Old Testament Prophecies Identify Jesus as
THE ONE and ONLY Messiah
By Lee Penn
I intend to demonstrate that Jesus Christ, and no one else, fulfills the Old Testament prophecies of the
Messiah expected by ancient Israel.
These data cannot substitute for Faith; Faith is a gift from God. However, the Biblical evidence can:




Assure the faithful that belief is reasonable, and
Remind us that God is faithful to His promises. The good work that He has begun, He will complete,
and
Allow the faithful to avoid the spiritual traps set by the enemies of God (including the ecclesiastical
wolves in sheep’s clothing), and
For those who do not yet believe, to open their minds and hearts to the possibility that indeed, Jesus is
Lord and Savior.
Except as noted below, all quotations are from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible. The original
version of this document was requested in 2007 by The MGR Foundation, and is published on their Site.
I.
The Messiah is God and Man
1. God created mankind in His own image; all creation was by and through Him.
·
·
Prophecy: Genesis 1:26, 27; Psalm 33:6, 9
Fulfillment: John 1:1-3; Colossians 1:15-17; Hebrews 1:2
2. He is the Ancient of Days.
·
·
Prophecy: Micah 5:2
Fulfillment: John 8:58
3. He was to be incarnate as a man: The Word of God in the flesh.
·
·
Prophecy: Isaiah 9:6-7
Fulfillment: John 1:14
Page 1 of 12
4. He would be born of a virgin woman, and called Emmanuel: “God with us.”
·
·
Prophecy: Genesis 3:15; Isaiah 7:14; Micah 5:3
Fulfillment: Matthew 1:18, 22-23; Luke 1:26-35
5. He would be the Son of God, begotten of the Father, and would call God “Father.” (He
would also be called – and call himself – the Son of Man).
·
·
Prophecy: Psalm 2:7; Psalm 89:26-27; Proverbs 30:4; Isaiah 49:1, 5; Daniel 7:13-14
Fulfillment: Matthew 3:16-17; Matthew 26:63-64; Mark 1:10-11; Mark 14:61-62;
Luke 1:32-35; Luke 2:49; Luke 3:21-22; John 1:18; John 1:32-34; John 2:16; John
5:17-23; John 10:15, 17-18, 25-26, 29-30, 37-38; Acts 13:32-33; Colossians 1:15, 1719; Galatians 1:15-16; Hebrews 1:5; Hebrews 5:5,8; 2 Peter 1:17-18; Rev. 1:5-6
6. He is the Lord.
·
·
Prophecy: Psalm 110:1
Fulfillment: Matthew 22:41-46; Mark 12:35-37; Luke 20:41-44; Acts 2:33-36;
Ephesians 1:20-22; Hebrews 1:3, 13; Hebrews 8:1; 1 Peter 3:22
7. He will rule the whole world, and His Kingdom will have no end.
·
·
II.
Prophecy: Daniel 2:44
Fulfillment: Matthew 28:18-20; Luke 1:31-33
The Messiah's Life and Work
1. He had the appearance of an ordinary man of his time, place, and nation.
·
·
Prophecy: Isaiah 53:2
Fulfillment: Philippians 2:6-7
2. He would be of the lineage of Abraham, of the tribe of Judah, and of the House of David,
and an heir to David's throne.
·
·
Prophecy: Genesis 12:2-3; Genesis 49:10; Numbers 24:17; 2 Samuel 7:12-13, 16;
Jeremiah 23: 5-6; Isaiah 9:7; Isaiah 11:1-10
Fulfillment: Matthew 1:1-2, 6, 16-17; Luke 3:31-34
Page 2 of 12
3. His mother would sing, in the Magnificat, of the way in which prophecy was fulfilled in
the coming of her Son.
·
·
Prophecy: Isaiah 61:10; 1 Samuel 2:1; 1 Samuel 1:11; Psalm 126:3; Psalm 111:9;
Psalm 103:17; Psalm 89:10; Psalm 138:6; Ezekiel 17:24; Job 5:11; Job 12:19; Psalm
107:9; Psalm 98:3; Isaiah 41:8-9; Genesis 12:2-3; Genesis 13:15-16; Genesis 22:1718
Fulfillment: Luke 1:46-55
4. He would be born in Bethlehem.
·
·
Prophecy: Micah 5:1-2
Fulfillment: Matthew 2:1-6; John 7:42
5. He would be born at a particular time, the appointed time.
· Prophecy: Daniel 9:24-27
· Fulfillment: Galatians 4:4
6. A star would announce His birth.
·
·
Prophecy: Numbers 24:17
Fulfillment: Matthew 2:2
7. He would be presented with gifts.
·
·
Prophecy: Psalm 72:10
Fulfillment: Matthew 2:11
8. His coming would be the occasion of a massacre at Bethlehem.
·
·
Prophecy: Jeremiah 31:15
Fulfillment: Matthew 2:16-18
9. He would be the King of the Jews, David's successor – and would be known as such by
His enemies from his birth till his death.
·
·
Prophecy: Ezekiel 34:23-24
Fulfillment: Matthew 2:1-2; Matthew 27:29, 37; John 18:39, John 19: 2-3, 14-15, 1922
Page 3 of 12
10. His coming would be announced by a prophet.
·
·
Prophecy: Isaiah 40:3; Malachi 3:1; Malachi 4:5-6; Ecclesiasticus 48:10
Fulfillment: Matthew 3:1-3; Matthew 11:7-15; Matthew 17:10-13; Mark 1:2-8; Mark
6:14-16; Luke 1:13-17, 76-79; Luke 3:4-6; Luke 7:18-33; John 1:6-8, 19-36; Acts
13:24; Acts 19:1-7
11. The Messiah would have cousins (or step-brothers).
·
·
Prophecy: Psalm 69:8
Fulfillment: Matthew 12:46; Matthew 13:55-56; Mark 3:31-32; Luke 8:19-20; John
2:12; John 7:3-5; Acts 1:14; 1 Corinthians 9:5; Galatians 1:19
12. He would conquer the devil.
·
·
Prophecy: Genesis 3:15
Fulfillment: Hebrews 2:14-15
13. He would please God the Father.
·
·
Prophecy: Isaiah 42:1
Fulfillment: Matthew 3:17, Matthew 17:5; Mark 1:11; Luke 9:35
14. He would be the Prophet promised of old to Israel, one like Moses.
·
·
Prophecy: Deuteronomy 18:15-19
Fulfillment: John 5:45-47, John 6:14, Acts 3:22
15. He would do only His Father's Will, fulfill all the Law, and be perfect.
· Prophecy: Psalm 40:6-10
· Fulfillment: Matthew 3:15, Matthew 5:17-18; John 4:34, Hebrews 10:5-7
16. He would travel to Egypt and then be called out of it.
·
·
Prophecy: Exodus 4:22-23, Numbers 23:22, Numbers 24:8; Hosea 11:1
Fulfillment: Matthew 2:14-15
17. He would live in Galilee.
·
·
Prophecy: Isaiah 9:1-2
Fulfillment: Matthew 4:12, 15-16
Page 4 of 12
18. The Spirit of God would be upon Him.
·
·
Prophecy: Isaiah 11:1-3; Isaiah 61:1
Fulfillment: Matthew 3:16-17, Matthew 11:2-6; Luke 4:16-22
19. He would perform miracles, as the prophets said a Messiah would do.
·
·
Prophecy: Isaiah 29:18-19, Isaiah 35:5-7; Isaiah 61:2-3
Fulfillment: Matthew 11:4-5, Luke 7:21-22
20. He would feed the people in a miraculous way, offering spiritual Bread as well as earthly
bread.
·
·
Prophecy: Exodus 16:4,8,17; 2 Kings 4:42; Psalm 78:24
Fulfillment: Matthew 15:37; John 6:49-51
21. He would begin His ministry at 30 years of age
·
·
Prophecy: Genesis 41:46; Numbers 4:3, 23; 2 Samuel 5:4
Fulfillment: Luke 3:23
22. He would suddenly appear at the Temple, and would be zealous for the Lord's house.
· Prophecy: Psalm 69:9, Malachi 3:1
· Fulfillment: Luke 2:46, John 2:15-17
23. He would be the promised Messiah (the Anointed One), or Christ.
·
·
Prophecy: Psalm 2:1-2
Fulfillment: Matthew 16:13-17; Mark 8:27-30; Luke 9:18-21; John 1:41, John 4:2526; John 9:35-37; Acts 4:25-28
24. The Messiah would bear the infirmities and diseases of the people.
·
·
Prophecy: Isaiah 53:4
Fulfillment: Matthew 8:16-17
25. He would preach to the poor.
·
·
Prophecy: Isaiah 61:1
Fulfillment: Matthew 11:5; Luke 4:18-21
26. He will bring a sword – division within the household, rather than peace.
·
·
Prophecy: Micah 7:6
Fulfillment: Matthew 10:34-36, Luke 12:51-53, Luke 21:16
Page 5 of 12
27. When He came, He would find the people to be like sheep without a shepherd.
·
·
Prophecy: Numbers 27:16-17; 1 Kings 22:17; Ezekiel 34:5-6
Fulfillment: Mark 6:34
28. He would be the good Shepherd of his people.
·
·
Prophecy: Isaiah 40:11; Jeremiah 23:4; Ezekiel 34:11-12, 15-16, 22-24, 31
Fulfillment: Matthew 9:36; John 10:11-16
29. He would be meek, gentle, compassionate, and lowly.
·
·
Prophecy: Isaiah 42:2-3
Fulfillment: Matthew 11:28-30; Matthew 12:19-20; Matthew 15:32
30. The Messiah's ministry would begin with the people of Israel.
·
·
Prophecy: Ezekiel 34:11-14, 30-31
Fulfillment: Matthew 10:5-6, Matthew 15:21-28
31. His ministry would ultimately include the Gentiles, as well.
·
·
Prophecy: 2 Samuel 22:44-45; Psalm 2:8; Isaiah 42:6, Isaiah 49:5-6; Isaiah 55:5;
Isaiah 60:3; Malachi 1:11
Fulfillment: Matthew 8:10-12, Luke 2:32, John 12:20-23; Acts 10:34-35; Acts 13:47;
Acts 26:23
32. He would teach.
·
·
Prophecy: Isaiah 48:17; Psalm 27:11
Fulfillment: John 3:2
33. He would teach by parables, and not always speak plainly.
·
·
Prophecy: Psalm 78:1-2, Isaiah 6:9-10
Fulfillment: Matthew 11:25; Matthew 13:10-15, 34-35; Luke 8:10; Mark 4:11-12;
Mark 8:18; John 12:37-41; Acts 28:25-27
34. He would have disciples.
·
·
Prophecy: Isaiah 40:11
Fulfillment: John 1:35-44
Page 6 of 12
35. The Messiah would connect heaven and earth, as Jacob had seen in his dream of the
ladder.
·
·
Prophecy: Genesis 28:12
Fulfillment: John 1:51
36. The Messiah would be a priest like Melchizedek – the true high priest, and only mediator
between God and man.
·
·
Prophecy: Genesis 14:18-20, Psalm 110:4
Fulfillment: Hebrews 5:5-6,10, 6:19-20, 7:1-25
37. He would be the Lamb of God – the acceptable sacrifice for the sins of the people of
Israel, and for the sins of all mankind.
·
·
Prophecy: Genesis 22:8; Exodus 12: 5, 13, 21-24; Isaiah 53:6, Daniel 9:24
Fulfillment: Matthew 1:21, John 1:29-34, John 6:51; 1 Peter 2:24-25
38. He would be the only Savior.
·
·
Prophecy: Isaiah 43:11; Psalm 96:5; Psalm 115: 3-8
Fulfillment: Matthew 11:27; John 14:6; Acts 4:12
39. His Kingdom would be like a great tree, covering the whole earth affording all the
opportunity to find shelter beneath it.
·
·
Prophecy: Ezekiel 17:22-23
Fulfillment: Matthew 13:31-32; Mark 4:30-32; Luke 13:18-19
40. He would rebuke and cast out those who made religion into a business.
·
·
III.
Prophecy: Psalm 69:9; Isaiah 56:7; Jeremiah 7:11; Zechariah 3:2
Fulfillment: Matthew 21:12-13; Mark 11:15-18; Luke 19:45-48; John 2:13-17
The Death and Resurrection of the Messiah
1. He would make a triumphal entry into Jerusalem on a donkey.
·
·
Prophecy: Zechariah 9:9
Fulfillment: John 12:14-15
Page 7 of 12
2. When the Messiah entered Jerusalem, the people would acclaim him as king, the one who
comes in the name of the Lord.
·
·
Prophecy: Psalm 118:25-26
Fulfillment: Matthew 21:9; Matthew 23:39; Mark 11:9-10; Luke 13:35; Luke 19:38;
John 12:12-13
3. Children would praise the Messiah when he came.
·
·
Prophecy: Psalm 8:1-2
Fulfillment: Matthew 21:15-16
4. The masses would reject Him as Messiah in the end.
·
·
Prophecy: Psalm 22:6-8
Fulfillment: Matthew 27:15-26; Mark 15:6-15; Luke 23:1-5, 18-25; John 18:38-40;
John 19:12-16; Acts 3:13-14; Acts 5:28
5. The Messiah would be disbelieved, rejected, and hated by the religious leaders of the
people.
·
·
Prophecy: Psalm 22:12-13; Isaiah 53:3, 8
Fulfillment: Matthew 26:3-5, 14-15, 47; Matthew 27:1-2, 41-43; Mark 8:31, Luke
9:22, Acts 5:27-33; Acts 8:32-33
6. The Messiah would be an offense to people, a stone that they would stumble over.
·
·
Prophecy: Psalm 118:22-23; Isaiah 8:13-15, Isaiah 28:16-17
Fulfillment: Matthew 21:42-43; Mark 12:10; Acts 4:11; 1 Peter 2:6-8
7. He would be hated without a cause.
·
·
Prophecy: Psalm 35:19
Fulfillment: Matthew 27:23; Mark 15:14; Luke 23:4, 20-23; John 18:38
8. His soul would experience massive sorrow.
·
·
Prophecy: Psalm 69:20
Fulfillment: Matthew 26:37-38; Mark 14:33-34
Page 8 of 12
9. The Messiah would be betrayed by a friend for 30 pieces of silver, a slave's ransom. The
silver would be cast down into the Temple, and then used to purchase a potter's field.
The betrayer would be one of the Messiah's friends, who had shared the table with him.
·
·
Prophecy: Exodus 21:32; Psalm 41:9, Zechariah 11:12-13
Fulfillment: Matthew 26:14-15, Matthew 27: 3-10; Mark 14:10-11, 43-46; Luke 22:56; John 13:18, 21; Acts 1:16-20
10. The Messiah would be accused by false witnesses at His trial.
·
·
Prophecy: Psalm 35:11
Fulfillment: Matthew 26:59-60; Mark 14:55-59; Acts 6:12-14
11. He would be silent in response to accusations.
·
·
Prophecy: Isaiah 42:2, Isaiah 50:5, Isaiah 53:7
Fulfillment: Matthew 26:62-63, Matthew 27:12, 14; Mark 14:61; Mark 15:5; Luke
23:8-9
12. The Messiah would be counted among the transgressors.
·
·
Prophecy: Isaiah 53:12
Fulfillment: Luke 22:37; Matthew 27:38; Mark 15:27; Luke 23:32-33
13. His followers would be scattered as sheep without a shepherd.
·
·
Prophecy: Zechariah 13:7
Fulfillment: Matthew 26: 31,56; Mark 14:27, 50; John 16:32
14. He would be struck with the hand, and with a rod and a whip. He would be spat upon,
and have his beard plucked.
·
·
Prophecy: Isaiah 50:6, Isaiah 53:4-8; Micah 5:1
Fulfillment: Matthew 26:67; Matthew 27:26, 30
15. God will allow the Messiah to be stricken and/or abandoned by The Father Himself, as
well as by people.
·
·
Prophecy: Psalm 22:2; Psalm 69:26; Isaiah 53:10
Fulfillment: Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34
Page 9 of 12
16. He would die on a cross; His hands, feet, and side would be pierced. Due to the tortures
of the trial and the execution, he would be virtually unrecognizable.
·
·
·
Prophecy in the Old Testament: Psalm 22:16; Isaiah 52:13-15; Zechariah 12:10
Prophecy in the New Testament: Matthew 26:2
Fulfillment: John 19:34, John 20:20, 25-27; Revelation 1:7
17. As He is the true Paschal Lamb, none of the Messiah's bones would be broken.
·
·
Prophecy: Exodus 12:21, 46; Numbers 9:12, Psalm 34:20
Fulfillment: John 19: 31-36; 1 Corinthians 5:7
18. He would become a curse on a tree.
·
·
Prophecy: Deuteronomy 21:22-23
Fulfillment: Galatians 3:13
19. He would be executed in public, and would be mocked by the onlookers.
·
·
Prophecy: Psalm 22: 7-8, 12-13, 15-17; Psalm 31:13; Psalm 38:11; Psalm 109:25;
Wisdom 2:12-24
Fulfillment: Matthew 27:36, 39-44; Mark 15:29-32; Luke 23:35-39, 48
20. He would be thirsty at execution, and would be given gall and vinegar to drink.
·
·
Prophecy: Psalm 22:15-16; Psalm 69:21
Fulfillment: Matthew 27: 34, 48; Mark 15:23, 36; Luke 23:36; John 19:28-29
21. People would gamble for His garments.
·
·
Prophecy: Psalm 22:18
Fulfillment: Matthew 27:35; Mark 15:24; Luke 23:34; John 19:23-25
22. There would be darkness over the land during the execution.
·
·
Prophecy: Amos 8:9
Fulfillment: Matthew 27:45; Mark 15:33; Luke 23:44-45
23. The Messiah would speak from the Cross, fulfilling prophecy thereby: “Father, forgive
them; for they know not what they do.”
·
·
Prophecy: Numbers 15:27-29
Fulfillment: Luke 23:34; Acts 7:60
Page 10 of 12
“My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me?”
·
·
Prophecy: Psalm 22:1
Fulfillment: Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34
“Into thy hands I commit my spirit”
·
·
Prophecy: Psalm 31:5
Fulfillment: Luke 23:46
24. The Messiah's blood would have to be shed for forgiveness of sins.
·
·
Prophecy: Exodus 24:8; Leviticus 17:11
Fulfillment: Matthew 20:28; Matthew 26:27-28; Mark 10:45; Mark 14:24; John
15:13; 1 Timothy 2:6; Hebrews 9:22, 25-28; 1 John 3:16
25. The Messiah would have to die before He could fully reign.
·
·
Prophecy: Daniel 9:26-27
Fulfillment: Matthew 16:21, 27; Mark 8:31; Mark 9:30-31; Mark 10:33-34; Luke
9:22; Luke 17:24-25; Luke 18:31-34
26. He would die at Jerusalem, outside its walls, as a sacrifice for sin.
·
·
·
Prophecy in the Old Testament: Leviticus 16:27
Prophecy in the New Testament: Luke 13:33
Fulfillment: Matthew 27:33; Mark 15:22; Luke 23:33; John 19:17; Hebrews 13:11-13
27. His rejection would result in Jerusalem being destroyed.
·
·
Prophecy in the New Testament: Matthew 23:34-39; Matthew 24:1-3; Mark 13:2;
Luke 13:33-35; Luke 19:41-44; Luke 21:5-6; Luke 21:20-24; Luke 23:28-31
Fulfillment: The Jews, led by Zealot nationalists, revolted against Rome in 66 AD,
and Rome defeated them in 70 AD. The Romans destroyed the Temple (on Tisha
B’Av, the Jewish day of mourning that commemorated the fall of Solomon's Temple
to the Babylonians), killed over half a million people, and enslaved or dispersed the
surviving Jews. The process repeated in 132-135 AD, with the disastrous and futile
revolt led by Bar Kokhba, a messianic pretender.
28. He would be buried by a rich man.
·
·
Prophecy: Isaiah 53:9
Fulfillment: Matthew 27:57-60, Mark 15:42-47; Luke 23:50-56; John 19:38-42
Page 11 of 12
29. Jonah's three-day entombment would foreshadow the burial of the Messiah.
·
·
Prophecy: Jonah 1:17
Fulfillment: Matthew 12:38-41; Luke 11:29-32
30. He would not be left among the dead, nor would He decay in death.
·
·
Prophecy: Psalm 16:10
Fulfillment: Acts 2:31
31. The Messiah would rise from the dead on the third day.
·
·
·
Prophecy in the Old Testament: Psalm 16:10-11; Psalm 49:15; Isaiah 53:10-12
Prophecy in the New Testament: Matthew 17:9, 22-23; Matthew 20:17-19; Matthew
27:63; Mark 9:31; Luke 9:22; John 2:19-22
Fulfillment: Matthew 28:5-10; Mark 16:6-18; Luke 24:4-28, 36-49; John 20-11-23
32. He would ascend to Heaven, and prepare a place for His followers.
·
·
·
Prophecy in the Old Testament: Psalm 68:18; Proverbs 30:4; Isaiah 52:13
Prophecy in the New Testament: John 6:62; John 14:2-3; John 20:17
Fulfillment: Mark 16:19; Luke 24:51; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Timothy 3:16; Ephesians 4:8-10
33. He would send the Holy Spirit upon all believers.
·
·
·
Prophecy in the Old Testament: Proverbs 1:23; Isaiah 44:3; Joel 2:28-32
Prophecy in the New Testament: Luke 24:49; John 14:26; John 15:26; John 16:7-15;
John 20:21-23
Fulfillment: Acts 2:1-4, 16-21; Acts 10:44-48; 1 Corinthians 2:12-14
34. He would sit at the right hand of God, the Father, until the time comes for him to reign on
Earth.
·
·
·
·
Prophecy in the Old Testament: Psalm 110:1
Prophecy in the New Testament: Matthew 22:41-46; Mark 12:35-37; Luke 20:41-44
Proclamation by Christ during His trial: Matthew 26:64; Mark 14:62; Luke 22:69
Fulfillment: Acts 2:33-36; Acts 7:55-56; 1 Corinthians 15:23-26; Ephesians 1:20-23;
Philippians 2:9-11; Hebrews 1:3-5, 13; Hebrews 10:12-13
35. He is with us, until the end of time.
·
Prophecy in the New Testament: Matthew 28:20
Page 12 of 12