Building Bible Confidence: Part 3

Part 3: Fulfilled Messianic Prophecy

Introduction: What is Prophecy?

A prophecy is a prediction or foretelling about something or someone in the future. The Bible has several books that are commonly called The Prophets. These were written by men who had a special connection with God. Looking backwards at the prophets, the apostle Peter wrote:

“…knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit,” (2 Peter 1:20-21).

The apostle Peter explained that prophecies from the Scripture were not man-made but divinely inspired. While some people imagine a prophet like a fortune teller with a crystal ball, it is more accurate to consider them as covenant spokesmen. They were called to preach a, “thus says the Lord” message to people who had grown disloyal and disobedient to God’s covenant.

The prophets were often given messages from God for problems in their present times (e.g. Joel 1-2a;). They were also given future messages. Some were for an upcoming punishment for disobedience (e.g. Zephaniah). Other prophecies were about the covenant restoration and blessing to come through the Lord’s Messiah (a Hebrew word for anointed one) and His renewed kingdom (e.g. Micah 4-5).

Messianic prophecies are sprinkled all through the Old Testament Scripture. They were written hundreds and even thousands of years before Jesus came to the earth. Depending on the scholar and source, most assert that there between 200-450 Messianic prophecies. If Jesus fulfilled just one prophecy, that would be incredible. The fact that He fulfilled them all points to the Divine nature of the Bible.

Prophecy as Evidence

Time and space would not allow us to consider every Messianic prophecy. The following sample, however, should offer compelling evidence that the Bible’s consistent and fulfilled message is divinely inspired.

The Seed of Man

While dispensing judgment in the Garden of Eden, God prophesied that Satan would attempt to destroy the Messiah yet would ultimately fail:

“And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; He will crush your head, and you will strike his heel,” (Genesis 3:15).

Jesus Christ was the ultimate fulfillment of this prophecy. Like a deadly viper, the devil struck his heal by crucifying Jesus on a cross. Although this act appeared to give the devil a victory, Jesus’ sacrifice redeemed man from sin. In this way, Jesus spiritually crushed his head.

A Prophet like Moses (approximately 1500 BC)

Moses had a unique relationship with God and was the Lawgiver of God’s covenant with Israel. Moses prophesied (and God confirmed) there would be a prophet to come that was like Moses.

“The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your midst, from your brethren. Him you shall hear, […] “And the Lord said to me: ‘What they have spoken is good. I will raise up for them a Prophet like you from among their brethren, and will put My words in His mouth, and He shall speak to them all that I command Him (Deuteronomy 18:15-18).

Jesus was the prophet like Moses. He said:

For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?” (John 5:46-47).

The Birthplace of the Messiah (700 BC)

The prophet Micah foretold that Jesus would be born in a small Jewish town called Bethlehem.

But you, O Bethlehem […], from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days,” (Micah 5:2).

About 700 years after this prophecy was made, God providentially set up a journey for Mary and Joseph (Jesus’ earthly parents) to return to Bethlehem.  Shortly after they arrived, Jesus was born (see Matthew 2:1-12. Luke 2:1-21).

Thirty Pieces of Silver (520BC)

The Bible records that one of Jesus’ disciples (Judas Iscariot) decided to betray Jesus to the religious leaders who wanted to kill Him (e.g. Matthew 26:14-16). Judas went to the religious leaders in secret. He asked how much they would be willing to pay if he handed Jesus over to them. They counted out thirty pieces of silver and gave it to Judas. He left and waited for the right time to betray Jesus.  Hundreds of years before this happened, God inspired a man named Zechariah to make a prophecy about the betrayal:

“So they weighed out for my wages thirty pieces of silver. And the Lord said to me, “Throw it to the Potter.” – that princely price they set on me. So I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them into the house of the Lord for the potter,” (Zechariah 11:12-13). 

A Suffering Savior (700 BC)

The prophet Isaiah described the suffering of Christ in great detail. He foretold the way in which Jesus redeemed man: by bearing our iniquity Himself as the great sacrifice for sin.

Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all (Isaiah 53:4-6).

These predictions were fulfilled when Jesus was betrayed, arrested, condemned, and executed. He bore the sin we deserved to carry. By His great sacrifice, we are spiritually healed.

A Crucifixion Scene (1000 BC)

King David prophesied about Jesus’ crucifixion:

My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? Why are You so far from helping Me, and from the words of My groaning? […] All those who see Me ridicule Me; they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying, “He trusted in the Lord, let Him rescue Him; let Him deliver Him, since He delights in Him!” […] The congregation of the wicked has enclosed Me. They pierced My hands and My feet; I can count all My bones. They look and stare at Me. They divide My garments among them, and for My clothing they cast lots, (Psalm 22:1, 7-8, 15).

These prophecies were fulfilled while Jesus hung on the cross (see Matthew 26). He cried out to the Father, “Why have you forsaken Me?” His enemies mocked Him and told Jesus to have God save Him. Roman soldiers pierced His hands and feet with nails on a cross and divided His garments as He died.

In Review: Fulfilled Prophecy

After Jesus' resurrection, He revealed the fulfillment of everything the Old Testament had mentioned concerning the Messiah. His very resurrection from the dead was the proof. Jesus said:

"These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.” And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures (Luke 24:44-45).

This study has been a sample of prophecies about Jesus’ birth, preaching, and suffering. God’s presence in prophecy allows any person to look at the Bible and see Divine authority speaking through it. Some may still have doubts because the evidence so far has come from the Bible itself. Next, we will begin to consider evidence beyond the Scriptures.

*This article was taken from The Bible Series, a twelve-part study written by Jonathan Edwards. This study is available for free PDF download at www.pureandsimplebible.com