FULFILLED PROPHESIES ABOUT JESUS

FULFILLED PROPHESIES ABOUT JESUS

Adrian Rogers Sermon Archive IV. The Fulfilled Prophecy of the Bible

If we were to take just one subject, the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the focal point and the spirit of all prophecy, and look in the Old Testament, the prophecies concerning the Lord Jesus Christ—there are more than three hundred exact prophecies concerning the Lord Jesus Christ that are in the Old Testament. Every one of them is absolutely correct. Do you know what the naysayer says about the fulfilled prophecies concerning the Lord Jesus Christ? And, by the way, the mathematical probability that only eight of these prophecies could have been fulfilled is so mathematically astounding that the ratio of chance—it comes up with a number that we don’t have a number for in the human language. But, I’m not talking about eight; I’m talking about three hundred plus prophecies concerning the Lord Jesus Christ. Now, how does the naysayer deal with that? He says, “Well, Jesus wanted people to think that He was the Messiah so He just arranged to fulfill these prophecies.” Well, let’s see if that’s true.

A. Jesus Arranged to Be Born in Bethlehem

First of all, He arranged where He would be born. Pretty good arrangement. He arranged that He would be born in Bethlehem. Micah 5:2 says He would be. (Micah 5:2) Matthew 2:1–5 says He was. (Matthew 2:1–5)

B. Jesus Arranged to Be Born of a Virgin

Number two: He arranged that He would be born of a virgin. Pretty good arrangement, huh? Isaiah chapter 7. (Isaiah 7:14)

C. Jesus Arranged to Be Crucified

Moreover, He arranged that He would be crucified, and it was prophesied centuries before crucifixion was even known. If you read Psalm 22, Psalm 22 is written, I remind you, it was written by David hundreds of years before the Lord Jesus Christ was born here upon this earth. You read Psalm 22; Psalm 22 reads as if a person was standing at the foot of the cross. It talks about the piercing of His hands and His feet. (Psalms 22:16) It talks about the casting lots for His garments. (Psalms 22:18) It talks about the words that people would say to Him as they scorned Him and mocked Him on the cross. (Psalms 22:7) It talks about the very words that Jesus Christ would utter from the cross before crucifixion was even known as a form of capital punishment. (Psalms 22:1) The Jews had stoning for capital punishment. And, we read in Psalm 22: “they pierced my hands and my feet … They … cast lots [for my garments.” (Psalms 22:16–18) Yes, He arranged all of that, yes, if you believe He just arranged it.

D. Jesus Arranged to Be Crucified Alongside Two Thieves

He also had this arrangement: He persuaded two thieves to be crucified with Him, one on the right hand and one on the other, as is prophesied in Isaiah chapter 53 and fulfilled in Matthew chapter 27. (Isaiah 53:12; Matthew 27:44)

E. Jesus Arranged for Judas to Betray Him

Also, He arranged that Judas would betray Him for thirty pieces of silver—Zechariah 11:12 fulfilled in Matthew 26, verse 15. (Zechariah 11:2; Matthew 26:15)

F. Jesus Arranged to Be Raised on the Third Day after His Crucifixion

Now, here’s the classic arrangement: He arranged that after He was crucified, He’d be raised again the third day. And, that is prophesied in the Word of God—that He would be raised again on the third day.

Now, He arranged all of this. Well, the truth of the matter is He really did arrange it because He’s God. And, God caused all of this to come to pass in His infinite wisdom. But, there’s no way that it was humanly arranged. These prophecies were not fulfilled, for the most part, by the friends of Jesus, but by those enemies who had nothing to gain, who really hated Him and would not want to do anything that would attest to the fact that He was, indeed, what He was and who He was: the Son of God.

What does the Bible say about all of these prophecies? Well, I’ll sum it up in Matthew chapter 26 and verse 56: “But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled”—“that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” (Matthew 26:56) No other book knows the future, and no one knows the future except what God Himself reveals. One of the undeniable affirmations of the Word of God—fulfilled prophecy. If you had no other reason to believe that the Bible is the Word of God than fulfilled prophecy …

The Bible contains numerous prophecies, particularly concerning Jesus Christ, which are claimed to have been fulfilled. According to one article, there are over three hundred exact prophecies about Jesus Christ in the Old Testament, all of which are said to be absolutely correct[1]. The mathematical probability of even eight of these prophecies being fulfilled is described as astoundingly improbable[1]. Another article states that the Bible includes more than two thousand prophecies that validate its historical claims, covering topics such as Jesus Christ, nations, cities, and specific individuals[2]. One specific prophecy mentioned is from Isaiah 7:14, which foretells the virgin birth of Jesus, although there is some debate over the translation of the word "virgin" in modern versions[3]. It's important to note that these claims of fulfilled prophecy are presented from a Christian perspective, and the articles emphasize that all biblical prophecies concerning events up to the present time have come to pass without exception[2].

[1] Rogers, A. (2017). The Amazing Word of God, Part 2. In Adrian Rogers Sermon Archive (2 Ti 3:16–17). Rogers Family Trust. [2] Story, D. (1997). Defending your faith (p. 37). Kregel Publications. [3] Hutson, C. (2004). There’s Only One Book like This Book. In Great Preaching On: The Bible (p. 207). Sword of the Lord Publishers.

A. Bethlehem

Micah 5:2 ESV

But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.

Micah 5:2 NKRV

베들레헴 에브라다야 너는 유다 족속 중에 작을지라도 이스라엘을 다스릴 자가 네게서 내게로 나올 것이라 그의 근본은 상고에, 영원에 있느니라

Matthew 2:1–5 ESV

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:

Matthew 2:1–5 NKRV

헤롯 왕 때에 예수께서 유대 베들레헴에서 나시매 동방으로부터 박사들이 예루살렘에 이르러 말하되 유대인의 왕으로 나신 이가 어디 계시냐 우리가 동방에서 그의 별을 보고 그에게 경배하러 왔노라 하니 헤롯 왕과 온 예루살렘이 듣고 소동한지라 왕이 모든 대제사장과 백성의 서기관들을 모아 그리스도가 어디서 나겠느냐 물으니 이르되 유대 베들레헴이오니 이는 선지자로 이렇게 기록된 바

B. Jesus Arranged to Be Born of a Virgin

Isaiah 7:14 ESV

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

Isaiah 7:14 NKRV

그러므로 주께서 친히 징조를 너희에게 주실 것이라 보라 처녀가 잉태하여 아들을 낳을 것이요 그의 이름을 임마누엘이라 하리라

C. Jesus Arranged to Be Crucified

Psalm 22:1 ESV

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning?

Psalm 22:1 NKRV

내 하나님이여 내 하나님이여 어찌 나를 버리셨나이까 어찌 나를 멀리 하여 돕지 아니하시오며 내 신음 소리를 듣지 아니하시나이까

Matthew 27:46 ESV

And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

Matthew 27:46 NKRV

제구시쯤에 예수께서 크게 소리 질러 이르시되 엘리 엘리 라마 사박다니 하시니 이는 곧 나의 하나님, 나의 하나님, 어찌하여 나를 버리셨나이까 하는 뜻이라

Psalm 22:6–7 ESV

But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by mankind and despised by the people. All who see me mock me; they make mouths at me; they wag their heads;

Psalm 22:6–7 NKRV

나는 벌레요 사람이 아니라 사람의 비방거리요 백성의 조롱거리니이다 나를 보는 자는 다 나를 비웃으며 입술을 비쭉거리고 머리를 흔들며 말하되

Matthew 27:39–43 ESV

And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads and saying, “You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.” So also the chief priests, with the scribes and elders, mocked him, saying, “He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he desires him. For he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’ ”

Matthew 27:39–43 NKRV

지나가는 자들은 자기 머리를 흔들며 예수를 모욕하여 이르되 성전을 헐고 사흘에 짓는 자여 네가 만일 하나님의 아들이어든 자기를 구원하고 십자가에서 내려오라 하며 그와 같이 대제사장들도 서기관들과 장로들과 함께 희롱하여 이르되 그가 남은 구원하였으되 자기는 구원할 수 없도다 그가 이스라엘의 왕이로다 지금 십자가에서 내려올지어다 그리하면 우리가 믿겠노라 그가 하나님을 신뢰하니 하나님이 원하시면 이제 그를 구원하실지라 그의 말이 나는 하나님의 아들이라 하였도다 하며

Psalm 22:14–16 ESV

I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax; it is melted within my breast; my strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to my jaws; you lay me in the dust of death. For dogs encompass me; a company of evildoers encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet—

Psalm 22:14–16 NKRV

나는 물 같이 쏟아졌으며 내 모든 뼈는 어그러졌으며 내 마음은 밀랍 같아서 내 속에서 녹았으며 내 힘이 말라 질그릇 조각 같고 내 혀가 입천장에 붙었나이다 주께서 또 나를 죽음의 진토 속에 두셨나이다 개들이 나를 에워쌌으며 악한 무리가 나를 둘러 내 수족을 찔렀나이다

John 19:23 ESV

When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his garments and divided them into four parts, one part for each soldier; also his tunic. But the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom,

John 19:23 NKRV

군인들이 예수를 십자가에 못 박고 그의 옷을 취하여 네 깃에 나눠 각각 한 깃씩 얻고 속옷도 취하니 이 속옷은 호지 아니하고 위에서부터 통으로 짠 것이라

Psalm 22:17–18 ESV

I can count all my bones— they stare and gloat over me; they divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.