The Redeemer | Catholic Philosophy

book_5 Before you read

The Messianic prophecies, taken as a body, delineate a Redeemer of a very specific character: born of a virgin, of the tribe of Judah and the house of David, in Bethlehem, preceded by a forerunner, entering Jerusalem in triumph, betrayed for thirty pieces of silver, put to death by crucifixion among transgressors, rising from the dead — and yet also presented as a mysterious divine figure of transcendent character. The Article examines the convergence of these prophecies on Jesus of Nazareth as their fulfilment, noting that many of the circumstances (birthplace, manner of death, betrayal price, casting of lots for garments) were beyond any human control or contrivance and that the time-markers of Daniel's prophecy of the seventy weeks point unmistakably to the era of Christ. The article lists approximately eleven specific Messianic prophecies with their fulfilments: time of coming (Daniel's seventy weeks), virgin birth (Isaias vii), birthplace in Bethlehem (Micheas v), lineage of David, recognition by kings, works of mercy (Isaias xxxv, lxi), betrayal for thirty pieces of silver (Zacharias xi), sufferings and crucifixion (Isaias l, Psalm xxi), and resurrection (Psalm xv). The promise is fulfilled; the Redeemer has come.

a) The Promise of a Redeemer

a) The Promise of a Redeemer b) The Promise Fulfilled in Christ a) THE PROMISEof a Redeemer

The promise of a Redeemer was made by Almighty Godto our first parents immediately aftpr the Fall. The devil, in the form of a serpent, had brought temptation into the world, and temptation led to sin. But the triumph of the devil was not to be complete; he was to be defeated in the end; he was to be crushed by “the woman and her seed (i.e., the Redeemer).” For God said (Genesis iii, 15) : “I will put enmities between thee [the serpent] and the woman, and thy seed and her seed: she shall crush thy head, and thou shalt lie in wait for her heel.” The promise of God was explained and amplified bv the many utterances of the prophets, who foretold the coming of the Redeemer at various times from eight hundred to four hundfedyears before His advent, and indicated His parsonage, character, and work in great detail. Thus, the prophets foretold facts concerning the Redeemer’s: 1. twfte: The Redeemer was to come seventy weeks of years (i.e., 490 years) jfter the Tews returned from the captivity of Babylon (Daniel ix, 24) : “Seventy weeks (i.e., of years) are shortened (i.e., fixed and determined) upon thy people, and upon thy holy city, that transgression may be finished, and sin may have an end, and iniquity may be abolished, and everlasting justice may be brought, and vision and prophecy may be fulfilled; and the Saint of saints may be anointed.” 2. birth: The Redeemer was tn be bgrn of a virgin (Isaias vii, 14) : “Therefore, the Lord Himself shall give you a sign. Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and His name shall be called Emmanuel.” 3. birthplace: The Redeemer was to be born in Bethlehem (Micheas v, 2) : “And thou, Bethlehem Ephrata, art a little one among the thousands of Juda: out of thee shall come forth unto me that is. to be the ruler in Israel, and his going forth is from the beginning, from the days of eternity.” When the Magi came seeking the new-born King of the Jews, Herod summoned the chief priests and scribes and asked them where the Messias was to be born. They answered (Matthew ii, 5) : “In Bethlehem of Juda: for so it is written by the prophet.” 4. name: The Redeemer was to be the Messias (i.e., The Anointed), Christ (i.e.,TheAnointedJTJj? 118 (i.e., Savior or Redeemer) (Matthew, 21) : “Thou shalt caTThis name Jesus, for he shall save his people from their sins.” (Luke ii, 11) : “This day is born to you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” The Redeemer was also to be called Emmanuel (i.e., God with us), and this name is truly applied to Christ who is true God as well as true man. 5. lineage: The Redeemer was to be born of the “house and family ofDavi d” xxili, K.) : “I will raise up to David a just branch.” Our Lord asked the Pharisees about the family from which the Messias was to come, saying, “Whose son is he (i.e., Christ) ?” They answered Him, “David’s.” 6. recnanitian by kingsb earing gifts.! Psalm Ixxi. 10) : “The kings of Tharsis and the islands shall offer presents; the kings of the Arabians and of Saba shall bring gifts.” 7. works of mercy (Isaias xxxv) ; “Then shall the eyes of ffiehnd and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.” (Isaias 1x1, i) : . the Lord hath anointed me: he hath sent me to preach to the meek, to heal the contrite ok heart . . 8. betrayal (Zacharias xi, 12) : “And they weighed for my wages thirty pieces of silver.” St. Matthew (xxvii, 9) speaks of the return of the thirty pieces of silver by the despairing Judas, and the purchase of a burying ground for strangers with the sum: “Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by the prophet Jeremias, saying: And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was prized, whom they prized of the children of Israel: and they gave them unto the potter’s field . . 9. sufferings: The Redeemer wasto be rpbuked struck, spit upon (Isaias1. 6) : “I have given my body to the strikers, and my cheeks to them that plucked them: I have not turned away my face from them that rebuked me, and spit upon me.” The Redeemer was to be crucified (Psalm xxi, 17) : “They have dug my hands and feet.” 10. resurrection: The Redeemer’s grave was not to contain corruption, but was to—be-Lr/Qriz (Isaias xi, 10) : ”… his sepulchre shall be glorious.” (Psalm xv, 10) : ”… nor wilt thou give thy holy one to see corruption.” i i.ceLErr LEsalm Ixvii, iq) : “Thou hast ascended on high… 12. founding ofJJthe Church: The Redeemer was to establish a kingdom that should have no end (Daniel ii, 44) : . the God of Heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed… 13. divinity (Isaias xxxv, 4) : “God Himself will come and will save you.” b) THE PROMISE FULFILLED IN CHRIST We have given several prophecies concerning the Redeemer. Many others might be added to the list. Still, these are sufficient. And if it be found that all of these prophecies are fulfilled in Jesus Christ, then it is inevitably certain that Jesus Christ isTndeed the Messias, the Redeemer. We evidence here the fact that these prophecies are truly fulfilled in Jesus Christ: 1. The time foretold for the coming of the Redeemer in the text quoted from Daniel, and in others connected with the destruction of the Temple of Jerusalem, is the time of Christ’s life and death. The whole people was in expectation of the Redeemer at the very time in which Christ was born. 2. Jesus Christ was born of the Virgin Mary. The fact of her spotless virginity is attested by the Gospels. St. Matthew (i, 22) expressly states that the prophecy of Isaias, quoted above, was fulfilled in the virgin birth. St. Joseph, spouse of Mary, knew of her virginity, and was in consternation when he learned that she was to give birth to a child; he was divinely assured that “that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.”

Christ was born in Bethlehem, as the prophets had declared the Redeemer would be. 4. Jesus Christ bore the name foretold by the prophets as the name of the Redeemer: He was called Jesus, Christ, Emmanuel. 5. Jesus Christ was “of the house and family of David.” Joseph and Mary (being relatives) were both of this kingly house, and repaired to Bethlehem, the city of David, to be enrolled according to the decree of Augustus: while they were there, Christ was born. 6. The Magi, bearing gifts, fulfilled the prophecy which declared that kings should offer presents and bring gifts to the Redeemer. 7. In Acts x, 38 we read that Jesus Christ “went about doing good.” The Gospels are full of reports of his deeds of mercy. St. John declares that the recorded mercies of Christ are as nothing compared to their actual number. In special, Christ did many times cure the blind and deaf; he preached to the meek; he forgave sins, thus healing the contrite of heart. 8. The Gospels record the betrayal of Christ for thirty pieces of silver. 9. Jesus Christ was rebuked, struck, spit upon; His hands and feet were pierced or “dug” when He was affixed to the cross. 10. Jesus Christ rose from the dead, glorious and immortal, on the third day after His death. We shall treat of this crowning miracle in detail when we come to the proof of the divinity of Christ. 11. The Acts of the Apostles (i, 9) tells of the ascension of Christ: “And … while they looked on, he was raised up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.” 12. That Christ founded His true Church, which shall endure forever, and which is the kingdom of God for men, we shall prove in a later Chapter. Here it will suffice to mention the fact that He sent the Apostles to teach all men the truths of his religion and promised to abide with them forever (Matthew xxviii, 19, 20) : “Going therefore, teach ye all nations : baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and behold I am with you all days, even to the consummation of the world.” 13. That Christ was true God we shall show in the next Chapter.

Summary of the Article

In this Article we listed several prophecies made long before the coming of the Redeemer, indicating what and who the Redeemer should be, and what His work should accomplish. Then we verified each of the prophecies in the person and work of Christ. It follows, then, that Christ is the Redeemer foretold by the prophets.

This Chapter offers argument in o Godply to show that Christ is God. The argument proceeds in this fashion: Jesus Christ claimed to be God, and He proved His claim by His personal character, His wondrous works, and by prophecies which were perfectly fulfilled. into four Articles, as follows: