Post by John on Jun 13, 2023 15:19:25 GMT -5
The Old Testament contains many prophesies that speak about the coming of Jesus Christ. These prophesies were written hundreds of years before Jesus was born, and they provide a clear picture of the Messiah that God had promised to send to save His people.
In this essay, we will explore some of the most significant prophesies in the Old Testament that speak about Jesus, as recorded in the King James Bible.
1. The Seed of The Woman (Genesis 3:15)
The first Messianic prophecy in the Bible is found in Genesis 3:15, where God speaks to the serpent after Adam and Eve's fall into sin. God says, "And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel."
This prophecy speaks about a future offspring of the woman who will defeat the serpent, who represents Satan. This prophecy is fulfilled in Jesus, who was born of a woman, Mary, and defeated Satan through his death and resurrection.
2. The Seed of Abraham (Genesis 12:1-3)
God called Abraham to leave his home and go to a land that He would show him. God promised to make Abraham a great nation and bless all the families of the earth through him. This promise was fulfilled in Jesus, who was a descendant of Abraham and through whom all nations are blessed.
3. The Scepter of Judah (Genesis 49:10)
In Jacob's blessing of his sons, he prophesies about Judah, saying, "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."
This prophecy speaks about a ruler who will come from the tribe of Judah and will bring the people together. This prophecy is fulfilled in Jesus, who is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords and who brings all people together through His death and resurrection.
4. The Star and Scepter Of Israel (Numbers 24:17)
Balaam, a pagan prophet, was hired by King Balak of Moab to curse the Israelites. However, God spoke through Balaam and gave him a prophecy about the future of Israel, saying, "I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel."
This prophecy speaks about a future ruler who will come from Israel and who will like a star, shining in the darkness. This prophecy is fulfilled in Jesus, who is the light of the world and who came from the nation of Israel.
5. The Virgin Birth (Isaiah 7:14)
In Isaiah 7:14, the prophet speaks about a sign that God will give to King Ahaz, saying, "Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel."
This prophecy speaks about the virgin birth of Jesus, who was born of Mary, a virgin, and was called Immanuel, which means "God with us."
6. The Suffering Servant (Isaiah 53)
Isaiah 53 is one of the most significant Messianic prophecies in the Old Testament. This chapter speaks about a servant who will suffer and die for the sins of His people. Some of the key verses in this chapter include:
"Surely he hath borne our griefs and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed." Isaiah 53:4-5.
"He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. (Isaiah 53:7)
"He was taken from prison from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken." (Isaiah 53:8)
This prophecy speaks about the suffering and death of Jesus, who bore the sins of His people and was crucified for them. This chapter also speaks about His resurrection and the salvation that He brings to those who believe in Him.
7. The Branch of Jesse (Isaiah 11:1-10)
Isaiah 11:1-10 speaks about a shoot that will come from the stump of Jesse, who was the father of King David. The shoot will be filled with the Spirit of the Lord and will bring justice and righteousness to the earth. Some of the key verses in this chapter include:
"And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots: And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord." (Isaiah 11:1-2)
"And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins." (Isaiah 11:5)
"And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious." (Isaiah 11:10)
This prophecy speaks about Jesus, who is a descendant of Jesse and David and who is filled with the Holy Spirit. He brings righteousness and justice to the earth and is a beacon of hope for all people, including the Gentiles.
8. The New Contenant (Jeremiah 31:31-34)
Jeremiah 31:31-34 speaks about a new covenant that God will make with His people. This covenant will not be like the old covenant that was written on tablets of stone but will be written on the hearts of His people. Some of the key verses in this chapter include:
"Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the Lord: But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people." (Jeremiah 31:31-33)
"For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more." (Jeremiah 31:34)
This prophecy speaks about the new covenant that Jesus establishes through His death and resurrection. This covenant is not based on the law but on faith in Him, and it provides forgiveness of sins and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in the hearts of believers.
9. The Coming of Elijah (Malachi 4:5-6)
Malachi 4:5-6 speaks about the coming of Elijah before the great and terrible day of the Lord. This prophecy is fulfilled in John the Baptist, who comes in the spirit and power of Elijah and prepares the way for Jesus.
"Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse." (Malachi 4:5-6)
Conclusion:
The Old Testament contains many prophesies that speak about the coming of Jesus Christ. These prophesies were written hundreds of years before Jesus was born, and they provide a clear picture of the Messiah that God had promised to send to save His people.
The prophesies that we have explored in this essay include the seed of the woman, the seed of Abraham, the scepter of Judah, the star and scepter of Israel, the virgin birth, the suffering servant, the branch of Jesse, the new covenant, and the coming of Elijah. These prophesies all point to Jesus and provide evidence of His divine nature and purpose.
As Christians, we can take comfort in the fact that God's Word is true and reliable. We can have faith in Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, knowing that He is the fulfillment of the prophesies in the Old Testament and the hope of eternal life for all who believe in Him.