“searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow.”
when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ
The words “testified beforehand” means to bear witness before. The implication is to state with assurance what is to happen in the future — “to predict, to foretell.” The Holy Spirit reveals both advents of Christ in the Bible (John 15:26; Rom 8:16,17; 1 Jn 5:6,10; cf. Acts 1:8).
There were two things the prophets were trying to find out:
1) the sufferings of Christ and
2) the glories that should follow.
Acts 1:3 tells about his suffering,
“to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.”
The Messiah’s suffering came first, first the cross then the crown.
Why would the Messiah suffer? How can the Messiah suffer and reign at the same time? This seemed like a paradox to them. If he is to suffer and die, how can he be crowned king? Some invented another Messiah to resolve this tension. They postulated two Messiahs, one to suffer and the other to reign. However, the truth is that the Messiah was to come at two different times.
The “sufferings of Christ” is one of the greatest themes in the Bible (1 Pet. 2:20,21; 3:18; 4:1,12,13; Acts 1:3). The sinless, stainless, spotless Son of God was made sin for us. He took our suffering on the cross. He took our hell that we might have his heaven.
PRINCIPLE:
By his suffering on the cross, Jesus took our hell that we might have his heaven.
APPLICATION:
The reason Jesus came to this earth in a physical body is to die for our sins with that body. Every person must come to grips with that truth for themselves. Have you claimed Christ’s death as your guarantee to enter heaven? His death for our sins is the only ticket to enter God’s presence. Why not make that decision for yourself right now?
