"ECCE HOMO", Behold the Man, by Antonio Ciseri
One of the many awesome characteristics about scripture, is that it does not need man to prove it, because it proves itself. It proves itself historically, and it proves itself prophetically. The Old Testament is full of many prophetic shadows and promises in which the Messiah, and other truths, are concealed for man to search out. The New Testament reveals the fulfilment of those prophecies. Even from the very start of scripture, a Messianic prophetic promise is concealed and later revealed in the New Testament:
"In the beginning Elohim created the heaven and the earth...." from Genesis 1:1, begins the description of God's creative work. Both the Hebrew word used here, and the letters of the word, give a picture of "The Son of God, crushed, His hand on the cross". **
The prophetic mystery of Christ that was concealed in the very beginning of scripture, is revealed in Jn. 1:1-3:
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him..."
We also find out in John that this Word who was in the beginning, and was God, became flesh in the firstborn, begotten of the Father, that firstborn being Jesus (Jn. 1:14).
We have more powerful examples of the concealed prophetic promise from the Old Testament, being revealed in the New Testament, as Paul explained Gospel truths in the Book of Romans. He presented the fulfilling truths, and continually referred back to the Prophet Isaiah and others to show us the source of those hidden promises.
Paul taught from Old Testament prophecy, the covenant of salvation that God had made with Israel, and the New Testament fulfillment in Christ:
"For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in. And so Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob. For this is My covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins." Rom. 11:25-27
The prophetic covenant promise of salvation was made to Israel. Paul reveals the original Old Testament covenant promise from Isaiah:
And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the LORD. And as for Me, this is My covenant with them...Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, and that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received from the LORD's hand double for all her sins."
Isa. 59:20-21, Isa. 40:2
Isa. 59:20-21, Isa. 40:2
Paul points out again that, according to Isaiah, there is a remnant of Israel that shall be saved (Rom. 9:27, Isa. 10:21-22).
Paul describes the fulfillment of the prophetic promise from Isaiah regarding the spread of the Gospel:
"And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! Rom. 10:15 (Isa. 52:7). But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esias (Isaiah) saith, LORD, who hath believed our report?" Rom. 10:16, (Isa. 53:1).
In the midst of all of the prophecies of Isaiah that Paul cited here in Romans, the prophet also talked about a salvation that would be seen, and a Savior that we would look upon and consider:
"The LORD hath laid bare His holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God...So shall He sprinkle (nazah-sprinkle with blood/water, startle) many nations; the kings shall shut their mouths at Him: for that which had not been told them shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall they consider...and when we shall see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him."
Isa. 52:10, 15, 53:2
Isa. 52:10, 15, 53:2
This Salvation is not just reported, but seen. Even those who do not have the opportunity to hear the report, will still have a visible means with which to consider it. The effect of this visual evidence startles nations, according to Isaiah. This visual experience will be startling to nations and kings because of its very nature. Isaiah describes the visceral reaction to what will be seen:
"He is despised and rejected; a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from Him; He was despised, and we esteemed Him not. Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, and He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes, we are healed." Isa. 53:3-5
Isaiah gives a complete description of this Person, whom we will be able to see with our eyes, throughout the whole of Chapter 53. In every way, it is a prophetic account of the crucified Savior, Christ, the Messiah.
Again, we are told to see: "I am sought of them that asked not for Me: I am found of them that sought Me not: I said, Behold Me, behold Me, unto a nation that was not called by My name." Isa. 65:1
As Isaiah prophesied, we do have a visual account of this Savior, and His suffering. It is on the Shroud of Turin. As Isaiah prophesied, nations and kings have seen, and been startled and sprinkled as they witness this image, which can only be Christ. On the Shroud, we can see an image that cannot be reproduced by man, though many attempts have been unsuccessfully made. The image of a crucified man is a negative image, and it is also three dimensional. The image itself is superficial, appearing on only the very upper curve of each fiber, and does not seep deeper into the linen fabric. The image is not made from a powder, pigment, or dye, according to all testing results. Radiant energy, released at a single time, uniformly from the whole body, created the image. The verified blood on the Shroud is of a chemical nature that results from torture. Every swelling from bruising, and the many scourge marks, not only covering the whole back, but wrapping around the sides to the front of the body, are clearly visible, and identifiable as coming from a specific Roman scrourger in use at the time of Christ. All of the wounds depicted on the Shroud agree with the scriptural description of Jesus beaten and crucified. The image is powerful, and indeed startles those who see it and "consider" it.
We don't need to see Jesus to believe Him (Jn. 20:29), but the precious visual confirmation touches our hearts, and causes our souls to soar.
We don't need to see Jesus to believe Him (Jn. 20:29), but the precious visual confirmation touches our hearts, and causes our souls to soar.
The mysteries concealed in the prophecies of the Old Testament, are indeed revealed in the New Testament, and are still being revealed to us today. As we come into the Resurrection and Passover seasons, the LORD has given us, both Israel and the nations, something to see and consider.
**Excerpt from "Nazah: White Linen and the Blood of Sprinkling" (p.29), by Dr. Kenneth Stevenson
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Also available: March, 2018 issue of Charisma Magazine-article written by Dr. Stevenson on the Shroud
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