Jesus fulfilled over 300 prophecies that were written in the Old Testament hundreds of years before His birth. These prophecies specifically pointed to the coming Messiah and Jesus met every qualification. The fulfillment of so many prophecies is strong evidence that Jesus is the Messiah.
Here is a summary of some of the key Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah that were fulfilled by Jesus:
- Born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:18-25)
- Born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2, Matthew 2:1-12)
- Preceded by a messenger (Isaiah 40:3, Matthew 3:1-2)
- Entered Jerusalem on a donkey (Zechariah 9:9, Matthew 21:1-11)
- Betrayed by a friend (Psalm 41:9, Matthew 26:47-50)
- Sold for 30 pieces of silver (Zechariah 11:12, Matthew 26:14-15)
- Pierced hands and feet (Psalm 22:16, Luke 23:33)
- Crucified with thieves (Isaiah 53:12, Matthew 27:38)
- Prayed for persecutors (Isaiah 53:12, Luke 23:34)
- Garments parted and lots cast for them (Psalm 22:18, John 19:23-24)
- No bones broken (Psalm 34:20, John 19:32-36)
- Buried in a rich man’s tomb (Isaiah 53:9, Matthew 27:57-60)
- Resurrected from the dead (Psalm 16:10, Mark 16:1-8)
Let’s take a deeper look at some of these prophecies and how Jesus fulfilled them:
Born of a Virgin
In Isaiah 7:14, written around 700 years before Jesus’ birth, the prophet Isaiah foretold: “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” This was fulfilled when Mary gave birth to Jesus while still a virgin (Matthew 1:18-25).
Born in Bethlehem
Micah 5:2, written around 700 years before Jesus’ birth, prophesied: “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, 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 of old, from ancient times.” This was fulfilled when Jesus was born in Bethlehem (Matthew 2:1-12).
Entered Jerusalem on a Donkey
In Zechariah 9:9, written around 500 years before Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, the prophet wrote: “Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” This was fulfilled when Jesus entered Jerusalem riding on a donkey (Matthew 21:1-11).
Betrayed for 30 Pieces of Silver
Zechariah 11:12, written around 500 years before Jesus’ betrayal, stated: “I told them, ‘If you think it best, give me my pay; but if not, keep it.’ So they paid me thirty pieces of silver.” This was fulfilled when Judas betrayed Jesus for 30 silver coins (Matthew 26:14-15).
Pierced Hands and Feet
Psalm 22, written by David around 1,000 years before Jesus’ crucifixion, contains many details that align with the crucifixion. Verse 16 states: “Dogs surround me, a pack of villains encircles me; they pierce my hands and my feet.” This was fulfilled when Jesus was nailed to the cross (Luke 23:33).
Crucified with Thieves
Isaiah 53:12, written around 700 years before Jesus’ crucifixion, foretold: “Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors.” This was fulfilled when Jesus was crucified between two thieves (Matthew 27:38).
These are just some examples of the many prophecies Jesus fulfilled. Some scholars have estimated that Jesus fulfilled over 300 prophecies from the Old Testament. The probability of anyone fulfilling even a handful of detailed prophecies is astronomical. For one person to fulfill over 300 is a statistical impossibility, confirming Jesus’ credibility as the true Messiah.
Prophecies About Jesus’ Life and Ministry
In addition to prophecies about Jesus’ birth and death, there are many prophecies that spoke of His life and ministry between those events. Here are some examples:
- Would heal the sick and restore sight to the blind (Isaiah 35:5-6, Mark 10:46-52)
- Would teach in parables (Psalm 78:2, Matthew 13:34-35)
- Would be rejected by the Jews (Psalm 118:22, 1 Peter 2:7)
- Would enter the temple (Malachi 3:1, Matthew 21:12)
- Would rise from the dead (Psalm 16:10, Mark 16:1-8)
- Would ascend to God’s right hand (Psalm 68:18, Mark 16:19)
Jesus fulfilled all of these prophecies and more during His earthly ministry. The scriptures testify that He is indeed the promised Messiah.
Prophecies About the Messiah That Jesus Fulfilled
Beyond specific events in the life of Jesus, there are many prophecies in the Old Testament that describe the coming Messiah. Jesus fulfilled these prophecies, affirming His identity:
- Would be born of the tribe of Judah (Genesis 49:10, Luke 3:33)
- Would be a descendant of David (Jeremiah 23:5, Matthew 1:1)
- Would be the Son of God (Psalm 2:7, Matthew 3:17)
- Would be sinless (Isaiah 53:9, Hebrews 4:15)
- Would bring salvation (Isaiah 52:13-53:12, Luke 19:10)
- Would atone for sins (Isaiah 53:5-6, 1 Peter 2:24)
- Would rise from the dead (Psalm 16:10, Matthew 28:2-7)
- Would ascend to God’s right hand (Psalm 68:18, Mark 16:19)
These messianic prophecies paint a complete picture of the coming Savior. Jesus perfectly fulfilled each one through His life, death, and resurrection.
Old Testament Prophecies About the Messiah’s Reign
The Old Testament also contains prophecies about the Messiah’s future reign. While Jesus fulfilled some of these at His first coming, the remainder will be fulfilled when He returns. These end-time prophecies include:
- Will return from heaven (Isaiah 59:20, Matthew 24:30)
- Will judge the nations (Psalm 96:13, Matthew 25:31-32)
- Will rule forever on David’s throne (Isaiah 9:7, Luke 1:32-33)
- Will reign over the whole earth (Zechariah 14:9, Revelation 11:15)
- Will bring peace to the earth (Isaiah 2:4, Revelation 20:1-6)
Though Jesus has already fulfilled countless prophecies at His first coming, He will fulfill many more when He returns as King to establish His eternal kingdom.
Significance of Jesus Fulfilling Prophecy
The fact that Jesus fulfilled so many prophecies is significant for several reasons:
- It confirms Jesus is the Messiah – Jesus met qualifications no one else could.
- It verifies the truth of Scripture – Prophecies written centuries before were fulfilled with 100% accuracy.
- It shows God’s sovereignty – He is in control and orchestrated every prophecy.
- It gives us confidence in God’s plan – What God foretells comes to pass.
Fulfilled prophecy is one of the most powerful proofs that Jesus is the Son of God and the long-awaited Messiah. It offers irrefutable evidence that the Bible is inspired by God. It also confirms that God is faithful, all-knowing, and in complete control of history. No other religious scripture contains such specific, fulfilled prophecies pointing to its founder.
Common Objections Related to Prophecy Fulfillment
Some skeptics argue that Jesus merely orchestrated events to fulfill prophecy. However, this view does not stand up to scrutiny. Some prophecies were entirely out of Jesus’ control – His ancestry, place of birth, the manner and timing of His death, and His resurrection. Other prophecies were written centuries before Jesus was born, making it impossible for Him to manipulate events.
Others claim that the New Testament authors fabricated details to make it appear that Jesus fulfilled prophecy. Yet, this ignores the fact that the New Testament is rooted in actual historical events confirmed by non-Christian writers and archeology. Further, hundreds of prophecy fulfillments are recorded in the Old Testament long before Jesus arrived on the scene.
While objections may be raised, the fulfillment of prophecy remains one of the most compelling reasons to believe Jesus is the Son of God. The accumulation of so many prophecies fulfilled in one man confirms divine inspiration of Scripture and supernatural involvement in the life and ministry of Jesus.
Lists of Messianic Prophecies Fulfilled by Jesus
Many Bible scholars have compiled lists of Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah that were fulfilled by Jesus. While estimates vary based on interpretive differences, most agree Jesus fulfilled at least 300 prophecies. Some of the more extensive prophecy fulfillment lists include:
- 365 Prophecies by the 19th century writer Alfred Edersheim
- Over 400 Prophecies by Perspectives Magazine editor Dr. Peter Stoner
- Over 500 Prophecies by Christian apologist Josh McDowell
- 613 Prophecies listed in the appendix of the Companion Bible
While these lists differ somewhat based on the specificity of each prophecy, the sheer volume of prophecies fulfilled is enormous. Even if only a portion were fulfilled, it provides powerful evidence that Jesus is the Messiah.
Resources for Studying Messianic Prophecies Fulfilled
For those desiring to dig deeper into Jesus’ fulfillment of prophecy, here are some recommended resources:
- Science Speaks by Peter Stoner – A scientist’s assessment of the probability of Jesus fulfilling prophecy by chance.
- The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel – A journalist’s investigation of fulfilled messianic prophecy.
- All the Messianic Prophecies of the Bible by Herbert Lockyer – A book detailing prophecies fulfilled by Jesus.
- ReasonableTheology.org – Website with biblical analysis of prophecy fulfillment.
- JewsForJesus.org – Messianic Jewish perspective on Jesus fulfilling prophecy.
Studying resources like these can strengthen one’s faith by providing thorough examination of Jesus’ fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies about the coming Messiah.
Key Takeaways
- Jesus fulfilled over 300 prophecies written centuries before His birth.
- Prophecies covered details of His birth, life, ministry, death, and resurrection.
- Fulfilled prophecy confirms the divine inspiration of Scripture.
- It proves Jesus is the Messiah and affirms God’s sovereignty over history.
- The accumulation of prophecies met in Jesus confirms His identity beyond any statistical probability.
In conclusion, the large number of prophecies fulfilled by Jesus provide irrefutable evidence that He is the promised Messiah. The precise fulfillment of so many prophecies written hundreds of years in advance is statistically impossible without divine orchestration. This offers powerful testimony that the Bible is God’s inspired Word and Jesus is the Son of God who came to be the Savior of the world, just as God foretold through His prophets.