“Surely the Sovereign Lord does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets.”
— Amos 3:7 (NIV)
Prophecies show us the divine plan orchestrated by God as we learned from reading John 14:29 in the previous installment. We also uncovered the connection between the Old Testament prophecies and their fulfillment during Jesus' First Coming.
Understanding God's Plan
“I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.’”
— Isaiah 46:10 (NIV)
Isaiah 14:24 and Isaiah 46:10 reveal God's clear plan from the beginning, showcasing His role as Creator. These verses emphasize that God's actions are purposeful and guided by intentional design, illustrating His sovereignty over all things. Throughout the Old Testament, God used prophets to communicate His plan to His chosen people. Their role was to reveal prophecies of events to build faith and conviction for their fulfillment. The fulfillment of these prophecies was meant to build faith in God.
The prophecies surrounding Jesus' First Coming are remarkable for their precision in aligning with the events of His life, death, and resurrection. This serves as a powerful confirmation of God's faithfulness and commitment to His promises. In this installment, we will highlight some of the pivotal Old Testament prophecies about the birth and beginning of Jesus’ ministry. We will cover Jesus' New Testament prophecies, death and resurrection in our final installment.
Let's explore some key Old Testament prophecies and their fulfillment during the time of Jesus' First Coming:
PROPHECY | OLD TESTAMENT PROPHECY | FULFILLMENT AT THE TIME OF JESUS’ FIRST COMING |
The Messiah would be born of a virgin. | Isaiah 7:14 (NIV) Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. | Matthew 1:18 (NIV) This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. |
The Messiah would go to Egypt. | Hosea 11:1 (NIV) When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son. | Matthew 2:13-15 (NIV) When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.” So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called my son |
Ministry in Galilee | Isaiah 9:1-2 (NIV) Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the nations, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan— The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned. | Matthew 4:13-16 (NIV) Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali— to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah: “Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.” |
The Messiah born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14)
The prophecy in Isaiah 7:14 foretells the extraordinary birth of the Messiah through a virgin. This finds fulfillment in Matthew 1:18, where the Gospel recounts the miraculous circumstances surrounding Jesus' birth. The gospel emphasizes that Mary, Jesus' mother, conceived through the Holy Spirit, underscoring the divine nature of the Messiah's arrival and aligning perfectly with the Old Testament prophecy.
The Messiah going to Egypt (Hosea 11:1)
Hosea 11:1 prophecies about the Messiah's journey to Egypt as a significant aspect of God's plan. The fulfillment of this prophecy is found in Matthew 2:13-15. In this account, Joseph, Mary, and the infant Jesus flee to Egypt to escape King Herod's threat. The narrative not only fulfills Hosea's prophecy but also illustrates the divine protection and guidance that envelops Jesus’ life during these events, showcasing the intricate connection between prophecy and fulfillment.
Ministry in Galilee (Isaiah 9:1-2)
Isaiah 9:1-2 prophesies the Messiah's ministry in Galilee, portraying it as a time when a great light would dawn on those in darkness. This prophecy finds its realization in Matthew 4:13-16, where Jesus begins his ministry in the region of Galilee. The Gospel describes how Jesus' presence brings illumination and hope to the people living in the land of deep darkness, aligning precisely with Isaiah's prophecy. The fulfillment of this prophecy in Galilee emphasizes the power of Jesus' ministry and the fulfillment of God’s promises to His people.
In the final installment of our series on prophecy and fulfillment, we will cover the gospel of heaven and how Jesus bought a new covenant for mankind with his own blood. We will see how Jesus prophesied about his second coming and what signs will appear at that time.
Comments