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The Epistle of Barnabas
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Chapter 12: The Frequent Prophesies of Christ's Crucifixion in the Old Testament.
IN A SIMILAR WAY: another prophet points to the cross of Christ, saying, “And when will these things be accomplished?” And the Lord says, “When a tree is bent down, then rises again; and when blood flows from wood.” Once more, you have a hint about the cross and the One who would be crucified. He also speaks about this in Moses's time when Israel was attacked by strangers. To remind them that they were delivered to death because of their sins, the Spirit speaks to the heart of Moses to make a figure of the cross and of Him who would suffer on it. For unless they put their trust in Him, they would be defeated forever. So, Moses placed one weapon on top of another on the hill and, standing on it, stretched out his hands, thus enabling Israel to gain victory. But when he lowered his hands, they were defeated again. Why? So they would understand that they could not be saved unless they trusted in Him.
In another prophet, it is declared, “All day long I have stretched out My hands to an unbelieving and contrary people.” Moses again creates a type of Jesus, signifying that it was necessary for Him to suffer and that He would be the source of life to others, even when they believed they had destroyed Him on the cross when Israel was falling. Because Eve had sinned through the serpent, the Lord allowed serpents of every kind to bite them, and they died, to show them that their transgression led them to death. Moreover, when Moses commanded, “You shall not have any graven or molten image for your God,” he was revealing a type of Jesus. Moses then made a bronze serpent and placed it upon a pole, calling the people together. When they gathered, they asked Moses to offer sacrifices and pray for their healing. Moses told them, “If any of you is bitten, come to the serpent on the pole, and believe that even when dead, it can give him life, and immediately he will be restored.” And they did so. You see here also the glory of Jesus, for all things are in Him and to Him.
What does Moses say to Joshua, son of Nun, when he gave him this name as a prophet? It was so that all the people would hear that the Father would reveal everything about His Son Jesus to the son of Nun. This name was given when he was sent to explore the land, and he said, “Take a book in your hands and write what the Lord declares, that the Son of God will, in the last days, cut off all the house of Amalek from the roots.” Again you see that Jesus, who was revealed both in type and in the flesh, is not the Son of Man but the Son of God. Since they were to say that Christ was the son of David, fearing the misunderstanding of the wicked, he says, “The Lord said to my Lord, 'Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies Your footstool.'” Isaiah also says, “The Lord said to Christ, my Lord, whose right hand I have held, that nations should yield obedience before Him; and I will break the strength of kings in pieces.” See how David calls Him Lord and the Son of God.
Hear the Scriptures cited in The Epistle of Barnabas
The Epistle of Barnabas quotes or alludes to these Bible chapters more than any others. Each link opens the free audio Bible, where the chapter is read aloud alongside the text, cross-references, and what other early Christian writers said about it.
- Hear James 1 (audio Bible) — cited 3 times in this work
- Hear Psalms 22 (audio Bible) — cited 2 times in this work
- Hear Psalms 118 (audio Bible) — cited 2 times in this work
- Hear Isaiah 1 (audio Bible) — cited 2 times in this work
- Hear Daniel 7 (audio Bible) — cited 2 times in this work
- Hear John 12 (audio Bible) — cited 2 times in this work
- Hear Romans 1 (audio Bible) — cited 2 times in this work
- Hear Romans 2 (audio Bible) — cited 2 times in this work
- Hear Hebrews 9 (audio Bible) — cited 2 times in this work
- Hear Genesis 14 (audio Bible)
- Hear Genesis 22 (audio Bible)
- Hear Genesis 25 (audio Bible)