WHY YOU CAN TRUST THE BIBLE

Bible scholar Dr. D. James Kennedy says in his book “Why I Believe In Christ” that “there are 333 prophecies in the Old Testament that deal with the promised Messiah, and of those 333 texts, 456 specific details of His life and coming…”. Only two prophecies fulfilled would be amazing. That would be like saying two thousand years ago, that Ronald Reagan would be president of a place called “United States” in the year 1980. And that the Chicago Cubs would win the World Series in 2016. See why the prophecies concerning Jesus are so incredible and faith-building?!

Let’s continue our study with more prophecies fulfilled by Christ’s first coming. The first two parts covered 17 prophecies. We begin with number 18.

18. The Messiah would be SILENT TO HIS ACCUSERS

The Prophecy—Isaiah 53:7

“He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth.”

That’s What Happened —Mark 15:4, 5

“Then Pilate asked Him again, saying, “Do You answer nothing? See how many things they testify against You!”  But Jesus still answered nothing, so that Pilate marveled.”
 

19. He Would be SPAT UPON AND BEATEN

The Prophecy—Isaiah 50:6

“I gave My back to those who struck Me, and My cheeks to those who plucked out the beard;
I did not hide My face from shame and spitting.”

It Was Fulfilled—Matthew 26:67

“Then they spat in His face and beat Him; and others struck Him with the palms of their hands.”

20. Jesus Would be HATED WITHOUT A CAUSE

The Prophecy—Psalms 35:19

“Let them not rejoice over me who are wrongfully my enemies; nor let them wink with the eye who hate me without a cause.”

And So He Was—John 15:24,25

“If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would have no sin; but now they have seen and also hated both Me and My Father. ²⁵ But this happened that the word might be fulfilled which is written in their law, ‘They hated Me without a cause.”

21. Christ would be THE ONLY ACCEPTABLE SACRIFICE for sins

The Prophecy—Isaiah 53:5

“But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.”

What A Savior! —Romans 5:6, 8

“For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly… But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

22. He Would be CRUCIFIED WITH SINFUL MEN

The Prophecy—Isaiah 53:12

“Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great, and He shall divide the spoil with the strong, because He poured out His soul unto death, and He was numbered with the transgressors, and He bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.”

It Was Fulfilled—Mark 15:27,28

“With Him they also crucified two robbers, one on His right and the other on His left.  So the Scripture was fulfilled which says, and He was numbered with the transgressors.”

23. His Hands and feet would be PIERCED

The Prophecy—Zechariah 12:10

“And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn.

It Happened—John 20:27    

“Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.””

24. The Savior would be SCORNED AND MOCKED

The Prophecy—Psalms 22:7,8

“All those who see Me ridicule Me; They shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying, “He trusted in the Lord, let Him rescue Him; Let Him deliver Him, since He delights in Him!”

And He Was—Luke 23:35

And the people stood looking on. But even the rulers with them sneered, saying, “He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is the Christ, the chosen of God.”

25. Christ would PRAY FOR—not curse— HIS ENEMIES

The Prophecy—Psalms 109:4

“In return for my love they are my accusers, but I give myself to prayer.”

Hallelujah, What A Savior—Luke 23:34

“Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” And they divided His garments and cast lots.”

CONCLUDED NEXT LESSON

"Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ" (I Corinthians 11:1)
The ST. PAUL SCHOOL, with Frank Eiklor, Eileen Young and Cecilia Contreras