Jesus And The Messianic Prophecy Argument

Does Jesus Fit Into the Old Testament Propehecies?

 

Jesus claimed to be the messiah and God of the Hebrew faith, which was localized in Israel. For Jesus’ claim to be true he has to meet the requirements of the old testament as the messiah. If Jesus did accomplish these requirements that serves as evidence for Jesus being who he said he was. 

 

What are these requirements?

 

Born of a woman: Everyone fits this requirement including Jesus.

 

 Male: This eliminates half of the world. If you are female you could not be the messiah. Jesus was a male, making him eligible.

 

Descendent of David: The Messiah has to be a descendent of David. Jesus was a descendent of David, he remains as the possible messiah

 

Miracle worker: The Messiah was able to work miracles, very few humans have been claimed to have this power. Jesus claimed, his disciples claimed, and people opposed to Jesus claimed Jesus was able to do miraculous works. Jesus still remains a candidate.

 

 Appeared at the right time: The prophecies say the messiah would appear in a relatively  tight time frame between the jewish temple being restored by decree and destroyed once again. Jesus fits in this time period making him eligible to be the Messiah. 

 

Uniquely executed and buried: The messiah was to be scourged, pierced, executed  without broken bones, and buried in a wealthy man’s tomb. Only a few possible people this description including Jesus, he could still be the messiah.

 

 Resurrected from the grave: The messiah was to be resurrected from the grave. Only Jesus meets this requirement including all of the other requirements at the same time. He is the only possible candidate to have risen from the grave the way the prophecies say he would. Jesus is the messiah in the old testament prophecies.

 

Since Jesus fulfilled the requirements of the prophecies of the old testament to be the messiah and no one else has since, we can conclude this must be evidence for him being who he says he is. 

 

Source: J Warner Wallace