The arrival of a messiah who would deliver God’s people is predicted numerous times in the Old Testament. Jesus Christ is that messiah, at least according to the New Testament. But how many Old Testament prophecies did Jesus fulfil? In this post, we’ll examine some of the most important predictions and consider how Jesus fulfilled them.
How Many Prophecies Did Jesus Fulfill from the Old Testament?
It’s critical to comprehend what the Old Testament says about the messiah before delving into the prophecies Jesus fulfilled. Some of the major signs are as follows:
- The messiah would be a descendant of Abraham (Genesis 12:3)
- The messiah would be from the tribe of Judah (Genesis 49:10)
- The messiah would be a descendant of King David (2 Samuel 7:12-13)
- The messiah would be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2)
The Prophecies
Let’s examine the Old Testament prophesies that Jesus fulfilled in more detail now that we know what they say about the Messiah.
1. Born of a Virgin
The virgin will get pregnant and give birth to a son, who will be named Immanuel, according to the words of the prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 7:14). When Jesus was born to the virgin Mary, this prophecy was realized (Matthew 1:18-23).
2. Descendant of Abraham
God told Abraham, “I will bless you and make you into a large nation; I will magnify your name and make you a blessing to others” (Genesis 12:2). Jesus, who is an ancestor of Abraham, carried out this prophecy (Matthew 1:1).
3. Descendant of David
“The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and uphold what is just and right in the land,” according to the words of the prophet Jeremiah (Jeremiah 23:5). When Jesus, who was descended from King David, ascended to the throne, this prophecy was realized (Matthew 1:6–16).
4. A Prophet like Moses
To the Israelites, Moses said: “A prophet like me will be raised up for you by the Lord your God from among your fellow Israelites. He must be heeded ” (Deuteronomy 18:15). Jesus, a prophet like Moses, fulfilled this prophecy (Acts 3:22–23).
5. Born in Bethlehem
Just as the prophet Micah had said, Jesus was born in Bethlehem: “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you be little among the clans of Judah, out of you shall come for me one who shall be ruler over Israel, whose beginnings are from of old, from ancient times” (Micah 5:2). At Jesus’ Bethlehem birth, this prophecy was realized (Matthew 2:1–6).
6. Ministry in Galilee
The prophet Isaiah wrote, “In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the nations, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan” (Isaiah 9:1). This prophecy was fulfilled when Jesus began his ministry in Galilee (Matthew 4:13–16).
7. Miracles
The prophet Isaiah wrote: “Then the blind will have their eyes opened, and the deaf will have their ears opened.” Then the deaf will leap like a deer, and the tongueless will shout for joy ” (Isaiah 35:5-6). This prophecy was fulfilled by Jesus’ numerous miracles, including healing the blind, deaf, and lame. Matthew 15:30–31 and Matthew 9:27–31.
8. Betrayed by a Friend
Even a close friend I trusted who shared my bread has turned against me. The psalmist wrote (Psalm 41:9). Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus, thus fulfilling this prophecy (Matthew 26:47-50).
9. Crucifixion
According to the words of the prophet Isaiah, “He was wounded for our iniquities, he was bruised for our trespasses; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5). When Jesus was crucified and bore the punishment for our sins, this prophecy was realized (Matthew 27:32–56).
10. Buried in a Rich Man’s Tomb
The prophet Isaiah wrote, “He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth” (Isaiah 53:9). Jesus fulfilled this prophecy by being buried in a tomb belonging to a wealthy man, Joseph of Arimathea (Matthew 27:57-60).
11. Resurrection
The psalmist wrote, “You will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, nor will you let your faithful one see decay” (Psalm 16:10). This prophecy was fulfilled when Jesus rose from the dead on the third day (Matthew 28:1-10). The prophet Hosea wrote, “After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will restore us, that we may live in his presence” (Hosea 6:2). Jesus fulfilled this prophecy by rising from the dead on the third day (Matthew 28:5-6, Mark 16:6, Luke 24:6-7).
12. Ascension
The prophet Daniel wrote, “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed” (Daniel 7:13-14). This prophecy was fulfilled when Jesus ascended into heaven, where he now reigns as king (Acts 1:9-11, Ephesians 1:20-23).
13. Coming Again
The prophet Zechariah wrote, “Then the Lord will go out and fight against those nations, as he fights on a day of battle. On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west, forming a great valley, with half of the mountain moving north and half moving south” (Zechariah 14:3-4). Jesus fulfilled this prophecy by promising to return again to earth to defeat evil and establish his kingdom (Matthew 24:30-31, Revelation 19:11-16).
Conclusion
There are many more prophecies in the Old Testament that Jesus fulfilled, but these ten are some of the most well-known. It’s clear that Jesus is the messiah that was foretold in the Old Testament. By fulfilling these prophecies, Jesus proved that he was who he claimed to be and that he had come to save God’s people.
As we reflect on the prophecies that Jesus fulfilled, let’s remember that he is still at work in our lives today. Just as he fulfilled these ancient prophecies, he continues to work in miraculous ways in our own lives. Let’s trust him and follow him as our savior and king.