Messianic Prophecies

by William J. Stewart

In 1958, Peter W. Stoner published a book entitled Science Speaks. In it, he looked at the probability of a single man at some point in history fulfilling just 8 of the messianic prophecies in the Old Testament. The odds are not good. The probability that Jesus could fulfill just 8 messianic prophecies is 1 in 1017! If you are unfamiliar with exponents, that is 1/100,000,000,000,000,000. I’ll be frank with you—I don’t understand that number. It’s too big, or I guess I should say, too small. It is the epitome of the proverbial needle in a haystack.

Accordingtothescriptures.org provides a list of 355 Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah. If the probability of one man fulfilling 8 prophecies is 1/1017, I can’t imagine what the number would be for one man to fulfill 355 prophecies about the Messiah! And yet, One Man, Jesus the Christ, has fulfilled them all.

Consider a selection of the prophecies spoken about and fulfilled by Messiah.

Born of the seed of woman Gen 3:15 Gal 4:4
Born of a virgin Isa 7:14 Mt 1:18-25
Seed of Abraham Gen 22:18 Mt 1:1
Seed of Isaac Gen 21:12 Lk 3:23, 34
Seed of Jacob Num 24:17 Lk 3:34
Seed of David Jer 23:5 Lk 3:31
Tribe of Judah Gen 49:10 Rev 5:5
Family line of Jesse Isa 11:1 Lk 3:32
Born in Bethlehem Mic 5:2 Mt 2:1-6
Herod’s slaughter of children Jer 31:15 Mt 2:16-18
Pre-existed creation Mic 5:2 1 Pe 1:20
Called the Lord Ps 110:1 Ac 2:36
Immanuel Isa 7:14 Mt 1:22-23
Prophet Deut 18:18 Ac 3:18-25
Priest Ps 110:4 Heb 5:5-6
Judge Isa 33:22 Jn 5:22-23
King Ps 2:6 Jn 18:33f
Anointed by the Spirit Isa 11:1 Mt 3:16-17
Zealous for God Ps 69:9 Jn 2:15-17
Preceded by a messenger Isa 40:3 Mt 3:1-3
Ministry to begin in Galilee Isa 9:1-2 Mt 4:12-17
Ministry of miracles Isa 35:5-6 Mt 9:35
Teacher of parables Ps 78:1-4 Mt 13:34-35
In the temple Mal 3:1 Mt 21:10-12
To Jerusalem on a donkey Zech 9:9 Mt 21:1-7
Stone of stumbling Isa 28:16 1 Pe 2:6-8
Light to the Gentiles Isa 49:6 Ac 13:46-48
Raised from the dead Ps 16:8-11 Ac 2:24-31
Begotten Son of God Ps 2:7 Ac 13:32-35
Ascended to heaven Ps 68:18 Eph 2:8-10
Seated beside God Ps 110:1 Heb 1:3, 13
Betrayed by a friend Ps 41:9 Jn 13:18-27
Sold for 30 pieces of silver Zech 11:12 Mt 26:14-15
30 pieces thrown in temple Zech 11:13 Mt 27:3-5
30 pieces buys potter’s field Zech 11:13 Mt 27:6-10
Forsaken by His disciples Zech 13:7 Mk 14:27, 50
Accused by false witnesses Ps 35:11 Mt 26:59-61
Silent before accusers Isa 53:7 Mt 27:12-14
Wounded and bruised Isa 53:4-6 1 Pe 2:21ff
Beaten and spit upon Isa 50:6 Mt 26:67-68
Mocked Ps 22:6-8 Mt 27:27-31
Fell under the cross Ps 109:24 Lk 23:26
Hands and feet pierced Ps 22:16 Jn 20:24-28
Sacrificial lamb Isa 53:7 Jn 1:28, 35
Crucified with thieves Isa 53:12 Mt 27:38
Prayed for enemies Isa 53:12 Lk 23:34
Rejected by His own people Isa 53:3 Jn 19:14-15
Hated without a cause Ps 69:4 Jn 15:25
Friends stood at a distance Ps 38:11 Lk 22:54
People wage their heads Ps 22:7 Mt 27:39
People stared at Him Ps 22:17 Lk 23:35
Clothes divided by soldiers Ps 22:18 Jn 19:23-24
Became very thirsty Ps 22:15 Jn 19:28
Gall and vinegar offered Ps 69:21 Mt 27:34
Cry of being forsaken Ps 22:1 Mt 27:46
Committed self to God Ps 31:5 Lk 23:46
Bones not broken Ps 34:20 Jn 19:32-36
Heart broken Ps 69:20 Jn 19:34
Crucifixion Ps 22:16 Jn 20:25
His side pierced Zech 12:10 Jn 19:34, 37
Darkness over the land Am 8:9 Lk 23:44-45
Buried in rich man’s tomb Isa 53:9 Mt 27:57-60
Would not see corruption Ps 16:10 Ac 2:31
The resurrection Ps 16:9-11 Jn 20:9
Firstborn Ps 89:27 Col 1:15, 18
From everlasting Ps 90:2 Jn 1:1-3
The sure foundation Isa 28:16 1 Cor 3:11
A rewarder of His people Isa 40:10 Rev 22:12

Can there be any doubt that Jesus is the prophesied Messiah? Every prophesy which was given about the Messiah has been fulfilled in and around Him.

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