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16.0 The Covenant Confirmed
by Hubert F. Sturges, www.everlastingcovenant.com, January 21, 2010

Topics:
How Could His Mission be Known?
Miracle Worker or Messiah?
Thou art the Christ
He Shall Confirm the Covenant
New Testament in My Blood

The focus of the covenant is Jesus Christ, His coming to earth, His ministry, His sinless life, His redeeming sacrifice on Calvary, and His resurrection. However, Jesus used the word “testament (or covenant)” only at the last supper. Zacharias referred to the “holy covenant” at the birth of his son, John, Luke 1:72. Did Jesus have anything at all to do with the covenant?

How Could the Mission of Christ be Known?

John the Baptist was born into as priestly family, and grew up to be a man of God. In every society there are the few who are committed to God and knowledgeable in the Scriptures. The families of John the Baptist and of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph were of this remnant group. Thus, John the Baptist knew that Jesus was the Lamb of God, who would take away the sins of the world. He knew Isaiah 53, Daniel 9:24-27, and the other prophecies. But Bible truth is not always available just from study. As it was with Peter, it requires revelation from God to arrive at salvation truth. See Matthew 16:16,17; and John 14:16,17,26, 16:13; and 1 Corinthians 2:13,14.

This was a new idea for the Jews of that day. They trusted in their lineage from Abraham and their meticulous observance of the law. John the Baptist’s call for repentance from sin was a new approach for them.

An even greater question was, How did Jesus know that He was to suffer and die for the sins of men? Did He retain His divine consciousness so that He knew already? This would make Him more than human and not subject to life as we know it. We do know that Jesus studied the prophecies enough to ask hard questions of the “doctors” in the temple (Luke 2:46-47).

God very carefully chose the family into which Jesus was born. Mary and Joseph were both able and willing to listen to messages from the angel. They were guided by the Holy Spirit and obeyed promptly. Mary and Joseph both knew that Jesus was special. They knew that He was the Messiah, though their concept of the Messiah, like the Jews generally, was faulty. Jesus was given a thorough upbringing in the truths of the Bible and in the prophecies.

Jesus lived a sinless life even as a child. Because of His kindness, His stand for what was right and because of the knowledge He gained from study of the Bible and of nature He was different from his childhood companions. Children do not understand this. Jesus early learned to meet opposition and ridicule. “The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil” (John 7:7).

Jesus resolutely refused to attend the schools of the rabbis. Yet He had a knowledge that far surpassed theirs. “And the Jews marveled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned” (John 7:15)?

When Jesus reached the age of accountability (12 years+) the family journeyed to Jerusalem for the Passover. As Jesus watched the ceremonies and sacrifices new thoughts came into His mind. He began to see what His mission was. He did not flinch, but determined to do the will of His Father.

Not finding Jesus in the crown of sojourners, the family returned to Jerusalem. After three days they found Him sitting among the doctors asking questions:

    “And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions.
    “And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers.
    “And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing.
    “And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business” (Luke 2:46-49, KJV).
How much did God the Father tell Him directly? I believe that the Father gave Jesus strength, wisdom, and specific information during those seasons of prayer. As He faced difficult situations from day to day, Jesus could rely on this information from the Father, and on support from the Holy Spirit. As human beings we need to experience and know what God will do for us in answer to prayer (James 1:5). We must learn to pray and to listen as Jesus did.


Miracle Worker or Messiah?

In His ministry His popularity increased greatly as He went about preaching, teaching, and healing. People were willing to accept Him as a miracle worker and even as a king. They failed to recognize that He was the Son of God and that His purpose was to “save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21).

Jesus faced continual opposition from the religionists of His day. This He came to expect. But it was hard when even the common people misunderstood Him and turned against Him. After He fed the 5,000 this came to a crisis. The “great multitude” were enthusiastic. The Messiah had come! He would take the throne of David! He would give them manna as did Moses! Against such an army as He could feed, the Romans had no chance! They intended to “take him by force, to make him a king” (John 6:15).

Jesus refused to cooperate with the plans of men (See John 6:15, 26-65). He came to establish the kingdom of grace, not a human kingdom supported by arms. He came to “save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21), “to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10). He came to be “light” and “salt,” to change the hearts of people and to thereby uplift society. Jesus tried to direct their thinking to the real purpose of His mission to earth to show the power of the unconditional agape love of God.

It was a major attempt by Satan, through the errors of the people, to divert Jesus from His true mission. But Jesus refused to take the “easy way.” Instead He was to live a sinless life and to offer Himself a sacrifice for our sins. With wisdom and single minded purpose, Jesus dismissed the multitude. Next day in Capernaum, Jesus offered them the “Bread of life.” He spoke plainly to them of His mission, “Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you” (John 6:53).

To eat the flesh of an animal was understandable, as the priests ate the flesh of the sin offering, thus transferring the sin into the sanctuary (Leviticus 6:25,26). The blood was representative of the life of the animal (Genesis 9:4; Leviticus 17:11,14; Deuteronomy 12:23; 15:23). To drink blood was specifically forbidden by God, but to use blood as a symbol was to show that He would give His life for the sins of men; and by drinking, accepting His gift men would be saved.

The people refused to believe the symbolic meaning of Jesus’ statement and took offense. So that they would have no excuse, Jesus explained, “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life” (John 6:63). At this many of His disciples left Him.

Thou Art the Christ

How could the Jews have known how the Messiah would be presented? There were prophecies of the conquering king, and prophecies of the suffering servant. How could they know that Jesus would come twice, and that both prophecies were true—only applying to different times? Do we today risk making a wrong application of a prophecy?

In Jesus’ case the Jewish leaders cannot be faulted for misreading the prophecies but they can be faulted for refusing to recognize Him when He came, and refusing to give up cherished ideas when much evidence was given as to Who He was. Jesus confronted the Jews after healing the lame man at Bethesda, “You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me” (John 5:39 NIV). If the Jews had really studied the scriptures with an open mind, they would have found Christ there.

    “Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.”
    “And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst” (John 6:32,35).
The Jews asked for a sign and referred to the manna which was provided for the trip through the wilderness. It was a practical necessity for them as they traveled in the wilderness, and a symbol of the mercy of God in providing for them. Now, settled in the promised land, manna was not needed. However, their greater need was to accept the true Person and ministry of the Son of God. They needed to be born again, to be cleansed from sin. However, they felt no need of this and many followers left Him. Weren’t they Abraham’s seed? He turned to the twelve and asked,

     “But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 16:15-17).
Jesus’ close associates, the twelve disciples, had no question as to Who He was, though they continued to misunderstand the purpose of His mission to earth. From this point on the crowds that followed Jesus diminished, and the opposition of the scribes and Pharisees increased.

Repeatedly, Jesus came into close questioning by the Pharisees. They rejected every point that He offered. Finally when He said, “Before Abraham was, I am.” The Pharisees recognized this as a claim to divinity and took up stones to kill him (John 5:16-47; 8:12-59). Jesus walked through the crowd and disappeared.

When people demanded a sign, why did Jesus not comply? He knew that giving a sign would reinforce their wrong concept of who He was. He was quite willing to invoke the power of God to help and to heal, but never just to satisfy curiosity.

The time came when He did give them a sign. He had resurrected the son of the widow of Nain. He had raised Jairus’ daughter. But these were both in small towns. Now Lazarus, living in Bethany, close to Jerusalem, died. After four days there was no question but that he was thoroughly dead. Jesus called him back to life. Many Jews witnessed the event. Instead of believing, they counseled to put Him to death (John 11:53). They even planned to put Lazarus to death, too (John 12:10). As Jesus knew, now that they were given their sign they still refused to believe. What more could God do to reach them?

He Shall Confirm the Covenant

Jesus knew the scriptures, and understood the meaning of the sacrificial system. From the day he viewed the Passover in Jerusalem, he knew His mission. Yet He returned with his parents and submitted to them for the next 18 years. He was 30 when He was baptized by John.

Daniel 9:24 presented the 70 weeks prophecy and the mandate for Judah to complete the work of God and to prepare for the Messiah. The decree of Artaxerxes, 457 b.c., was the beginning point of this prophecy. Here was given “the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem” (Ezra 7:11-26; Daniel 9:25). Knowing this, the people were in expectation, knowing that the Messiah was due.

“He shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease...” (Daniel 9:27). Jesus Christ is the pivotal point of the covenant of God. That one week was the last of the 70 weeks prophecy of Daniel 9:24.

Jesus was baptized at the beginning of the week. He was crucified in the middle of the week as prophesied. He had fulfilled the ten commandment law by His sinless life. He had fulfilled the ceremonial law by His willing sacrifice on Calvary. As He died He cried out, “It is finished.” He had come to fulfill the will of the Father, and now the victory was won. See Article #18.0 Calvary.

The vail in the temple was torn from top to bottom exposing the Most Holy to the waiting crowd. The efficacy of the sacrifices since the beginning of time was now assured (Hebrews 9:15). The Ceremonial law was “nailed to the cross” and was no longer significant (Colossians 2:14).

    “For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance--now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant” (Hebrews 9:15, NIV).
To separate this one week and move it 2000 years to the future has no Biblical support, and it destroys the meaning of Daniel’s prophecy (see article #4.8 in Covenant Critique; Futurism).

In the covenant to Adam and Eve in Eden (Genesis 3:15) the Messiah was prophesied who through suffering would restore all that was lost in sin. Now the Messiah had come, now He had made the willing sacrifice on Calvary, and now sin would be destroyed and Eden restored! “It is finished!”


New Testament in My Blood

At the Last Supper Jesus memorialized the covenant in these words:

    “For this is my blood of the new testament (“new covenant”), which is shed for many for the remission of sins” (Matthew 26:28, KJV).
For three and a half years Jesus had confronted the old covenant thinking of the Jews -- the people as well as the leaders. Now as He was about to make His sacrifice on Calvary, the blood of the New Covenant of grace would be represented by the wine. The Everlasting Covenant, the New Covenant would at this time be confirmed by His sacrifice.

By the Power of the Resurrection, salvation was given to both the living (church) and to the dead (Old Testament Israel). “For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living” (Romans 14:9). Paul wrote Hebrews to show Jewish Christians that Jesus was the fulfillment of the sacrifices and rituals. These were replaced by having faith in Him, the true sacrifice for sin. The old testament sacrifices merely pointed forward to the true and effective sacrifice of Jesus at Calvary!

    15 “For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance--now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.
    19 “When Moses had proclaimed every commandment of the law to all the people, he took the blood of calves, together with water, scarlet wool and branches of hyssop, and sprinkled the scroll and all the people.
    23 “It was necessary, then, for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.
    24 “For Christ did not enter a man-made sanctuary that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God's presence” (Hebrews 9:15, 19, 23-24).
The New (“everlasting”) covenant was ratified by the sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross, which gave power to the covenant promises, made the covenant effective (Hebrews 9:15) for every man and brought to an end the sacrifices and rituals (Daniel 9:27). His death insured, ratified and made possible the fulfillment of the promises of God.

Jesus’ sacrifice on Calvary (the new) is the effective sacrifice, and brings meaning to all the sacrifices in the past (the old). Christ’s high priestly ministry in heaven could not begin until His sacrifice on the cross, which fulfilled the types of the earthly sanctuary. The Old and New systems are contrasted in Hebrews 9:11-14. The rituals and the blood of animals could not cleanse the soul. Only the sacrifice of Jesus Christ is effective.

Only as Christ now ministers as High Priest in the heavenly tabernacle can souls, in Old as well as New Testament times, be redeemed. Jesus is the only One who lived, died, and was resurrected that we might live. His is the only name by which we are saved (Hebrews 4:15, 16; 9:8; John 14:6).