Prophecies fulfilled by Jesus (#9)

30. That he would thirst.

OT, Psalm 22:15 – My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to the top of my mouth; you lay me in the dust of death.

NT, John 19:28 – Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.”

31. That he would commend his spirit to the Father.

OT, Psalm 31:5 – Into your hands I commit my spirit; redeem me, O Lord, the God of truth.

NT, Luke 23:46 – Jesus called out in a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this he breathed his last.

32. That his bones would not be broken.

OT, Psalm 34:20 – He protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken.

NT, John 19:33-34 – But when they came to Jesus and found he was already dead, they did not break his legs. Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water.

Prophecies fulfilled by Jesus (#8)

26.  That he would be given vinegar to drink.

OT, Psalm 69:21 – They put gall in my food and gave me vinegar for my thirst.

NT, Matthew 27:48 – Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a stick, and offered it to Jesus to drink.

27. That he would suffer the piercing of his hands and feet.

OT, Psalm 22:16 – Dogs have surrounded me; a band of evil men has encircled me, they have pierced my hands and feet.

NT, Mark 15:25 – It was the third hour when they crucified him.

28. That his garments would be parted and gambled for.

OT, Psalm 22:18 – They divide my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing.

NT, Luke 23:34 – Jesus said, “Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.

29. That he would be surrounded and ridiculed by his enemies.

OT, Psalm 22:7 – All who see me mock me; they hurl insults, shaking their heads.

NT, Matthew 27:39 – Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself!”

Prophecies fulfilled by Jesus (#7)

22. That he would be a man of sorrows.

OT, Isiah 53:3 – (see #16)

NT, Matthew 26:38 – Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death.  Stay here and keep watch with me.”

23.  That he would be forsaken by his disciples.

OT, Zechariah 13:7 – “Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, against the man who is close to me!”  declares the Lord Almighty.  “Strike the shepherd and the sheep will be scattered, and I will turn my hand against the little ones.”

24.     That he would be scourged and spat upon.

OT, Isiah 50:6 – I offered my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard; I did not hide my face from mocking and spitting.

NT, Matthew 26:67 – Then they spit in his face and struck him with their fists.  Others slapped him and said, “Prophesy to us, Christ.  Who hit you?”

25.  That his price would be used to buy a potter’s field.

OT, Zechariah 11:13 – And the Lord said to me, “Throw it to the potter.” –  The handsome price at which they priced me!  So I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them into the house of the Lord for the potter.

NT, Matthew 27:9 – Then what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: “They took the thirty silver coins, the price set on him by the people of Israel, and they used them to buy the potter’s field, as the Lord commanded me.” 

Prophecies fulfilled by Jesus (#6)

19. That he would be the rejected cornerstone.

OT, Psalm 118:22 – The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone.

NT, Matthew 21:42 – Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone; The Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes.”

20.  That his miracles would not be believed.

OT, Isaiah 53:1 – Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?

NT, John 12:37-38 – Even after Jesus had done all these miraculous signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him.  This was to fulfill the words of Isaiah the prophet: “Lord, who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”

21.  That his friend would betray him for 30 pieces of silver.

OT, Zechariah 11:12 – I told them, “If you think it best, give me my pay; but if not, keep it.”  So they paid me 30 pieces of silver.

NT, Matthew 26:14-15 – Then one of the Twelve – the one called Judas Iscariot – went to the chief priests and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?”  So they counted out for him thirty silver coins.

Prophecies fulfilled by Jesus (#5)

16. That he would be rejected by his own.

OT, Isaiah 53:3 – He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised and we esteemed him not.

NT, John 1:11 – He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.

17. That he would make a triumphal entry into Jerusalem.

OT, Zechariah 9:9 – Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

NT, Matthew 21:1-4 – As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethpage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, tell them that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.” This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet.

18. That he would be praised by little children.

OT, Psalm 8:2 – From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise because of your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger.

NT, Matthew 21:16 – “Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him. “Yes, have you never read, From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise.”

Prophecies fulfilled by Jesus (#4)

13. That he would heal many.

OT, Isaiah 53:4 – Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we consider him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted.

NT, Matthew 8:16-17 – When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick. This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah, “He took up our infirmities and carried our diseases”.

14. That he would deal gently with the Gentiles.

OT, Isiah 9:2 – The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has shined.

NT, Matthew 4:13-16 – Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the regions of Zebulun and Napthlali, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: “The land of Zebulun and the land of Napthali, by way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles: The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death Light has dawned.”

15. That he would speak in parable.

OT, Isaiah 6:10 – Make the heart of his people calloused; make their ears dull and close their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn to be healed.

NT, Matthew 13:10-13 – The disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?” He replied, “The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. Whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even that will be taken from him. This is why I speak to them in parables.”

Prophecies fulfilled by Jesus (#3)

9. That his birthplace would suffer a massacre of infants.

OT, Jeremiah 31:15 – This is what the Lord says: “A voice is heard in Ramah, mourning and great weeping, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because her children are no more.”

NT, Matthew 2:16 – When Herod realized he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi.

10. That he would be a Nazarene.

OT, Isaiah 11:1 – A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a branch will bear fruit

NT, Matthew 2:22-23 – But when he (Joseph) heard that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee, and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets: “He shall be called a Nazarene.”

11. That he would be zealous for his father.

OT, Psalm 119:139 – My zeal wears me out, for my enemies ignore my words.

NT, John 2:16 – To those who sold the doves he said, “Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Father’s house into a market!”

12. That he would be filled with God’s spirit.

OT, Isaiah 11:2 – The spirit of the Lord will rest on him – the spirit of wisdom, and of understanding, the spirit of counsel and of power, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord.

NT, Luke 4:18-19 – The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach the good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.

Prophecies fulfilled by Jesus (#2)

4. That he would be called Immanuel (God with us).

OT, Isaiah 7:14 (see #1 above).

NT, Matthew 1:23 – The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel – which means, “God with us.”

5. That he would have a forerunner.

OT, Isaiah 40:3 – A voice of one calling: “In the desert prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God.”

NT, Matthew 1:1-3 – In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah.

6. That he would be born in Bethlehem.

OT, Micah 5:2 – But you Bethlehem Ephratah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from old, from ancient times.

NT, Matthew 2:1-2 – After Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews?” We saw his star in the east and came to worship him.

7. That he would be worshiped by wise men and presented with gifts.

OT, Psalm 72:10 – The kings of Tarshish and of distant shores will bring tribute to him; the kings of Sheba and Seba will present him with gifts.

NT, Matthew 2:11 – On coming to the house, they saw the child and his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.

8. That he would be in Egypt for a season.

OT, Hosea 11:1 – When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son.

NT, Matthew 2:14-15 – So he got up, took the child and his mother and escaped to Egypt, where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called my son.”

Prophecies fulfilled by Jesus (#1)

The last and greatest of the three obvious signs from God was sending his Son Jesus Christ to die a terrible death on the cross in our place so that we might have our sins forgiven and our fellowship restored with God so that we can enter into heaven and have eternal life. There are 48 Old Testament prophecies concerning the coming of Jesus that were fulfilled but I’ll only list 36 of the better known prophecies.  I have designated the Old Testament prophecy with OT and New Testament fulfillment as NT. As we go through the prophecies keep in mind the following Scripture:

John 3:16
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

1. That he would be born of a virgin.

(OT), Isiah 7:14 – Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel (God with us).

(NT), Matthew 1:20-21 – An angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and told him to take Mary as his wife because what was conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save people from their sins.

2. That he would be given the throne of David.

(OT), Isiah 9:6-7 – For us a child id born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.

(NT), Luke 1:31-33 – You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.

3. That his throne would be an eternal throne.

(OT), Psalm 132:11-12 – The Lord swore an oath to David, a sure oath that he will not revoke: One of your own descendants I will place on your throne – if your sons keep my covenant and the statutes I will teach them, then their sons will sit on your throne forever and ever.

(NT), Luke 1:33 – (see above).

Proofs that God authored the Bible (#2 and last)

4. There are at least 48 Old Testament prophecies concerning the coming of the Messiah. Jesus fulfilled every prophecy concerning him, proving beyond any doubt he was the Christ, the Messiah, the only Son of the Father, the Creator of heaven and earth and everything in it. The odds of anyone fulfilling all these prophecies and not being the Son of God is a staggering number, something like the number of atoms in the universe times five.

5. To make it perfectly clear to man that He is God, in Isaiah God prophesied he would free his people from 70 years of captivity and actually gave the name of the one to free them as Cyrus. Exactly 70 years after the Israelites were taken captive to Babylon as slaves King Cyrus of Persia captured that kingdom and freed the Israelites so they could return home to Israel just as God said he would.

6. All Scripture was written by men as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. The writers did not always fully understand all that they wrote. The Bible contains verses with information the writers knew nothing about and discoveries that wouldn’t be made for thousands of years. For example, in Psalms there is reference to the earth being round, the ocean’s having currents, and the existence of mountains and fresh water volcanoes under the sea. All these things were unverified for many centuries after the words were written.

7. In Noah’s time the ark was the largest vessel ever built. It took Noah 120 years to complete the ark to the dimensions specified by God. Ocean vessels must meet specific engineering guidelines in order to be seaworthy which the ark certainly was. It was thousands of years later before engineers verified God’s ark dimensions were correct.