Just a Few of the Prophesies Concerning Jesus

Prophesies and Fulfillments of Jesus’ Life, Death and Resurrection
(Taken from Evidence That Demands A Verdict, by Josh McDowell)

In the Old Testament (written by many different men over a span of approximately 2,000 years) there are over 300 references to the Messiah (God’s promised Redeemer of mankind) that were fulfilled in Jesus. Here are a few. Notice the dates of the prophesies and keep in mind that those who recorded these fulfillments of the prophesies were all martyred (terrible deaths), still proclaiming their belief in Jesus Christ.

Prophesy 1
Jesus would be born of a virgin.
“Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call his name Immanuel.” Isaiah 7:14 (approx. 670 B.C.)

Fulfillment

“…Shall was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit. And Joseph… kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son; and he called His name Jesus.” Matthew 1:18, 24, 25; Luke 1:26-35

Prophesy 2
Jesus would be called Immanuel
(Isaiah 7:14, above)

Fulfillment
“The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”—which means, ‘God with us.’” (Matthew 1:23)

Prophesy 3
Jesus would be the Son of God
“I will surely tell of the decree of the Lord: He said to Me, ‘Thou art My Son, Today I have begotten Thee.’” Psalms 2:7 (approx. 1000 B.C.) (see also I Chronicles 17:11-14; II Samuel 7:12-16)

Fulfillment
“…And behold, a voice out of the heavens, saying, ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.’” Matthew 3:17 (See also Matthew 16:16; Mark 9:7, Luke 9:35; 22:70; Acts 13: 30-33; John 1:34, 49)

Prophesy 4
Jesus would be of the Tribe of Judah
“The scepter shall not depart from Judah, Nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, Until Shiloh comes, And to him shall be the obedience of the peoples.” Genesis 49:10 (approx. 1406 B.C.) (See also Micah 5:2)

Fulfillment

“Jesus…the son of Judah…”
Luke 3:23, 33 (See also Matthew 1:2; Hebrews 7:14)

Prophesy 5
Jesus would be of the house of David
“ ‘Behold, the days are coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘When I shall raise up for David a righteous Branch; And He will reign as king and act wisely And do justice and righteousness in the land.’”
Jeremiah 23:5 (approx. 580 B.C.)
(See also II Samuel 7:12-16; Psalms 132:11)

Fulfillment
“Jesus… the son of David…” Luke 3:23, 31 (See also Matthew 1:1; 9:27; 15:22; 20:30, 31; 21:9,15; 22:41-46; Mark 9:10; 10:47,48; Luke 18:38,39; Acts 13:22,23; Revelation 22:16)
(Jesus was a descendent of King David on both is mother’s and father’s side.)

Prophesy 6

Jesus 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 in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, From the days of eternity.” Micah 5:2 (750-686 B.C.)

Fulfillment

“…Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea…” Matthew 2:1 (See also John 7:42; Matthew 2:4-8; Luke 2:4-7)

Prophesy 7

Jesus would be presented with gifts
“Let the kings of Tarshish and of the islands bring presents; The kings of Sheba and Seba offer gifts.”Psalms 72:10 (approx. 1000 B.C.) (See also Isaiah 60:6)

Fulfillment

“…Magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem…and they fell down and worshipped Him; and opening their treasures they presented to Him gifts…” Matthew 2:1,11

Prophesy 8

Herod would kill many children in an attempt to kill Jesus, believing that this child in whom so many prophesies were fulfilled, would try to take his throne.

“Thus says the Lord, ‘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.’” Jeremiah 31:15 (approx. 580 B.C.)

Fulfillment

“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 has ascertained from the magi.” Matthew 2:16

Prophesy 9

Jesus would be preceded by a messenger

“A voice is calling, ‘Clear the way for the Lord in the wilderness; Make smooth in the desert a highway for our God.’” Isaiah 40:3 (approx. 670 B.C.) (See also Malachi 3:1)

Fulfillment

“…John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.’” Matthew 3:1,2 (See also Matthew 3:3; 11:10; John 1:23; Luke 1:17.)

Prophesy 10

Jesus’ zeal for the house of the Lord would overcome Him.

“For zeal for Thy house has consumed me, And the reproaches of those who reproach Thee have fallen on me.” Psalms 69:9 (approx 1000 B.C.)

Fulfillment

“And He made a scourge of cords, and drove them all out of the temple…and…He said, ‘Take these things away; stop making My Father’s house a house of merchandise.’” John 2:15-17

Prophesy 11

Jesus would have a ministry of miracles

“Then the eyes of the blind will be opened, And the ears of the deaf will be unstopped. Then the lame will leap like a deer, And the tongue of the dumb will shout for joy.” Isaiah 35:5,6a (approx. 670 B.C.) (See also Isaiah 32:3,4)

Fulfillment

“And Jesus was going about all the cities and the villages, teaching in their synagogues, and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness.” Matthew 9:35 (See also Matthew 9:32,33; 11:4-6; Mark 7:33-35; John 5:5-9; 9:6-11; 11:43,44, 47.)

Prophesy 12

Jesus would enter Jerusalem on a donkey

“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, and mounted on a donkey, Even on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” Zechariah 9:9 (approx. 480 B.C.)

Fulfillment

“And they brought it to Jesus, and they threw their garments on the colt, and put Jesus on it. And as He was going, they were spreading their garments in the road. And as He was now approaching, near the descent of the Mount of Olives…” Luke 19:35,36,37a (See also Matthew 21:6-11)

Prophesy 13

Jesus would be betrayed by a friend

“Even my close friend, in whom I trusted, Who ate my bread, Has lifted up his heel against me.” Psalm 41:9 (approx. 1000 B.C.) (See also Psalms 55:12-14)

Fulfillment

“…Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed Him.” Matthew 10:4 (See also Matthew 26:49,50; John 13:21.)

Prophesy 14

Jesus would be sold out for 30 pieces of silver

“And I said to them, ‘If it is good in your sight, give me my wages; but if not, never mind!’ So they weighed out thirty shekels of silver as my wages.” Zechariah 11:12 (approx. 480 B.C.)

Fulfillment

“…'What are you willing to give me to deliver Him up to you?’ And they weighed out to him thirty pieces of silver.” Matthew 26:15 (See also Matthew 27:3)

Prophesy 15

The silver used to buy Potter’s Field

“…So I took the thirty shekels of silver and threw them to the potter in the house of the Lord.” Zechariah 11:13b (approx. 480 B.C.)

Fulfillment

“And they [the chief priests] counseled together and with the money bought the Potter’s Field as a burial place for strangers.” Matthew 27:7

Prophesy 16

Jesus would be mocked

“All who see me sneer at me; They separate with the lip, they wag the head, saying, ‘Commit yourself to the Lord; let Him deliver him; Let Him rescue him, because he delights in him.’” Psalms 22:7,8 (approx. 1000 B.C.)

Fulfillment

“In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. ‘He saved others,’ they said, ‘but he can’t save himself! He’s the King of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” Matthew 27:41-43 (See also Matthew 27:31)

Prophesy 17

Jesus was wounded and bruised for us

“But He was pierced through for our trangresssions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed.” Isaiah 53:5 (approx. 670 B.C.)

Fulfillment

“Then he released Barabbas for them; but Jesus he scourged and delivered over to be crucified.” Matthew 27:26

Prophesy 18

Jesus’ garments parted and lots cast

“They divide my garments among them, And for my clothing they cast lots.” Psalm 22:18 (approx. 1000 B.C.)

Fulfillment

“The soldiers therefore, when they had crucified Jesus, took His outer garments and made four parts, a part to every soldier and also the tunic; now the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece. They said… ‘Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it, to decide whose it shall be…” John 19:23, 24

Prophesy 19

Gall and vinegar would be offered to him

“They also gave me gall for my food, And for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.” Psalms 69:21 (approx. 1000 B.C.)

Fulfillment

“They gave Him wine to drink mingled with gall; and after tasting it, He was unwilling to drink.” Matthew 27:34 (See also John 19:28,29)

Prophesy 20

Jesus’ bones were not broken

“He keeps all his bones; Not one of them is broken.” Psalms 34:20 (approx. 1000 B.C.)

Fulfillment

“…But coming to Jesus, when they saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs.” John 19:33 (See also John 19:36)

Prophesy 21

Darkness at Jesus’ death would come

“ ‘And it will come about in that day,’ declares the Lord God, ‘That I shall make the sun go down at noon And make the earth dark in broad daylight.’” Amos 8:9 (approx. 750 B.C.)

Fulfillment

“Now from the sixth hour darkness feel upon all the land until the ninth hour.” Matthew 27:45

Prophesy 22

Jesus would not stay dead

“Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay.” Psalm 16:9-10 (approx. 1000 B.C.) (See also Psalm30:3; 41:10; 118:17; Hosea 6:2)

Fulfillment

“The angel said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’…” Matthew 28:5-7 (See also Mark 16:4-8; Luke 24:1-8; John 20:10-18)