CHRIST HIS FULFILLMENT OF PROPHECY (Scriptures Are From the King James Version of the Bible) I. Jesus addressed some unbelieving Jews and told them of his relationship with his Father. A. I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just: because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me. If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true. There is another that beareth witness of me; and I know that the witness which he witnesseth of me is true. Ye sent unto John, and he bare witness unto the truth. But I receive not testimony from man: but these things I say, that ye might be saved. He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light. But have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me. And the Father himself which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape. And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not. Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life. I receive not honour from men. But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you. I am come in my Father s name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive. How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only? Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust. For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me. But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words? (John 5: 30-47) B. Jesus said that he did not seek to do his own will, but God s. C. His claim alone to be God s Son would not be proof that he was and is. It is part of the evidence, however. Other sources would be necessary to verify the claim as true. D. John the Baptist bore witness to the fact that Jesus is God s Son. E. Jesus works testified to his being God s Son. F. The Father in heaven said that Jesus was His Son, which should have been enough. G. But not only these, the old testament scriptures testify to the fact that Jesus is the Son of God. The Jews put a lot of stock in the law and the prophets; however, if they didn t accept the prophecies about Jesus, how would they accept what he said? It is important to study these prophecies of Jesus and to understand that he fulfilled them all. H. Jesus, after his resurrection, appeared to the eleven disciples and said: 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. (Luke 24:44) II. What did the Jews know from the scriptures about the coming of the Messiah? A. They knew that the scriptures promised that the Messiah would come. B. They knew the tribe from which he would come. 1
C. They knew where he was to be born. D. They had all the prophecies available so that they could test anyone who claimed to be the Messiah to see if he was the one promised. E. They were not able to honestly refute any claim that Jesus made about his Sonship to God. III. Even after Christ s death, resurrection, and ascension, and his church was established, early Christians used the old testament prophecies to prove that Jesus was the Christ. A. After Aquila and Priscilla expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly (Acts 18:26), Apollos went into Achaia and mightily convinced the Jews, and that publicly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ. (Acts 18:28) B. Peter referred back to the prophecy of Joel 2:28-32 when he taught the Jews on the day of Pentecost: And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapuor of smoke: The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come: And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the lord shall be saved. (Acts 2:17-21) Then he referred to the prophecy of Psalm 16:18-11: For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved: Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope: Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance. (Acts 2:25-28) He also referred to the prophecy of Psalm 110:1 in his sermon: For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, until I make thy foes thy footstool. (Acts 2:34-35) C. Peter healed a lame man at the temple and then proclaimed Christ to those who saw the lame man walk. In that teaching, he referred to Moses prophecy in Deuteronomy 18:15: A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you. (Acts 3:22) And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people. (Acts 3:23) Then Peter said that all of the prophets from Samuel onward spoke of the time of Christ and his kingdom and referred to the prophecies of Genesis 12:3, 22:18, 26:4, and 28:14 by repeating God s promise to Abraham that in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed. (Acts 3:25) D. When Philip preached Christ to the Ethiopian eunuch, he referred to the prophecy of Isaiah 53:7-8, saying: He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth: In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? For his life is taken from the earth. (Acts 8:32-33) E. When Paul preached Christ to those in the synagogue of Antioch in Pisidia, he referred to prophecies from the following: 2
1. Psalm 2:7: Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee. (Acts 13:33) 2. Isaiah 55:3: I will give you the sure mercies of David. (Acts 13:34) 3. Habakkuk 1:5: Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you. (Acts 13:41) F. In writing to the church in Rome, Paul referred to prophecies from the following: 1. Isaiah 28:16: Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. (Romans 10:11) 2. Isaiah 59:20: There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob. (Romans 11:26) 3. Isaiah 27:9: For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins. (Romans 11:27) 15:3) 4. Psalm 69: The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me. (Romans 5. Isaiah 11:10: There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust. (Romans 15:12) G. When Paul wrote his first letter to the church in Corinth, he explained the difference between the natural body and the spiritual body and referred to the prophecy of Genesis 2:7: The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. (1 Corinthians 15:45) H. In Paul s letter to the Galatians, he referred to the prophecies of Genesis 22:18, 26:4, and 28:14, by saying that they were made to Abraham and his seed, not seeds:..to thy seed, which is Christ. (Galatians 3:16) I. In the Hebrew letter: 1. We read that Christ is superior to the angels. The prophecy of Psalm 2:7 is referenced and the question is raised whether at any time God said to an angel: Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son? (Hebrews 1:5) 2. Again, the question was asked, referring to the prophecy of Psalm 110:1, that if at any time God asked an angel to: Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool? (Hebrews 1:13) 3. The prophecy of Psalm 110:4 is referenced when Christ is said to be: a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. (Hebrews 5:6) J. Peter referred to the prophecy of Isaiah 28:16 when he wrote: I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. (1 Peter 2:6) He continued by referencing the prophecy of Psalm 118:22: the stone which the builders disallowed, the 3
same is made the head of the corner. (1 Peter 2:7) Further, he said, referring to the prophecy of Isaiah 8:14, that Christ was made a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence. (1 Peter 2:8) IV. A few more prophesies about Christ are as follows: A. The first prophesy about Christ was made after man sinned in the garden. 1. God told the serpent: And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. (Genesis 3:15) 2. God used the term seed of woman. The seed usually refers to the male, but Jesus was born of a virgin without the agency of man. Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. (Matthew 1:18) 3. When Christ died on the cross, the serpent (Satan) bruised his heel, as a bite from a serpent. However, the grave could not hold Christ and he was resurrected, thus bruising the head of the serpent (Satan). B. When Jacob was old, he gathered his sons together and told them what would befall their generations. Of Judah, he said: The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be. (Genesis 49:10) The prophecy was that Judah would continue to be a distinct tribe until the Peace, or Tranquility, or Rest would come, speaking of the Messiah. After Christ came and his church was established, the temple, the genealogies, and Jerusalem were destroyed by the Romans in AD 70. C. Christ was to minister in Galilee. 1. Prophecy: Nevertheless the dimness shall not be such as was in her vexation, when at the first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, and afterward did more grievously afflict her by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, in Galilee of the nations. The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined. (Isaiah 9:1-2) 2. Fulfillment: Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, he departed into Galilee; And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim; That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet. (Matthew 4:12-14) D. Christ would have the power to heal. 1. Prophecy: Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees. Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you. Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert. (Isaiah 35:3-6) 4
2. Fulfillment: Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see: The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me. (Matthew 11:4-6) E. Christ would be rejected by his brethren. 1. Prophecy: I am become a stranger unto my brethren, and an alien unto my mother s children. (Psalm 69:8) 2. Fulfillment: He came unto his own, and his own received him not. (John 1:11) F. Christ would enter Jerusalem in triumph. 1. Prophecy: Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: 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. 2. Fulfillment: And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples, Saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me. And if any man say aught unto you, ye shall say, the Lord hath need of them, and straightway he will send them. All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet. (Matthew 21:1-4) G. Christ would be betrayed by a friend. 1. Prophecy: Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me. (Psalm 41:9) 2. Fulfillment: I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me. (John 13:18) H. Christ would be sold for silver. 1. Prophecy: And I said unto them, If ye think good, give me my price; and if not, forbear. So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver. (Zechariah 11:12) 2. Fulfillment: Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests, And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver. (Matthew 26:14-15) I. Christ would be forsaken by his disciples. 1. Prophecy: Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the Lord of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones. (Zechariah 13:7) 5
2. Fulfillment: Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad. (Matthew 26:31) J. Christ would be silent at his trial. 1. Prophecy: He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. (Isaiah 53:7) 2. Fulfillment: And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing. Then said Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee? (Matthew 27:12-14) K. Christ would be despised and rejected. 1. Prophecy: He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. (Isaiah 53:3) 2. Fulfillment: The governor answered and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? They said, Barabbas. Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified. And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified. (Matthew 27:21-23) L. Christ would receive a judicial death sentence. 1. Prophecy: He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? For he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. (Isaiah 52:8) 2. Fulfillment: Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified. (Matthew 27:26) M. Christ would suffer abuse. 1. Prophecy: he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. (Isaiah 53:5) 2. Fulfillment: a. Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him; and others smote him with the palms of their hands, Saying, Prophesy unto us, thou Christ, Who is he that smote thee? 6
b. Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers. And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe. And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews! And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head. (Matthew 27:27-30) N. Christ would endure cruel mockery. 1. Prophecy: All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying, He trusted on the Lord that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him. (Psalm 22:7-8) 2. Fulfillment: Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said, He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him come down 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. (Matthew 27:41-43) O. The soldiers would cast lots for Christ s garments. (Psalm 22:18) 1. Prophecy: They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture. 2. Fulfillment: Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also his coat: now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout. They said therefore among themselves, Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be: that the scripture might be fulfilled. (John 19:23-24) P. Christ would have his hands and feet pierced. 1. Prophecy: For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have enclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet. (Psalm 22:16) 2. Fulfillment: And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe. And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. (John 20:20, 24-28) Q. None of Christ s bones would be broken. 1. Prophecy: He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken. (Psalm 34:20) 7
2. Fulfillment: For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken. (John 19:36) R. Christ s side would be pierced. 1. Prophecy: And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced. And they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn. (Zechariah 12: 10) 2. Fulfillment: And again another scripture saith, They shall look on him whom they pierced. (John 19:37) S. Christ would be buried with the rich in death. 1. Prophecy: And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. (Isaiah 53:9) 2, Fulfillment: When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus disciple: He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered. And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulcher, and departed. (Matthew 27:57-60) T. Christ would be resurrected from the dead. 1. Prophecy: Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death, And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him: and the third day he shall rise again. (Matthew 20:18-19) 2. Fulfillment: Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. (Acts 2:29-33) U. Christ would ascend into heaven. 1. Prophecy: Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the Lord God might dwell among them. (Psalm 68:18) 2. Fulfillment: And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he 8
went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. (Acts 1:9-11) 9