The Prophecies of the Messiah's First Advent

LESSON 3

THE PROPHECIES OF THE MESSIAH'S FIRST ADVENT

You are welcome to another edition of Insights from God's Word, a Bible study programme that is committed to sharing God's Word by allowing the Bible to speak for itself.

In this edition, we continue with our series on The Plan of Salvation. The topic for this study is: The Prophecies of the Messiah's First Advent. In this study, we are going to consider various Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah and their New Testament fulfillment. At the end of the lesson, we will know without any shadow of doubt that Jesus Christ was the promised Messiah of the Old Testament Scriptures.

Friends, when Jesus walked among the Jews, few believed on Him as the promised Messiah to come. Even though His works spoke aloud that He was not a mere human, many of His own countrymen, the Jews, did not believe in Him (see John 5:38; John 12:37-38). However, throughout the Old Testament, the Lord had intentionally placed direct landmarks of prophecy which were to lead every honest searcher to determine the identity of the Messiah in the Person of Jesus Christ (see Luke 24:27; John 5:39).

At this point in our study, we are going to consider a chronological arrangement of various Old Testament Messianic prophecies and their New Testament fulfillment in Jesus Christ:

1) The Messiah would be the Seed of the woman

Prophecy: "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).

Fulfillment: "But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law," (Galatians 4:4).

2) The Messiah would be a descendant of Abraham

Prophecy: "And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed" (Genesis 12:3).

Fulfillment: "The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham" (Matthew 1:1).

3) The Messiah would be a descendant of Isaac

Prophecy: "And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him" (Genesis 17:19).

Fulfillment: "Which was the son of Jacob, which was the son of Isaac, which was the son of Abraham, which was the son of Thara, which was the son of Nachor," (Luke 3:34).

4) The Messiah would be a descendant of Jacob

Prophecy: "I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth" (Numbers 24:17).

Fulfillment: "Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren" (Matthew 1:2).

5) The Messiah would come from the tribe of Judah

Prophecy: "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).

Fulfillment: "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 3:33).

6) The Messiah would be heir to the throne of David

Prophecy: "Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this" (Isaiah 9:7).

Fulfillment: "32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: 33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end" (Luke 1:32-33).

7) The Messiah would be born in Bethlehem

Prophecy: "But thou, Bethlehem 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).

Fulfillment: "4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David) 5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. 6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn" (Luke 2:4-7).

8) The Messiah would be born of a virgin

Prophecy: "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).

Fulfillment: "26 And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, 27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. 28 And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. 29 And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. 30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. 31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS" (Luke 1:26-31).

9) The Messiah would grow up in a poor family

Prophecy: "For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him" (Isaiah 53:2).

Fulfillment: "And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn" (Luke 2:7).

10) The Messiah would be persecuted from birth

Prophecy: "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).

Fulfillment: "16 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 inquired of the wise men. 17 Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying, 18 In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not" (Matthew 2:16-18).

11) The Messiah would be taken to Egypt for refuge

Prophecy: "When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt" (Hosea 11:1).

Fulfillment: "14 When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt: 15 And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son" (Matthew 2:14-15).

12) A messenger would prepare the way for the Messiah's ministry

Prophecy: "3 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. 4 Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain: 5 And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it" (Isaiah 40:3-5).

Fulfillment: "3 And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins; 4 As it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. 5 Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth; 6 And all flesh shall see the salvation of God" (Luke 3:3-6).

13) The Messiah would be preceded by a forerunner

Prophecy: "Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the LORD, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts" (Malachi 3:1).

Fulfillment: "24 And when the messengers of John were departed, he began to speak unto the people concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness for to see? A reed shaken with the wind? 25 But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, they which are gorgeously apparelled, and live delicately, are in kings' courts. 26 But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? Yea, I say unto you, and much more than a prophet. 27 This is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee" (Luke 7:24-27).

14) The Messiah would be preceded by Elijah

Prophecy: "5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD: 6 And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse" (Malachi 4:5-6).

Fulfillment: "13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. 14 And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come" (Matthew 11:13-14).

15) The Messiah would be anointed for His ministry on a specified time (A. D. 27)

Prophecy: "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 threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times" (Daniel 9:25).

Fulfillment: "1 Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judaea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene, 21 Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened," (Luke 3:1, 21).

16) The Messiah would be declared the Son of God

Prophecy: "I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee" (Psalm 2:7).

Fulfillment: "And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased" (Matthew 3:17).

17) The Messiah would be a King

Prophecy: "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).

Fulfillment: "Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel" (John 1:49).

18) The Messiah would be a Prophet

Prophecy: "The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken;" (Deuteronomy 18:15).

Fulfillment: "20 And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: 21 Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began. 22 For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you" (Acts 3:20-22).

19) The Messiah would be a Shepherd

Prophecy: "He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young" (Isaiah 40:11).

Fulfillment: "I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep" (John 10:11).

20) The Messiah would live a holy life

Prophecy: "Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy" (Daniel 9:24).

Fulfillment: "And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God" (Luke 1:35; see also Hebrews 4:14-16; 1 Peter 2:21-23).

21) The Messiah would teach in parables

Prophecy: "2 I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old: 3 Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us. 4 We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath" done" (Psalm 78:2-4).

Fulfillment: "34 All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them: 35 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world" (Matthew 13:34-35).

22) The Messiah would minister to the people of Galilee

Prophecy: "1 Nevertheless the dimness shall not be such as was in her vexation, when at the first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, and afterward did more grievously afflict her 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" (Isaiah 9:1-2).

Fulfillment: "13 And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim: 14 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, 15 The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles; 16 The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up" (Matthew 4:13-16).

23) The Messiah would bind up the brokenhearted

Prophecy: "1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; 2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;" (Isaiah 61:1-2).

Fulfillment: "18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, 19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord" (Luke 4:18-19).

24) The Jews will not believe in the Messiah

Prophecy: "Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?" (Isaiah 53:1).

Fulfillment: "37 But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him: 38 That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed?" (John 12:37-38).

25) The Jews would reject the Messiah

Prophecy: "He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not" (Isaiah 53:3).

Fulfillment: "He came unto his own, and his own received him not" (John 1:11).

26) The Messiah would be hated without reason

Prophecy: "Let not them that are mine enemies wrongfully rejoice over me: neither let them wink with the eye that hate me without a cause" (Psalm 35:19).

Fulfillment: "24 If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father. 25 But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause" (John 15:24-25).

27) The Messiah would be reproached

Prophecy: "For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me" (Psalm 69:9).

Fulfillment: "For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me" (Romans 15:3).

28) The Messiah would enter Jerusalem as a King riding on a donkey

Prophecy:

i) "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).

ii) "Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion" (Psalm 2:6).

Fulfillment:

i) "7 And they brought the colt to Jesus, and cast their garments on him; and he sat upon him. 8 And many spread their garments in the way: and others cut down branches off the trees, and strawed them in the way. 9 And they that went before, and they that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna; Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord: 10 Blessed be the kingdom of our father David, that cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest. 11 And Jesus entered into Jerusalem, and into the temple: and when he had looked round about upon all things, and now the eventide was come, he went out unto Bethany with the twelve" (Mark 11:7-11).

ii) "12 On the next day much people that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, 13 Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord" (John 12:12-13).

29) The Messiah would be adorned by infants

Prophecy: "Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger" (Psalm 8:2).

Fulfillment: "15 And when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying in the temple, and saying, Hosanna to the son of David; they were sore displeased, 16 And said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?" (Matthew 21:15-16)

30) Political and religious leaders would conspire against the Messiah

Prophecy: "The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying," (Psalm 2:2).

Fulfillment: "3 Then assembled together the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders of the people, unto the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas, 4 And consulted that they might take Jesus by subtilty, and kill him" (Matthew 26:3-4).

31) The Messiah would be betrayed by a close friend

Prophecy: "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).

Fulfillment: "47 And while he yet spake, behold a multitude, and he that was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them, and drew near unto Jesus to kiss him. 48 But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss?" (Luke 22:47-48)

32) The Messiah would be betrayed for thirty pieces of silver

Prophecy: "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).

Fulfillment: "14 Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests, 15 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 26:14-15).

33) The disciples would abandon the Messiah

Prophecy:

i) "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).

ii) "Be not far from me; for trouble is near; for there is none to help" (Psalm 22:11).

Fulfillment:

i) "Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad" (Matthew 26:31).

ii) "And they all forsook him, and fled" (Mark 14:50).

34) The Messiah would be accused by false witnesses

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

Fulfillment: "57 And there arose certain, and bare false witness against him, saying, 58 We heard him say, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands" (Mark 14:57-58).

35) The Messiah would be silent to the various accusations

Prophecy: "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).

Fulfillment: "4 And Pilate asked him again, saying, Answerest thou nothing? behold how many things they witness against thee. 5 But Jesus yet answered nothing; so that Pilate marvelled" (Mark 15:4-5).

36) The Messiah would be spat on and struck

Prophecy: "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).

Fulfillment: "Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him; and others smote him with the palms of their hands," (Matthew 26:67).

37) The Messiah's back would be whipped

Prophecy: "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).

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

38) The Messiah would be a sacrificial Lamb

Prophecy: "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).

Fulfillment: "The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world" (John 1:29).

39) The Messiah would be crucified with malefactors

Prophecy: "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).

Fulfillment: "27 And with him they crucify two thieves; the one on his right hand, and the other on his left. 28 And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, And he was numbered with the transgressors" (Mark 15:27-28).

40) Soldiers would gamble for the clothing of the Messiah

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

Fulfillment: "And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots" (Matthew 27:35).

41) The Messiah would be sneered and mocked

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

Fulfillment: "And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God" (Luke 23:35).

42) The Messiah would pray for His enemies

Prophecy: "For my love they are my adversaries: but I give myself unto prayer" (Psalm 109:4).

Fulfillment: "Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots" (Luke 23:34).

43) The Messiah would be forsaken by God

Prophecy: "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).

Fulfillment: "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).

44) The Messiah would die for the sins of the world

Prophecy:

i) "And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined" (Daniel 9:26).

ii) "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).

Fulfillment:

i) "6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:6, 8).

ii) "But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man" (Hebrews 2:9).

45) None of the bones of the Messiah would be broken

Prophecy: "He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken" (Psalm 34:20).

Fulfillment: "32 Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him. 33 But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs: 36 For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken" (John 19:32-33, 36).

46) The Messiah's side would be pierced

Prophecy: "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).

Fulfillment: "34 But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water. 35 And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe" (John 19:34-35).

47) The Messiah would be buried with the rich

Prophecy: "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).

Fulfillment: "57 When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus' disciple: 58 He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered. 59 And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60 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).

48) The Messiah death would bring peace between man and God

Prophecy: "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).

Fulfillment: "And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven" (Colossians 1:20).

49) The Messiah would be resurrected

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

Fulfillment: "6 And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him. 7 But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you" (Mark 16:6-7).

50) The Messiah would ascend to God

Prophecy: "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).

Fulfillment: "So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God" (Mark 16:19; see also Ephesians 4:8).

51) The Messiah would be a Priest after the order of Melchizedek

Prophecy: "The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek" (Psalm 110:4).

Fulfillment: "5 So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee. 6 As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec" (Hebrews 5:5-6).

Friends, it is clear from the passages we have reviewed so far that the Old Testament prophecies concerning the Messiah had their exact fulfillment in the Person of Jesus Christ. The very fact that all these Messianic prophecies in the Old Testament fit Jesus makes it clear that He was the Promised Messiah to come. It is important to note that many of the Jews found it difficult to accept Jesus Christ as the Messiah as they were looking forward to a King who would deliver them from Roman oppression (see Genesis 49:10; Isaiah 2:2; Zechariah 9:9; Luke 1:26-33; Matthew 2:1-2; Acts 1:6). And so in their quest for such a Messiah, they had glossed over other portions of Scripture that clearly taught that the Messiah must first suffer before entering into His glory (see Isaiah 53:1-12).

At this point in our study, one may argue that Jesus was an imposter who only read the Scriptures and tried to live a life that would fulfill the prophecies of the Old Testament. But beloved, this argument is flawed when we realise that there are several key prophecies of the Messiah that Jesus could not have imposed on Himself. For instance, Jesus could have learned to speak in parables, but He could do nothing about His place of birth. He could assert that He was the Son of God, but He could do nothing about being from the tribe of Judah. He could have prophesied about His death but He could do nothing about keeping all His bones. We can go on and on about Messianic prophecies that Jesus could not have imposed on Himself.

So you see beloved, the argument that Jesus Christ was an imposter is only a fabricated story. The Scriptures make it clear that He is the Messiah, the seed of the woman who was to come and deliver the race of Adam from sin, suffering and Satan (review Genesis 3:15). In fact, Jesus Christ is God's precious gift of salvation for the human race (see John 3:16). Today, many honest-hearted Jews and 'Gentiles' alike are accepting Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour. What about you my dear friend? Have you accepted Jesus into your heart as Lord and Saviour? If you have not, it is not too late. You can give your heart to Jesus today, even now!

Exhortation: From the beloved apostle, we read the following eternal words: "3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."

(John 3:16-18) In our next study, we will consider the topic: The Life, Ministry and Sacrifice of the Messiah. The Bible Study references for this study are John 1:1-3, 14; Luke 2:1-7, Luke 2:41-47, Luke 2:52, Matthew 3:16-17, Matthew 4:1-10, Luke 4:16-21 and Matthew 26-27. Please do well to go through these passages before the next study is released.

NB: If you need help to accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour, or to surrender fully to Him, please send the words SALVATION IN JESUS to any of the WhatsApp numbers: +23324305287 / +233553152250 / +233548697477, and we will be glad to assist you on this important subject. Do stay blessed and keep shining for King Jesus.

Maranatha!

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