Prophecies About Jesus

God’s goal has always been to restore perfect love and peace between Himself and His creation. But even God’s beautiful temple, a place for Jews and Gentiles alike to come and worship, could not be preserved from humanity’s sin. The temple was destroyed, the ark of the covenant stolen, and with it, all hope of God dwelling with humanity.

Until Jesus.

Israel went into exile and did not repent. Yet during this time of darkness, God was at work. The ancient words of previous years were throbbing with promise: The Messiah is coming.

The prophets spoke of a coming King—one who would usher in a new kingdom for Israel and rescue the nation from oppression. Scholars have concluded that Jesus fulfilled anywhere from 300 to 570 Old Testament prophecies.[i]

The Messiah did come, just not in the way He was expected. Instead of a reigning king or well-trained soldier, He came as the baby of a poor teenage girl and the adopted son of a carpenter. And when He came into the public eye, He did not rally Israel against their Roman overlords but invited them into a greater kingdom.

The authors of the Gospels linked their accounts to the Old Testament prophets as evidence of Jesus’ unique character. Here are a few of the prophecies fulfilled by Jesus’ birth:

• Numbers 24:17—He would be from the line of Jacob
• Isaiah 11:1—He would be born from the family of Jesse
• Jeremiah 23:5–6—He would be David’s kingly heir
• Micah 5:2—He would be born in Bethlehem
• Isaiah 7:14—He would be immaculately conceived (born of a virgin)
• Psalm 72:10—He would be worshiped and given gifts at His birth
• Jeremiah 31:15—A king would murder children in an attempt to kill Jesus [ii]

Jesus was not the Messiah He was expected to be; He was the Savior the world didn’t know they needed. Both Jesus and His disciples attributed these prophecies to Christ. In other words, Jesus is who He says He is—the Son of God.

Respond

In what ways do you expect Jesus to be your Savior? Consider that He might meet you and your needs in ways you don’t expect.

[i] How many prophecies did Jesus fulfill?” Got Questions, accessed June 23, 2022, https://www.gotquestions.org/prophecies-of-Jesus.html.

[ii] Cory Mansfield, “The Ultimate Guide to Old Testament Prophecies Jesus Christ Fulfilled,” https://www.preaching.com/articles/the-ultimate-guide-to-old-testament-prophecies-jesus-christ-fulfilled/.