Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully,inquiring what person or time[a] the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories.It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look. (1 Peter 1:10-12)
The salvation that came through Jesus’ suffering on the cross and resurrection was not an unpredicted event that happened like many other events in the world. The coming of Christ was not an unimportant event in the world rather It was an event that had changed the world and still continues to do so. Peter is stressing on to the same point here. He is encouraging the believers in Asia minor not to be dismayed or mourn about the persecution that is happening right now. Bible says prophets prophesised about this grace that was about to appear and the amazing thing is that this “salvation” we have received and what we are waiting for was a great plan of God from eternity. The theme of the scripture is the appearance of the Messiah / saviour and subsequent events of delivering people from their sin and bringing back to the original plan of God. The old testament prophets wrote about this salvation and studied closely what God revealed to them and they saw suffering of messiah, and also Glory that would follow, but could not fully understand the connection between the two. Peter affirms that there is unity in between both Old and New covenants. Matt. 13:16–17): “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. For I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it”. Verse 12 peter says as prophets were not knowing things fully in past and today in heavenly places angels are looking at how the salvation story is unfolding through the church. Ephesians 3:10 say so that through the church the wisdom of God in its rich variety might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.
Few prophesies fulfilled in Jesus Christ the messiah is
Micah, 5:2: “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” Isaiah 7:14 “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and you will call him Immanuel.” The name Immanuel means “God with us” and indicates the divinity of Jesus. Isaiah 53, Psalms22 speaks about a suffering Messiah/ Servant which is an exact depiction of what happened on cross of Calvary. , psalm 110 speaks about Jesus priestly ministry and the Lordship.
By using the word spirit of Christ peter says the same spirit that is working in us inspired the old testament prophets to write about the messiah. Peter brings this past prophesises, present and future fulfilment aspect of Life to help the believers to understand that nothing happens without the proper knowledge of God and if the prophesises about the Messiahs death and resurrection has fulfilled then the promises of the future glory also will be fulfilled. As apostles announced the good news to the world lets continue to announce it to the world.