise to King David. Isaiah tells them that a child is going to born…a child like no other before Him and none after Him. In the titles that he gives the Child He is identified as “The mighty God” and “the everlasting Father”. This isn’t to be confused with God the Father as some modern organizations do, but is a Hebrew phrase that means “the creator of Eternity”. This Child will also follow in the lineage of David and will fulfill the Davidic Covenant.

In Isaiah 53 the prophet tells us about “The Suffering Servant”… the One Who will come and suffer, not for His own sins, but for all the sins of mankind. He prophesies that the Servant will be beaten so badly that there is nothing of beauty left in Him. The famous verses, one I say every Mass after receiving the Eucharist, tell us that “He was wounded for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquities, the chastisement of our peace was upon Him and by His stripes we are healed”

From these prophecies we see that God Himself is going to take on human form and will shed His blood. Isaiah even says that His grave will be among the rich. A couple of other prophecies are Isaiah 50:6 also describes the beating Christ would endure. Zechariah 12:10 predicts that Messiah will be pierced.

The Fulfillment in the Gospels.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made.” “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” (Joh 1:1-3, 14)

John uses the term “The Word” (Greek word Logos) to describe the Incarnation. It literally means something spoken, but here it’s used with the definite article. In doing so he is talking about the divine Expression of Creation. This “Word” cannot just be an “idea in the mind of God the Father” as some organizations today teach but John goes on to call the Word “Him” and attributes Creation to Him, not “it”. This is the second Person of the blessed Trinity.

Additionally, the Apostle Paul says in Philippians 2:5-10 that Christ voluntarily chose to take on human form. This decision showed two things:

1. That Christ existed with the Father just as John says.
2. That He was capable of making a choice showing that He had conscious existence prior to the Incarnation. These are important points to remember since there are teachers of bad doctrine today that say that the Son didn’t exist prior to the Incarnation.

There is an upcoming series on the Trinity that will talk more about this aspect.

Both Matthew and Luke detail the lineage that runs from David to Jesus. Matthew gives His heritage through Joseph and Luke through Mary. This shows that the Incarnation was the fulfillment of the Davidic Covenant in the only way it could possibly be completed. Only the One Who is eternal could sit upon the Throne forever.

The prophets said He would be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2). He was born in Bethlehem. Matthew cites an unknown prophet in saying “He shall be called a Nazarene”…possibly a reference to the Hebrew word “netzer” (twig or sprout) used to describe Him in Isaiah 11:1. He was called a Nazarene…a title of abuse in the times in which He lived. David said that He would be crucified and resurrect in Psalm 2 and would rule all nations with a rod of iron…indicting His second coming to rule and reign. There are over 300 general prophecies of the Old Testament and 44 specific Messianic ones fulfilled by the Lord in the Incarnation.

In the final part we’ll look one more time at some major “types” or “shadows” of God’s Plan and how they were fulfilled in Incarnation and life and ministry of the Lord Jesus.