The Messiah Mystery: A Lent StudyMuestra

Clues in the Scrolls  It was winter in Palestine, shortly after the Second World War. A 15-year-old boy named Muhammed and his cousin, Jum’a, were herding livestock on the north shore of the Dead Sea.  Jum’a noticed some holes in the sides of the hills nearby. He threw in a rock to see how big the holes were, and then called Muhammed over to see. It was a cave and inside they found jars with ancient scrolls inside. Excited with their strange discovery, they took the jars back to show their families. Other Bedouin men began to explore the caves and eventually discovered 11 caves hiding similar ancient scrolls. Now called the Dead Sea scrolls, these are the oldest versions of the Bible we have. And the scrolls from the book of Isaiah hold many clues to solving the Messiah Mystery. So let’s explore a few: Isaiah 7:14 reads, “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” A virgin will have a baby. He will be called Immanuel. Isaiah 9:6 tells us, “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” People will know who God’s Messiah is because the Messiah will rule and govern. The Messiah will be God. But God didn’t just leave clues in Isaiah about how Jesus would be born or who His parents would be. God even left clues about how His Son would die. Isaiah 53:5,7 says, “But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities … and with his wounds we are healed … He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth … “ These prophecies came true in Jesus’ death.  For example, He did not defend Himself when He was led before Pilate—“he opened not his mouth.” The clues are showing us who the Messiah is and who He came to save. How amazing, God, that you prophesied the life and death of the Messiah so many years before He lived.  As Isaiah wrote thousands of years ago, you are Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Prince of Peace. We give thanks in awe of you. You can view the Isaiah scroll and the others from the Dead Sea Scrolls at http://dss.collections.imj.org.il/   Or watch a short video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rYj_0foJYA