Bible Study Week 6
Part 4
Prophecies concerning Jesus Christ
​
Profits and the Prophecies
Genesis 3:15, the earliest specific prophecy concerning the Messiah, predicted that He would be born of a woman. This Prophecy was fulfilled by His birth of Mary (Mathew 1:20).
Isaiah 7:14 foretold that the Messiah, Immanuel, would be born of a virgin. It was specifically fulfilled by His birth of the virgin Mary, as recorded in Mathew 1:18-23.
Genesis 49:10 revealed that the tribe of Israel through which the Messiah would come was the tribe of Judah. This was precisely the case, as shown by Luke3:23-33.
Micah 5:2 further predicted that the Messiah would be born in the obscure town of Bethlehem, which is where Jesus was born (Mathew 2:1).
Even the visit of the wise men was foretold in the Old Testament (Psalm 72:10; Mathew 2:1-11).
The cruel hatred of Herod was in the foreknowledge of God (Jeremiah 31:15; Mathew 2:16-18).
Isaiah 7:14 predicted that the Messiah would be Immanuel, meaning "God with us" Mathew 1:23 declares that He was.
A forerunner, a messenger, preceded the Messiah, as students of Old Testament prophecy knew (Isaiah 40:3; Mathew 3:1-2).
Isaiah 35:5-6 foretold the wonderful ministry of miracles, the healing of the blind, the deaf, the lame, and the mute. This Prophecy came to pass in Jesus' ministry (Mathew 9:35).
Zechariah 9:9 foresaw that the Messiah would enter Jerusalem on a donkey. Shortly before His crucifixion. Jesus did just that (Luke 19:35-37).
​
David, under the anointing of the Holy Spirit, prophesied the resurrection of the Christ (Psalm 16:10).
Peter, preaching the first sermon in the church, quoted this verse and applied it to the resurrection of Jesus (Acts 2:31).
David also predicted the ascension of the Christ (Psalm 68:18). Acts 1:9 records this event.
The apostle Paul, years later, applied Psalm 68:18 to the ascension of the Lord (Ephesians 4:8-10).
The betrayal of the Messiah by one who had been His friend was no surprise, for it was prophetically seen in Psalm 41:9. Judas was this friend (Mathew 26:50; John 13:21).
Even the amount of money for which Jesus was betrayed was specifically mentioned in the Old Testament (Zechariah 11:12). It was thirty pieces of silver (Mathew 26:15).
Zechariah 11:13 further predicted that this money would be thrown down in the Temple at Jerusalem, which was, at the time, God's house. Judas did that very thing (Mathew 27:5).
In prophetic language, Zechariah 13:7 pictured the forsaking of Jesus by His disciples. Mathew 26:56 reveals the total, stark fulfillment of this tragic event.
According to Psalm 35:11, false witnesses would accuse the Messiah. Mathew 26:59-60 records this occurrence.
Isaiah 53 also foretold the bruising and wounding of the Messiah, in verse 5. Mathew 27:26 records the fulfillment.
Isaiah 50:6 predicted the smiting of the Messiah, plucking of hair from his cheeks, and spitting in His face. Mathew 27:30 tells of the smiting of Jesus.
The piercing of the Messiah's hands and feet was foretold in both Psalm 22:16 and Zechariah 12:10. John 20:25 records the fulfillment.
Isaiah 53:12, part of a great predictive passage, said the Messiah would be "numbered with the transgressors." He was crucified with thieves (Mathew 27:38).
Psalm 22 deals specifically with the crucifixion of the Messiah. Verse 18 foretold that His garments would be parted and lots cast for His robe. The actions of the Roman soldiers as Jesus hung on the cross fulfilled this prophecy (John 19:23-24).
The first verse of Psalm 22 recorded the Messiah's forsaken cry many hundreds of years in advance. His actual words at this desperate moment are found in Mathew 27:46.
The Roman soldiers, though they broke bones of the thieves on either side of Jesus, did not break His (John 19:31-36. Psalm 34:20 foresaw this event.
Zechariah 12:10 describes the piercing of the Messiah. Not only were His hand and feet pierced, but as noted in John 19:34, He was also pierced in the side.
The unusual darkness that covered the land during the crucifixion of Christ (Mathew 27:45) was foretold in Amos 8:9.
Isaiah 53:9 revealed the burial of the Messiah in a rich man's tomb. The record of the event is in Mathew 27:57-60.
It has been estimated that the odds against fulfilling just eight of the major prophecies about Jesus are 1 in 1017. It is obvious to all sincere students of God's Word that these amazing predictions and fulfillments are nothing short of miraculous. Jesus fulfilled many Old Testament prophecies when He was born, lived, died, and rose again on God's exact time schedule.