Christ in Jeremiah: The Lord Our Righteousness

The second of the Major Prophets was Jeremiah, and the first of his books is the book named for him.  In the book of Jeremiah, we see his despair over Judah and their complete abandonment of God.  They had become complacent, proud, and self-centered.  They saw the Temple of God as more of a good luck charm than a place of worship and adoration of God Almighty.  Much like many Christians today who go to church on Sunday and think they have done their weekly (or monthly, or yearly) duty to God, leaving their faith and their “spiritual lives” at the church door, only to be revisited the next time they decide to darken the door of the church, all the while attempting to live life on their own terms between visits with God.  I see so many parallels between today’s society and the people to whom Jeremiah preached.  If my faith was not so strongly anchored in God and His love for His people, it would be frightening.  But I will leave that part of this book for you to read for yourself.  Just be aware as you read Jeremiah that his prophecies, like those of Isaiah, are not in chronological order.  He prophesied at irregular intervals for over 40 years, beginning about 60 years after Isaiah’s death.  He witnessed the fall of the Assyrian Empire and the rise of the Babylonian Empire.  He predicted and eventually witnessed the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple by Babylon.  He prophesied during the reigns of six kings and governors of Jerusalem.  He was taken captive by the Jews who fled Jerusalem under the Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar, taken to Egypt where he continued to prophecy, and there he died.  Some of his prophecies concern the second coming of Christ, so we can still, all these years later, look forward to many of the events Jeremiah tells us about.

But in keeping with my goal of looking for Christ in every book of God’s Word, I will, as briefly and concisely as possible, point out some of the many ways that we see Jesus in Jeremiah. 

First of all, we will look at how Jeremiah was a “type” of Christ – not that he was a pre-incarnate Jesus, but rather, he was a “picture” or an “illustration” of Christ.  Remember, an illustration is never as good as the real thing, so the one who is foreshadowed is always superior to the “type.”  

• Both Jeremiah and Jesus wept over God’s city and His people:

Oh that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people! (Jer. 9:1, American Standard Version)

But if ye will not hear it, my soul shall weep in secret for your pride; and mine eye shall weep sore, and run down with tears, because Jehovah's flock is taken captive. (Jer. 13:17, American Standard Version)

And when he drew nigh, he saw the city and wept over it (Luke 19:41, American Standard Version)

• Both Jeremiah and Jesus were called false prophets:

So why haven’t you threatened Jeremiah of Anathoth, who pretends to be a prophet among you? (Jer. 29:27, Common English Bible)

The Jewish opposition said to Jesus, “Now we know that you have a demon. Abraham and the prophets died, yet you say, ‘Whoever keeps my word will never die.’ Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died and the prophets died, so who do you make yourself out to be?” (John 8:52-53, Common English Bible)

• Both Jeremiah and Jesus were mocked, insulted, and rejected:

Now I’m laughed at all the time; everyone mocks me. (Jer. 20:7b, Common English Bible) 

The men who were holding Jesus in custody taunted him while they beat him. They blindfolded him and asked him repeatedly, “Prophesy! Who hit you?” Insulting him, they said many other horrible things against him. (Luke 22:63-65, Common English Bible)

• The enemies of both Jeremiah and Jesus tried to trick them by twisting what they said:

I hear many whispering — “Panic Lurks Everywhere! — proclaim, yes, let’s proclaim it ourselves!” All my friends are waiting for me to stumble: “Perhaps he can be enticed. Then we’ll prevail against him and get our revenge on him!” (Jer. 20:10, Common English Bible)

As he left there, the legal experts and Pharisees began to resent him deeply and to ask him pointed questions about many things. They plotted against him, trying to trap him in his words. (Luke 11:53-54, Common English Bible)

• Both Jeremiah and Jesus were innocent:

Only know for certain that if you sentence me to death, you and the people of this city will be guilty of killing an innocent man. (Jer. 26:15a, Common English Bible)

When Judas, who betrayed Jesus, saw that Jesus was condemned to die, he felt deep regret. He returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, and said, “I did wrong because I betrayed an innocent man.” (Matthew 27:3-4, Common English Bible)

• Both Jeremiah and Jesus were plotted against:

Lord, you know all their murderous plots against me. (Jer. 18:23a, The Living Bible) 

So from that time on the Jewish leaders began plotting Jesus’ death. (John 11:53, The Living Bible)

• Both Jeremiah and Jesus were led as lambs to be slaughtered:

But I was like a gentle lamb led to the slaughter. (Jer. 11:19a, English Standard Version)

He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. (Isaiah 53:7, King James Version)

So he went back inside the palace and asked Jesus, “Where are you from?” But Jesus did not answer him. (John 19:9, Easy to Read Version)

Secondly, we see Christ in the book of Jeremiah in the many prophecies written about Him.  As I said before, some of those prophecies are still yet to be fulfilled, and we are waiting with great excitement for the day that Jeremiah's prophecy will be completely unveiled.  But here I will show you only a few of the many things Jeremiah told us about Christ, close to 600 years before He was born:

• Jeremiah said that Christ is God:

And this is the name by which he will be called: ‘The Lord is our righteousness.’ (Jer. 23:6c, English Standard Version) 

I and the Father are one. (John 10:30, English Standard Version)

• Jeremiah said that Christ would be a descendant of David, just as Isaiah had said:

Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land (Jer. 23:5, English Standard Version)

Jesus, when he began his ministry, was about thirty years of age, being the son (as was supposed) of Joseph, the son of Heli, . . . the son of Melea, the son of Menna, the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan, the son of David, (Luke 3:23,31, English Standard Version)

• Jeremiah said that Christ would be a New Covenant:

Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, (Jer. 31:31, English Standard Version)

And he said to them, "This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. (Mark 14:24, English Standard Version)

 

The world we live in today is not much different from the world in which Jeremiah lived.  Our idols may not be made of wood and bronze, but our society has idols of its own.  Our nations do not honor God, just as the nation of Judah did not honor Him.  We need Him to save us from ourselves, just as the people 2600 years ago did.  So I hope you will join me this week as I pray the same prayer that Jeremiah prayed in Jeremiah 10:23-25a (The Message):

“I know, God, that mere mortals can’t run their own lives, that men and women don’t have what it takes to take charge of life. So correct us, God, as you see best. Don’t lose your temper. That would be the end of us. Vent your anger on the godless nations, who refuse to acknowledge you, and on the people who won’t pray to you.”  Amen.