THE PROPHECIES ABOUT THE COMING OF THE MESSIAH

My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ Our Only True Lord, God, and Savior,

CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE.

THE PROPHECIES ABOUT THE COMING OF THE MESSIAH

The holy Prophets of Israel played a unique and critical role in their society. They repeatedly called the people back to their commitment to obey and worship only the One True God, they warned of foreign invasions; they protested against social and economic injustice; and they even rebuked kings face to face for their sinfulness. In times of crisis they were consulted by kings to discern the Lord’s will. Yet their most significant task was prophesying ABOUT THE COMING OF THE MESSIAHS, the King of Kings.

Through prayer, asceticism, repentance, and the practice of virtue, the Prophets were particularly receptive to the Holy Spirit–He "Who spoke by the Prophets," as the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed declares: "And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Giver of Life, who PROCEEDS FROM THE FATHER; Who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified; WHO SPOKE BY THE PROPHETS." Saint Basil the Great writes, "In souls pure and cleansed from all defilement, the prophetic gift shines clear." Most unique was the preparation received by Saint John the Baptist and Forerunner, the Greatest of the Prophets (Matthew 11:7-14), who was "filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb" (Luke 1:15).

According to Orthodox Christian Tradition Prophet Isaiah, Prophet Jeremiah, Prophet Micah, and Prophet Zechariah, were among others, key Old Testament Prophets FORETELLING THE MESSIAH, with Prophet Isaiah giving detailed prophecies about His birth (virgin birth), suffering (Isaiah 53), and Divine Nature, while others like Micah (birthplace: Bethlehem) and Zechariah (entry on a donkey, betrayal for silver) provide specific events, all pointing to JESUS CHRIST AS THE FULFILLMENT.

"Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: behold, the
virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and you shall call His name
Immanuel." (Isaiah 7:14).

This messianic prophecy is fulfilled when the virgin Mary gives birth to Christ. The Hebrew word ALMAH, "UNMARRIED WOMAN," designates, "A HIDDEN VIRGIN, SHUT OFF FROM THE OCCASIONAL SIGHT OF MEN" (Jerome). The Greek word is PARTHENOS, which means "virgin. IMMENUAL meaning "God with us," refers to Christ’s Divine Nature. Messiah coming as a Child (v. 16) refers to His Human Nature.

"And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Only-begotten, begotten of the Father before all ages. Light of Light; True God of True God; begotten not made; of one essence with the Father, by Whom all things were made; Who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven, and was incarnate of the Holy Spirit AND THE VIRGIN MARY, AND BECAME MAN…" (Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed).

"For behold, all generations will call be blessed" (Luke 1:48).

For two thousand years the Church has preserved the memory of the Virgin Mary as the PROTOTYPE OF ALL CHRISTIANS–THE MODEL OF WHAT WE ARE TO BECOME IN CHRIST. Mary was truly pure and unconditionally obedient to God. The Holy Tradition of the Church holds that Mary remained a virgin all her life. Orthodox Christians believe that Jesus had relatives, NOT blood brothers. Indeed, at the Cross, Jesus commits His mother to the care of His Disciple John, which would have been a crime against tradition had she had another child to care for her. While lifelong celibacy is not a model for all Christians to follow, Mary’s spiritual purity, her wholehearted devotion to God, is certainly to be emulated.

Mary is also our model in that she was the first person to receive Jesus Christ. As Mary bore Christ within her womb physically, ALL CHRISTIANS NOW HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF BEARING GOD WITHIN THEM SPIRITUALLY. By God’s grace and mercy WE ARE PURIFIED AND EMPOWERED TO BECOME LIKE HIM.

The HONOR we give to the Ever-Virgin Mary also signifies our view of Who Jesus is. From early times the Church has called her mother of God (Gr. THEOTOKOS, literally GOD-BEARER), a title which implies that her Son IS BOTH FULLY MAN AND FULLY GOD. As His mother, Mary was the Source of Jesus’ HUMAN NATURE; yet, the One she bore in her womb WAS ALSO THE ETERNAL GOD.

Therefore, because of her character and especially because of her role in God’s PLAN OF SALVATION, Christians appropriately HONOR MARY as the first among the Saints. The Archangel Gabriel initiated this honor in his address to her: "REJOICE, HIGHLY FAVORED ONE, THE LORD IS WITH YOU; BLESSED ARE YOU AMONG WOMEN!" (Luke 1:28). This SALUTATION clearly indicates that God Himself HAD CHOSEN TO HONOR MARY. Her FAVORED STATUS was confirmed when she went to visit her cousin Elizabeth, who was then six months pregnant with John the Baptist. Elizabeth greeted Mary with these words: "BLESSED ARE YOU AMONG WOMEN, AND BLESSED IS THE FRUIT OF YOUR WOMB! BUT WHY IS THIS GRANTED ME, THAT THE MOTHER OF MY LORD SHOULD COME TO ME?" (Luke 1:42-43). And Mary herself, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, predicted the honor that would be paid to her throughout history: "FOR BEHOLD, HENCEFORTH ALL GENERATIONS WILL CALL ME BLESSED" (Luke 1:48).

In obedience to God’s clear intention, therefore, the Orthodox Church HONORS MARY IN HOLY ICONS, HYMNS, AND SPECIAL FEAST DAYS. We ENTREAT HER, as the human being who was most intimate with Christ on earth, TO INTERCEDE WITH HER SON ON OUR BEHALF. We ask her, AS THE FIRST BELIEVER AND THE MOTHER OF THE CHURCH, ,FOR GUIDANCE AND PROTECTION. WE VENERATE HER–BUT WE DO NOT WORSHIP HER, FOR WORSHIP BELONGS TO GOD ALONE.

In Orthros (Matins), Esperinos (Vespers), and all the divine services of the hours of prayer, we chant this hymn, which expresses Mary’s unique place in creation:

It is truly right to bless you, O Theotokos, Ever-Blessed and Most Pure and the Mother of
our God. More Honorable than the Cherubim, and more Glorious beyond compare than the
Seraphim, without defilement you gave birth to God the Logos/Word: True Theotokos,
we magnify you.

(To be continued)

____________
"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"
– Saint John Chrysostomos
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With sincere agape in His Divine and Glorious Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+ Father George