Why Is Jesus the Savior?Sample

Welcome back to day three! We now know that God has promised a savior to the Israelites, but how were they supposed to recognize the savior and know that he was sent by God?

Many prophecies in the Old Testament talk about a savior that will come. What was the purpose of all those prophecies? God says he will prophesy so that when it is fulfilled, we may believe. The prophecies are written so that God can reveal himself and who he’s working through at the time of the fulfillment of those promises. When Jesus came, he fulfilled the prophecies that God had written about him. Let’s look at just a few of those prophecies and their fulfillment!

• Prophecy: Is 7:14 Born of a virgin - Fulfillment: Mt 1:18-23
• Prophecy Mic 5:2Ruler of Bethlehem - Fulfillment: Mt 2:4-6
• Prophecy Hos 11:1Out of Egypt - Fulfillment Mt 2:13-15
• Prophecy Is 9:1-2Ministering in Galilee - Fulfillment: Mt 4:14-17
• Prophecy Zec 9:9-10Foal of a donkey - Fulfillment: Mt 21:1-5
• Prophecy Ps 69:21Sour Wine - Fulfillment: Jn 19: 28-29
• Prophecy Is 53:5-7Death and Crucifixion - Fulfillment: Jn 19:30

As you read through these examples of the fulfillment of prophecies try to imagine yourself living at the time of Jesus’ first coming, 2000 years ago. It would be so difficult to believe in someone being born of a virgin if it wasn’t prophesied 700 years prior. The Jews were expecting a champion and a savior to be sent to them but instead, they received a humble servant, riding on a baby donkey and being crucified alongside criminals. Then what was the only way they could truly believe? Since God gave us the prophecies, the fulfillment of prophecies becomes the evidence by which we can believe in God’s work and the Messenger He sends. Jesus is the Savior because all the Old Testament prophecies concerning him were fulfilled through him. He was also the only one who could testify of their fulfillment as the one speaking on behalf of God.

When putting yourself in the shoes of those living 2000 years ago, would you have been able to believe in Jesus?