Did Jesus Fulfill Old Testament Prophecy?
To put it another way, the Old Testament is a jigsaw puzzle of complicated pieces that must be assembled. The multiple parts are perplexing on their own — but when they are put together in sufficient numbers to complete the intended image, they become clear. As a result, the New Testament serves as a decryption key for deciphering the meaning of the Old Testament. Here are a few examples of prophecies that Jesus fulfilled: A messenger (John the Baptist) announced His birth in Bethlehem, and He entered Jerusalem on a donkey.
Peter Stoner, in his classic bookScience Speaks, calculated the chance of any man fulfilling these prophecies, even down to the present time, to be 1 in 100,000,000,000,000,000 (10 to the 17th power). How can anyone think that Jesus just “happened” to be in the right place at the right time? It’s no coincidence.
Stoner offered that we take that many silver dollars and spread them out throughout the state of Texas in order to help us visualize the startling odds of this likelihood. We’d discover that they’d piled up two feet deep across the state as a result of our efforts. But hold on a minute, there’s more! Make a mark on one of the silver dollars and toss the full pile of money in the air. Now blindfold an excited volunteer and tell him that he can travel wherever in Texas he wants, but he *must* pick up a silver dollar that has been designated for him.
In his further research, Stoner discovered that the probability of any guy fulfilling even 48 of the 300+ Old Testament prophecies increased to a whopping ten to the 157th power if he was born now!
Centuries of biblical interpreters have followed in the footsteps of the authors of New Testament literature, who use Old Testament prophesy to demonstrate how it foreshadows the arrival of Jesus as the promised Messiah.
Three side-by-side examples of how the New Testament builds upon an element (which scholars refer to as a “type”)in the Old Testament:
Old Testament: “Then Moses summoned all of Israel’s elders and instructed them to “choose out and select lambs for yourself according to your families, and slay the Passover lamb” (Exodus 12:21). “For verily Christ, our Passover, was slaughtered on our behalf,” says the New Testament (1 Corinthians 5:7). The Jewish festival of Passover commemorates God’s liberation of the Israelite people from slavery in Egypt during the time of Abraham. Because of Pharaoh’s continuing refusal to free the Israelites, according to Bible history, the tenth and last plague – the death of every firstborn — was brought on by his intransigence.
The Egyptians, especially Pharaoh, suffered the loss of their firstborn children.
Scholarly sources uniformly agree that Jesus was killed around the time of the Passover holiday, which further establishes His identify as the Passover lamb on the cross.
To compare and contrast, Jesus entered the city of Jerusalem five days before the Passover sacrifices were to be offered in the temple; He entered Jerusalem on the day of lamb selection, therefore choosing to become the ultimate Lamb of God.
He Was to Enter Jerusalem On a Donkey
“Rejoice mightily, O daughter of Zion!” says the Old Testament. O daughter of Jerusalem, let your voice be heard! See, your king is on his way to you; He is just and has redemption; He is lowly and riding on a donkey, a colt, a donkey’s foal” (Zechariah 9:9). “And they brought it to Jesus, and placing their cloaks on the colt, they mounted Jesus on it,” according to the New Testament. Meanwhile, they spread their cloaks across the road as He rode by them. As He drew near — and was already on his way down the Mount of Olives — the entire crowd of His followers burst into applause and shouted praises to God for all the amazing wonders they had witnessed (Luke 19:35-37).
A “Light” to the Gentiles
And now the Lord says to me, He who formed me from the womb to be His servant, to bring Jacob back into His presence; and that Israel might be gathered to Him — for I am honored in the Lord’s sight, and my God has become my strength — he says: “It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to bring back the preserved of Israel; I will make you a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach (See Isaiah 49:5-6 for more).
For thus the Lord has instructed us, saying, “I have created you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.” (New Testament) Upon hearing this, the Gentiles burst into song, celebrating the Lord’s Word, and all those who were appointed to eternal life repented and trusted in Him.” (See Acts 13:47–48.) Just this morning, I was reading the book of Isaiah.
Only a few verses (verses 4-6): “Despite the fact that he took on our sorrow and bore our suffering, we thought him to have been chastised by God, struck down, and tormented.
We have all gone astray, like sheep, and each of us has chosen his own path, and the Lord has placed the guilt of all of us on him.”
Three Objections by Skeptics
Skeptics object to the assumption that various sections of Old Testament prophecy foretell events in the life of Jesus, arguing that this is not the case. They argue that the New Testament writers purposely tailored their work to correspond to passages in the Old Testament to make it more believable. Moreover, they claim that the New Testament writers exaggerated the significance of obscure references, and that they lifted such references out of context by taking a term or detail from another event in the Gospels and placing it into the original event.
Skeptic Objection1: The Gospel writers deliberately crafted their biographies of Jesus to make Jesus appear to fulfill Old Testament prophecy.
There are various grounds to think that the Gospel authors properly portrayed Jesus’ life and words – even at the risk of being persecuted. They did not play to the expectations of their listeners, which was understandable. It’s important to remember that the Christian church was through significant persecution at the time the Gospels were written. Excruciating and barbaric methods of execution were used to punish many Christians for their religion, including the crucifixion, being burnt alive, and being given to wild animals.
Furthermore, they did not portray Jesus as great and mighty, but rather as low and humble, which was in fact His intention in surrendering His life.
If the Gospel authors were truly concerned with increasing their numbers, they would not have presented a guy as Messiah who, in no way, represented the conquering hero that the Jews were anticipating. So that His mission might be accomplished, Jesus willingly enabled Rome to murder him.
Skeptic Objection2: Old Testament types and foreshadowings are typically stretched and contrived, and therefore offer little evidential support for Jesus being the Messiah.
Certainly, some Christians have a tendency to exaggerate the significance of Old Testament typology or to imply underlying symbolism that might or might not exist. However, we are only left with two possibilities to examine in this situation: A combination of 1) deliberate artifice or 2) supernatural orchestration can account for the remarkable congruence between Old Testament writings and New Testament aspects of Jesus’ life, which cannot be explained otherwise. As you can see, a convincing cumulative case for Jesus as the Messiah certainly favors the second alternative, as demonstrated by the evidence presented in this article.
Skeptic Objection3: The Gospel writers took Old Testament texts out of context in order to prove that Jesus was the Messiah.
Certainly, some Christians have a tendency to exaggerate the significance of Old Testament typology or to imply underlying symbolism that is unlikely to be accurate. In this case, though, we are only left with two options: A combination of 1) deliberate design or 2) heavenly orchestration can only explain the strong match between Old Testament scriptures and New Testament aspects of Jesus’ life. To summarize, a convincing cumulative argument for Jesus as the Messiah definitely favors the second alternative, as I hope you can see in the following examples:
Summary of Old Testament Prophecy Fulfilled by Jesus
Speaking of jigsaw pieces, let’s wrap up this blog article with a list of Old Testament prophesy that you may read for yourself to complete the picture. If you actually want to verify what the Bible teaches, investing the time in this exercise will be well worth your while. Isn’t it true that having a Bible that you never open absolutely contradicts the point of God providing us with His Word? The Bible should be treated as a study guide, not as an inviolable relic that must not be opened — or even scribbled up!
- His Birth and Early Years in the U.S.
- The setting is described in Numbers 24:17, 19; Micah 5:2.
- In Genesis 12:3 and 49:10, in Numbers 24:19, Deuteronomy 18,18-19, in Psalm 21,1 and 59:20, in Isaiah 59:20, and in Jeremiah 33:16, he is given a mission and a mission for his office.
- Gentile conversion is mentioned in Isaiah 11:10, Deuteronomy 32:43, Psalms 18:49, 19:4, and 117:1, Isaiah 42:1, 45:23, and 49:6, Hosea 1:10, 2:23, and Joel 2:32, among other places.
- Psalms 2:7, 78:2, Isaiah 2:3, 61:1, Micah 4:2, and other passages were preached.
- Psalms 8:2; 118:25-26; Zechariah 9:9 are examples of triumphal entries.
- Psalms 2:1-2, 27:12, 35:11, and 109:2 are examples of false accusations.
- Psalms 22:7-8, 16; 109:25 are examples of mockery.
Psalms 2:7; 16:8-10; 30:3; 41:10; 118:17; Psalms 30:3; 41:10; 118:17 His Ascension to the Throne of God (See Psalms 16:11, 24:7, 68:18, 110:1, and 118:19 for more information.) His Second Advent (also known as His Second Coming) Verse 3–6 of Psalm 50; Isaiah 9:6-7; 66:18; Daniel 7:13–14; Zechariah 12:10–8; Zechariah 14:4–8 His Universal, Everlasting Dominion is found in 1 Chronicles 17:11-14, Psalms 2:6-8, 8:6; 45:6; 7; 72:8; 110:1-3, Isaiah 9:7, Daniel 7:14, and many more passages.
Did Jesus fulfill Old Testament prophecy? Yes! Butstudyto know for yourself.
This blog post discusses Josh and Sean McDowell’s recently revised apologetics classic,Evidence That Demands a Verdict, which was published in 2012. We are confident that this fully updated and expanded resource will be an effective evangelism tool for you, as well as a resource that will strengthen your faith by providing answers to the most difficult questions thrown at you by skeptics. Know what you’re talking about, because what you’re saying is true. But share this knowledge with others in a loving manner!
List of Old Testament prophecies fulfilled by Jesus
How many prophesies in the Old Testament were fulfilled by Jesus, and how many prophecies in the New Testament were fulfilled by Jesus? Scholars’ responses vary in length, with the majority ranging from around 200 to 400 words. In hisEncyclopedia of Bible Prophecy, J. Barton Payne provides a list of 191 prophesies that he considers to have a “personal relation to Christ,” according to Payne. The work of another researcher, Alfred Edersheim, came to the conclusion that there are at least 456 verses in the Old Testament that Jewish Rabbis have traditionally understood as being concerning the Messiah.
- It is arranged in a manner that is more or less in chronological sequence of completion.
- 2Gen.
- 4:4-5, Matt.
- Heb.
- 3:15cHe would defeat wickedness at the price of himself and his own people.
- 4 He would be a descendant of Abraham, according to Genesis 22:18.
- 1Corinthians 9:7; Heb.
28:13,14; He would be a descendent of Isaac’s son Jacob, according to tradition.
He would be a descendant of Jesse and a descendant of Judah, according to Matthew 1:2-3 and 8Isa.
He would be a descendant of Jesse’s son King David, according to Matthew 1:2-3 and 9Isa.
Genesis 49:10 (Matt.
History: According to Josephus, King Herod’s son was dethroned in 6 A.D.
11 Dan.
He would emerge once the city of Jerusalem had been rebuilt.
12 9:26 Daniel 9:26 He would make an appearance before the (Roman) destruction of the Holy City of Jerusalem.
5:2 (Mic.
14Isa.
2:15–15) The prophet Isaiah predicted the birth of Jesus as a virgin.
(God with us) 16Isa.
Matthew 3:14-17 In Malachi 3, a messenger would pave the way for the Lord.
In Isaiah 61:1,2a, the ministry of Jesus is predicted by the prophet.
9:1,2He would emerge in Galilee and be a light to the Gentiles, according to the Scriptures.
He would accomplish wonders, according to Isa.
Among the passages cited are: Mark 10:51-52, Mark 7:32-35, Matt.
12:10-13, Matt.
78:1–2 He would instruct with parables.
13:3-15 Deuteronomy 18:15-18 God prophesied that another prophet like Moses would come.
6:4-6 23 are all references to Jesus.
42:2-3.
11:28–30 (KJV) 24 Psalm 2:1-12 He would be referred to as God’s sonActs 4:25-28 Isaiah 9:6–7 predicted the birth of a son who would be known as God.
9:9.
John 13:18 (verse 28) He would be rejected according to Isa.
Matthew 27:21-23 (29th chapter) Dan.
30 Matthew 16:21; Luke 21:38-39 Psalm 22:6 says that Messiah will be scorned.
He would be afflicted, according to Isa.
Matt.
Matthew 27:12-14 (verses 12-14) Ps.
34 (Matthew 27:39) Matthew 26:67 35Isa.
27:30 36Ps.
69:4 He would be despised for no apparent reason He would become a foreigner to his own brothers, according to John 15:25 and Psalm 69:8.
He would be ‘listed with the transgressors,’ according to Isa.
His hands and feet would be pierced, according to Luke 23:32 and Psalm 22:16.
John 19:28, verse 42 He would intercede for sinners, according to Isa.
23:34 (Luke 23:34) He would be abandoned, according to Psalm 22:1.
22:1 He would scream out to the Almighty.
27:46-45; Psalm 22:8).
Luke 23:34-35 (KJV) They would draw lots for his garments, according to Ps.
Matt.
53:4-6He would be punished for the transgressions of others.
53:8-9.
52.
1:3-5 53 He would put a stop to sin, according to Dan.
53:9.
Acts 2:31-55 is a biblical passage.
Psalm 118:22-24 (Eph.
Philippians 2:18-11 (Matt.
John 20:9 (verse 58) Job 19:25-27 (NIV) The book of Job foreshadows the specifics of the resurrection.
Rev.
7.16 Luke 1:32, Rev.
Luke 3:31; Rev.
89Another prophetic promise regarding the durability of David’s throneLuke 1:32,33 62Another prophetic promise about the permanence of David’s throne 7:13–14; Dan.
Luke 1:31-33 (Luke 1:31-33).
John 12:18-21 (64th chapter) He would have an impact on people all throughout the world, according to Isaiah 42:1-4.
42:6.
History: Christianity has expanded throughout the world, influencing individuals from all walks of life.
History: Christianity has expanded throughout the world, influencing individuals from all walks of life. 68 Isaiah 49:6He would bring salvation to the ends of the earthHistory: Christianity has expanded throughout the world, bringing salvation to people from all walks of life.
Theology 101: What Old Testament Prophecies Did Jesus Fulfill?
courtesy of Doug Culp Without considering the New Testament as the completion of the Old Testament, it is difficult for Christians to have a complete knowledge of the Bible. Furthermore, our ability to comprehend the entire Old Testament is dependent on our reading it as a preparation for Christ’s work as revealed in the New Testament. Inevitably, the question arises: “Which significant Old Testament prophesies did Jesus truly fulfill?” The birth of a monarch is a momentous occasion. The arrival of the Messiah is one of the most important prophesies in the Old Testament.
- Of course, Jesus was the one who brought all of these prophesies to fruition.
- Do you have high expectations?
- Psalm 40, for example, foreshadows the Messiah’s role as the ultimate sacrifice on the cross.
- The Holocaust and the sin sacrifice are not anything you requested, so I said, “See, I’m here with an engraved scroll written on men,” and I meant it.
- As explained in this New Testament text, the Psalm foretells that Messiah would bring in a new covenant to replace the old one that was established by the law.
- Jesus, on the other hand, who came to execute God’s will, would sacrifice his flesh and blood once and for all in order to wipe away the sins of the whole human race.
- It is undeniable that Jesus became a stumbling block, was hated and rejected, and that He rescued Gentiles (1Peter; Luke; Matthew).
From Good Friday until Easter Sunday, there are no classes.
We will only mention a handful of them.
In 1 Corinthians, Paul refers to Jesus as the Passover Lamb, and the Gospel of John describes how Jesus’ bones were not shattered during his crucifixion, as was customary at the time.
Psalm 22 is a good example of this.
Everything in this list was accomplished prior to and during Jesus’ Passion.
The author of Psalm 118 declares, “I will not die, but will live and proclaim the works of the Lord.” Despite my heavy punishment from the Lord, I was spared the penalty of death.” Specifically, it is a verse from the Gospel of Luke (24:5-7), which reaches its culmination on Easter Sunday: Fear gripped them, and they fell to the ground with their faces lowered to the earth.
- Although he is not present, he has been reared.
- Finally, but certainly not least.
- It is mentioned in Psalm 68 that God has ascended into the sky.
- In his subsequent remarks, Paul explains that Christ first descended, and then ascended, in order to fill the cosmos.
As a result, according to Paul, Christ bestowed gifts onto his Church in the shape of apostleships, prophetic prophecies, evangelists, pastors, and teachers in order to prepare us all for the job of ministry and the building up of the body of Christ.
The Prophecies About Jesus
Over 400 predictions concerning the coming Messiah may be found in the Old Testament alone. Each and every one of them was entirely fulfilled by Jesus Christ. Do you have any idea what the chances are of it happening are? Consider the implications of a single individual fulfilling every prophecy about the coming Messiah, the Savior of the world. The likelihood of only eight (of the approximately 400) predictions being fulfilled in any one individual who has lived up to the current day was calculated by a professor called Peter Stoner and 600 students over the course of several years.
21 After becoming a Christian, Lee Strobel conducted some calculations in order to find out what this would look like in real life, and he came up with this result.
He would be authorized to bend down and pick up a tile only once throughout the course of the day.
According to these chances, just eight Old Testament predictions would come to fruition in any one individual throughout all of history!” 22 Here are just a few examples of the more than 400 Old Testament prophecies that Jesus fulfilled throughout his life:
Prophecy: The Messiah would come from the tribe of Judah, one of the 12 tribes of Israel. (Genesis 49:10)
FULFILLED: The tribe of Judah is the lineage of Jesus’ father, Abraham. The Gospel of Matthew (Matthew 1:1-16)
Prophecy: The Messiah would be a descendant of King David. (Jeremiah 23:5, Psalms 132:11)
MET: Jesus was a descendant of King David, which was a requirement. The Gospel of Matthew (Matthew 1:1-16)
Prophecy: Micah 5:2 says that the one true Messiah was to be born in Bethlehem.
JESUS was a descendant of King David, which was a prophecy that was fulfilled. (15:1-16) (Matthew 1:16)
Prophecy: In Isaiah 7:14, it says that the Messiah would be born of a virgin.
FULFILLED: Jesus was born by the Virgin Mary; thus (Matthew 1:22, Matthew 1:23, Luke 2:7)
Prophecy: Psalms 2:7 says that the Messiah would be the Son of God. “I will proclaim the decree of the LORD: He said to me, ‘You are my Son; today I have become your Father.’”
FILLED: “The angel replied, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.'” FULFILLED: As a result, the holy one who will be born will be referred to as the Son of God” (Luke 1:35)
Prophecy: Isaiah 53:2 says the Messiah would grow up in poverty. “He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.”
“Isn’t this the carpenter?” says the narrator. What if he isn’t Mary’s son as well as the brother of James, Joseph, Judas, and Simon, and not his own? Were his sisters not present with us?’ Moreover, they were offended by him.” (Matthew 6:3)
Prophecy: The Messiah would heal the sick. “Then the eyes of the blind will be opened and the ears of the deaf will be unstopped. Then the lame will leap like a deer and the tongue of the dumb will sing for joy.” (Isaiah 35:5-6)
THE GOAL HAS BEEN ACHIEVED: “The blind acquire sight, the crippled walk, those who have leprosy are cured, those who are deaf hear, those who are dead are raised, and the good news is broadcast to the poor.” (See Matthew 11:5 for further information.)
Prophecy: The Messiah would speak in parables. (Psalms 78:2)
FILLED: “Jesus stated all of these things to the audience in parables; he did not say anything to them without first relating it to them in some way.” (Matthew 13:34; Mark 10:45)
Prophecy: Zechariah 9:9 says that the Messiah would enter Jerusalem riding on a donkey.
ARRANGEMENT COMPLETED: “They brought it to Jesus, flung their clothes onto the colt, and mounted Jesus.” As he traveled along the road, folks spread their cloaks on the roadside. When he got close to the point where the route descends the Mount of Olives, the entire crowd of disciples burst into applause, praising God for all the wonders they had witnessed and exclaiming, ‘Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!’ I pray for “peace on earth and glory in the highest!” (Luke 19:35-38; Mark 10:35-38)
Prophecy: Psalms 41:9 says that the Messiah would be betrayed by a close friend, one whom He trusted, one with whom He broke bread.
FILLED: “They took it to Jesus and mounted him on a colt, throwing their cloaks on the horse’s back. The path was littered with the cloaks of people as he walked down it. Whenever he got close to where the path descends the Mount of Olives, the entire crowd of disciples burst into applause, extolling the glory of God for all the wonders they had witnessed: ‘Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!’ they said. peace in paradise, and blessings in the highest!” (Luke 19:35-38; Matthew 19:35-38)
Prophecy: The Messiah would be betrayed for thirty pieces of silver. (Zechariah 11:12)
“Then one of the Twelve, Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, ‘What are you ready to offer me if I turn him up to you?'” FULFILLED: As a result, they counted out thirty pieces of silver for him.” (Matthew 26:14-15; Mark 12:14-15)
Prophecy: The thirty pieces of silver used to purchase the Messiah’s betrayal would be used to buy a potters field. (Zechariah 11:13)
The money from Judas’ suicide was used to purchase a potters’ field, which was later completed. (See Matthew 27:7 for further information.)
Prophecy: He would be denied by his disciples. “Strike the Shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.” (Zechariah 13:7)
“Then everyone left him and fled,” the author writes. (Matthew 14:50)
Prophecy: Isaiah 53:3 says that the Messiah would be despised and rejected by men.
The prophecy was fulfilled when Jesus was despised, rejected, and crucified. (Luke 23:20-23; Matthew 23:20-23)
Prophecy: The Messiah would be mocked by his enemies. (Psalms 22:7-8)
“Those who went by threw obscenities at him, shaking their heads and screaming, ‘You who are going to demolish the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself!'” Assuming that you are the Son of God, please come down from the cross! His mockery was reciprocated by the leading priests, professors of the law, and other respected seniors. The critics pointed out that he had saved others, but that he was unable to save himself! He’s the King of Israel, after all! Allow him to come down from the cross at this time, and we will believe in him.
Allow God to rescue him now if he so desires, for he has stated, ‘I am the Son of God.’ He was likewise insulted by the robbers who were hanged alongside him in the same way.” (Matthew 27:39-44) (Matthew 27:39-44)
Prophecy: The Messiah would die in a brutal way, his hands and feet pierced. (Psalms 22:14-17)
Jesus was beaten, put on a cross, and crucified, and his mission was completed. (12:63; Luke 23:32; John 19:18; Luke 23:32-33; Luke 22:63; Luke 23:32-33; John 19:18)
Prophecy: The Messiah would be given gall and vinegar to drink. (Psalms 69:21)
“They arrived at a location known as Golgotha (which literally translates as “the site of the skull”). It was there that they gave Jesus wine laced with gall to drink, but after tasting it, he refused to take it.” (Matthew 27:33-34; Mark 10:33-34; Luke 10:33-34; Mark 10:33-34; Luke 10:33-34; Mark 10:33-34; Mark 10:33-34; Mark 10:33-34; Mark 10:33-34; Mark 10:33-34; Mark 10:33-34; Mark 10:33-34; Mark 10:33-34; Mark 10:33-34; Mark 10:33-34; Mark 10:33
Prophecy: “They divide my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment.” (Psalms 22:18)
“After they had crucified Jesus, they divided up his clothing by drawing lots,” the mission was completed. And they sat down and kept an eye on him from that position.” The Gospel of Matthew (Matthew 27:35-36)
Prophecy: His bones would not be broken. “He protects all His bones, not one of them will be broken.” (Psalms 34:20)
“As a result, the soldiers came and shattered the legs of the first man who had been crucified with Jesus, and then the legs of the other.” However, when they arrived at Jesus’ location and saw that he had already died, they did not break his legs.” (See also John 19:32-33)
Prophecy: “I offered my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard; I did not hide my face from mocking and spitting.” (Isaiah 50:6)
It was fulfilled when, in Matthew 26:67-68, they spit in His face and smacked Him in the face with their hands.
Prophecy: He would be flogged. Isaiah 53:5 says, “He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.”
“Then he freed Barabbas to them,” the narrator says. “However, he flogged Jesus and gave him over to be crucified,” says the Bible. In Matthew 27:26, the Bible says, Isaiah not only describes the flogging that Christ would experience, but he also reveals the reason why Christ would suffer—to deliver us from the judgment of sin and death—in order to save us from ourselves.
Prophecy: Isaiah 53:7 says, “He was oppressed and afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth; He was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so He did not open his mouth.”
“When He was accused by the chief priests and the elders, He did not respond,” the Bible says. Then Pilate questioned Him, saying, ‘Don’t you hear the evidence they’re presenting against you?’ But Jesus didn’t say anything, not even in response to a single allegation, much to the governor’s surprise.” (Matthew 27:12-14; Mark 1:12-14)
Prophecy: Isaiah 53:12 says that the Messiah would atone for the sin of man. “He bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.”
FULFILED: “Through the shedding of his blood, God offered Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, to be received by faith.” The reason he did this was to illustrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance, he had allowed the transgressions committed previously to go unpunished.” (See also Romans 3:25)
Prophecy: “The Lord says to my Lord: ‘Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.’” (Psalms 110:1) The Messiah would sit at the right hand of God and have authority over everything.
“After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was lifted up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God,” the Bible says. (Matthew 16:19) Just a fraction of the numerous prophesies that Jesus fulfilled are listed below. However, as I stated at the outset of this chapter, if you are hell-bent on disproving God and Jesus, nothing I say is likely to sway your opinion in any direction. You can debate till your face is flushed with blood. Alternatively, you may be a skeptic and proclaim, “There’s no way 400 of those predictions are about Jesus.” However, the reality of the matter remains: they are real and they exist.
You don’t have the strength to wrestle with God, and he’s provided far too much proof for you to just dismiss it.
God exists, and Jesus is the Son of God, the Messiah, and the King of the Jews.
The Mathematical Probability that Jesus is the Christ
It is because of the extremely remote possibility of fulfillment that prophecy serves as an evidence of divine authorship of the Scriptures, and consequently serves as a witness to the reliability of the Message of the Scriptures. Predictions can be made by anybody. Having those forecasts come true is a very other experience. In fact, the more the number of claims made about the future, and the greater the level of detail, the less probable it is that the precise fulfillment will occur. For example, what are the chances of someone forecasting today the precise city in which the birth of a future leader will take place, long into the twenty-first century, without any prior knowledge?
- In addition, what are the chances of accurately forecasting the specific way of death that a fresh unknown religious leader would suffer a thousand years from now – a manner of death that is currently unknown and is expected to stay undiscovered for hundreds of years?
- Another question is: what are the chances of correctly forecasting the exact date of the emergence of some great future leader hundreds of years in the future?
- So, if you had 50 precise prophesies about a person in the future, who you had never met before, what is the odds that this person would come true and fulfill all 50 of your predictions?
- For instance, how does someone “arrange” to be born into a particular family?
- So how does one “plan” one’s own death – and especially crucifixion with two others – and then “arrange” for their executioners to bet for His garments (John 16:19; Psalms 22:18), you might wonder.
- How can one “plan” for the executioners to follow out the standard procedure of breaking the legs of the two victims on either side of them, but not their own, without putting themselves in danger?
- Even if someone were to successfully fake one or two of the Messianic prophesies, it would be impossible for a single individual to plan and carry out the fulfillment of all of the prophecies at the same time.
- Using statistical analysis, a professor at Westmont College evaluated the likelihood of a single individual fulfilling the primary predictions about the Messiah.
- Every component was carefully considered, each prophecy was thoroughly studied, and the numerous situations that may suggest persons had collaborated to bring about the fulfillment of a certain prophecy were meticulously investigated and weighed.
- Their estimations were then taken into consideration by the professor, who increased their conservatism even further.
- Finally, he presented his data to a committee of the American Scientific Affiliation for examination, which approved them.
When it comes to Micah 5:2, which states that the Messiah will be born in Bethlehem, the professor and his students calculated the average population of BETHLEHEM from the time of Micah to the present and divided that figure by the average population of Earth during the same time period, as an example.
- After just eight separate predictions were examined, they tentatively concluded that the likelihood of one guy fulfilling all eight prophesies was one in ten thousand seventeen.
- To demonstrate how large the number 1017 (a figure with 17 zeros) is, the professor provided the following illustration: Consider the following scenario: we take 1017 silver dollars and place them on the surface of Texas.
- Now, make a mark on one of these silver dollars and completely swirl the entire mass across the entire state.
- What chance did he have of getting the proper one, you may wonder.
- Is there anyone who, in financial terms, would not invest in a financial enterprise if the possibility of failure was merely one in ten-hundred-eighth?
- According to these calculations, the professor believes that the fulfillment of these eight prophecies alone demonstrates that God influenced the drafting of the prophesies – the chances of a coincidence being one in 1017 is extremely low.
- But, of course, there are many more predictions than just the eight listed here.
What is the square root of 10157?
The professor uses electrons as an example to demonstrate the significance of this number.
They’re even more minute than atoms.
Even if we counted 250 of these electrons per minute, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, it would still take 19 million years to count a line of electrons one inch long, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Consider the following scenario: we’re taking this amount of electrons, marking one of them, completely mixing it into the rest of the mass, and then blindfolding a guy and asking him to locate the correct one.
What type of a pile of electrons would this large a number of electrons produce?
This is the conclusion reached when just 48 predictions were taken into consideration.
The odds become so minuscule that it is difficult to believe that they will ever occur after the probability exceeds one chance in a hundred thousand.
According to the professor’s conclusion, “Any man who rejects Christ as the Son of God is rejecting a truth, which has been shown maybe more conclusively than any other fact in the world.”
What Are the Prophecies about Jesus?
A future Messiah, who has been anointed by God to liberate His people from injustice, is prophesied about in the Old Testament, which contains over 300 predictions. The life, death, and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth, as recorded in the New Testament, heralds the fulfillment of those prophesies. In His own words, Jesus declared that He was the anticipated Messiah (John 4:25-26). The gospels also demonstrate how Jesus fulfilled the messianic prophesies and, in the end, rescued mankind from the oppression of death by promising eternal redemption to everyone who believe in him (John 3:16).
What Are the Prophecies about the Messiah’s Birth?
The birth of the long-awaited Messiah was recounted in great detail in the Old Testament. In particular, the prophets predicted that the Savior would be born of a woman and that he would defeat Satan in order to redeem humanity from Satan’s deception of our forefathers and mothers (Genesis 3:15). According to Genesis 12:3; 17:19; Numbers 24:17, the Savior would come from the line of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and from the tribe of Judah (Genesis 12:3). (Genesis 49:10). Furthermore, Scripture foretold that the Messiah would be born at Bethlehem (Micah 5:2), to a virgin who would give birth to Him under the name “Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14).
Jesus’ Birth Fulfils the Prophecies about the Messiah’s Birth
Because Jesus of Nazareth was born of a woman, he was able to rescue mankind from the consequences of the Fall of Adam, and he destroyed the Devil’s work by overcoming death in His triumphant Resurrection (1 John 3:8). The Savior’s lineage was also fulfilled by Jesus, who is a direct descendant of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and the tribe of Judah, and therefore fulfills the predictions regarding the Savior’s descent (Matthew 1:1-16). Furthermore, as foretold, Jesus was born to a virgin in the town of Bethlehem, as promised (Luke 1:27; 2:4-7).
Furthermore, Jesus was certainly known asImmanuel.
The prophet Isaiah predicted that the Messiah will be known by numerous names in addition to the name “Immanuel,” including: “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace,” among others (Isaiah 9:6).
What Are the Prophecies about the Messiah’s Early Life?
In the Old Testament, it was revealed that the Messiah would spend some time in Egypt during His youth, and that He would subsequently return to Israel (Hosea 11:1). Furthermore, the prophesies predicted of a messenger in the desert who would prepare God’s people for the coming of the Messiah so that God’s splendor would be shown (Isaiah 40:3-5).
Jesus’ Early Life Fulfils the Prophecies about the Messiah’s Early Life
As foretold, Jesus spent His early years in Egypt in order to avoid being implicated in the Massacre of the Innocents, which was carried out by King Herod (Matthew 2:13-15). Furthermore, as had been promised, after Herod’s death, Jesus and His family relocated from Egypt to Nazareth (Matthew 2:19-23). It was John the Baptist, who served as a foreshadowed messenger in the wilderness, paving the way for the Lord. He did so by preaching a message of baptism and repentance of sins, which prepared the way for the Messiah (Matthew 3:1-6).
A voice from heaven then revealed to John that Jesus was God’s son, and he baptized Jesus in the name of God (Matthew 3:13-17).
What Are the Prophecies about the Messiah’s Ministry?
The messianic predictions predicted that Galilee would be selected among the nations to witness the birth of “a great light,” a male child who would dispel the darkness of the world (Isaiah 9:1-6). According to Isaiah 30:15, the Messiah would speak about repentance and be a compassionate redeemer who would maintain justice and heal the damaged (Isaiah 30:16–17). (Isaiah 42:1-4; 61:1-2). In addition, the Savior would speak in parables that would fall on deaf ears (Psalm 78:2-4; Isaiah 6:9-10) and accomplish several miracles (Psalm 78:2-4; Isaiah 6:9-10).
These other characteristics of the Deliverer were also foretold in the prophecies: a devoted priest who would accomplish God’s will (1 Samuel 2:35); a prophet chosen from among the Israelites (Deuteronomy 18:15); and an unassuming monarch who would ride on a donkey toward adoring crowds (Deuteronomy 18:18).
Contrary to this portrayal of the future Messiah as one who brings peace and healing, the prophets also predicted that the Messiah would be rejected by His own people (Psalm 69:8), but would be accepted by the Gentiles (Isaiah 11:10).
Jesus’ Ministry Fulfils the Prophecies about the Messiah’s Ministry
In accordance with Scripture, Jesus’ mission started in Galilee, where he served as the “great light” that banished the darkness by teaching a life of repentance and transformation (Matthew 4:12-17). Aside from that, Jesus taught in parables that puzzled a large number of people (Matthew 13:10-15, 34-35), and he did a slew of miracles (Matthew 11:2-5). In addition, Jesus fulfilled the messianic prophecies by serving as: the faithful priest who atoned for the sins of others through His human death and divine resurrection (Hebrews 2:17); the Jewish prophet who was rejected by His own people (Matthew 13:54-58); and the humble king who rode into Jerusalem on a donkey and was greeted by adoring crowds (Matthew 23:23).
Furthermore, the fact that Jesus’ disciples come from a variety of backgrounds confirms the prophesy that everyone has the potential to be a co-heir to God’s Kingdom (John 12:18-21).
What Are the Prophecies about the Messiah’s Betrayal?
According to the prophets, someone who had had a meal with the Messiah (Psalm 41:9) would betray Him for 30 pieces of silver, which would be used to purchase a potter’s field later on in the Messiah’s life (Zechariah 11:12-13). The Messiah’s closest allies would flee from him in the event of his betrayal (Psalm 31:11).
Jesus Was Betrayed in the Manner Prophesized
The Apostle Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver, just as had been promised by the prophecy (Matthew 26:14-16; 47-50).
That blood money was eventually utilized to purchase a potter’s field in the vicinity (Matthew 27:3-10). In addition, following Judas’ betrayal, Jesus’ other followers “deserted him and fled” from the scene (Mark 14:50).
What Are the Prophecies about the Messiah’s Death?
After being falsely accused and being beaten, humiliated, and spat upon, Isaiah portrays how the Messiah will stay mute in the face of his accusers (Isaiah 53:7;Isaiah 50:6). The Savior would likewise be “pierced for our transgressions,” so that we would be healed as a result of His wounds (Isaiah 53:5). A similar prophecy was disclosed by the prophet Daniel, who stated that the “Anointed One would be put to death and will have nothing” (Daniel 9:26). The death of the Messiah was described in greater detail by King David.
The Savior would die in the midst of criminals (Isaiah 53:9), and people would put their hands on His garments (Psalm 22:18).
Jesus Died in the Manner Prophesized
Anyone who is familiar with Jesus’ Passion understands that He carried out the predictions of the Messiah’s death to the the last torturous detail, and that is what makes His death so remarkable. Specific to His crucifixion, Jesus chose to keep silent in the face of false allegations and was beaten, insulted, and spit upon before to His death on the cross (Mark 14:57-61; 15:16-20). The Savior’s hands and feet were pierced by nails during His crucifixion, but his bones were not fractured as a result of the amputation (Luke 24:39-40;John 20:24-27;John 19:33-37).
Last but not least, the prophecy of relentless disdain was fulfilled when bystanders ridiculed the Crucified Christ by stating that if He was the Chosen One, He should rescue Himself (Luke 23:35).
What Are the Prophecies about the Messiah’s Resurrection?
By asserting that God would not leave the Messiah to the realm of the dead or allow the Messiah’s physical body to decay, King David predicted the Messiah’s resurrection and the restoration of all things (Psalm 16:10). Also in David’s writings, the Messiah predicted that he will ascend to Heaven and sit at God’s right hand (Psalm 110:1). Isaiah also prophesied that the Messiah’s death would act as the final sacrifice for sin, allowing God’s people to be redeemed (Isaiah 53:5-12). The Messiah’s pain, on the other hand, would be repaid in that He would ultimately defeat death (Isaiah 25:7-8) and “see the light of life and be pleased” (Isaiah 53:11).
Jesus Was Resurrected in the Manner Prophesied
As prophesied, Jesus triumphed over death by rising triumphantly from the grave (Matthew 28:5-10). In the following days, Jesus appeared to several of His followers (Matthew 28:16-17), who subsequently testified that the Messiah had risen from the dead, that His body had not decayed, and that He had ascended into Heaven to sit at the right side of God, just as the prophets had spoken (Acts 2:24-36).
At long last, Jesus’ death and resurrection brought Scripture to fulfillment in that He was the ultimate sacrifice who rescued humanity from death by providing us with a pathway to eternal life via His sacrifice (1 Corinthians 15:54).
What Does This Mean?
The prophets of the Old Testament went to considerable efforts to chronicle the Messiah’s life, death, and victorious resurrection, and they did so in great detail. A millennium later, Jesus of Nazareth fulfilled these prophesies in such meticulous detail that there can be no question that He was the prophesied Messiah. Images courtesy of iStock/Getty Images Plus/Osobystist Dolores Smythis is a spiritual and parenting writer who has been published all across the country. She finds inspiration for her writing in the ordinary things that happen in her life.
What Old Testament Prophecies Did Jesus Fulfill?
In spite of the fact that the Old Testament is generally seen as being packed with dull history, it offers critical tests about Christ’s claims to be theSon of God and the Messiah. Jesus is the only one who has and will be able to fulfill these tests, or prophecies:
- As the Son of God (Psalm 2:7), fully realized Luke 1:32, Luke 1:35
- As a descendant of Abraham, Jesus is referred to as Genesis 17:7 and Genesis 22:18 are both fulfilled. According to Galatians 3:16, I am a descendant of Isaac. Genesis 21:12 has been fully realized. Scripture references: Hebrews 11:17
- Psalm 132:11
- Jeremiah 23:5
- As a descendant of David Acts 13:23
- Romans 1:3
- His appearance at a certain time Genesis 49:10
- Daniel 9:24, Daniel 9:25
- Genesis 49:10 Fulfilled His being born of a virgin (Luke 2:1)
- Isaiah 7:14 has been fulfilled. Matthew 1:22, Matthew 1:23, Luke 2:7, and the fact that he is referred to as Immanuel Isaiah 7:14 has been fulfilled. His birth in Bethlehem of Judea, according to Matthew 1:22 and Matthew 1:23, Micah 5:2 is fully realized. His miracles (Matthew 2:14
- Luke 2:4
- Isaiah 35:5, Isaiah 35:6) were fulfilled. He was rejected by his brothers and sisters (Matthew 11:4
- John 11:47). Psalms 69:8 and Isaiah 63:3 are both fulfilled. In John 1:11 and John 7:3, Jesus is described as a stumbling block to the Jews. Isaiah 8:14 has been fulfilled. Rom 9:32, 1 Peter 1:8, his sale for thirty pieces of money, Zechariah 11:12, and his resurrection are all fulfilled. Matthew 26:15
- His price being paid for the potter’s fieldZechariah 11:13
- His promise being fulfilled Matthew 27:7 (KJV)
The following is an excerpt and adaptation of ” prophesies concerning Christ ” (public domain).