A Few Amazing

mESSIANIC PROPHECIES

Was Jesus of Nazareth the Messiah?

Although, the prophecies concerning the Messiah add up into the hundreds, with each one having the chance of fulfillment very much against the odds—for instance, how does one choose one’s birth place or predict the circumstances of one’s death? The mathematical probabilities of Jesus fulfilling even a few of these prophecies, let alone many proves staggeringly improbable, if not impossible. And yet, Jesus of Nazareth, Yahusha Ha’ Maschiach, fulfilled all prophecies concerning His life and death and the following represent a few:

PROPHECY: “Behold, the days are coming,” declares YHWH, “when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house Judah, not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant that they broke, though I was their husband,” declares YHWH. “For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days,” declares YHWH: “I will put My law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their Elohim, and they shall be My people” (JRM 31:31-33 ESV).

FULFILLMENT: The LORD Jesus at the last supper, “For this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins” (MTH 26:28 ESV). The Savior comes from direct descent from King David (MTH 1:1-17; LUK 3:23-38) to whom GOD promised an everlasting covenant. The LORD to King David through the prophet Nathan, “YHWH declares to you that He Himself will establish a house for you…I will raise up your descendant after you, who will come from your own body, and I will establish his kingdom…My loving devotion will never be removed from him as I removed it from Saul, whom I moved out of your way. 16 Your house and kingdom will endure forever before Me, and your throne will be established forever” (2 SML 7:11-12, 15-16 BSB).

PROPHECY: The exact time of the Messiah’s arrival: “So you are to know and discern that from the issuing of a decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Messiah the Prince there will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks” (DNL 9:25).

FULFILLMENT: In the 1800’s, Sir Robert Anderson, using the Hebraic lunar calendar of 360 days, calculated that 483 years x 360 days (the Hebrew year) = 173,880 days. Using the first proclamation of Artaxerxes to Nehemiah in March 14, 445 BC, Sir Robert figured the Messiah’s arrival at March 6, 32 AD, on what we call Palm Sunday, when the Savior rode into Jerusalem (MTH 21:1-9; LUK 19:28-44) as prophesied in Zechariah 9:9, “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O daughter of Jerusalem! ‘Behold your King is coming to you; He is just and endowed with salvation, humble, mounted on a donkey, even on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’”

Another calculation, taken from the second proclamation of 457 BC, using the Roman Julian calendar brings the time to 27 AD at the onset of the public appearance of the Savior. How very extraordinary, our GOD set the dates of the two proclamations that both fall into the ministry of the Savior as “in the mouth of two witnesses,” in evidence of the true Messiah.

PROPHECY: The Messiah would be preceded by a forerunner: “A voice is calling, ‘Clear the way for YHWH in the wilderness; make smooth in the desert the highway for our ELOHIM. 4 Let every valley be lifted up and every mountain and hill be made low; and let the rough places be made plain and the rugged terrain a broad valley; then the glory of YHWH will be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together; for the mouth of YHWH has spoken’” (ISH 40:3-5).

Also: “Behold, I AM going to send you Elijah…6 and he will restore the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers” (MLC 4:5-6).

FULFILLMENT: “He (John the Baptist) said, “I am A VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS, MAKE STRAIGHT THE PATH OF YHWH,’ as the prophet Isaiah said” (JHN 1:23).

An angel appeared to Zecharias, John the Baptist’ father and prophesied concerning his birth, “But the angel said to him, ‘Do not be afraid, Zecharias…your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will call his name John…17 And it is he who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and the power of Elijah to TURN THE HEARTS OF THE FATHERS BACK TO THE CHILDREN, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous, so as to make ready a people prepared for YHWH” (LUK 1:13, 17).

John the Baptist also identified the Messiah to the people: “John answered them saying, ‘I baptize you in water, but among you stands One Whom you do not know. 27 It is He Who comes after me, the thong of Whose sandal I am not worthy to untie’… 29 The next day he (John the Baptist) saw Jesus coming to him and said, ‘Behold! The Lamb of YHWH Who takes away the sin of the world. 30 This is He on behalf of whom I said, ‘After me comes a Man Who has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me. 31 And I did not recognize Him, but in order that He might be manifested to Israel, I came baptizing in water.’ 32 And John bore witness saying, ‘I have beheld the Spirit descending as a dove out of Heaven and He remained upon Him. 33 And I did not recognize Him, but He Who sent me to baptize in water said to me, “He upon Whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining upon Him, this is the One Who baptizes in the Holy Spirit’” (JHN 1:29-33).

PROPHECY: The Messiah would be born in Bethlehem: “But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you One will go forth for Me to be ruler of Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, from the days of eternity” (MCH 5:2).

FULFILLMENT: “Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem saying, 2 ‘Where is He Who has been born King of the Jews?’ For we saw His star in the east, and have come to worship Him’… 4 And gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he (King Herod) began to inquire of them where the Christ was to be born. 5 And they said to him, ‘In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it has been written by the prophet” (MTH 2:1-2, 4-5).

PROPHECY: The Messiah would be born of a virgin: “Therefore YHWH Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son and she will call His name Immanuel (GOD with us)” (ISH 7:14).

“Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from ELOHIM to a city in Galilee called Nazareth, 27 to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the descendants of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And coming in, he said to her, ‘Hail, favored one! The ADON is with you.’ 29 But she was greatly troubled at this statement and kept pondering what kind of salutation this might be. 30 And the angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with ELOHIM. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb, and bear a son and you shall name Him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and YHWH ELOHIM will give Him the throne of His father David; 33 and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever; and His kingdom will have no end.’ 34 And Mary said to the angel, ‘How can this be, since I am a virgin? 35 And the angel answered and said to her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy offspring shall be called the Son of YHWH …37 For nothing will be impossible with ELOHIM. 38 And Mary said, ‘Behold, the bond slave of YHWH; be it done to me according to your word.’ And the angel departed from her” (LUK 1:26-36, 37-38).

“Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows. When His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit. 19 And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man, and not wanting to disgrace her, desired to put her away secretly. 20 But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of YHWH appeared to him in a dream, saying, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for that which has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21 And she will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for it is He Who will save His people from their sins.’ 22 Now all this took place that what was spoken by YHWH through the prophet might be fulfilled, saying, 23 ‘Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name (His title) Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, ‘ĔL with us’ (ISH 7:14). 24 And Joseph arose from his sleep and did as the angel of YHWH commanded him, and took her as his wife, 25 and kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son; and he called His name Jesus” (MTH 1:18-25 KJV).

PROPHECY: The Messiah would come out of Egypt: “And out of Egypt I called My Son” (HSA 11:1).

FULFILLMENT: “And having been warned by ELOHIM in a dream not to return to Herod, they (the magi) departed for their own country by another way. 13 Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of YHWH appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, ‘Arise and take the Child and His mother, and flee to Egypt and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is going to search for the Child to destroy Him. 14 And he arose and took the Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt… 19 But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of YHWH appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, 20 ‘Arise and take the Child and His mother and go into the land of Israel; for those who sought the Child’s life are dead” (MTH 2:12-14, 19-20).

PROPHECY: Babies would be murdered in an attempt to destroy Him, “Thus says YHWH, ‘A voice is heard in Ramah, lamentation and bitter weeping. Rachel is weeping for her children; she refuses to be comforted for her children, because they are no more” (JRM 31:15).

FULFILLMENT: “Then Herod secretly called the magi and determined from them the time the star appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, ‘Go and search carefully for the Child; and when you have found Him, report to me, so that I too may come and worship Him.’ 9 And having heard the king, they went their way; and lo, the star, which they had seen in the east, went on before them, until it came and stood over where the Child was…12 And having been warned by ELOHIM in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed for their own country by another way…16 Then when Herod saw that he had been tricked by the magi, he became very enraged, and sent and slew all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its environs, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had ascertained from the magi” (MTH 2:7-9, 12, 16). Rachel weeps from Ramah, because she died in childbirth and was buried in Ramah on her way toward Bethlehem, a city of her husband Jacob’s descendants.

PROPHECY: The Messiah would be “A LIGHT OF REVELATION TO THE GENTILES.” “But there will be no more gloom for her who was in anguish; in earlier times He treated the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali with contempt, but later on He shall make it glorious, by the way of the sea, on the other side of Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles. 2 The people who walk in darkness will see a Great Light; those who live in a dark land, the light will shine on them” (ISH 9:1-2).

FULFILLMENT: “And when the days for their purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him (the babe Jesus) up to Jerusalem to present Him to YHWH …25 And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel (the Messiah); and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen YHWH’s Christ (Messiah). 27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to carry out for Him the custom of the Law (circumcision and offering), 28 then he took Him into his arms and blessed ELOHIM, and said, 29 ‘Now ADONAI, Thou dost let Thy bondservant depart in peace, according to Thy word; 30 For my eyes have seen Your Salvation, 31 which Thou hast prepared in the presence of all peoples, 32 A LIGHT OF REVELATION TO THE GENTILES, and the glory of Thy people Israel’…34 And Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, ‘Behold, this Child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel and for a sign to be opposed—35 and a sword will pierce even you own soul—to the end that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed” (LUK 2:22, 25-32, 34-35). Simeon quotes Isaiah, naming the baby as the “A LIGHT OF REVELATION TO THE GENTILES.” The sword which pierced Mary’s heart referred to her grief at the piercing of Jesus’ heart in ascertaining that He already had died, so that the Roman soldier would not break His legs for the hastening of His death.

Much of Jesus’ ministry took place around the Sea of Galilee and from there He chose some of His disciples: “Now when He (Jesus) heard that John (His cousin, John the Baptist) had been taken into custody, He withdrew into Galilee; 13 and leaving Nazareth, He came and settled in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali. 14 This was to fulfill what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet, saying, ‘THE LAND OF ZEBULUN AND THE LAND OF NAPHTALI, BY THE WAY OF THE SEA, ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE JORDAN, GALILEE OF THE GENTILES—15 THE PEOPLE WHO WERE SITTING IN DARKNESS SAW A GREAT LIGHT (Jesus) AND TO THOSE WHO WERE SITTING IN THE LAND AND SHADOW OF DEATH, UPON THEM A LIGHT DAWNED’” (MTH 4:12-16).

PROPHECY: The Messiah would teach in parables: “Listen, O My people, to My instruction; incline your ears to the WORDs of My mouth. 2 I will open My mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings of old” (PSM 78:1-2).

FULFILLMENT: “All these things Jesus spoke to the multitudes in parables; He did not speak to them without a parable. 35 So was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophet might be fulfilled, saying, ‘I WILL OPEN MY MOUTH IN PARABLES; I WILL UTTER THINGS HIDDEN SINCE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD’” (MTH 13:34-35).

PROPHECY: The Messiah’s ministry displayed many miracles, and particularly, the opening of blind eyes and deaf ears of those born with such impediments: “Behold, your ELOHIM will come…Then the eyes of the blind will be opened and the ears of the deaf will be unstopped. 6 Then the lame will leap like a deer and the tongue of the dumb will shout for joy” (ISH 35:4-6).

FULFILLMENT: “Now when John in prison heard of the works of Christ (Messiah), he sent word by his disciples, 3 and said to Him, ‘Are you the Expected One, or shall we look for someone else?’ 4 And Jesus answered and said to them, ‘Go and report to John what you hear and see; 5 the BLIND RECEIVE SIGHT and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear and the dead are raised up and the POOR HAVE THE GOSPEL PREACHED TO THEM. 6 And blessed is he who keeps from stumbling over Me’” (MTH 11:2-6). Notice the Scriptures say these things will happen when GOD (ELOHIM) comes; showing that the Messiah would be GOD Himself.

PROPHECY: He was hated without cause, “Do not let those who are wrongfully My enemies rejoice over Me; neither let those who hate Me without cause wink maliciously” (PSM 35:19). Also, “Those who hate Me without cause are more than the hairs of My head. Those who would destroy Me are powerful” (PSM 69:4).

FULFILLMENT: In the LORD’s own words, “He who hates Me hates My Father also. 24 If I had not done among them the works which no one else did (miracles), they would not have sin; but now they have both seen and hated Me and My Father as well. 25 But they have done this in order that the WORD might be fulfilled that is written in their Law, ‘THEY HATED ME WITHOUT A CAUSE” (JHN 15:23-25).

“And Pilate said to the chief priests and the multitudes, ‘I find no guilt in this man’” (LUK 22:4).

“And Pilate summoned the chief priests and the rulers and the people, 14 and said to them, ‘You brought this man to me as one who incites the people to rebellion, and behold, having examined Him before you, I have found no guilt in this man regarding the charges you have brought against Him. 15 Nor has Herod, for he sent Him back to us; and behold nothing deserving death has been done by Him’” (LUK 23:15).

“But they kept on calling out, saying, ‘Crucify, crucify Him!’ 22 And he said to them the third time, ‘Why, what evil has this man done? I have found in Him no guilt demanding death’” (LUK 23:22).

PROPHECY: “My enemies without cause hunted Me down like a bird; 53 they have silenced Me in the pit and have placed a stone on Me” (LMN 3:52-53).

FULFILLMENT: “The Jews answered Him, ‘For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy; and because You, being a man, make Yourself out to be ELOHIM’… 39 Therefore they were seeking again to seize Him and He eluded their grasp” (JHN 10:33, 39).

“So from that day on they planned together to kill Him. 54 Jesus therefore no longer continued to walk publicly among the Jews, but went away from there to the country near the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim; and there He stayed with the disciples…55 Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and many went up to Jerusalem out of the country to purify themselves. 56 Therefore they were seeking for Jesus…57 Now the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that if anyone knew where He was, he should report it, that they might seize Him” (JHN 11:53-57).

“And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60 and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock; and he rolled a large stone against the entrance of the tomb and went away (MTH 27:59-60). The Pharisees requested the tomb be sealed and, “Pilate said to them, ‘You have a guard of soldiers. Go, make it as secure as you can’” (MTH 27:65 ESV).

PROPHECY: The Messiah would be sold out for thirty shekels. “So they weighed out thirty shekels of silver as my wages. 13 Then YHWH said to me, ‘Throw it to the potter, that magnificent price at which I was valued by them.’ So I took the thirty shekels of silver and threw them to the potter in the house of YHWH” (ZCH 11:12-13).

FULFILLMENT: “Then one of the twelve named Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests, 15 and said, ‘What will you give me to deliver Him up to you?’ And they weighed out to him thirty pieces of silver” (MTH 26:14-15).

“Then when Judas, who had betrayed Him, saw that He had been condemned, he felt remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, 4 saying, ‘I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.’ But they said, ‘What is that to us? See to that yourself!’ 5 And he threw the pieces of silver into the sanctuary and departed; and he went away and hanged himself. 6 And the chief priests took the pieces of silver and said, ‘It is not lawful to put them into the temple treasury, since it is the price of blood.’ 7 And they counseled together and with the money bought the Potter’s Field as a burial place for strangers. 8 For this reason that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day. 9 Then that which was spoken through Jeremiah[1] the prophet was fulfilled, saying, ‘AND THEY TOOK THE THIRTY PIECES OF SILVER, THE PRICE OF THE ONE WHOSE PRICE HAD BEEN SET by the sons of Israel; 10 AND THEY GAVE THEM FOR THE POTTER’S FIELD, AS YHWH DIRECTED ME” (MTH 27:3-10). Thirty pieces of silver was the price for a slave and therefore, YHWH retorts, “that magnificent price at which I was valued by them.”

PROPHECY: His disciples would abandon Him. “’Awake, O sword, against My shepherd and against the Man, My Associate,’ declares YHWH of Hosts. ‘Strike the Shepherd that the sheep may be scattered’” (ZCH 13:7).

FULFILLMENT: “Then Jesus said to them (His disciples), ‘You will all fall away because of Me this night, for it is written, “I WILL STRIKE DOWN THE SHEPHERD, AND THE SHEEP OF THE FLOCK SHALL BE SCATTERED”’” (MTH 26:31).

Then later that night in Gethsemane: “And immediately while He was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, came up, accompanied by a multitude with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders, 44 Now he who was betraying Him had given them a signal, saying, ‘Whomever I shall kiss, He is the One; seize Him, and lead Him away under guard 45 and after coming, he immediately went to Him, saying, “Rabbi!” and kissed Him’” (MRK 14:43-45). But Jesus said to him, ‘Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?’” (LUK 22:48). And Jesus said to him, ‘Friend, do what you have come for.” (Jesus to the mob) “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest Me as against a robber? Every day I used to sit in the temple teaching and you did not seize Me?” (MTH 26:48, 55)…14:46 “And they laid hands on Him, and seized Him”…“And they (His disciples) all left Him and fled. 51 And a certain young man was following Him wearing nothing but a linen sheet over his naked body, and they seized him. 52 But he left the linen sheet behind, and escaped naked (MRK 14:46,50-52)…56 Then all the disciples left Him and fled” (MTH 26:55-56).

PROPHECY: He would be falsely accused. “For false witnesses have risen against Me, and such as breathe out violence” (PSM 26:12).

FULFILLMENT: “Now the chief priests and the whole Council kept trying to obtain testimony against Jesus to put Him to death; and they were not finding any. 56 For many were giving false testimony against Him, and yet their testimony was not consistent. 57 And some stood up and began to give false testimony against Him, saying, 58 ‘We heard Him say, “I will destroy this temple made with hands, and in three days I will build another made without hands.” 59 And not even in this respect was their testimony consistent” (MRK 14:55-59).

After the resurrection the lie continues: “Behold, a severe earthquake had occurred, for an angel of YHWH descended from Heaven and came and rolled away the stone and sat upon it. 3 And his appearance was like lightning and his garment as white as snow; 4 and the guards shook for fear of him and became like dead men… 11 “Behold, some of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief priests all that had happened. 12 And when they had assembled with the elders and counseled together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, 13 and said, ‘You are to say, “His disciples came by night and stole Him away while we were asleep.” 14 And if this should come to the governor’s ears, we will win him over and keep you out of trouble. 15 And they took the money and did as they had been instructed; and this story was widely spread among the Jews, and is to this day’” (MTH 28:2-4, 11-15).

PROPHECY: He would not refute the accusations or defend Himself. “He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth; Like a lamb that is led to the slaughter and like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, so He did not open His mouth” (ISH 53:7).

FULFILLMENT: “Now the chief priests and the whole council kept trying to obtain false testimony against Jesus in order to put Him to death…62 And the high priest stood up and said to Him, ‘Do You make no answer? What is it that these men are testifying against You? 63 But Jesus kept silent…27:12 And while He was being accused by the chief priests and the elders, He made no answer. 13 Then Pilate said to Him, ‘Do You not hear how many things they testify against You? 14 And He did not answer him with regard to even a single charge, so that the governor was quite amazed” (MTH 26:59, 62-63; 27:12).

PROPHECY: The Messiah’s beard would be pulled out, He would be scourged, beaten, nailed to a cross, reviled and spat upon and pierced, “But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the chastening for our well-being fell upon Him and by His scourging we are healed” (ISH 53:5). Also these additional prophecies concerning the brutality against innocence:

PROPHECY: “Let Him give His cheek to the smiter; let Him be filled with reproach” (LMN 3:30).

PROPHECY: “With a rod they will smite the Judge of Israel on the cheek” (MCH 5:1).

PROPHECY: “I gave My back to those who strike Me and My cheeks to those who pluck out the beard; I did not cover My face from humiliation and spitting” (ISH 50:6).

PROPHECY: “So His appearance was marred more than any man, and His form more than the sons of men. 15 Thus He will sprinkle many nations” (ISH 52:14-15).

PROPHECY: “They pierced My hands and My feet” (PSM 22:16).

PROPHECY: “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness (NMB 21:7-9), even so must the Son of Man be lifted up” (JHN 3:14). According to instructions from the LORD, Moses set the image of a serpent on a pole that those who looked to it might be healed of serpent bites, representing a type of cross.

FULFILLMENT: “And the men who were holding Jesus in custody were mocking Him, and beating Him, 64 and they blindfolded Him and were asking Him, saying ‘Prophesy, who is the one hit You?’ 65 And they were saying many other things against Him, blaspheming” (LUK 22:63-65).

“Then they spat in His face and beat Him with their fists; and others slapped Him…30 And they spat on Him and took the reed and began to beat Him on the head”… (MTH 26:67; 27:30).

“And they began to come up to Him, and say, ‘Hail, King of the Jews!’ and to give Him blows in the face” (JHN 19:3).

“But (Pilate) after having Jesus scourged, he delivered Him to be crucified”…31 And after they had mocked Him, they took His robe off and put His garments on him, and led Him away to crucify Him” (MTH 27:26, 31).

His hand and feet were nailed to the cross, “But he (doubting Thomas) said to them, ‘Unless I shall see in His hands the imprint of the nails and put my finger into His side, I will not believe (in His resurrection)’” (JHN 20:25).

“But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear and immediately there came out blood and water” (JHN 19:34).

PROPHECY: He would be abused and hated by many. “Many strong bulls have surrounded Me…13 They open wide their mouth at Me, as a ravening and a roaring lion. 14 I AM poured out like water, and all My bones are out of joint; My heart is like wax; it is melted within Me. 15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd and My tongue cleaves to My jaws; and Thou dost lay Me in the dust of death. 16 For dogs have surrounded Me; a band of evildoers has encompassed Me; they pierced My hands and My feet. 17 I can count all My bones. They look, they stare at Me; 18 They divide My garments among them and for My clothing they cast lots” (PSM 22:12-18).

FULFILLMENT: “Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole Roman cohort around Him. 28 They stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him. 29 After weaving a crown of thorns, they put it on His head and a reed in His right hand; and kneeled down before Him and mocked Him, saying ‘Hail, King of the Jews!” (MTH 27:27). The strong bulls represented by the Roman (Gentile) soldiers given charge of Him. Jews referred to the Gentiles as “dogs” because they did not practiced the Laws of GOD.

“And when they had crucified Him, they divided up His garments among themselves, casting lots; 36 and sitting down, they began to keep watch over Him” (MTH 27:35-36).

“The soldiers when they had crucified Jesus, took His outer garments and made four parts, a part for every soldier and also the tunic; now the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece. 24 They said therefore to one another, ‘Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it, to decide whose it shall be;’ that the Scripture might be fulfilled, ‘THEY DIVIDED MY OUTER GARMENTS AMONG THEM, AND FOR MY CLOTHING THEY CAST LOTS” (JHN 19:23-24).

PROPHECY: He would be mocked and scorned. “All who see Me sneer at Me; they separate with the lip, they wag the head, saying, 8 ‘Commit Yourself to YHWH; let Him deliver Him; let Him rescue Him, because He delights in Him” (PSM 22:7-8).

FULFILLMENT: ““And those passing by were hurling abuse at Him, wagging their heads, 40 and saying, ‘You Who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of ELOHIM, come down from the cross.’ 41 In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes and elders, were mocking Him and saying, 42 ‘He saved others; He cannot save Himself. He is the King of Israel; let Him now come down from the cross, and we shall believe Him. 43 HE TRUSTS IN ELOHIM; LET HIM DELIVER HIM; for He said, “I AM the Son of ELOHIM.”’ 44 And the robbers also who had been crucified with Him were casting the same insult at Him” (MTH 27:39-44).

PROPHECY: His family and friends would stand apart. “My heart throbs, My strength fails Me; and the light of My eyes, even that has gone from Me. 11 My loved ones and My friends stand aloof…and My kinsmen stand far off” (PSM 38:10-11).

FULFILLMENT: “And many women were there looking on from a distance, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to Him, 56 among whom was Mary Magdalene, along with Mary the mother of James and Joseph (His siblings), and the mother of the sons of Zebedee (James and John)” (MTH 27:55-56).

PROPHECY: His heart would break; they gave Him vinegar and gall. “Reproach has broken My heart and I AM so sick. And I looked for sympathy, but there was none and for comforters, but I found none. 21 They also gave Me gall for My food and for My thirst they gave Me vinegar to drink” (PSM 69:20-21).

FULFILLMENT: “They gave Him wine to drink mingled with gall; and after tasting it, He was unwilling to drink” (MTH 27:34). Gall, a bitter herb used in pain relief, but the Savior refused it and suffered the full impact of the abuse they gave Him.

“After this, Jesus… said, ‘I AM thirsty.’ 29 A jar full of sour wine was standing there”… (JHN 19:28-29). “And immediately one of them ran, and taking a sponge, he filled it with sour wine and put it on a reed and gave Him a drink” (MTH 27:48). Vinegar was administered for quenching thirst, although an unpleasant drink.

PROPHECY: His blood would be shed for the remission of sin and the healing of our diseases, an atoning sacrifice to remove the curse. The Suffering Servant (GOD Himself) would die for our sins: “So His appearance was marred more than any man and His form than the sons of men. Thus He will sprinkle many nations (ISH 52:14, 15) 4 “However, it was our sicknesses that He Himself bore and our pains that He carried…5 but He was pierced for our offenses, He was crushed for our wrongdoings; the punishment for our well-being was laid upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed…6 but YHWH has caused the wrongdoing of us all to fall on Him…8 He was cut off from the land of the living for the wrongdoing of My people, to whom the blow was due…10 but YHWH desired to crush Him, causing Him grief; if He renders Himself as a guilt offering…11 My servant will justify the many, for He will bear their wrongdoings…12 and interceded for the wrongdoers” (ISH 53:4-12).

FULFILLMENT: Jesus at the Passover meal, “For this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins” (MTH 26:28).

“And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, ‘This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood’” (LUK 22:20).

From the LORD Jesus, “Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many” (MTH 20:28, MRK 10:45).

“This is My blood of the covenant, which is to be shed on behalf of many” (MRK 14:24).

PROPHECY: As the Passover sacrifice (the Messiah died at the time of the evening sacrifice), none of the Messiah’s bones would be broken: Concerning the Passover lamb, “It is to be eaten in a single house; …nor are you to break any bone of it” (EXD 12:46).

FULFILLMENT: “The Jews therefore, because it was the day of preparation (for Sabbath), so that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), asked Pilate that their legs might be broken (to hasten death), and that they might be taken away. 32 The soldiers therefore came…but coming to Jesus, when they saw He was already dead, they did not break His legs … For these things came to pass, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, ‘NOT A BONE OF HIM SHALL BE BROKEN” (JHN 19:31-33, 37).

PROPHECY: “Then after the sixty-two weeks the Messiah will be cut-off and have nothing” (DNL 9:26). And from Isaiah, “By oppression and judgment He was taken away; and as for His generation who considered that He was cut-off out of the land of the living” (ISH 53:8).

FULFILLMENT: “When Jesus therefore received the sour wine, He said, ‘It is finished!’ And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit” (JHN 19:30).

On the third day after the crucifixion (Sunday): “And behold, two of them (disciples) were going that very day to a village named Emmaus…15 And it came about that while they were conversing and discussing (Jesus’ death), Jesus Himself approached, and began traveling with them. 16 But their eyes were prevented from recognizing Him. 17 And He said to them, ‘What are these words that you are exchanging with one another as you are walking?’ And they stood still, looking sad. 18 And one of them, named Cleopas, answered and said to Him, ‘Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem and unaware of the things which have happened here in these days?’ 19 And He said to them, ‘What things?’ And they said to Him, ‘The things about Jesus the Nazarene, Who was a prophet mighty in deed and word in the sight of ELOHIM and all the people, 20 and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him up to the sentence of death, and crucified Him. 21 But we were hoping that it was He Who was going to redeem Israel” (LUK 24:13-21). The disciples thought that because He died, everything was lost and that He would have nothing. Jesus then began explaining the reason for His death, “And beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures” (LUK 24:27).

PROPHECY: “His grave was assigned with the wicked men, yet He was with a rich man in His death, because He had done no violence, nor was there any deceit in His mouth…12 Because He poured out Himself to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet He Himself bore the sin of many and interceded for the transgressors” (ISH 53:9, 12).

FULFILLMENT: “At the same time two robbers were crucified with Him, one on the right and one on the left (His grave was assigned with the wicked men– was numbered with the transgressors” (MTH 27:38; MRK 15:27-28).

“But Jesus was saying, ‘Father, forgive them; for they know not what they are doing’ (and interceded for the transgressors)” (MTH 23:34).

“And when it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who himself had also become a disciple of Jesus. 58 This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered it to be given over to him. 59 And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60 and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock; and he rolled a large stone against the entrance of the tomb and went away” (MTH 27:57-60).

PROPHECY: “For your Husband is your Maker, Whose name is YHWH of Hosts and your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel, Who is called the ELOHIM of all the earth” (ISH 54:5). And again, “For a Child will be born to us, a Son will be given to us; and the government will rest upon His shoulders; and His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty ĔL, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace 7 There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, on the throne of David and over His kingdom to establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness from then on and forevermore” (ISH 9:6-7).

FULFILLMENT: Prophesied to Mary by the archangel Gabriel, “And behold, you will conceive in your womb, and bear a Son, and you shall call Him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and YHWH ELOHIM will give Him the throne of His father David; 33 and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever; and His kingdom will have no end” (LUK 1:31-33).

Also, “Jesus asked them a question, 42 saying, ‘What do you think about the Christ (Messiah), Whose son is He?’ They said to Him, ‘The Son of David.’ 43 He said to them, ‘Then how does David in the Spirit call him “ADONI,” saying, 44 “YHWH said to my ADONI, ‘Sit at My right hand, until I put Thine enemies beneath Thy feet’”? 45 ‘If David then calls Him “ADONI,” how is He His Son?’” (MTH 22:41-45, MRK 12:35-37). In this the LORD Jesus taught the disciples the relationship between GOD the Father and His Suffering Servant, the Son.

“And the high priest stood up and came forward and questioned Jesus, saying, ‘Do You make no answer?’…61 But He kept silent, and made no answer. Again, the high priest was questioning Him, ‘Are You the Christ (Messiah), the Son of the Blessed One (GOD, the Holy One of Israel)?’ 62 And Jesus said, ‘I AM; and you shall see the Son of Man SITTING AT THE RIGHT HAND OF POWER and COMING WITH THE CLOUDS OF HEAVEN’” (MRK 14:60-62). Jesus quotes a Messianic Scripture from Daniel 7:13.

PROPHECY: The Messiah would be a King: “The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until He to Whom it belongs shall come and the obedience of the nations shall be His” (GNS 49:10).

FULFILLMENT: Jesus descends from the royal line of King David of the tribe of Judah to whom the LORD gave the promise that he would never lack a man upon the throne (2 SML 7:9-16). That is not saying the throne would always be present, but that when Israel (united kingdom) ruled the land, the king descends from the tribe of Judah. Luke records the genealogy of Jesus from Mary’s side of the family, saying, “And when He began His ministry, Jesus Himself was about thirty years of age, being supposedly the son of Joseph, the son of Eli…33 the son of Amminadab, the son of Ram, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah (LUK 3:23-38).” Matthew 1:1-17 records the genealogy of Jesus from Adam to Joseph. Mary and Joseph share common ancestry until Zerubbabel’s generation.

“Now Jesus stood before the governor (Pilate), and the governor questioned Him, saying, “Are You the King of the Jews? And Jesus said to him, “It is as you say” (MTH 27:11). This conversation also appears in the books of Luke (23:2-3) and Mark (15:2).

From the book of John the Beloved, “Pilate therefore entered again into the Praetorium, and summoned Jesus, and said to Him, ‘Are You the King of the Jews?’…36 Jesus answered, ‘My kingdom is not of this world (yet). If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting, that I might not be delivered up to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm.’ 37 Pilate therefore said to Him, ‘So You are a king?’ Jesus answered, ‘You say correctly that I AM a King. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice’” (JHN 18:33, 36-37).

This prophecy finds its full completion when the Great King takes His throne after the judgment of the Day of YHWH concludes in the establishment of the Millennial Kingdom.

PROPHECY: Jesus predicted His own death and resurrection. “From that time on Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priest and scribes, and that He must be killed and on the third day be raised to life” (MTH 16:21; MRK 8:31;9:9-13; LUK 9:21-22 BSB). “Look, we are going up to Jerusalem and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and scribes. They will condemn Him to death and will deliver Him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. And on the third day, He will be raised to life” (MTH 20:18-19; LUK 9:22, 17:25, 18:32; 24:7 BSB). “For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth” (MTH 12:40; 17:9, 22-23 BSB).

FULFILLMENT: The Reader has already read of His death, so we will look at His resurrection: “On the first day of the week (Sunday), very early in the morning, the women came to the tomb, bringing the spices they had prepared. 2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they entered, they did not find the body of the LORD Jesus. 4 While they were puzzling over this, suddenly two men in radiant apparel stood beside them (angels). 5 As the women bowed their faces to the ground in terror, the two men asked them, ‘Why do you look for the living among the dead? 6 He is not here; He has risen!” (LUK 24:1-6 BSB).

“There they (the two from Emmaus) found the Eleven and those with them, gathered together 34 and saying, ‘The LORD has indeed risen and has appeared to Simon!’ 35 Then the two told what had happened on the road (LUK 24:13-33; MRK 16:12-13) and how they had recognized Jesus in the breaking of the bread. 36 While they were describing these events, Jesus Himself stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you.’ 37 But they were startled and frightened, thinking they had seen a spirit (ghost). 38 ‘Why are you troubled,’ Jesus asked, “And why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39 Look at My hands and My feet. It is I Myself. Touch Me and see—for a spirit does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.’ 40 And when He had said this, He showed them His hands and feet. 41 While they were still in disbelief because of their joy and amazement, He asked them, ‘Do you have anything here to eat?’ 42 So they gave Him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and He took it and ate it in front of them” (LUK 24:33-43 BSB).

“After His suffering, He presented Himself to them with many convincing proofs that He was alive. He appeared to them over a span of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of GOD. 4 And while they were gathered together…9 they watched as He was taken up, and a cloud hid Him from their sight. 10 They were looking intently into the sky as He was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11 ‘Men of Galilee,’ they said, ‘why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into Heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into Heaven” (ACT 1:3-4, 9-11 BSB).

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[1] The quote above appears only in Zechariah in modern texts; Matthew likely quoted from memory considering that Jeremiah prophesied about the potter, possibly confusing the two passages.

THE MEN WHO PROPHESIED THESE THINGS

Moses, author of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy, lived 1450 years before the LORD Jesus.

King David, author of Psalms 22, 26, 38 and 69 (quoted) and many others, lived 1000 years before the LORD Jesus.

Asaph, prophet and Levite musician, lived 1000 years before the LORD Jesus.

The prophet Hosea lived over 750 years before the LORD Jesus.

The prophet Micah lived almost 750 years before the LORD Jesus.

The prophet Isaiah lived 700 years before the LORD Jesus.

The prophet Jeremiah, author of the books of Jeremiah and Lamentations, lived 600 years before the LORD Jesus.

The prophet Daniel lived almost 600 years before the LORD Jesus.

The prophet Zechariah lived approximately 525 years before the LORD Jesus.

The LORD Jesus also prophesied His own death and resurrection: MTH 12:39-40, 16:21, 17:9, 22-23, 20:18-19, 28; MRK 8:31, 9:9-13, 31; LUK 9:22, 17:25, 18:32, 24:6-7; JHN 2:19, 18:32

A PRAYER OF SALVATION

This prayer represents the type of prayer one might say when committing oneself to the lordship of the Savior for salvation. The writer submits it as an example of how one obtains salvation. Any prayer of its kind prayed with a sincere heart works toward that goal. No prayer provides salvation if not spoken in sincerity with the whole heart, for the LORD knows our hearts.

“O GOD, I acknowledge You as Creator, Messiah and LORD. I believe You became a man and came to earth for the purpose of dying for the sins of all mankind. I believe You lived a perfect sinless life and died in innocence on the cross and resurrected on the third day. I also confess my sinfulness and need for a Savior and I ask that Your blood cover my sins that I may receive total forgiveness. I also forgive all others. I give You thanks for making me a new creation and filling me with Your Holy Spirit. Amen.”

If you prayed this prayer, find a church which teaches the miracles, signs and wonders in which Jesus has commanded our participation (MRK 16). Make a practice of reading the WORD of GOD every day and making time for prayer and fellowship with your ever-present LORD.

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