Lesson No. 50 

Chapter 6 Messianic Prophecies Lesson No. 50 Fulfilled in Jesus Christ

Introduction: This is another one of the topics of vital importance, implicit in the foundations of the Christian faith. Before going into concrete details, I want to give a brief explanation about prophecies.

Prophecy: This term is applied to the verbal or written discourses of a prophet. The prophet is a proclaimer of the divine statement, that is, one who announces the message that God has personally revealed to him.

The prophetic messages known in the Holy Bible generally contain admonitions, reprimands, and moral teachings from God for His people. Primarily when they deviated from the doctrinal principles that had been bequeathed to them by the Lord Himself. But the prophecies also contain a peculiar characteristic known as prediction, which consists of predictions of future events. These statements of biblical prophecies constitute a clear warning of the things that God will do or what He will allow to happen, because of sin and the deviation of His people. Although in some cases it is due to the sin of one or more determined nations or a large part of humanity. Most of them include a clear sense of judgment and punishment; however, they usually conclude with a message of hope, restoration, and peace, such as those contained in the messianic and other prophecies.

Many of these prophecies took a short period to reach their exact fulfillment, intervening in the political destiny and other orders of life of humanity or a part of it. While others span a much longer period, extending until the time when God will put an end to all things through the destruction of this world.

For a better understanding of biblical prophecies, it is essential to read and consider each of the prophetic books of the Holy Bible. Besides a study of those that have already been fulfilled, with historical evidence concerning the people of Israel. The purpose of this study is solely to give our readers a notion of what prophecies are, and how those referring to the Messiah had their exact fulfillment in the person of Jesus Christ, just as those related to His second coming will.

As we read in Luke chapter 24: verse 44,51 in the previous chapter, the Lord Jesus Christ, after having resurrected, appeared to His disciples and spoke to them, saying:

“And he said unto them, 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”.

According to most scholars, when the Jews mentioned "the law of Moses," they referred to the Pentateuch. Which is logically conceived due to its characteristic quality, according to the concept of antonomasia.

Messianic prophecies contained in the law: Although the law of Moses does not speak of the Christ as clearly as some later prophets do, it is evident that in certain mentions it refers to Him, as the Lord Himself declares in the cited passage; which is also confirmed by the biblical writings of some of the apostles. Let us consider, in this regard, the words referred to by God to Abraham according to the following passage:

Genesis chapter 22: verses 15 to 18: “And the angel of the LORD called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time, 16And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son: 17That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; 18And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice”.51

This promise of God to Abraham: "In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed". According to the interpretation of the Apostle Paul, it was fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Let us see the reference passage regarding this:

Galatians chapter 3: verse 16: “Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ”.51

Other predictions in the book of the law concerning the Christ are those reflected in the following passages:

Genesis chapter 49: verse 10: “The sceptre 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”.51

Numbers chapter 24: verse 17: “I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth”.51

Although there are several prophecies in the law attributed to the Christ, I have only wanted to present some of those that seem to be clearer.

Other messianic prophecies: The prophets after the law also spoke to us about the Messiah. Both Jeremiah and other prophets refer to Him as a "branch," a "shoot," "sprout" or "bud". See Jeremiah, chapter 23: verses 5 and 6; chapter 33: verse 15;51 Zechariah chapter 3: verse 8; chapter 6: verse 12;51 Isaiah chapter 11: verses 1 and 2.51

Although these passages simply refer to a branch, according to this version, however, according to scholars, the original Hebrew text interprets it as a shoot that sprouts from an existing root, and alludes to the lineage or descent of David and Jesse.

Without a doubt, our Lord confirms the fulfillment of these prophecies according to Revelation chapter 22: verse 16, when He says: "...I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star". Other prophecies were also fulfilled in Him, as confirmed by the following passages of the Scriptures.51

Isaiah chapter 7: verse 14: “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel”.51

Luke chapter 1: verses 30 and 31: “And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. 31And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS”.51

Comparing these two passages, we will obtain perfect evidence of the fulfillment of this prophecy in the person of Jesus Christ. The term Emmanuel means: God with us, while the Hebrew term Yeshua, from which "Jesus" is derived, means: Savior. Both meanings fulfill the same objective: God, represented in the person of Jesus Christ the Son, was among men to save them.

Let us now consider the prophecy of Micah:

Micah chapter 5: verse 2: “But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting”.51

Matthew confirms the fulfillment of this prophecy through his narration of the birth of Christ. In his account of the events, he says: Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, 2Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. 3When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. 5And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, 6And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel. (Matthew chapter 2: verses 1 to 6).51

Let us also consider the predictions of the prophet Zechariah:

Zechariah chapter 9: verse 9: “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”.51

If we confront the previous passage with the narration of the apostle John, we can obtain palpable evidence of the fulfillment of this prophecy, in the life and person of Jesus Christ. The Apostle tells us: On the next day much people that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, 13Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord. 14And Jesus, when he had found a young ass, sat thereon; as it is written, 15Fear not, daughter of Sion: behold, thy King cometh, sitting on an ass's colt. 16These things understood not his disciples at the first: but when Jesus was glorified, then remembered they that these things were written of him, and that they had done these things unto him. (John chapter 12: verses 12 to 16).51

Let us also consider the following biblical passage:

Isaiah chapter 53: verses 4 and 5: “Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5But 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”.51

Compare this passage read with the one that appears below:

Matthew chapter 8: verses 14 to 17: “And when Jesus was come into Peter's house, he saw his wife's mother laid, and sick of a fever. 15And he touched her hand, and the fever left her: and she arose, and ministered unto them. 16When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick: 17That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses”.51

In addition, the prophet Isaiah, once again alluding to the Suffering Messiah, said: Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. (Isaiah chapter 53: verse 12).51

Let us also examine the fulfillment of the previous predictions with the declaration of the evangelist St. Mark:

Mark chapter 15: verses 27 and 28: “And with him they crucify two thieves; the one on his right hand, and the other on his left. 28And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, And he was numbered with the transgressors”.51

Let us observe the fulfillment of the following prophetic passage in the life and activities of Jesus Christ during His ministry:

Isaiah chapter 61: verses 1 and 2: “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; 2To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn”.51

Regarding the previous passage, Luke tells us: And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read. 17And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, 18The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, 19To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. 20And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him. 21And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears. (Luke chapter 4: verses 16 to 21).51

Matthew confirms what Luke said in the above quote, according to the following passage:

Matthew chapter 12: verses 17 and 18: “That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, 18Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall shew judgment to the Gentiles”.51

Regarding the different messianic prophecies contained in the book of Isaiah, it is evident that all of them were fulfilled in the life and works of Jesus Christ with great demonstrations of His divine origin, as declared by the writers of the New Testament in the reference passage.

Let us now look at the following prophetic passages concerning the Messiah, contained in the book of Psalms:

Psalm 41: verse 9: “Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me”.51

Verify this passage read with the following:

John chapter 13: verses 18 and 19: “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. 19Now I tell you before it come, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am he”.51

The words contained in this passage were expressed by our Lord Jesus Christ referring to Judas, the one who betrayed Him.

Let us now look at the next passage and associate it with the quote we present below:

Psalm 22: verse 18: “They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture”.51

The account described by Matthew according to chapter 27: verse 35 of his book, tells us: And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots.51

Compare also the following biblical passages:

Psalm 69: verse 21: “They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink”.51

Matthew chapter 27: verses 33 and 34: “And when they were come unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say, a place of a skull, 34They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink”.51

Let us confront these two quotes related to the psalmic prophecies about the Messiah:

Psalm 16: verse 10: “For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption”.51

I clarify to the reader, that the Greek term translated in this version as hell, also means tomb, as translated by other versions.

Let us now see the interpretation of the Apostle Paul regarding this prophecy concerning the Messiah: And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a sepulchre. 30But God raised him from the dead: 31And he was seen many days of them which came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are his witnesses unto the people. 35Wherefore he saith also in another psalm, Thou shalt not suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. 36For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption: 37But he, whom God raised again, saw no corruption. (Acts chapter 13: verses 29 to 31 and 35 to 37).51

This prophetic psalm was written by David, king of Israel. The Apostle Paul declares that the psalmist refers to the Christ in whom these prophecies came true. See also Psalm 22: verse16.51

Let us now compare the last two biblical quotes included in this theme related to the messianic prophecies:

Zechariah chapter 12: verse 10: “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”.51

The Apostle John makes reference to the fulfillment of this prophecy according to John chapter 19: verses 32 to 37 and declares: Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him. 33But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs: 34But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water. 35And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe. 36For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken. 37And again another scripture saith, They shall look on him whom they pierced.51 See also Psalm 22.51

In this way, we have been able to verify through our study how the messianic prophecies referred to hundreds of years before our era, were fulfilled in the person of Jesus Christ. In the same way, all the other biblical prophecies, many of which were pronounced by the Lord Jesus Christ and others by the holy prophets, related to the end and destruction of this world, have been fulfilled, are being fulfilled, and will be fulfilled. Among these appears as the culminating event, the second coming of Jesus Christ, confirmed by the angels at the moment of ascension. Let us see what the following passage tells us:

Acts chapter 1: verses 9 to 11: “And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. 10And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; 11Which 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”.51

Besides these details, we must consider some fundamental aspects that according to the Holy Scriptures would identify the person of the Messiah:

1.   He was to be of the seed of Abraham, according to the prophecy analyzed in Genesis chapter 22: verses 15 to 18.51 Confirmed by the Apostle Paul, according to Galatians chapter 3: verse 16.51

2.   He was to be of the tribe of Judah, according to the prophecy analyzed in Genesis chapter 49: verse 10.51

3.   He was to be a descendant of Jesse according to the prophecy of Isaiah chapter 11: verses 1 to 5.51 And due to His mission as the reigning Messiah, He was to be of the lineage of David as confirmed by Christ Himself, according to Revelation chapter 22: verse 16.51

4.   Scholars of the prophecies of Daniel have interpreted according to Daniel chapter 9: verse 26,51 that the Messiah would be killed before the destruction of the second temple, in which we know He entered and taught on various occasions, and also prophesied its destruction, fulfilled in the year 70 AD.