Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep
those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand. Revelation 1:3

 

Prophecies Relating to Christ

 

Predictions and Writings of Moses

Whom did Moses say the Lord would rise up?

“The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own brothers. You must listen to him.” Deuteronomy 18:15.  (See also verse 18.)

What use of this prophecy by the Apostle Peter shows that it referred to Christ?

For Moses said, “The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you must listen to everything he tells you. Anyone who does not listen to him will be completely cut off from among his people. Indeed, all the prophets from Samuel on, as many as have spoken, have foretold these days.” Acts 3:22-24.   

Under what striking emblem was He prophesied of by Balaam?

“I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel. He will crush the foreheads of Moab, the skulls of all the sons of Sheth.” Numbers 24:17.

In what scripture does Christ apply the same emblem to Himself?

“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.” Revelation 22:16. (See also 2 Peter 1:19; Revelation 2:28.)

Prophecies of His Birth

In what language did Isaiah foretell Christ’s birth?

“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” Isaiah 7:14. 

In what event was this prophecy fulfilled?

“All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 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 1:22,23.

Where was the Messiah to be born?

“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from old, from ancient times.” Micah 5:2. 

When was Jesus born?

“After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem.” Matthew 2:1.

What prophecy was fulfilled in the slaughter of the children of Bethlehem?

“When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah were fulfilled: A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refused to be comforted, because they were no more.” Matthew 2:16-18. 

The Great Announcer

How was Christ’s first advent to this earth to be heralded?

A voice of one calling: “In the desert prepare the way for the Lord,” make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God.” Isaiah 40:3. 

By whom was this fulfilled?

“Now this was John’s testimony when the Jews of Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was. John replied in the words of the Isaiah the prophet, “I am the voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Make straight the ways of the Lord.” John 1:19, 23.  

Christ’s Preaching and Reception

What prediction did the prophet Isaiah make concerning Christ’s preaching?

“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach the good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from the darkness for the prisoners.” Isaiah 61:1.  

What application did Jesus make of this prophecy? 

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor, He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” The he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, and he began by saying,  “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” Luke 4:16-21. (See Luke 7:19-22.)

How was Christ to be received by His own people?

“He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from who men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.”

Isaiah 53:3. 

How is the fulfillment of this prophecy recorded?

“He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not recognize him.”

John 1:10,11.

His Trail and Crucifixion

How, according to prophecy, was Christ to conduct Himself on trial?

“He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to slaughter, as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.”

 Isaiah 53:7.

When accused by His enemies before Pilate, how did Christ treat these accusations?

“Then Pilate asked him, “Don’t you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?” But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge – to the great amazement of the governor.” Matthew 27:13,14.  

What prophecy foretold of the disposal of Christ’s garments at the crucifixion?

“They divide my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing.” Psalm 22:18.  

What record answers to this prophecy?

“When they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes by casting lots.”

Matthew 27:35. 

What was foretold of His treatment while on the cross?

“They put gall in my food and gave me vinegar for my thirst.” Psalm 69:21. 

What was offered Christ at His crucifixion?

“There they offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall; but after he tasted it, he refused to drink it.” Matthew 27:34. (See also John 19:28-30.)

With whom did the prophet Isaiah say Christ would make His grave?

“He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth.” Isaiah 53:9

With whom was Christ crucified?

“Two robbers were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left.”

 Matthew 27:38. 

Burial and Resurrection

Who took charge of Christ’s body after it was taken down from the cross?

“As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. Joseph took the body, wrapped in a clean linen cloth, and placed it in a new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away.” Verses 57-60.  

To what experience in the life of a noted prophet did Christ refer when speaking to the length of His stay in the grave?


He answered, “A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a miraculous sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a large fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” Matthew 12:39,40.


What prophecy in the Scriptures foretold Christ’s triumph over death and the grave?

“Because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay.” Psalm 16:10.  (See Acts 2:24-27.)

 

Look Upon Jesus

Look upon Jesus, sinless is He;

Father, impute His life unto me,

My life of scarlet, my sin and woe,

Cover with His life, whiter than snow.

 

Deep are the wounds transgression has made;

Red are the stains; my soul is afraid.

O to be covered, Jesus, with Thee,

Safe from the law that now judgeth me!

 

Longing the joy of pardon to know;

Jesus holds out a robe white as snow;

“Lord, I accept it! Leaving my own,

Gladly I wear Thy pure life alone.”

 

Reconciled by His death for my sin,

Justified by His life pure and clean,

Sanctified by obeying His word,

Glorified when returneth my Lord.

 

                                   - F.E. Belden.

 

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