Reason
#15 The Messianic
Prophecies of the Christian Scripture
The biblical prophecies about Messiah’s career are without parallel in
human history and deserve to be revered for the miraculous accuracy they
represent.
Taken together, the many prophecies concerning Messiah in the Old
Testament form a composite picture that matches the career of Jesus in an unearthly
way while simultaneously bearing witness to the reality of supernatural
prophecy in general. The basic profile of Messiah as foretold in prophetic scripture
is clear and straightforward.
A Jewish1 God-Man
(“from everlasting”2,
whose name is “mighty God” and “everlasting Father”3) would rise from Bethlehem4 for the blessing of all nations5. He would be rejected 483 years after Nehemiah’s
commission6, and die as a
substitute for the sins of others7.
But even after dying, he would somehow live long 8, his prosperity would multiply9, and Gentiles throughout the entire world would devote
their lives to him10.
Almost every element in this ancient profile defies easy explanation.
For example, in a world with a clear history of antisemitism, why would a
Jewish person ever become the adored hero to more than 2 billion people on
planet Earth today? And why would a rabidly monotheistic religion like Judaism
even think to produce scriptures that refer to their human messiah as God from
an everlasting past—a God to be worshiped by Gentiles everywhere as He now is?
And why would scripture predict that their super-man “Mighty-God-Rescuer-Messiah”
would die a violent death at all? And how in the world could a prophet predict
that the death of Messiah would occur 483 years after Nehemiah’s commission?
The biblical prophecies about Messiah’s career are without parallel in
human history and deserve to be revered for the miraculous accuracy they
represent.
1
Genesis 22:18 And in your [Abraham’s]
seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because you have obeyed
my voice.
2
Micah 5:2 But you, Bethlehem
Ephratah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you
shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings
forth have been from of old, from everlasting.
3
Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a
child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his
shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God,
The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
4
Micah 5:2 But you, Bethlehem
Ephratah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you
shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings
forth have been from of old, from everlasting.
5
Genesis 22:18 And in thy
seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast
obeyed my voice.
6
Daniel 9:25 Know therefore and
understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to
build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and sixty-two
weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous
times. 26 And after sixty-two weeks shall Messiah be cut off,
but not for himself. (See also Reason #14.)
7
Isaiah 53:5 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. Daniel 9:26 And after sixty two weeks shall Messiah be cut off,
but not for himself:
8
Isaiah 53:10 When
you shall make his soul an offering for sin… he shall prolong his days, and
the pleasure of the Lord shall
prosper in his hand.
9
Isaiah 53:10 When
you shall make his soul an offering for sin… he shall prolong his days, and
the pleasure of the Lord shall
prosper in his hand.
10 Isaiah 11:10 And in that day there
shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for a signal of the people; to
it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious.
Note: Many other messianic prophecies are less easily verified
from history but still noteworthy: certain specific details about the execution
of Messiah (that he would be betrayed11,
beaten, whipped12, pierced13, and associated with both
criminals14 and wealthy
people15 at the end of
his life); certain details about Messiah’s upbringing (that he would be
associated with a famous messenger16,
that he would be virgin-born17
in the royal bloodline of David18,
that his work would have a special role in Galilee of Zebulon19, that he would be famous
for performing healing miracles20);
and certain remarkable symbolic depictions of Messiah’s life and work (seen in
the Seven Festivals of Israel, in the Davidic psalms, in the history of
Bethlehem—which includes Ruth’s redeemer, the tower of the flock, and the
burial of Rachel—in the architecture of the tabernacle and temple, and in the
sacrifices of Israel21).
11 Zechariah 11:4 Thus saith the Lord my
God….12 If you think it good, give me my price; and if
not, refrain. So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver. 13 And
the Lord said to me,
Cast it to the potter: a magnificent price that I was priced at by them.
And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them to the potter in the
house of the Lord.
12
Isaiah 50:1 Thus
saith the Lord…2 Is my hand shortened at all, that it cannot redeem? or have
I no power to deliver?... 3 I
clothe the heavens with blackness…6 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 53:5 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.
13 Zechariah 12:10 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 mourns for his only son. Psalm 22:1 My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?...16 the assembly of the
wicked have enclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.
14 Isaiah 53:9 And he made his grave with
the wicked… 12
and he was numbered with the
transgressors.
15 Isaiah 53:9 And he made his
grave with the…rich in his death.
16 Isaiah 40:3 The voice of him that cries out in the wilderness, Prepare
the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God…. 5 And the glory of
the Lord shall be
revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.
17 Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give
you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall
call his name Immanuel.
18 Isaiah 11:10 And in that day there
shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for a signal of the people;
to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious. 2 Samuel 7:16 And your [David’s] house
and your kingdom shall be established forever before you: your throne
shall be established forever.
19 Isaiah 9:1 Nevertheless the dimness shall not be
such as was in her anguish…by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, in Galilee
of the nations. 2 The people that walked in darkness
have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of
death, upon them hath the light shined….6 For unto us
a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon
his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty
God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 7 Of
the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne
of David.
20 Isaiah 42:1 Behold my servant, whom I uphold; my
elect, in whom my soul delights; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring
forth judgment to the Gentiles. 2 He shall not cry, nor
lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street. 3 A
bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he
shall bring forth judgment unto truth.… 6 I
the Lord have called
thee in righteousness…7 To open the blind eyes,
to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out
of the prison house.
21 These prophetic pictures of Messiah would require more space to
describe than this short article can cover, but we are glad to provide more
details to those who have an interest.
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