FindingTheChurch.com

Messianic Prophecy Jesus Fulfilled

1 Corinthians 2:13-14 states, "When we tell you these things, we do not use words that come from human wisdom. Instead, we speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit's words to explain spiritual truths. But people who aren't spiritual can't receive these truths from God's Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can't understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means."

Before you read these statistically certain proofs, ask God to open your eyes to see them.

• 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:
1. rejection (Isaiah 53:3; John 1:10-11; 7:5,48)
2. betrayal by a friend (Psalm 41:9; Luke 22:3-4; John 13:18)
3. sold for 30 pieces of silver (Zechariah 11:12; Matthew 26:14-15)
4. silence before His accusers (Isaiah 53:7; Matthew 27:12-14)
5. being mocked (Psalm 22:7-8; Matthew 27:41-44)
6. beaten (Isaiah 52:14; Matthew 27:26)
7. spit upon (Isaiah 50:6; Matthew 27:30)
8. piercing His hands and feet (Psalm 22:16; Matthew 27:31)
9. being crucified with thieves (Isaiah 53:12; Matthew 27:38)
10. praying for His persecutors (Isaiah 53:12; Luke 23:34)
11. piercing His side (Zechariah 12:10; John 19:34)
12. given gall and vinegar to drink (Psalm 69:21, Matthew 27:34, Luke 23:36)
13. no broken bones (Psalm 34:20; John 19:32-36)
14. buried in a rich man's tomb (Isaiah 53:9; Matthew 27:57-60)
15. 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: Josh McDowell 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 published in the Septuagint 270 years before Christ.

How You Can Be Reconciled to God

First, you must admit your spiritual need: "No one is righteous - not even one." (Romans 3:10) We can't make excuses or blame others and our circumstances for our actions. "For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God's glorious standard." (Romans 3:23)

"Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely home to God." (1 Peter 3:18) Jesus paid the price for your sin. The Apostle Paul said, "My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not treat the grace of God as meaningless. For if keeping the law could make us right with God, then there was no need for Christ to die." (Galatians 2:20-21)

The word "repent" means "to change your direction." The Bible tells us, "Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away." (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 of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28) 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!

Blessings In Christ,

John and Judy