But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God. ~ John 1:12
Messianic Prophecy Jesus Fulfilled
1 Corinthians 2:13-14 states, "These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned."
Before you read these statistically certain proofs, ask God to open your eyes to see them. Mouse over the first verse for the old testament prophesy and the second verse for the new testament fulfillment.
Born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:21-23)
A descendant of Abraham (Genesis 12:1-3; 22:18; Matthew 1:1; Galatians 3:16)
Of the tribe of Judah (Genesis 49:10; Luke 3:23, 33; Hebrews 7:14)
Of the house of David (2 Samuel 7:12-16; Matthew 1:1)
Born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2, Matthew 2:1; Luke 2:4-7)
Taken to Egypt (Hosea 11:1; Matthew 2:14-15)
Herod's killing of the infants (Jeremiah 31:15; Matthew 2:16-18)
Anointed by the Holy Spirit (Isaiah 11:2; Matthew 3:16-17)
Heralded by the messenger of the Lord (John the Baptist) (Isaiah 40:3-5; Malachi 3:1; Matthew 3:1-3)
Would perform miracles (Isaiah 35:5-6; Matthew 9:35)
Would preach good news (Isaiah 61:1; Luke 4:14-21)
Would minister in Galilee (Isaiah 9:1; Matthew 4:12-16)
Would cleanse the Temple (Malachi 3:1; Jeremiah 7:11; Matthew 21:12-13; Psalm 69:9; John 2:13-17)
Would present Himself as King 173,880 days from the decree to rebuild Jerusalem (Daniel 9:25; Matthew 21:4-11)
Would enter Jerusalem as a king on a donkey (Zechariah 9:9; Matthew 21:4-9)
Would be rejected by Jews (Psalm 118:22; I Peter 2:7)
Die a humiliating death (Psalm 22:1-31; Isaiah 53:1-12) involving:
rejection (Isaiah 53:3; John 1:10-11; 7:5,48)
betrayal by a friend (Psalm 41:9; Luke 22:3-4; John 13:18)
sold for 30 pieces of silver (Zechariah 11:12; Matthew 26:14-15)
silence before His accusers (Isaiah 53:7; Matthew 27:12-14)
being mocked (Psalm 22:7-8; Matthew 27:41-44)
beaten (Isaiah 52:14; Matthew 27:26)
spit upon (Isaiah 50:6; Matthew 27:30)
piercing His hands and feet (Psalm 22:16; Matthew 27:31)
being crucified with thieves (Isaiah 53:12; Matthew 27:38)
praying for His persecutors (Isaiah 53:12; Luke 23:34)
piercing His side (Zechariah 12:10; John 19:34)
given gall and vinegar to drink (Psalm 69:21, Matthew 27:34, Luke 23:36)
no broken bones (Psalm 34:20; John 19:32-36)
buried in a rich man's tomb (Isaiah 53:9; Matthew 27:57-60)
casting lots for His garments (Psalm 22:18; John 19:23-24)
Would rise from the dead (Psalm 16:10; Mark 16:6; Acts 2:31)
Ascend into Heaven (Psalm 68:18; Acts 1:9)
Would sit down at the right hand of God (Psalm 110:1; Hebrews 1:3)
The messianic prophecies listed above were all fulfilled by Jesus Christ during His 33-year mission. The list isn't comprehensive. Jesus actually fulfilled hundreds of messianic prophecies during His lifetime. To get a feel for the probabilities involved, consider this: Professor Emeritus of Science at Westmont College, Peter Stoner, calculated the odds of Jesus fulfilling only eight of the Messianic prophecies to be 1 out of 1017 (1:100,000,000,000,000,000). That's 1 in one hundred thousand trillion!
Some argue that Jesus controlled outcomes and fulfilled prophecies on purpose so He could claim to be Israel's Messiah. He did. He purposefully rode into Jerusalem on a donkey presenting Himself as King on the day we call Palm Sunday. He controlled the outcomes of Zechariah 9:9 and Daniel 9:25.
The fact He did so exactly 173,880 days after Artaxerxes Longimanus decreed the restoration of Jerusalem is a special case. Jesus would have to be God to control this outcome - and He is (Exodus 3:14; John 8:58) - and He did! His fulfilling of Daniel 9:25 alone could be called a statistical certainty that He is who He claimed to be - God.
Psalm 22:1-31 was written a thousand years before Christ and it reads like an eye-witness account of the crucifixion. These prophecies were widely published throughout the Hellenistic world in the Septuagint 270 years before Christ.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain. For He says:
"In an acceptable time I have heard you,
And in the day of salvation I have helped you" (Isaiah 49:8).
Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation (2 Corinthians 5:17-6:2).
First, you must admit your spiritual need. "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23).
"For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God" (1 Peter 3:18). Jesus paid the price for your sin. The Apostle Paul wrote, "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain" (Galatians 2:20-21).
The word repent means to change your direction. The Bible tells us, "Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord" (Acts 3:19). God commands us to repent. You must be willing to turn away from the things that displease God.
Jesus said, "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28). He also said, "I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved" (John 10:9). It is essential that you come to Jesus as you are. Don't try to "clean up your life" before you come to God. Instead, surrender your life to Him and allow Him to do the "cleansing."
Your decision to follow Christ means God has forgiven you and that you will spend eternity with Him. Until then, go out and be the Church. Welcome to the family of God!
Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so (Acts 17:10-11).
