Jesus in the Old Testament

Introduction

Let's begin our study by reading the resurrected Jesus' words to the apostles...

"Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself..... And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, and said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things." (Luke 24:25-27; 44-48).

We are glad that you could join us as we begin a new study on the prophecies concerning Christ in the Old Testament. One of the fundamental doctrines of the New Testament is that Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of the Old Testament. In our Scripture above, the resurrected Savior, unknown to His disciples, opened the Scriptures to them, and beginning with Moses and the prophets, expounded to them the Scriptures and all the things therein that must be fulfilled that they may understand. "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets," Jesus told His followers, "I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled." (Matthew 5:17-18).

Typology

When we study the Old Testament, we find what are called types that are fulfilled in the coming of the Messiah. In these types, there is a correspondence between people, events or rituals of the Old Testament and Jesus Christ. For instance, the Passover was a foreshadow or type of the blood of the Lamb of God who would take away our sin and free us from bondage, who's covering would spare us from judgment, and who's mark separates and distinguishes us from the world. Paul taught us in his writings that the sacrifices and rituals were a shadow of things to come (Colossians 2:16-17; Hebrews 10:1). Some types point directly to the Messiah, such as the prophecy that He would be born in Bethlehem. "But thou, Bethlehem Ephrata, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah," Micah the prophet spoke, "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). Other types are shadows, such as the Passover and the killing of a spotless lamb. "For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us," Paul told the believers at Corinth (1 Corinthians 5:7). Still others. however, were prophetic in nature, but the event or words spoken were unknown to be prophetic until revealed later in the New Testament. For instance, the Jewish exiles weeping as they marched past the tomb of Rachel in Ramah probably did not realize that their suffering was prophetic of the day that Herod commanded all children 2 years and under to be killed as he tried in vain to crush the Messiah. "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 enquired of the wise men. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, 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; fulfillment of Jeremiah 31:15).

The stories and events of the Old Testament were given to us for examples and for our instruction. Paul said to the Corinthians concerning the stories of Israel's redemption from Egypt and their wanderings in the wilderness, "Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.... Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them..... Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed..... Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted..... Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmered..... Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition." (1 Corinthians 10: 1-11). Then there is the great and beautiful "Faith Chapter" of the Book of Hebrews (Hebrews 11:4-12:2), which speaks of the great faith and works of the men and women of the Old Testament. If Heaven had a Hall of Fame, this would be it. Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Sara, Joseph, Moses, and Rahab. "These all died in the faith", Paul told us, "not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth..... They desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city." (Hebrews 11:13-16).

Paul continues..... "And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: and others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: they were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect. Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."

Let us now take a look at the prophecies concerning Christ and His coming found in the Old Testament, and their fulfillment in the New Testament.

Old Testament prophecies of Jesus

We will discuss briefly each prophecy and its fulfillment. Please look up and read the scripture references.

1. The Seed of the Woman victorious over Satan (Genesis 3:15 - fulfilled in Galatians 4:4; Hebrews 2:11; 1 John 3: 8). War is proclaimed between Satan and the Seed of the woman, where Satan shall bruise His heel, but the Seed shall bruise Satan's head. Jesus suffered trememdously at the hands of men, crucifixion being an antagonizing and slow death. But Jesus gained the ultimately victory. "The devil sinneth from the beginning," said John, "for this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil."
    
2. All families blessed through Christ, the Seed of Abraham (Genesis 12:3 - fulfilled in Acts 3:25; Galatians 3:8). God promises to make of Abraham a great nation, and that ALL families of the earth will be blessed. Paul wrote to the Galatians, "And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed."
    
3. The priesthood of Jesus like Melchizedek (Genesis 14:18; Psalms 110:4 - fulfilled in Hebrews 7:1-28). We don't know much about Melchizedek other than he was considered very great. He was the King of Salem (later to be Jerusalem) and priest of the most high God. Salem means "peace," making him the King of peace as translated, and the writer of Hebrews referring also to him as the King of righteousness. The patriarch Abraham paid his tithes to Melchizedek, and Melchizedek blessed Abraham, bringing out bread and wine. It is fitting that he brough forth bread and wine, the elements Jesus used at His last supper. The beginning or ending of Melchizedek's life nor his lineage is not recorded, making him "without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually." (Hebrews 7:3).
    
4. Messiah will come from Judah. (Genesis 49:10 - fulfilled in Luke 1:32-33). In Genesis, it is prophecied that the sceptre, or staff of a king or ruler, will not depart from Judah. King David was from the lineage of Judah, and to Mary, the angel spoke concerning Jesus, "the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David."
    
5. Jesus is the Passover Lamb (Exodus 12:1-14:46; fulfilled in John 19:31-36; 1 Corinthians 5:7; 1 Peter 1:19). To protect themselves from the death angel, each family was to take a spotless male lamb, kill it, and then take the blood and place it upon the top and sides of the doorframe. When the angel saw the blood, he would pass over the house. Peter said that we were redeemed with the precious blood of Christ, as a lamb without blemish and without spot. Paul said of Christ that He was our Passover which was sacrificed for us.
    
6. The Messiah's blood would be shed for our sins (Exodus 24:8 - fulfilled in Hebrews 9:11-28). Moses took the blood and sprinkled it upon the people and the tabernacle and its furnishings. "Without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins," Hebrews 9:22 says. Neither by the blood of goats or calves, but by His own blood Christ entered once in the Holy Place to obtain eternal redemption for us.
    
7. Jesus is the true bread from Heaven (Exodus 16:4 - fulfilled in John 6:31-35). God rained down manna from heaven which the people of Israel collected to make bread. Jesus, as He taught, reminded the people of this story, and said, "My Father giveth you the true bread from heaven..... I am the bread of life; he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst."
    
8. Jesus the smitten Rock (Exodus 17:6 - fulfilled in 1 Corinthians 10:1-4). The people of Israel complained against Moses and God for they were thirsty. God then told Moses, "I will stand before thee upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink." Paul said that they drank of the spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ. Jesus said that those who drink of the water He gives will never thirst.
    
9. Jesus to be lifted up on a cross (Numbers 21:8-9 - fulfilled in John 3:14-17). God sent a plague of snakes among the people of Israel as punishment for their continued complaining. God commanded Moses to place an image of a serpent on a pole. If someone was bitten, they would look upon the pole and be saved. The word "look" in this verse means to look intently, to respect, to pay attention to, or to regard. It was a look of faith and not just a simple glance. Jesus said that as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of man be lifted up, that whosover believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.
    
10. Messiah will come out of Jacob (Numbers 24:17 - fulfilled in Luke 1:32-33; Revelation 22:16). "A Star shall rise out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel," so proclaimed Balaam. The star would represent Jesus' glory, and the sceptre His authority and power. The angel told the virgin Mary, "The Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David; and he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end." Jesus said of Himself in John's great vision, "I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star."
     
11. God will send the Prophet (Deuteronomy 18:15-18 - fulfilled in John 6:14, 12:49-50; Acts 3:18-26). God promised He would raise up a Prophet from among Israel that will speak what He commands Him. When the people saw the miracle Jesus performed in feeding the multitude with 5 loaves and 2 fish, they said of Him, "This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world." Jesus said that He spoke the words which the Father gave to Him. Peter referenced Moses' prophecy of a coming Prophet in his sermon about Jesus delivered in the temple.
     
12. Messiah cursed by hanging on a tree (Deuteronomy 21:22-23 - fulfilled in Galatians 3:13). God said than anyone who is hanged on a tree (a reference to crucifixion) is accursed of God. Paul told the Galatians, "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree."
     
13. The Word is near us (Deuteronomy 30:11-14 - fulfilled in John 1:1,14; Romans 10:6-11). God told the people that His word was not in the heavens or in the sea that someone had to go and bring it back to them. God said it was near them, in their mouths and in their hearts that they may do it. John said that Jesus was the Word, which was with God, and was made flesh and dwelled among us. Paul repeated Moses word's to the Romans, "The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith which we preach; that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved."
     
14. The Messiah will be God's Son (2 Samuel 7:12-14 - fulfilled Luke 1:35; Hebrews 1:5). God told the prophet Samuel to tell David that He would set up a seed after him, and that He would establish his kingdom. "He shall build a house for my name..... I will be his father, and he shall be my son." The angel told Mary that the Holy Ghost would come upon her and her child would be called the Son of God. Paul said to the Hebrews that Jesus was made much better than the angels. To which angel did God say, "I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?"
     
15. God will declare "Thou art my Son" (Psalms 2:7 - fulfilled in Matthew 3:17, 17:5; Mark 1:11, 9:7; Luke 3:22, 9:25; Acts 13:33; Hebrews 1:5). "And we declare unto you glad tidings, how that the promise which was made unto the fathers," Luke wrote in Acts 13:32, "God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this dya have I begotten thee."
     
16. The Messiah will rule the nations with power (Psalms 2:9 - fulfilled in Revelation 2:27). David wrote in the Psalms, "Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel." Jesus quoted this psalm in His message to the church at Thyatira.
     
17. Children will praise the Messiah (Psalms 8:2 - fufilled Matthew 21:16). "O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name is all the earth!" the Psalmist declared, "Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength." The chief priests and scribes were displeased when they heard the children crying the temple, "Hosanna to the Son of David." Jesus responded, "Have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?"
     
18. All things in subjection to Jesus (Psalms 8:3-6 - fulfilled in Hebrews 2:6-9; 1 Corinthians 15:27-28; Ephesians 1:22). David said, "What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him?" God has crowned Him with glory and honor and has put all things in subjection under His feet.
     
19. Son of David raised from the dead (Psalms 16:8-11 - fulfilled in Acts 2:25-32; 13:35-37). When Jesus died, He went down into Hell and led away the captives (Matthew 27:50-53) and returned with the keys to Hell and to death. David said, "Thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption." Peter quoted this passage in his Pentecost sermon and said that David spoke "of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither did his flesh see corruption." Paul also quoted this same passage in his message in the synagogue at Antioch.
     
20. Why hast thou forsaken me? (Psalms 22:1 - fulfilled in Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34). David opened the twenty-second psalm with these words, "My God, my God, what hast thou forsaken me?" Jesus uttered these words in His final moments on the cross.
     
21. Jesus mocked by the crowd (Psalms 22:7-8 - fulfilled in Matthew 27:29,41-44; Mark 15:18,29-32; Luke 23:35-39). David said in his psalm that all who see him laugh him to scorn, saying that he trusted in God to deliver him; let's see if God will do it. This was fulfilled by the Roman soldiers, the mob gathered along the roadside as Jesus carried the cross, and by the crowd gathered at Golgotha. "They that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads..... If he be the King of Israel, let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe him. He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God."
     
22. Casting lots for Jesus' robe (Psalms 22:18 - fulfilled in Matthew 27:35; Mark 15:24; Luke 23:34; John 19:24). "They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture," said David. This was fulfilled when the Roman soldiers cast lots for Jesus' robe.
    
     
23. Messiah's hands, feet and side pierced (Psalms 22:16; Zechariah 12:10 - fulfilled in John 19:37; 20:25; Revelation 1:7). Crucifixion was carried out by nailing the victims hands and feet to a wooden beam. David wrote in the Psalms, "they have pierced my hands and feet." Zechariah the prophet said they would look upon Him who they have pierced. John later quoted this prophecy. John said when Jesus returns in the clouds, people will again look upon Him who they have pierced. Thomas declared he could not believe Jesus is risen unless he sees the print of the nails in his hands and thrusts his hand into His side.
    
     
24. None of Messiah's bones broken (Psalms 34:20 - fulfilled in John 19:31-36). Crucifixon was a horrible, slow and agonizing death. But death came not from pain, but most often from suffocation. A small support was given under the feet which the victim pushed upon to aid in breathing, this being done while the feet were nailed to the support. After several hours or days of hanging on the cross, one became to weak to push up. In the case of Jesus, since it was near the Sabbath and the Jews had requested no bodies be left on the crosses, the Romans broke the legs of the two thieves so they could no longer push on the support, thus bringing death quickly. When they came to Jesus, He had already given up His spirit and they did not have to break His legs. John quoted the Psalms in his book, "These things were done that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken."
25. The Messiah commits His spirit to God (Psalms 31:5 - fulfilled in Luke 23:46). David cries in this psalm, "In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed; deliver me in thy righteousness..... Pull me out of the net that they have laid privily for me.... Into thine hand I commit my spirit; thou hast redeemed me, O Lord God of truth." This was fulfilled when Jesus spoke these words just before His death, "Father, into thy hands, I commend my spirit."
26. The Messiah is hated without cause (Psalms 35:19 - fulfilled in John 15:25) Jesus warned His disciples that, as the world hated Him, the world would hate His disciples also. "But this cometh to pass," Jesus said, "that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause."
27. Christ will do God's will (Psalms 40:6-8 - fulfilled in John 6:38; Hebrews 10:5-9). David said "I delight to do thy will." Jesus said that He came down from heaven, not to do His will, but the will of the Father who sent Him. The writer of Hebrews speaking of Jesus quoted the passage in Psalms 40.
28. The Messiah betrayed by a friend for 30 pieces of silver (Psalms 41:9; Zechariah 11:12-13 - fulfilled in Matthew 27:1-10; John 13:18, 17:1-5) The Psalmist said "Mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me." The was fulfilled when Judas left the room of the Last Supper to betray.
29. His throne will be forever (Psalms 45:6-7; 102:25-27 - fulfilled Hebrews 1:8-12) "But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom."
30. The Messiah given vinegar to drink (Psalms 69:21 - fulfilled in John 19:29) "In my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink," the Psamist said. This was fulfilled when the Roman soldiers gave Jesus vinegar to drink in His last moments on the cross.
31. The Messiah will teach in parables (Psalms 78:2 - fulfilled in Matthew 13:34-35) Jesus often taught the people using parables (an earthly story with a heavenly meaning) where He would use common events or situations of the time and apply them to spiritual truths.
32. Jesus exalted at the right hand of God (Psalms 110:1 - fulfilled in Acts 2:34-35, 7:55-56; 1 Corinthians 15:25; Ephesians 1:20-22; Hebrews 1:13, 10:12-13) The writer of Hebrews said of Jesus, "After he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; from henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool."
33. The Stone which the builders rejected (Psalms 118:22-23 - fulfilled in Matthew 21:42-44; Mark 12:10-12; Luke 20:17-19; Acts 4:10-11; 1 Peter 2:7-8) "The stone which the builder's refused," David wrote, "is become the head stone of the corner."
34. The Stone will make men stumble (Isaiah 8:14 - fulfilled in Romans 9:32-33; 1 Peter 2:7-8; Matthew 21:44) Jesus can be compared the water of the Great Flood. The same water which was responsible for destroying millions also saved Noah and his family by lifting up the ark and gently carrying it through the flood's duration. Those under the water perished, those on top were saved. Those who fall on the Stone shall be broken, but those upon whom the Stone falls shall be crushed.
35. The Messiah will be born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14 - fulfilled in Matthew 1:18-23; Luke 1:26-35) "Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign," Isaiah wrote, "behold a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel."
36. Christ will minister in Galilee (Isaiah 9:1-2 - fulfilled in Matthew 4:13-16; Mark 1:14-15; Luke 4:14-15) After leaving Nazareth, Jesus came to Capernaum on the coast of the Sea of Galilee to fulfill what Isaiah spoke, "The people which sat in darkness saw great light."
37. The Messiah comes from the ancestry of David (2 Samuel 7:12-17; Isaiah 9:6-7, 11:1,10; Jeremiah 23:5-6 - fulfilled in Matthew 1:1,6,16; Luke 1:31-33) The angel told Mary, "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." Jesus said concerning Himself, "I and the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star." (Revelation 22:16).
38. The Messiah will bring salvation to the Gentiles (Isaiah 11:10, 49:5-6, 60:1-3; Amos 9:11-12 - fulfilled in Acts 13:45-48, 15:7-19; Romans 15:5-16; Galatians 3:13-14) It was through the Jews that God chose to send forth His Son to be a light to them and to the Gentiles as well. Peter said, "Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; and put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith."
39. Jesus will hold the key of David (Isaiah 22:21-22 - fullfilled in Revelation 3:7) Jesus said to the church at Philadelphia, "These things saith he that is holy, he that is ture, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth."
40. The Messiah will work miracles (Isaiah 35:1-6 - fulfilled in Matthew 11:2-6) "God will come and save you," Isaiah wrote, "Then the eyes of hte blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then shall the lame man leap as an hart (deer), and the tongue of the dumg sing." Jesus worked many miracles to confirm the words which He spoke. To the crowd, Jesus uttered, "So that you know that I have power to forgive sins," He then turned to the man with the palsy, "I say to you rise and walk." (Matthew 9:4-8).
41. Jesus will have a forerunner (Isaiah 40:1-5; Malachi 3:1 - fulfilled in Matthew 3:1-3, 11:7-10; Mark 1:2-4; Luke 3:4-6, 7:24-27; John 1:23) Isaiah spoke, "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." This was fulfilled through the ministry of John the Baptist who prepared the way for Jesus.
42. Israel as a whole will reject the Messiah (Isaiah 6:8-10, 53:1-3, 65:1-3 - fulfilled in John 12:37-41; Romans 10:12-21) "Who hath believed our report?" Isaiah said. "Though he had done so many miracles before them," John said, "yet they believed not on him."
43. The Messiah will suffer (Isaiah 53:1-12 - fulfilled in John 18:19-23, 19:1-6, 17-18, 30; Acts 2: 22-24, 8:29-25; 1 Peter 1:18-21, 2:21-25) "He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief," Isaiah penned. "He was wounded for our transgression, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed..... He was oppressed, and he was afflicted..... for the transgression of my people was he stricken." Peter wrote that Jesus "bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed." (1 Peter 2:24).
44. The Messiah buried in a rich man's tomb (Isaiah 53:9 - fulfilled in Matthew 27:57-60) "He made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death," Isaiah prophesied. This was fulfilled with Joseph of Arimathaea, a disciple of Jesus, went to Pilate and begged for the body of Jesus, and laid it in his own new tomb.
45. The Messiah will be without sin (Isaiah 53:9 - fulfilled in Hebrews 4:15, 9:28; 1Peter 2:21-23) The prophet Isaiah said that the Messiah "had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth." The word "violence", taken from the Hebrew word "chamac", means "violence, cruelty, wrong, injustice, or unrighteousness". The writer of Hebrews said he "was tempted, yet without sin." Peter added that Jesus "did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth."
46. He will be numbered with transgressors (Isaiah 53:12 - fulfilled in Mark 15:25-28) "He was numbered with the transgressors", Isaiah wrote, "and he bare the sin of many." This was fulfilled when Jesus was crucified with two theives.
47. The Deliverer will come from Zion (Isaiah 59:20-21 - fulfilled in Romans 11:26-27) Paul told the Romans, "There shall come out of Sion (Zion) the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: for this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins."
48. Gentiles will worship Him (Isaiah 60:1-4; Psalms 18:49, 117:1 - fulfilled in Matthew 2:9-11; Romans 15:9-11) "O Praise the Lord, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people," David penned in the Psalms. Gentiles, or non-Jews, were referred to as "heathen" or "nations" in the Old Testament. Paul quoted these passages in his letter to the Romans, "Rejoice, ye Gentiles..... Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and laud him, all ye people."
49. God will send a Shepherd (Ezekiel 34:22-31, 37:21-28 - fulfilled in John 10:1-16; Hebrews 13:20-21; 1 Peter 2:25, 5:4) God expressed His anger against His pastors and priests through Jeremiah, "Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture!..... Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them." God promised He would "set up shepherds over them which shall feed them, and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking." Then God promised that He would "raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and proper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth." Judah will be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely, and He shall be called, The Lord Our Righteousness. (Jeremiah 23:1-6). "I am the good shepherd," Jesus said. "The good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep..... I know my sheep, and am known of mine."
50. Rachel weeping for her children (Jeremiah 31:15 - fulfilled in Matthew 2:16-18) In a dream, the wise men who visited the boy Jesus were warned not to return to see Herod. Returning to their land a different way, Herod became angry and commanded that all children two years old and under be killed, attempting to kill the Messiah rumored to be alive somewhere in his kingdom. The great cry of mourning and grief that went up fulfilled the prophecy of Jeremiah, "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."
51. The Messiah will come out of Egypt (Hosea 11:1 - fullfilled in Matthew 2:13-15) While Herod was attempting in vain to kill the Messiah, Joseph, Mary and Jesus had departed for the safety of Egypt by command of an angel until Herod was dead.
52. The Messiah will be three days and nights in the earth (Jonah 1:17 - fulfilled in Matthew 12:39-41; 27: 57-28:6; Mark 8:31; John 2:19) After Jesus died, He went down into the heart of the earth. But God did not permit His soul to stay in hell, or His soul to see corruption. Death lost its victory and its sting when Jesus returned with the keys to Hell and to Death. The prophecy in Isaiah 25:8, "He will swallow up death in victory, and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces," will be fulfilled, Paul said, "when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality." (1 Corinthians 15:54). This second part of Isaiah's prophecy will be fulfilled when God creates a new Heaven and new Earth (Revelation 21:1-5).
53. The Messiah will come from Bethlehem (Micah 5:2 - fulfilled in Matthew 2:1-6). "But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting." This was fulfilled when Joseph had to take Mary to Bethlehem, the place of his birth, for the Roman census.
54. The Messiah would come on a donkey (Zechariah 9:9 - fulfilled in Matthew 21:1-9; Mark 11:1-10; Luke 19:28-38; John 12:12-16) "Rejoice greatly," Zechariah told the people. "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." Jesus rode into Jerusalem riding upon a donkey as people lined the streets waving palm branches and shouting "Hosanna!"
55. Strike the Shepherd and the sheep will be scattered (Zechariah 13:7 - fulfilled in Matthew 26:31,55-56; Mark 14:27,48-50) This was fulfilled when Judas and the temple guards came to arrest Jesus. The disciples, overcome with grief and fear, scattered like sheep with no shepherd.

God has spoken to us today through His Son

The writer of Hebrews said, "God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high." (Hebrews 1:1-3).

Matthew Henry said in his classic commentary, "This epistle shows Christ as the end, foundation, body, and truth of the figures of the law, which of themselves were no virtue for the soul. The great truth set forth in this epistle is that Jesus of Nazareth is the true God. The unconverted Jews used many arguments to draw their converted brethren from the Christian faith. They represented the law of Moses as superior to the Christian dispensation, and spoke against every thing connected with the Saviour. The apostle, therefore, shows the superiority of Jesus of Nazareth, as the Son of God, and the benefits from his sufferings and death as the sacrifice for sin, so that the Christian religion is much more excellent and perfect than that of Moses. And the principal design seems to be, to bring the converted Hebrews forward in the knowledge of the gospel, and thus to establish them in the Christian faith, and to prevent their turning from it, against which they are earnestly warned. But while it contains many things suitable to the Hebrews of early times, it also contains many which can never cease to interest the church of God; for the knowledge of Jesus Christ is the very marrow and kernel of all the Scriptures. The ceremonial law is full of Christ, and all the gospel is full of Christ; the blessed lines of both Testaments meet in Him; and how they both agree and sweetly unite in Jesus Christ, is the chief object of the epistle to the Hebrews to discover."

"God spake to his ancient people at sundry times, through successive generations, and in divers manners, as he thought proper; sometimes by personal directions, sometimes by dreams, sometimes by visions, sometimes by Divine influences on the minds of the prophets. The gospel revelation is excellent above the former; in that it is a revelation which God has made by his Son. In beholding the power, wisdom, and goodness of the Lord Jesus Christ, we behold the power, wisdom, and goodness of the Father; the fulness of the Godhead dwells, not typically, or in a figure, but really, in him. When, on the fall of man, the world was breaking to pieces under the wrath and curse of God, the Son of God, undertaking the work of redemption, sustained it by his almighty power and goodness. From the glory of the person and office of Christ, we proceed to the glory of his grace. The glory of His person and nature, gave to his sufferings such merit as was a full satisfaction to the honour of God, who suffered an infinite injury and affront by the sins of men. We never can be thankful enough that God has in so many ways, and with such increasing clearness, spoken to us fallen sinners concerning salvation. That he should by himself cleanse us from our sins is a wonder of love beyond our utmost powers of admiration, gratitude, and praise."

In Conclusion

We hope you enjoyed this study on the prophecies concerning the Messiah in the Old Testament fulfilled in Christ. If the reader doubts that Jesus was the Messiah promised "from the foundations of the world", we pray that through this study, you will come to understand that no person could have possibly fulfilled all of the Messianic prophecies, unless that person indeed was the Messiah.

If you have an idea for a in-depth study, or an idea for a topical study, please e-mail your suggestion to us. Thank you and God bless you.

Used with Premisson from Faith Work Ministries.