B. Christ's predictioxs. — The predictive element enters ver^' largely into the utterances of Christ. Not only do the Gospels contain pro- phecies spoken with the express intention of re- vealing the future to tlie disciples, such as those relating to His own death and the destruction of
Jerusalem, but also numerous prophecies which occur incidentally. An example of the latter is found in His rebuke to those that ' troubled ' Mary because of her costly ottering ; a rebuke that fore- tells the universality of His Kingdom and the per- petual memorial of her deed (Mk 14^*).
If the Gospels be studied with a view to noting those sayings of Jesus which are predictive, surprise will be felt at their number. It will be seen that the parables grouped in Mt 13 are predictions of the history of the Kingdom ; that His promises not only exhibit His love and power, but also are fore- tellings of His future action (e.y. Mt 1&* 2s*J). It wiU be found that His miracles are often prefaced by announcements before- liand of the cure to be wrought (e.'j. Lk 8^0, Jn H'l) ; that His discourse in Jn 6 is based on a prediction of His own sacrificial death, and that in Jn 14-16 on His foreknowledge of the Holy Spirit's descent. And, further, even in His High-Priestly prayer He shows knowledge of the future by pleading for those whom He foresees as His disciples in the coming age (Jn IT^') ; and, if His first recorded word during His ministrj" is a prophecy of the immediate advent of the Kingdom (Mk 115), His last is a prophecy of its sijread to the uttermost part of the world (Ac l**). His words are saturated with prediction.
The predictions of .Jesus may be cla.ssified as follows: Tho.se refemng (1) to individuals, (2) to His Kingdom, (3) to the material world, (4) to His own career, (5) to the destruction of Jeni.salem, (6) to the Parousia and the consummation of the age.
1. As His 2)rcdi>fi'jn-9 regarding indicidiials pre- .sent no special difficulties, it will be sufficient simply to mention them. In giving Simon the name of Peter (.Jn f-*^'), .Jesus not only revealed his character, but foretold his pre-eminence ; a pre- diction ju.stified at Ca^sarea Philippi (Mt 16'*). On this latter occa-sion He foretold that the Apostle would become the porter of the Church, and the Acts of the Apostles records the fulfilment. Jesus also predicted his fall and restoration (Lk 22*', Mk 14**), and hnally announced in hidden language the death by wliich he should ultimately glorify God (.Jn 21'*). At tliLs time He also iLsed words which ob.scurely foretold to the Apostle .John a prolonged life (v.--). From an early period in His ministrj' •Jesus read the heart of Judas (Jn 6'^ 13'**), shortlj' after the Transfiguration He announced His coming betrayal (Mk 9^'), in the Upper Room He declared that the Ijetrayerwas one of the Twelve (Mk 14'^), and finally by the sign of the given sop He marked Judas as the traitor (.Jn 13'-°}. To Nathanael He foretold that he would .see ' heaven opened " ( Jn P') ; to Caiaphas, that he would see the Son of Man coming in the clouds of heaven (Mk 14^^) ; to James and John, that they would ^je baptized witli HLs baptism (Mk HJ^) ; and to all the Apostles, that they would be persecuted like Himself, ex- communicated, and in peril of death (.Jn 15-" 16-), that they would forsake Him in the hour of His greatest need (Mk 14-'^), but that after His death they would do even greater works than He Himself had done (.Jn 14'-), and ultimately woiild sit upon twelve thrones judging the twelve triljes of Israel (Mt 19-«, Lk 22=^).
2. Predictions regarding the Kingdom. — The posi- tion of .Jesus in reference to the idea of the Kingdom of God is partly that of a fulfiUer and partly that of a foreteller. He establLshed during His ministry the Kingdom in its simplest stage, and .so far ful- filled what the OT prophets had foretold ; but having established it, He made it the subject of His OA\Ti predictions, projected it into the future, with the OT limitations removed, revealed its struggles throughout time, and announced its ultimate victorj-.
That Jesus did establish the Kingdom of God during His life- time can hardly be doubted. To make it entirely future, as some do. seems impossible in the face of such passages as ' The kingdom of God is among you' (or ^within you,' itro; vu,-2t, Lk l?2l ; see art. Ideas (Lbadi.ng), vol. i. p. 770b) ; ■ The kingdom of God is come upon you ' ('a' Cuuis, >It 122S) ; ' From the days of John the Baptist the kingdom of heaven suftereth violence" (Mt 1112, gee Wendt's Teaching of Jesus, voL i. p. 364 ff.).
PROPHET
PROPHET
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In the parable of tlie Sower (Mt 13, see also Lk J4i8ff. ) jjg foretold the ditierent classes of people that ■\voiild become its subjects, and the varied reception they would yive to its claims ; and in the parables of the Tares and the Draw-net (Mt 13), the presence within it of unworthy members. He marked out for it a long career of struggle with evil, within, — false prophets deceiving (Mt 7'*- ~), without, — malignant foes opposing (Mt 10'^-*^, Lk 21'-, Jn J520 iQi^ . ij^t; He promised the support of His abiding presence (Mt 28-^), and guaranteed its invincibility (Mt 16"*).