When the wise men arrived in Jerusalem and asked about the birth of the Jews’ messiah, King Herod asked the chief priests and scribes where the Messiah was proph- esied to be born. They answered correctly: Bethlehem. When Jesus asked them, “What think ye of Christ? whose Son is He?’ they again answered correctly: “The son of David.” However, when Jesus asked them about “the baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men,” “they answered, that they could not tell whence it was.” Luke 20:4, 7. On another occasion, when the Sadducees asked Jesus about the resurrection, thus assert- ing that it could not take place, “Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.” Matthew 22:29.
These and other verses, especially those presenting the many messianic proph- ecies and their meaning, raise a serious question: Up to what point did the priests, scribes, Pharisees, and Sadducees have a correct understanding of the Bible and the prophecies? Although they studied the Scriptures every Sabbath in the synagogues (Acts 15:21), including the prophecies regarding the coming Messiah, the result was that “He came unto His own, and His own received Him not.” John 1:11. As spiritual builders, they had the “stone,” the “head of the corner,” at hand; but, tragically, they “rejected” it. Matthew 21:42.
The reasons for such tragic mistakes were surely numerous; but the primary prob- lem was the leaders’ lack of the correct knowledge and interpretation of the Scriptures, especially the messianic promises. There were many fables and speculations about this blessed hope. In the multitude who listened to Jesus, “There were scribes and Phari- sees who looked forward to the day when they should have dominion over the hated Romans and possess the riches and splendor of the world’s great empire.” –Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, p. 5.
But it was not just the priests, scribes, and people in general who had a wrong conception of the Messiah and His mission; the disciples were also confused on this point. The idea that He was the Lamb of God and had to pass through Gethsemane and Golgotha to give the greatest sacrifice was not part of their frame of reference. They “trusted that it had been He,” the two disciples on the way to Emmaus said, “which should have redeemed Israel.” Luke 24:21. No wonder they were devastated when Jesus was arrested, condemned, and killed.
They also needed to understand the messianic prophecies completely differently than they did in order to have a clear picture and avoid other misunderstandings. He told them several times before His death what awaited Him at the end of His earthly walk, but He could not wait a long time to clarify the matter for them. “And He said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning Me. Then opened He their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures.” Luke 24:44, 45.
“The great themes of the Old Testament were misapprehended and misinter- preted, and Christ’s work was to expound the truth which had not been understood by those to whom they had been given. The prophets had made the statements, but the spiritual import of what they had written, was undiscovered by them. They did not see the meaning of the truth. Jesus reproved His disciples for their slowness of comprehen- sion. Many of His precious lessons were lost to them, because they did not understand the spiritual grandeur of His words. But He promised that the Comforter should come, that the Spirit of truth should recall these lost utterances to their minds. He gave them to understand that He had left with them precious jewels of truth whose value they did not know.” –Selected Messages, book 1, p. 404.
The Law, the Prophets, and the Psalms, the three great sections that constitute the first part of the Holy Scriptures, the Old Testament, are full of prophecies about the coming Messiah. Based on the Old Testament prophecies, His origin, earthly ministry, suffering, and sacrifice, as well as His resurrection and heavenly ministry, will be studied in these Sabbath School Lessons for the next half year.
There are 456 verses in the Old Testament that refer to the Messiah. Of these, 75 are found in the law (the first five books), 243 in the books of the prophets, and 138 in other Biblical writings. Do we know this immense source of light? Although we may be familiar with many of the verses, there are many more that contain special light for us.
It is with good reason that the Spirit of prophecy states: “Were Jesus with us today, He would say to us as He did to His disciples, ‘I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.’ John 16:12. Jesus longed to open before the minds of His disciples deep and living truths, but their earthliness, their clouded, deficient comprehension made it impossible. They could not be benefited with great, glorious, solemn truths. The want of spiritual growth closes the door to the rich rays of light that shine from Christ. We shall never reach a period when there is no increased light for us. The sayings of Christ were always far-reaching in their import. Those who heard His teachings with their preconceived opinions, could not take in the meaning attached to His utterances. Jesus was the source, the originator of truth.” –Selected Messages, book 1, pp. 403, 404.
It is our prayer and deep desire that we will all study these lessons with renewed zeal and earnestness, in a spirit of humility and faith, ready to discover the great truths and receive the rays of light that the Lord has for us who live in this perilous time of the end. May they be a rich blessing and great spiritual enlightenment for us all.
–The brothers and sisters of the General Conference