Understanding Jesus: Fulfillment of Old Testament Prophecies

I was watching a show about Jesus in the Gospels and there were some interesting statements being made about Jesus and His divine divinity. There is a definitive correlation regarding the New Testament being the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies.

I have heard quite a few sermons over the years where the pastors fly through all the references, and you are sitting there like holy cow that was information overload! But it is so good. You really know that they did their homework. I always got the genuine sense that there was so much to be said about the Jewish text and how it intertwines with the New Testament. Jesus was the embodiment and fulfillment of each of these Old Testament prophecies.

I am taking on this task for myself, to dive into both sides of the fence and generate the links between the two.  I understand why the pastors always blitzed through all the data the way they did. The sheer volume and enormity of the details is so great that you can only really cover the high points. Unless, of course, you wanted to be on your way to getting your higher education in biblical studies! lol I can tell you, this post took my many many hours, but it was worth it! I hope you, as the reader, will find what I dug up to be interesting and informative. That it will help to deepen your own faith by knowing a bit more about the Bible and how it relates back to Jesus. It is not all-inclusive list by any means, as there are hundreds of prophecies; but it certainly covers the major high points about who Jesus said he was and who the Bible claimed Him to be.

I am so burdened in my heart for people to truly know what they believe and why. The foundation for our Christian faith is based off the Jewish laws and traditions. From there we take their prophecies, and we see Jesus emerge as the Messiah. To me, if you look at the timeframes when things were written and then you pair that to the New Testament it is quite remarkable to see how God unfolds His plan. It’s so intricate and spanned well over 1000 years of writings, over 300 prophecies spanning over 15 books of the Bible to cover my list of 29. This does not consider all the different authors who did not all live in the same time span or even in proximity to one another. How can that happen without divine orchestrated intervention? How can one man fit all of these prophecies? If the Gospels were forged, how do all 4 disciples write almost the same account of events if they did not happen? Not to mention the disciples were not together when they wrote the gospels and some of them were not written within the same timeframe. (You can see this outlined below.) In many cases, there were multiple eyewitness accounts. To have one man fulfill all of these, to me, is still a miracle all on its own. When you really lay this out, it is the actual claim of the gospels – Jesus was the Messiah and a miracle from God and that God orchestrated all the events surrounding Jesus in order to fulfill each prophecy and to show us through every step of His plan who Jesus was. God never intended to hide his best creation, His Son! He wanted us to know Him, love Him and accept his gift of salvation! 

Let’s first start with when these 15 different books of the Bible were written to give the timeframe of when the prophecies were made. Next, I will dive into the 29 high level prophecies throughout the Bible that point to Jesus.  I will provide the Old Testament prophecy and then provide the New Testament fulfillment. It is my hope to put this in the most simplified manner possible. 

Biblical Writings

1) Genesis – ~1450-1410 BC thought to have been written by Moses 

2) Exodus – 1440- 1400 BC written by Moses 

3) Numbers – 1450-1410 BC written by Moses

4) Isaiah – ~739- 681 BC Isaiah is known as the messianic prophet and served under the reign of kings Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah.

5) Micah – ~735-700 BC – during the reign of Kings Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah in Judah 

6) Hosea – ~753-722- during this time the northern kingdom of Israel, as it was on the verge of being conquered by the Assyrian Empire. Jewish temple was built. Hosea wrote direct accounts of his life and prophecies later in his life. 

7) Malachi – ~450-430 BC – Malachi lives 100 years after Babylonian exile. Oddly enough Malachi did not leave identifying markers of his life. He preached messages of judgments as the people were turning away from God. 

8) Psalm – ~1500 – 500 BC by far the largest spread – Primarily written by King David 

9) Zechariah – ~570-420 BC – is an account of Zechariah’s life and prophecies. He was a levite born in Babylon. Book of  Ezra it states that Zechariah and Haggai were together also in Nehemiah he is mentioned as well.

10) Matthew – ~55-65 AD, it is believed Matthew lived in Palestine when writing the gospel.

11) Mark – ~55-59 AD,  it is believed Mark livd in Rome when writing the gospel.

12) Luke – ~58-65 AD, it is believed Luke lived in Antioch Syria when writing the gospel.

13) John – ~ 70-85 AD,  it is believed John lived in Ephesus and Patmos when writing the gospel.

14) Acts – ~60-90 AD written by Luke Pauls companion and it is believed he was in Rome when writing

15) Hebrews – ~64-68 it is believed to have been written by Paul, but this is not for certain, it is also believed to have been written during Nero’s persecution of Christians in Rome. 

Prophecies (Old Testament and New Testament References)

1) Descendant of Abraham – (Genesis 22:18) (Matthew 1:1-17 and Luke 3:23-38)

Matthew and Luke both give an account of Jesus lineage showing he was in Abraham’s direct line.

2) Tribe of Judah / House of David – (Genesis 49:10) (Matthew 1:1-17)  

The Hebrew word Shiloh is believed by many scholars to be another name for Messiah

Matthew 1:1-17 is Jesus’ lineage showing he is a descendant of David / House of Judah‭

3) Conceived by a virgin  – (Isaiah 7:14) (Matthew 1:18-25 and Luke 1:26-38)  

Most of us are familiar with the Matthew and Luke account of Jesus birth. 🙂

Ephrathah was a district in which Bethlehem was located

Again both New Testament references go along with Christ’s birth telling us he was born in Bethlehem 

Matthew 1:23- “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).”

6) Messiah Taken to Egypt as a child – (Hosea 11:1) (Matthew 2:13-15)

Matthew 2:13-15 “When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.” So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for 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.”

7) Anointed by the messenger of the Lord – (Isaiah 40:3-5) (Acts 10:38, Matthew 3:3)

 Matthew 3:3 “In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.”

Acts 10:38 “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.”        

8) Anointed by the Holy Spirit – (Isaiah 11:2) (Luke 4:18; Acts 4:27, Acts 10:38, Hebrews 1:9)

Luke 4:18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free,”

Acts 4:27 “Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed.”

Acts 10:38 “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.”  

Hebrews 1:9 “You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy.” 

9) Minister in Galilee – (Isaiah 9:1) (Matthew 4:12-17, Mark 1:14-16) 

There were at least 2 eye witness accounts of these events.

Matthew 4:12-17 “When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he withdrew to Galilee. Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali— to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah: “Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles— the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.” From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”

Mark 1:14-16 “After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, they were fishermen.”

10) Messiah will perform miracles – (Isaiah 35:5-6) (Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John all  accounts)

All 4 gospels. There were at least 4 eye witness accounts of these events.

11) Messiah will preach the good news – (Isaiah 61:1) (Matthew 24:14, Luke 4:18, Luke 4:43, Mark 16:15)

There were at least 3 eye witnesses to these events.

Matthew 24:14 “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.”

Luke 4:18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free,”

Mark 16:15 “He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.”

12) Messiah will cleanse the temple and John the Baptist would prepare the way for       the Messiah  – (Malachi 3:1) (Matthew 11:10 and Matthew 24, Daniel 9:27, 11:31)

Matthew 11:10 “This is the one about whom it is written: “ ‘I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.’”

Matthew 24:15 “So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination that causes desolation,’ spoken of through the prophet Daniel—let the reader understand—” (Jesus was referencing Daniel 9:27)

13) Messiah will enter Jerusalem riding on a donkey – (Zechariah 9:9) (Matthew 22:5, Mark 11:1-1, Luke 19:28-44 and John 12:12-19)  

All of the gospels mention Jesus riding into Jerusalem on a donkey that means there were at least 4 eye witnesses of the event.

Matthew 22:5 “Say to Daughter Zion, ‘See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”

14) Rejected by the Jewish people – (Psalm 118:22, Isaiah 53:3) (Matthew 21:42, Mark 12:10, John 5:18, John 7:52, John 8:39-59, John 10:22-43, Luke 20:17-19)

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

John 5:18 “For this reason they tried all the more to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.

John 7:52 They replied, “Are you from Galilee, too? Look into it, and you will find that a prophet  does not come out of Galilee.” [The earliest manuscripts and many other ancient witnesses do not  have John 7:53—8:11. A few manuscripts include these verses, wholly or in part, after John 7:36,  John 21:25, Luke 21:38 or Luke 24:53.]”

 John 8:39-59 “Abraham is our father,” they answered. “If you were Abraham’s children,” said Jesus, “then you would do what Abraham did. As it is, you are looking for a way to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham did not do such things. You are doing the works of your own father.” “We are not illegitimate children,” they protested. “The only Father we have is God himself.” Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on my own; God sent me. Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your         father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me! Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me? Whoever belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.” The Jews answered him, “Aren’t we right in saying that you are a Samaritan and demon-possessed?” “I am not possessed by a demon,” said Jesus, “but I honor my Father and you dishonor me. I am not seeking glory for myself; but there is one who seeks it, and he is the judge. Very truly I tell you, whoever obeys my word will never see death.” At this they exclaimed, “Now we know that you are demon-possessed! Abraham died and so did the prophets, yet you say that whoever obeys your word will never taste death. Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died, and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are?” Jesus replied, “If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me. Though you do not know him, I know him. If I said I did not, I would be a liar like you, but I do             know him and obey his word. Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw  it and was glad.” “You are not yet fifty years old,” they said to him, “and you have seen Abraham!” “Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!” (this is a packed passage that has some pretty awesome stuff in it if you will take a moment to read it through)

Luke 20:17-19 “Jesus looked directly at them and asked, “Then what is the meaning of that which is written: “ ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone’ ? Everyone who falls on that  stone will be broken to pieces; anyone on whom it falls will be crushed.” The teachers of the law and the chief priests looked for a way to arrest him immediately, because they knew he had spoken this parable against them. But they were afraid of the people.”

15) Messiah will be rejected by a friend – (Psalm 41:9) (Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John all accounts)

The 4 Gospel accounts tell the story of Judas – 4 different eye witnesses

16) Messiah will be betrayed for 30 pieces of silver – (Zechariah 11:12) (Matthew 26:14-16 and Matthew 27:3-10)

Matthew 26:14-16 “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 deliver him over to you?” So they counted out for him thirty pieces of silver. From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over.”

Matthew 27:3-10 “When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders. “I have sinned,” he said, “for I have betrayed innocent blood.” “What is that to us?” they replied. “That’s your responsibility.” So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself. The chief priests picked up the coins and said, “It is against the law to put this into the treasury, since it is blood money.” So they decided to use the money to buy the potter’s field as a  burial place for foreigners. That is why it has been called the Field of Blood to this day. Then what             was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: “They took the thirty pieces of silver, 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.    

17) Messiah will die a humiliating death – (Psalm 22 , Isaiah 53, and Daniel 9  (Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John all accounts)

All 4 gospels. There were at least 4 eye witness accounts of these events.

18)  Humiliating Death – Rejection – (Isaiah 53:3) (Luke 13:34; John 1:10-11)               

Both Gospel accounts talk about Jesus crucifixion in detail – multiple accounts.

19) Humiliating Death – Mocking – (Psalm 22:7-8) (Matthew 26:67-68, Mark 16:45, Luke 22:63-65)

Matthew 26:67-68 “Then they spit in his face and struck him with their fists. Others slapped him and said, “Prophesy to us, Messiah. Who hit you?”

Mark 14:45 Then some began to spit at him; they blindfolded him, struck him with their fists, and said, “Prophesy!” And the guards took him and beat him.

Luke 22:63-65 “The men who were guarding Jesus began mocking and beating him. They blindfolded him and demanded, “Prophesy! Who hit you?” And they said many other insulting things to him.”

Once again we have multiple eye witness accounts

20) Humiliating Death – Beating – (Isaiah 52:14) (Luke 22:63-65, Matthew 27:26, Mark 15:15, John 19:1)

Matthew 27:26 / Mark 15:15  “Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.”

Luke 22:63-65 “The men who were guarding Jesus began mocking and beating him. They blindfolded him and demanded, “Prophesy! Who hit you?” And they said many other insulting things to him.”

21) Piercing of his hands and feet – (Psalm 22:16, Zachariah 12:10, Isaiah 53:5) (John 20:25, John 20:27, Luke 24:39

John 20:25 “So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.

John 20:27 “Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”

Luke 24:39 “Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.”

22) Piercing of his side – (Zechariah 12:10) (John 19:34)

John 19:34 “Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water.”

23) Executed with thieves – (Isaiah 53:12) (Matthew 27:38, Mark 15:27, Luke 23:33)

Matthew 27:38 / Mark 15:27 “Two rebels were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left.

Luke 23:33 “When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not  know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.”

Once again 3 eye witness recorded events saying the same thing.

24) Executioners will cast lots for his clothing – (Psalm 22:18) (Matthew 27:35, Luke 23:34 and  John 19-23-24)

All 4 gospels tell a similar event by 4 different people.

25) Gall and vinegar to drink – (Psalm 69:21) (Matthew 27:34 and 27:48, Mark 15:23)

Matthew 27:34 There they offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall; but after tasting it, he refused to drink it.”

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

Mark 15:23 “Then they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it.”

Interesting fact here gall was a bitter substance made from a poisonous plan such as wormwood or myrrh.

26) None of his bones will be broken – (Psalm 34:20, Numbers 9:12, Exodus 12:46) (John 19:36) 

John 19:36 “These things happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken,”

27) Messiah will be buried in a rich mans tomb – (Isaiah 53:9) (Matthew 27:57-60, Luke 23:50-56, John 19:38-42)

 Matthew 27:57-60 “As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away.”

Luke 23:50-56 “Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of the Council, a good and upright man, who had not consented to their decision and action. He came from the Judean town of Arimathea, and he himself was waiting for the kingdom of God. Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen cloth and placed it in a tomb cut in the rock, one in which no one had yet been laid. It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was about to begin. The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment.”

John 19:38-42 “Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jewish leaders. With Pilate’s permission, he came and took the body away. He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds. Taking Jesus’ body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with                 Jewish burial customs. At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid. Because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.”

28) Messiah will rise from the dead – (Psalm 16:10, Psalm 49:15, Hosea 6:2, Daniel 12:2) (All 4 Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John all point to Jesus rising from the dead)

All 4 gospels and at least 4 eye witness accounts.

29) Ascend into heaven – (Psalm 68:18, Psalm 24:7-10,  Psalm 110:1,  Daniel 7:13-14, Isaiah 53) (Acts1:9-11,  Luke 24:50-51, Ephesians 4:8 – multiple verses in Colossians, Philippians  and 1 Timothy)

Acts 1:9-11 “After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”

Luke 24:50-51 “When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven.”

Ephesians 4:8 “This is why it says: “When he ascended on high, he took many captives and gave gifts to his people.”

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Welcome to a little corner of the web where christian faith is explored, scriptures and stories about life’s journey are shared, and encouragement for the Christian walk. Life is not easy, but it works better when we are in community with one another!

A little about me, I am first and foremost a believer and a follower of Jesus Christ. Secondly, I am an Engineer. I love to discover and explore through daily life how Christ works through situations in my life and how He reveals who He is. Additionally, when I get a really good topic I love to dive into see what the Bible has to say.

I started this blog all the way back in 2010 and felt the calling to write again this past year. I will be creating new content on a frequent basis. So please stay tuned!

I hope that this blog brings some encouragement and allows you to find a deeper and more meaningful relationship with God.

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