Words of Hope

A Word Study on the Biblical Word "Hope"

Study #49 - The Messianic Hope (Part IV)

This is our fourth study on the Messianic Hope as found in the New Testament Scriptures.  Last time we considered that hope as expressed in the Greek word prosdekomai (to look, wait for, expect) and we noted the three people recorded in the Gospel of Luke whose hope in the coming Messiah was expressed by this word.  Simeon was "waiting for the consolation of Israel" (Luke 2:25);  Anna spoke of the infant Jesus to all who "looked for redemption in Israel" (Luke 2:38); and Joseph of Arimathea "waited for the kingdom of God" (Luke 23:51).  We wanted to expand somewhat upon these three aspects of the Messianic hope in this study.  First, consolation or comfort (Greek - paraklasis).  This consolation was clearly associated by the devout Simeon with the coming of "the Lord's Christ", that is, the Lord's Messiah or Anointed One (vs.26), who was indeed God's means of salvation (vs.30).  The particular Messianic prophecy involved was probably Isaiah 40:1-5 where the coming of the Messiah was announced in a message of Divine Comfort:  "Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God."  This message of consolation was the message of a double pardon to be provided for the people of God:  "Speak comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the LORD'S hand double for all her sins."  The Lord Jesus is indeed the Consolation of Israel, and the only One who can provide for the pardon of our sins and then comfort us with the assurance of His abundant forgiveness!  In fact, Jesus referred to Himself as the Comforter of His people when He spoke of the Holy Spirit as "another Comforter", that is, One like Himself (John 14:6).  Second, redemption or ransom (Greek - lutrosis).  G. Campbell Morgan commented, "In that city of Jerusalem there was a company, however large or small we have no means of knowing; - perhaps a very small company, - of devout souls who were looking for the redemption of Israel; and it is evident that they were accustomed to foregather in the Temple courts to pray, and perhaps sing songs of hope, and talk to one another."  The widow Anna was just such a person and she was quick to speak of the baby Jesus among this company as the One through whom this redemption would come.  The word "redemption" speaks of a purchase made through the payment of a ransom.  It was a term well known to the Jews who were as a nation redeemed from the bondage of Egypt through the purchase price of the blood of the Passover Lamb.  Every sacrifice was an emblem of the redemption of the sinner from the bondage and penalty of sin through the purchase price of the blood of a slain sacrifice.  All of this pointed forward to the coming Messiah who would Himself be the Redeemer of His people through the ransom price of His own blood shed sacrificially upon the cross of Calvary!  Isaiah had declared, "And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the LORD" (Isaiah 59:20).  The Lord Jesus said of Himself, "Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many" (Matthew 20:28).  And the Apostle Paul wrote of Him, "In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace" (Ephesians 1:7).  Yes, the Lord Jesus as the Christ of God is indeed that Promised Redeemer!  And third, the kingdom of God.  The most prevalent concept of the coming Messiah in the Old Testament was that of a Coming King.  In Psalm 2 the LORD'S Anointed (Hebrew - Messiah) is the King set upon the hill of Zion; the Sovereign before whom all the kings and rulers of the earth must bow.  In Daniel 9:25 He is called "the Messiah the Prince" and in Daniel 7:13,14 He is the Son of man who is given "dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed."

The Old Testament prophecies are too numerous to list here and the New Testament application of these prophecies to the Lord Jesus as the Christ are abundantly clear.  Indeed, the Lord Jesus was conceived as our King (Luke 1:30-33); born as our King (Matthew 2:2); came as our King (Matthew 21:4-9); tried as our King (Mark 15:12,13); and died as our King (Matthew 27:37).  And so today He reigns as our King (I Corinthians 15:24,25) and will one day return as our King (Revelation 19:11-16).  All aspects of the Messianic hope have been fulfilled in Christ Jesus.  He alone comforts us with His pardon because He alone has redeemed us from our sins.  And He alone is worthy to reign over us as our sovereign Lord and King!