God removed all the guesswork. He gave us many indicators that point to one man only. If you had a description of a man who would be born in a certain city, live during a particular year, and die in a certain manner, you would already have narrowed the search tremendously by these three factors alone. Suppose you also knew his racial heritage, family lineage, sex, and special abilities?
God did all this and more when he told us in advance about the Messiah, Jesus Christ. He wanted to make sure we would know him when he came. One or two prophecies would not suffice to identify the man – so how about over one hundred?
The following are several prophecies by which we can identify God’s Messiah so that we may trust wholly in the one God sent for salvation and power. The prophecies were already in print for several hundred years before Jesus came on the scene.
A preacher will prepare the way
Prophecy: Isaiah 40:3
Fulfillment: Luke 1:17
Will be alive at a particular point in history
Prophecy: Daniel 9:24-26 (49+434 years), Nehemiah 2:1-8 (445 B.C.)
Fulfillment: Jesus alive in30 A.D.
Belong to the family lineage of Judah
Prophecy: Isaiah 37:31
Fulfillment: Matthew 1:1-2, 16
Belong to the family lineage of Jesse
Prophecy: Isaiah 11:1-5, 10
Fulfillment: Matthew 1:1-2a, 5-6, 16
Belong to the family lineage of King David
Prophecy: Isaiah 16:5
Fulfillment: Matthew 1:1-2A, 6, 16
Born a male
Prophecy: Isaiah 9:6-7
Fulfillment: Mark 1:1
Born of a virgin
Prophecy: Isaiah 7:14
Fulfillment: Matthew 1:20-23
Born in Bethlehem in Judah
Prophecy: Micah 5:2
Fulfillment: Matthew 2:1
Travel in Nazareth
Prophecy: Isaiah 9:1-2
Fulfillment: Matthew 4:13-16
Will reach out to the Gentiles
Prophecy: Isaiah 42:1-4, 6
Fulfillment: Matthew 12:14-21
Will heal miraculously
Prophecy: Isaiah 29:18
Fulfillment: Luke 7:20-22
Despised and rejected
Prophecy: Isaiah 53:3
Fulfillment: John 19:15
Rejected by his own brothers
Prophecy: Psalms 69:8
Fulfillment: John 7:1-5
Betrayed by a friend
Prophecy: Psalm 41:9
Fulfillment: John 13:18, 26-27
Betrayed for 30 pieces of silver
Prophecy: Zechariah 11:12
Fulfillment: Matthew 26:14-15
The above silver used to buy potter’s field
Prophecy: Zechariah 11:12-13
Fulfillment: Matthew 27:3-10
Disciples would scatter
Prophecy: Zechariah 13:7
Fulfillment: Matthew 26:31
Beaten with a rod
Prophecy: Micah 5:1
Fulfillment: Mark 15:19
Hands and feet pierced
Prophecy: Psalm 22:16
Fulfillment: John 20:25
Gambled for his clothes
Prophecy: Psalm 22:18
Fulfillment: Matthew 27:35
Specific insults given, word for word
Prophecy: Psalm 22:8
Fulfillment: Matthew 27:43
Given vinegar and gall to drink
Prophecy: Psalm 69:21
Fulfillment: Matthew 27:48
Numbered with the transgressors
Prophecy: Isaiah 53:12
Fulfillment: Mark 15:28
Made intercession for the transgressors
Prophecy: Isaiah 53:12
Fulfillment: Luke 23:34
Cried out to God
Prophecy: Psalm 22:1
Fulfillment: Mark 15:34
Side pierced
Prophecy: Isaiah 53:5
Fulfillment: John 19:33-34; 36-37
Bones not broken
Prophecy: Psalm 22:17
Fulfillment: John 19:33; 36a
Died for our sins
Prophecy: Isaiah 53:5-6
Fulfillment: 1 Corinthians 15:3
Buried in a rich man’s tomb
Prophecy: Isaiah 53:9
Fulfillment: Matthew 27:57, 59-60
Seated at God’s right hand
Prophecy: Psalm 110:1
Fulfillment: Luke 24:51, Romans 8:34
What Do You Think?
a. How many of the above promises have to be fulfilled in one person before it goes beyond the bounds of coincidence?
b. Is fulfilled prophecy a good way to prove God’s authorship of the Bible?
