Prophecies Concerning Jesus Christ

John 5: 39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.

Prophecies Concerning Jesus Christ

1.  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.

Seed of a Woman

And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. (Genesis 3:15 KJV)

But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. (Matthew 1:20 KJV)

2.  Isaiah had foretold that the Messiah, Immanuel, would be born of a virgin.  This was specifically fulfilled by His birth of the virgin Mary, as recorded in Mathew.

Virgin Birth

Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. (Isaiah 7:14 KJV)

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. (Matthew 1:18 KJV)

3.  The exact tribe of Israel through which the Messiah would come was revealed in Genesis as the tribe of Judah.  This was precisely the case as seen in Luke.

Tribe of Judah

The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be. (Genesis 49:10 KJV)

And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli, Which was the son of Aminadab, which was the son of Aram, which was the son of Esrom, which was the son of Phares, which was the son of Juda, (Luke 3:23, 33 KJV)

4.  Micah had further predicted that the Messiah would be born in the obscure town of Bethlehem.  This is, of course, where Jesus was born.

Born at Bethlehem

But thou, Beth–lehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting. (Micah 5:2 KJV)

Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, (Matthew 2:1 KJV)

5.  Even the visit of the wise men had been foretold in the Old Testament.

Presented with Gifts

The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall bring presents: the kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts. (Psalm 72:10 KJV)

Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. (Matthew 2:1, 11 KJV)

6.  The cruel hatred of Herod was in the foreknowledge of God.

Herod Kills Children

Thus saith the Lord; A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, and bitter weeping; Rahel weeping for her children refused to be comforted for her children, because they were not. (Jeremiah 31:15 KJV)

Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men. (Matthew 2:16 KJV)

7.  It was no accident that His name was called Emmanuel, meaning “God with us.”  This had been predicted by the prophet Isaiah, and was fulfilled as seen in Matthew.

Shall Be Immanuel

Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. (Isaiah 7:14 KJV)

Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. (Matthew 1:23 KJV)

8.  As we have already discovered, even the fact that the Messiah would be preceded by a forerunner, a messenger, was known to the students of Old Testament prophecy.

Preceded by a Messenger

The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. (Isaiah 40:3 KJV)

In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. (Matthew 3:1, 2 KJV)

9.  The wonderful ministry of miracles, the healing of the blind, the deaf, the lame, the dumb, had been foretold by Isaiah.  This was brought to pass in Jesus’ ministry.

Ministry of Miracles

Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert. (Isaiah 35:5, 6 KJV)

And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. (Matthew 9:35 KJV)

10.  Zechariah had foreseen the fact that the Messiah would enter Jerusalem on a donkey.  Shortly before His crucifixion, Jesus did just that.

Enter Jerusalem on a Donkey

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass. (Zechariah 9:9 KJV)

And they brought him to Jesus: and they cast their garments upon the colt, and they set Jesus thereon. And as he went, they spread their clothes in the way. And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen; (Luke 19:35-37 KJV)

11.  David, under the anointing of the Holy Spirit, had prophesied the resurrection of the Christ.  Peter, preaching the first sermon in the church, quoted this verse, and applied it to the resurrection.

Resurrection

For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. (Psalm 16:10 KJV)

He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. (Acts 2:31 KJV)

12.  David had also predicted the ascension of the Christ.  This is recorded in Acts.  The Apostle Paul, years later, applied Psalm 68:18 to the ascension of the Lord.

Ascension

Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the Lord God might dwell among them. (Psalm 68:18 KJV)

And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. (Acts 1:9 KJV)

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.

Betrayed by a Friend

Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me. (Psalm 41:9 KJV)

When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me. (John 13:21 KJV)

14.  Even the amount of money for which Jesus was betrayed had been specifically mentioned in the Old Testament.  It was thirty pieces of silver.

Sold for 30 Pieces of Silver

And I said unto them, If ye think good, give me my price; and if not, forbear. So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver. (Zechariah 11:12 KJV)

And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver. (Matthew 26:15 KJV)

15.  Zechariah 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.

Money Thrown Down In God's House

And the Lord said unto me, Cast it unto the potter: a goodly price that I was prised at of them. And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them to the potter in the house of the Lord. (Zechariah 11:13 KJV)

And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself. (Matthew 27:5 KJV)

16.  In prophetic language, Zechariah had pictured the forsaking of Jesus by His disciples.  Mark reveals the total, stark fulfillment of this tragic event.

Forsaken by His Disciples

Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the Lord of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones. (Zechariah 13:7 KJV)

But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled. (Matthew 26:56 KJV)

17.  That the Messiah would be accused by false witnesses is seen in Psalm 35:11.  That this actually occurred is recorded in Matthew.

Accused by False Witness

False witnesses did rise up; they laid to my charge things that I knew not. (Psalm 35:11 KJV)

Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death; But found none: yea, though many false witnesses came, yet found they none. At the last came two false witnesses, (Matthew 26:59, 60 KJV)

18.  Isaiah 53 is a touching and dramatic foretelling of the crucifixion of the Messiah, it stated that He would be dumb, or silent, before His accusers.  In keeping with this, Jesus answered nothing to the accusation.  Later, the Apostle Peter makes reference to this, as well.

Dumb Before Accusers

He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. (Isaiah 53:7 KJV)

And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing. (Matthew 27:12 KJV)

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

Wounded and Bruised

But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. (Isaiah 53:5 KJV)

Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified. (Matthew 27:26 KJV)

20.  Isaiah had recorded a prediction of the smiting of the Messiah, and even the plucking of the hair from his cheeks, and pitting in His face.  Luke tells of the smiting of Jesus.

Smitten and Spit Upon

I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting. (Isaiah 50:6 KJV)

And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head. (Matthew 27:30 KJV)

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

Mocked

All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying, He trusted on the Lord that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him. (Psalm 22:7, 8 KJV)

And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him. (Matthew 27:31 KJV)

22.  The piercing of the Messiah’s hands and feet was foretold in both Psalm and Zechariah.  John records the fulfillment.

Hand and Feet Pierced

For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet. (Psalm 22:16 KJV)

The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe. (John 20:25 KJV)

23.  Isaiah, the great predictive passage, said the Messiah would be “numbered with the transgressors.”  This came to pass as He was crucified with thieves.

Crucified With Thieves

Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. (Isaiah 53:12 KJV)

Then were there two thieves crucified with him, one on the right hand, and another on the left. (Matthew 27:38 KJV)

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.

Garments Parted and Lots Cast

They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture. (Psalm 22:18 KJV)

Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also his coat: now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout. They said therefore among themselves, Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be: that the scripture might be fulfilled, which saith, They parted my raiment among them, and for my vesture they did cast lots. These things therefore the soldiers did. (John 19:23, 24 KJV)

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.

His Forsaken Cry

My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring? (Psalm 22:1 KJV)

And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? (Matthew 27:46 KJV)

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.

Bones Not Broken

They shall leave none of it unto the morning, nor break any bone of it: according to all the ordinances of the passover they shall keep it. (Numbers 9:12 KJV)

But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs: But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water. And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe. For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken. (John 19:33-36 KJV)

27.  Zechariah did not limit the piercing of the Messiah to that of His hands and feet.  As noted in John, He was also pierced in the side.

Side Pierced

And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn. (Zechariah 12:10 KJV)

But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water. (John 19:34 KJV)

28.  The unusual darkness which covered the land during the crucifixion of Christ, had been foretold in Amos.

Darkness Over the Land

And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord God, that I will cause the sun to go down at noon, and I will darken the earth in the clear day: (Amos 8:9 KJV)

Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour. (Matthew 27:45 KJV)

29.  Returning to Isaiah, the burial of the Messiah in a rich man’s tomb had even been revealed.  The record of the event is found in Matthew.

Buried in Rich Man's Tomb

And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. (Isaiah 53:9 KJV)

When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathæa, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus' disciple: He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered. And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed. (Matthew 27:57-60 KJV)

It is obvious to all sincere students of God’s Word that these amazing predictions and fulfillments can be nothing short of miraculous.  Jesus fulfilled many Old Testament prophecies, when He came into the earth on God’s exact time schedule.