EXPECTATION OF THE FIRST COMING OF CHRIST. 83 



The expectation that Messiah would be a wise Teacher can 

 be illustrated from the New Testament. The woman of Samaria 

 said to Jesus (John iv, 25), " I know that Messiah cometh (which 

 is called Christ) ; when He is come, He will declare unto us all 

 things." And when Simeon had the child Jesus in his arms, 

 he said that He would be "a light for revelation to the 

 Gentiles " (quoting Isa. xlii, G). 



These sayings show that it was expected that Messiah would 

 be a teacher of Samaritans and Gentiles, as well as Jews. 



It is universally admitted that Jesus of Nazareth was a very 

 wise Teacher. The Sermon on the Mount is generally regarded 

 as a masterpiece of teaching. What profound wisdom there was 

 in Jesus' teaching that true greatness lies in rendering great 

 services to the community ! What practical wisdom in what 

 He said about the settlement of personal quarrels ! Consider 

 the beauty of the parables ! that of the Good Samaritan alone 

 would entitle Jesus to be looked upon as a wise Teacher. 



Confucius was a wise teacher. If the Chinese were able to 

 prove that the coming of Confucius as a teacher had been foretold 

 and expected, would they not argue from this that he had been 

 sent to them from heaven ? But these are the actual facts 

 with regard to Jesus of Nazareth : so we have here a proof 

 that certain of the prophecies were inspired by superhuman 

 wisdom. 



It was foretold that Messiah would be a King of most beneficent 

 character. Jer. xxiii, 5 : " Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, 

 that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and He shall 

 reign as King and deal wisely, and shall execute judgment and 

 justice in the land." Isa. xvi, 5, is even more relevant : " And 

 a throne shall be established in mercy, and One shall sit thereon 

 in truth, in the tent of David ; judging and seeking judgment, and 

 swift to do righteousness." 



Ezekiel, however, preferred to present the coming Messiah 

 as a Shepherd, and wrote (xxxiv, 23) : And I will set one Shep- 

 herd over them, and He shall feed them, even my servant David." 

 The Jews' conception of a shepherd was, of course, one who 

 protects as well as feeds his flock. The great war has reminded 

 us that both these are most important functions of government, 

 and the only idea of government in the time of the Prophets was 

 kingship. 



Other interesting prophecies of Messiah as King are Gen. 

 xlix, 10 ; Hos. iii, 5 ; Jer. xxx, 9 ; Amos ix, 11. 



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