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| The Birth of Jesus and Old Testament Prophecy fulfilled |
The previous article looked at the birth of Jesus foretold in Prophecy in the Old Testament in the Bible many hundreds if not thousands of years before the birth of the Messiah. This article will focus on the fulfillment of those Old Testament prophecies in the New Testament in relation to his birth and see how close those prophecies were.
Many prophecies from the Prophets in the Old Testament not only predicted the birth of the Messiah, but also many other prophecies appeared which foretold what he would be like, who we actually was, what he would do, the purpose of his life, his ministry, his death or crucifixion and finally his resurrection. This article focuses on the birth aspect and not his life afterwards which would require a number of articles, to do it justification. One article out their on the web shows over 300 prophecies relating to Jesus, his birth, life and death and Resurrection.
The Birth of Jesus Story according to Matthew and Luke Video
God worked through the Prophets to reveal repeatedly that something never seen before was on it´s way in the future and the accuracy with which these prophecies foretold not only the arrival of the Messiah BUT how he would arrive, prove that God was working through these people quite strongly throughout the history of the Bible.
There are many Bible prophecies concerning the birth of Jesus, but the six main ones are listed below which show how the Old Testament prophecy and how it was fulfilled in the New Testament pretty much word for word.
The six main Bible prophecies that relate to the birth of Jesus.
1. Jesus would be Born in Bethlehem.
The Old Testament foretells of the messiah being born in Bethlehem.
Old Testament Prophecy
Micah 5:2 But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.
The story of Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem is told in the New Testament books of Mathew and Luke
Matthew 2:1. Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,
Matthew 2:6. And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.
2. Jesus would be Born of a virgin.
Old Testament Prophecy
Isaiah 7:14 "Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” The New Testament book of Matthew repeats this prophecy in a passage detailing Joseph’s encounter with an angel of the Lord, who tells Joseph that Mary’s child was conceived by the Holy Spirit and will save his people from their sins.
Prophecy confirmed in the New Testament
Matthew 1:23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
Luke 1:27. To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.
3. The Messiah would be a descendant of Abraham
Old Testament Prophecy
Genesis 22:18: "And through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed."
The genealogy of Jesus is told in the book of Matthew, which refers to him as “the son of David, the son of Abraham.”
New Testament Fulfillment
Matthew 1:1
The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
4. The Messiah would be a descendant of Jacob.
The genealogy of Jesus laid out in the book of Matthew details Jesus lineage through Isaac and Jacob with Matthew 1:16 giving the last lineage
Matthew 1:16 And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ
Old Testament Prophecy
Numbers: 24:17 says: "A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel."
New Testament Fulfillment
Matthew 1:2
Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren
5. The Messiah would be called out of Egypt.
Most Christians believe the Old Testament foretells Jesus being called out of Egypt in Hosea 11
Old Testament Prophecy
Hosea 11:1: When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt.
The New Testament Fulfillment
Matthew 2:13-15 is believed to explain this prophecy: "An angel of the Lord appears to Joseph in a dream.
13. And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.
14. When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt:
15. And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.
6. The Messiah would be Born among sorrow
There are many parallels with the Birth of Jesus and the Prophecy of Jeremiah mentioned in Jeremiah 31:15. He would be born amongst sorrow and would live his life being despised and rejected by men. A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.
Old Testament Prophecy
Jeremiah 31:15:
Thus saith the LORD; A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, and bitter weeping; Rahel weeping for her children refused to be comforted for her children, because they were not.
This prophecy is repeated in the book of Matthew, which says that King Herod sought to kill Jesus.
The New Testament Fulfillment
Mathew 2:16
Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men.
Other Prophecies Fulfilled
There are many other prophecies in the Old Testament that refer to his bloodline, who he would be and what he would say, the essential bloodline of David and The House of Judah, what his name would be and "The cornerstone"
The Seed of Judah.The Seed of Jacob
He is the physical descendent of David through his mother. He is the adopted son of David through his father, by an adoption consistent with the Christian message of our adopted sonship, and he also fulfilled the prophecy to be born of a virgin. David was of the House of Judah
Old Testament Prophecy
Genesis 49:10
The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.
New Testament Fulfillment
Luke 2:4-7
4. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)
5. To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
6. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
7. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
Galatians 4:4
But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
Sent by the Father to speak His word
Old Testament Prophecy: stated Jesus would speak directly God´s word to everybody that he was told to which was fulfilled in The New Testament.
Old Testament Prophecy
Deuteronomy 18:18
I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.
New Testament Fulfillment
John 8:28-29
28. Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.
29. And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.
Davids Seed, Son of David
Referring to the fact that Jesus would be of the lineage of David not as in a direct son. The prophecy and fulfillment would be the genealogical proof that Jesus, in His humanity, was a direct descendant of Abraham and David through Joseph, Jesus’ legal father although not biological.
Old Testament Prophecy
2 Sam. 7:12
12. And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom.
1 Chr. 17:11
And it shall come to pass, when thy days be expired that thou must go to be with thy fathers, that I will raise up thy seed after thee, which shall be of thy sons; and I will establish his kingdom.
New Testament Fulfillment
Matthew 1:1,
The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
Matthew 22:42-43
42. Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The son of David.
43. He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying,
Matthew 9:27
27. And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed him, crying, and saying, Thou son of David, have mercy on us.
Will be Born The Saviour
The birth of Jesus was prophesied to be the redeemer of sin and saver of souls hence the term "Saviour" which means somebody that can achieve salvation.
Old Testament Prophecy
Psa. 22:9-10
9. But thou art he that took me out of the womb: thou didst make me hope when I was upon my mother's breasts.
10. I was cast upon thee from the womb: thou art my God from my mother's belly.
New Testament Fulfillment
Luke 2:7
And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
Emmanuel to be higher than earthly kings
The Old Testament Prophecy stated that he was God´s firs born who would be held in higher esteem than the kings of the earth at the time. This was confirmed in the New Testament
Old Testament Prophecy
Psa. 89:27
Also I will make him my firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth.
New Testament Fulfilment
Luke 1:32, 33
32. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:
33. And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
A Servant from the womb.
This refers to the human nature of Christ formed in the womb of the Virgin by the Holy Ghost
Old Testament Prophecy
Isa. 49:5
And now, saith the LORD that formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob again to him, Though Israel be not gathered, yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the LORD, and my God shall be my strength.
New Testament Fulfilment
Luke 1:31
And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.
Philippians 2:7
But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
The Messiah would be the Cornerstone
The Cornerstone in ancient building practices was the strongest and largest and most solid part of the building and the reference to the cornerstone in connection with Jesus in prophecy is he would be the cornerstone of the church, the body of believers that would be known as Christians
Old Testament Prophecy
Zech. 10:4
Out of him came forth the corner, out of him the nail, out of him the battle bow, out of him every oppressor together.
New Testament Fulfilment
Ephesians 2:20
And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
Summary
The Birth of Jesus wasn´t something that just happened as a spur of the moment event in the New Testament, this was something that was foretold and planned hundreds if not thousands of years ago going right back to the times of the Book of Genesis and Abraham. Many of the prophecies, not only were they fulfilled to the last detail, but some of the prophecies are so specific and difficult to recreate by mankind such as the virgin birth, it really illustrates, very clearly, that maybe the whole Bible was geared up to the birth of Gods only son and the salvation of mankind.
God working through various Prophets producing what were precise predictions made by the all-knowing all-seeing God of the Bible who repeatedly demonstrated that He has perfect knowledge of all past, present, and future events. All producing the miracle event that was the birth of Jesus, the Messiah.
This is a considerably condensed and simplified version on the vast topic of the Birth of Jesus and Prophecy fulfillment. There are huge debates on the blood lineage comparing what Luke states and what Matthew describes and the Jews and the Jewish faith have a completely different idea again on the blood line of Jesus and the The House of Judah according to their faith.
Further reading on the family tree of Jesus at Bible Study
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