After Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection he had an interaction with two of his followers who were despondent. They didn't know they were talking with the risen Jesus and expressed devastation about his crucifixion. Jesus delivered them from their despondency in four ways: 1) Jesus sought them out in midst of their despondency; 2) Jesus exposed their wrong ultimate hopes; 3) Jesus explained the Scriptures in regards to his death and resurrection; and 4) Jesus ignited hope in their hearts when they responded to his instruction. Despondency comes from unbelief in God's power, love, and goodness. God reveals those things about Himself through His son's death and resurrection; that is the where our ultimate hope should be.\r\n

God's love is demonstrated through the earliest event that predicts the coming Messiah through Abraham and his son Isaac. This is shown through two kinds of Messianic prophecies: 1) historical; 2) typological. Through Abraham's faith being tested as God calls on him to sacrifice his son Isaac, God's faithfulness is revealed as He provides a ram to take Isaac's place. This is a picture (type) of what God will do through His Son Jesus. There are many pictures (types) through Abraham and Isaac's story that point to what happens with Jesus as he is the sacrifice for humanities sin.\r\n

God uses Moses to deliver the Israelites from Pharaoh and to guide them to the Promised Land. While wandering in the wilderness, God provides for their needs and quenches their thirst. Moses strikes the rock with his staff which produces an abundance of flowing water. This is a foreshadowing of Jesus being stricken and quenching humanities' thirst. It also points to Jesus providing everlasting life. Jesus is God's provision to meet humanities' greatest need and he continues to be our provision as we continue to entrust our lives to him.\r\n

Four passages predict and describe the Messiah's ultimate reign but focus on his prior sufferings as God's Servant. These passages detail centuries in advance the specific suffering he would go through for the very people who were persecuting him. His death was the ultimate payment for humanity's sins and our response to his sacrifice on the cross impacts our lives for eternity. Because of God's great love for us, He makes eternity available through simply turning to Him and accepting His Servant's work on the cross to pay for our sins.\r\n