Prophecies Concerning Jesus Christ

 

Old Testament Prophecy.........................................New Testament Fulfillment

Genesis 3:15............Seed of Woman......................Matthew 1:20 Isaiah 7:14.............Virgin Born........................Matthew 1:18 Genesis 49:10...........Tribe of Judah.....................Luke 3:23,33 Micah 5:2...............Born at Bethlehem..................Matthew 2:1 Psalm 72:10.............Presented With Gifts...............Matthew 2:1,11 Jeremiah 31:15..........Herod Kills Children...............Matthew 2:16 Isaiah 7:14.............Shall Be Immanuel..................Matthew 1:23 Isaiah 40:3.............Preceded by a Messenger ...........Matthew 3:1-2 Isaiah 35:5-6...........Ministry of Miracles...............Matthew 9:35 Zechariah 9:9...........Enter Jerusalem on a Donkey........Luke 19:35-37 Psalm16:10..............Resurrection.......................Acts 2:31 Psalm 68:18.............Ascension..........................Acts 1:9 Psalm 41:9..............Betrayed bya Friend................John 13:21 Zechariah 11:12.........Sold for 30 Pieces of Silver.......Matthew 26:15 Zechariah 11:13.........Money Thrown Down In God's House...Matthew 27:5 Zechariah 13:7..........Forsaken by His Disciples..........Matthew 26:56 Psalm 35:11.............Accused by False Witness...........Matthew 26:59-60 Isaiah 53:7.............Dumb Before Accusers ..............Matthew 27:12 Isaiah 53:5.............Wounded and Bruised................Matthew 27:26 Isaiah 50:6.............Smitten and Spit Upon..............Matthew 27:30 Psalm 22:7-8............Mocked.............................Matthew 27:31 Psalm 22:16.............Hand and Feet Pierced..............John 20:25 Isaiah 53:12............Crucified With Thieves.............Matthew 27:38 Psalm 22:18.............Garments Parted and Lots Cast......John 19:23-24 Psalm 22:1..............His Forsaken Cry...................Matthew 27:46 Numbers 9:12............Bones Not Broken...................John 19:33-36 Zechariah 12:10.........Side Pierced.......................John 19:34 Amos 8:9................Darkness Over the Land ............Matthew 27:45 Isaiah 53:9.............Buried in Rich Man's Tomb..........Matthew 27:57-60.

IV. Prophecies Concerning Jesus Christ

(1) Genesis 3:15, the earliest specific prophecy concerning the Messiah, had predicted that He would be born of a woman. This was fulfilled by His birth of Mary (Matthew 1:20).

(2) Isaiah 7:14 had foretold that the Messiah, Immanuel, would be born of a virgin. This was specificially fulfilled by His birth of the virgin Mary, as recorded in Matthew 1:18-23.

(3) The exact tribe of Israel through which the Messiah would come was revealed in Genesis 49:10 as the tribe of Judah. That this was precisely the case is seen in Luke 3:23-33.

(4) Micah 5:2 had further predicted that the Messiah would be born in the obscure town of Bethlehem. This is, of course, where Jesus was born (Matthew 2:1).

(5) Even the visit of the wise men had been foretold in the Old Testament (Psalm 72:10; Matthew 2:1-11).

(6) The cruel hatred of Herod was in the foreknowledge of God (Jeremiah 31:15; Matthew 2:16-18).

(7) It was no accident that His name was called Emmanuel, meaning "God with us." This had been predicted by the prophet Isaiah (7:14), and was fulfilled as seen in Matthew 1:23.

(8) As we have already discovered, even the fact that Messiah would be preceded by a forerunner, a messenger, was known to the students of Old Testament prophecy (Isaiah 40:3; Matthew 3:1-2).

(9) The wonderful ministry of miracles, the healing of the blind, the deaf, the lame, the dumb, had been foretold by Isaiah (35:5-6). This was brought to pass in Jesus' ministry (Matthew 9:35).

(10) Zechariah 9:9 had foreseen the fact that the Messiah would enter Jerusalem on a donkey. Shortly before His crucifixion, Jesus did just that (Luke 19:35-37).

(11) David, under the anointing of the Holy Spirit, had 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 (Acts 2:31).

(12) David had also predicted the ascension of the Christ (Psalm 68:18). This is recorded in Acts 1:9. The Apostle Paul, years later, applied Psalm 68:18 to the ascension of the Lord (Ephesians 4:8-10).

(13) 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 (Matthew 26:50; John 13:21).

(14) Even the amount of money for which Jesus was betrayed had been specifically mentioned in the Old Testament (Zechariah 11:12). It was thirty pieces of silver (Matthew 26:15).

(15) Zechariah 11:13 had further predicted that this same money would be thrown down in the temple at Jerusalem, which was—at that time—God's house. Judas did that very thing (Matthew 27:5).

(16) In prophetic language, Zechariah 13:7 had pictured the forsaking of Jesus by His disciples. Mark 14:50 reveals the total, stark fulfillment of this tragic event.

(17) That the Messiah would be accused by false witnesses is seen in Psalm 35:11. That this actually occurred is recorded in Matthew 26:59-60.

(18) Isaiah 53, a touching and dramatic foretelling of the crucifixion of the Messiah, stated that He would be dumb, or silent, before His accusers. In keeping with this, Jesus answered nothing to the accusations (Matthew 27:12). Later, the Apostle Peter makes reference to this, as well (I Peter 2:22-23).

(19) Isaiah 53 also foretold the bruising and wounding of the Messiah, in verse 5. The fulfillment is recorded in Matthew 27:26.

(20) Isaiah 50:6 had recorded a prediction of the smiting of the Messiah, and even the plucking of the hair from his cheeks, and spitting in His face. Luke 22:63 tells of the smiting of Jesus.

(21) Psalm 22:7-8 describes the mocking that was done at the Messiah; the actual event is seen in Matthew 27:31.

(22) 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.

(23) Isaiah 53:12, the great predictive passage, said the Messiah would be "numbered with the transgressors." This came to pass as He was crucified with thieves (Matthew 27:38).

(24) Psalm 22, to which we have already referred, is another chapter which deals specifically with the crucifixion of the Messiah. Verse 18 foretold that His garments would be parted and lots cast for His robe. This was brought to pass by the actions of the Roman soldiers as Jesus hung on the cross (John 19:23-24).

(25) The first verse of Psalm 22 had even recorded the Messiah's forsaken cry, many hundreds of years in advance. His actual words at this desperate moment are found in Matthew 27:46.

(26) The Roman soldiers, though they broke the bones of the thieves on either side of Jesus, did not break His. This was no accident, but had been foreseen in Psalm 34:20. The New Testament account is given in John 19:31-36.

(27) Zechariah 12:10 did not limit the piercing of the Messiah to that of His hands and feet. As noted in John 19:34, He was also pierced in the side.

(28) The unusual darkness which covered the land during the crucifixion of Christ (Matthew 27:45), had been foretold in Amos 8:9.

(29) Returning to Isaiah 53:9, the burial of the Messiah in a rich man's tomb had even been revealed. The record of the event is found in Matthew 27:57-60.

Jesus fulfilled many Old Testament prophecies, when He came into the earth on God's exact time schedule.