The Scarlet Thread of Redemption continues as we read of the great spiritual leaders of Israel and Judah. More and more they depicted the coming of a Redeemer who would save His people from sin and bring the everlasting hope and righteousness of God. As the centuries passed, the messianic hope became stronger and more highly anticipated. Prophet messengers such as Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi encouraged those returning from Babylonian captivity to their homeland. Under the leadership of the political Zerubbabel, the priest Joshua, the scribe Ezra and Nehemiah who had been prime minister in the Persian capital, this remnant sought to restore the worship of the true God in Jerusalem.
Four hundred years passed between the Old Testament period and the New Testament period in history. During this time the Hellenistic empire rose and God used Alexander the Great to spread abroad throughout the civilized world one culture and one language. This made possible the later preaching of Christ to all people everywhere.
In that inter-biblical period, the might of the Roman Empire arose. When Augustus Caesar was the Roman emperor, the great prophecies of Isaiah, Micah, Nathan to David, Jacob to his son Judah, and the great promise of God Almighty to Eve back in the Garden of Eden, all came to pass. In the seed of the woman and through the seed of Abraham, all the families of the earth were to be blessed…and our Savior Jesus was born into the world!
The Scarlet Thread of Redemption has led us to the birth of the One who came to redeem the human race from our fallen estate, Jesus.
Jesus taught His disciples that He would suffer and die. At the transfiguration, Moses and Elijah appeared, talking to Him about His death which He should accomplish in Jerusalem. At His anointing by Mary of Bethany, He said it was for His burial. To others He said, “If I be lifted up from the earth, I will draw all men unto Me.” (John 12:32). At the Last Supper He said, “This is My body; eat in remembrance of Me.” And again He said, “This is My blood; drink in remembrance of Me.” Before He went to the cross, He gave Himself in Gethsemane in travail of soul for our redemption (Isaiah 53:11). And when He bowed His head and died He said, “It is finished!” (John 19:30).
When we preach the cross, when we preach the blood, and when we preach the sacrificial death of Christ, we are preaching the meaning of His coming into the world. The sacrifice of Christ consummated the great redemptive plan and purpose of God on the earth.
This is the Scarlet Thread of Redemption. But wait, there’s more!
To be continued…
* The above is summarized from The King James Open Bible Expanded Edition (The Old Time Gospel Hour), 1333-1336, 1985 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.