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God at Work in History

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The following is an excerpt from one of the Blue Letter Bible Institute’s most popular classes, Christology, taught by David Hocking. Visit the Blue Letter Bible Institute today to study comprehensive theology courses for free.

In Matthew 1:16 it says that Yacob begat Yosef. “Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary of whom was born Jesus who is called Christ.” What am I pointing out? The pronoun “of whom” is feminine and cannot refer to Jacob. It cannot refer to Joseph in that verse either. It can only refer to Mary. You will not find that anywhere else, but the Bible’s accuracy is incredible. It did not use the plural pronoun to indicate that He is the son of both of them. It says very clearly, “of whom,” meaning only through Mary was born Jesus. Joseph and his seed were not involved, Christ is indeed the seed of a woman.

How was He conceived? The Bible tells you in Luke 1. He was conceived of the Holy Spirit.

Now look at verse 18. “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit.” Look at the accuracy here. Before they came together. They never had relations. She was found with child. How? Of the Holy Ghost. You see, Genesis 3:15 is speaking of the seed of a woman that will crush the seed of the serpent. That is the gospel. It is a messianic claim of Jesus Christ.

Now go to Genesis 9, as we continue our investigation of the Messiah. Genesis 9:26 describes a blessing that Noah gave to his sons. At the same time he is cursing his grandson Canaan, who apparently was involved in some sort of immoral act while he was drunk and asleep. Now verse 26 says, “Blessed be the Lord God of Shem.” “Blessed be the Lord God of Shem.” The word shem means name. Once again, the rabbis say that this is the Messiah, Shem. Was there a man named Shem who was the son of Noah? Yes. Notice that it does not say, “Blessed be the Lord God of Japheth,” or “of Ham.” It says it “of Shem,” because the Messiah would come through the line of Shem. That is where we get the idea of Semitic peoples. It means people of the Name. What name are we talking about? It is the name that is above every other name. When you read the word “Shem,” you do not even need to read it as a proper noun: “Blessed be the Lord God of the Name.” The question is, what name? Does the Bible give any indication about whose name is greater than anybody else’s name? Of course it does on numerous occasions.

His name is wonderful, the counselor, almighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Who is the Name? Who is this descendant of Shem? It is the Messiah.

In Genesis 12 when God made His wonderful promise to Abraham, look at the last part of verse 3. “In thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.” All people of the earth. Verse 7, “Unto thy seed will I give this land.” The Lord appeared to him and said that to him.

Turn to Matthew 1:1 where it says that He is the son of Abraham. I want you to really turn to Galatians 3. Who is the seed of Abraham that is going to bring all the blessings and promises of God? He is going to fulfill them. Who is the One, the child of Abraham through whom all the families of the world will be blessed?

Galatians 3:8, “And the Scripture forseeing that God would justify the heathen [the nations, the Gentiles] through faith preached before the gospel [the good news] unto Abraham saying, ‘In thee shall all nations be blessed.'”

The New Testament says that that was the preaching of the gospel. Look at verse 14, “That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ [Yeshua Hamashea], that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.” It is very clear.

Now look at the sixteenth verse. Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, ‘And to seeds,’ as of many, but as of one, ‘And to your Seed,’ who is Christ.” The Messiah is that seed of Abraham.

Comments

  1. It is wonderful how we can link both the new and old testaments together. I love to follow the routes and travel back only to come forth to today and have it all make sense!

  3. I’ve been following this series. It has been excellent. I’m always struck by the fact that, no matter how familiar I think I may be with an idea or a particular passage, there is so much more that I haven’t seen. The Bible is not only the most profound and most accurate book in all of history; it is the deepest. It’s wisdom is inexhaustible.

  5. the greatest understanding i found is that God himself became flesh to redeem us. the author mentions isaiah 9:6 , revealing Jesus is the Father.no doubt why the apostles baptized everyone in Jesus name. he also mentioned that the holy ghost is the Father of Jesus,God truly is one and not three.acts 20:28 says the holy ghost purchased the church with His Own Blood.

  6. Mark 8:35 for whosoever will save his life shall lose it but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospels the same shall save it

    1 Timothy 1:9-11 Knowing this that the law is not made for a righteous man but for the lawless and disobedient for the ungodly and for sinners for unholy and profane for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers for manslayers (10) for whoremongers for them that defile themselves with mankind for men stealers for liars for perjured persons and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine (11)according to the glorious gospel of the blessed GOD which was committed to my trust

    Mark 1:14 & 15 Now after John was put in prison JESUS came into Galilee preaching the gospel of the kingdom of GOD (15) and saying the time is fulfilled and the kingdom of GOD is at hand repent ye and believe the gospel

    Ephesians 1:13 In whom also you after you heard the word of truth the gospel of your salvation wherein also after that you believed were sealed with the HOLY SPIRIT of promise

    John 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth the flesh profiteth
    nothing the words that I speak unto you are spirit and they are life

    John 17:17 Sanctify them by truth thy word is truth

    1 John 5:6 This is he that came by water and blood even JESUS CHRIST not by water only but by water and blood and it is the spirit that beareth witness because the spirit is truth

    John 18:37 Pilate therefore said unto him art thou a king then JESUS answered thou sayest that I am a king to this end was I born and for this cause came I into the world that I should bear witness unto the truth every one that is of the truth heareth my voice

    2 Corinthians 4:4 Among whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not that the light of the gospel of the glory of CHRIST which is the image of GOD should not shine unto them

    1 Peter 4:17&18 For it is time for judgement to begin with the household of GOD and if it begins with us first what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of GOD (18) and if it is with difficulty that the righteous is saved what will become of the godless man and the sinner

  7. “Blessed be the Lord God of Shem.” I so appreciate your willingness to translate the word “shem” for people. This verse stood out to me in my studies a couple of weeks ago. I love how each name in Hebrew holds significance. Nothing is random. How necessary for people of His name to know His name! What about translating the rest of the verse though? I’m curious as to why did you not translate “LORD God” as Yahweh the Elohim? This is the name above all names, and Yahshua the Messiah is Yahweh in the flesh, bearing the name of the Father. So amazing. Thanks for your time!

  8. Yes, I just learned this one also recently
    …“Blessed be the Lord God of Shem.” …

    Also it is important that the fully man part of Jesus’s line came from Nathan, King David’s son. Mary’s line is listed in Luke with Nathan as a patriarch. Nathan was named after the prophet Nathan who lead David to confess his offense with Bathseba that prompted Psalm 51 the sinner’s prayer. The sinners prayer is the place all of us started when we were born from above when we repented and began our journey seeking Jesus’s face.