MESSIANIC PROPHECY

Messianic prophecies can be very compelling for those who are truly seeking. Swiss-French theologian, Rene Pache (1904-1979), had argued that they are so compelling that those who reject them are without excuse (Romans 1:20):

·       It is impossible for every sincere soul not to see there an extraordinary proof of the divine inspiration of the holy Scripture. (The Return of Jesus Christ, 24)

To illustrate his point, Pache provided a small list of those prophecies that Jesus had literally fulfilled:

·       Jesus was born of a virgin (Isa. 7:14; Matt. 1:22, 23).

·       In a family of David (Isa. 11:1; Luke 1:32).

·       At Bethlehem (Micah 5:1; Matt 2:4-6).

·       On this occasion, little children were massacred (Jer. 31:15; Matt. 2:16-18).

·       The Child Jesus was carried away into Egypt, from which He was brought back later (Hos. 11:1; Matt. 2:15).

·       He grew up in Galilee (Isa. 8:23; 9:1; Matt. 2:22, 23).

·       He was anointed of the Spirit (Isa. 11:2; Luke 4:17-21).

·       He took upon Him our maladies and our infirmities (Isa. 53:3; Matt 8:16, 17).

·       He made His entry into Jerusalem seated on an ass (Zech. 9:9; Matt. 21:4, 5).

·       He was betrayed by one of His intimate friends (Psalm 41:10; John 13:18).

·       His disciples abandoned Him (Zech. 13:7; Matt. 26:31).

·       He was sold for 30 pieces of silver which served to buy the Potter’s field (Zech. 11:12, 13; Matt. 26:15; 27:7, 10).

·       He was delivered to spitting and buffeting (Isa. 50:6; Matt. 27:30).

·       He was offered gall and vinegar to drink (Psalm 69: 22; Matt. 27:34, 48).

·       Not one of His bones were broken (Exod. 12:46; John 19: 33, 36)

·       His feet and hands were pierced (Psalm 22:17; John 20:25).

·       His garments were divided and drawn by lot (Psalm 22:19; John 19:23, 24)

·       He was put to death among malefactors, and He had His tomb with the rich men (Isa 53:9; Matt. 27:38, 57-60). (23-24)

Even with this impressive list, there were many prophecies that Pache didn’t list for one reason or another. Here are just a few from the Book of Genesis:

·       He is the promised seed of the woman who would destroy the source of evil (Gen. 3:15).

·       He is the seed of Abraham through whom the whole world would be blessed (Gen. 12:1-3).

·       He would come from the tribe of David (Gen. 49:50).

However impressive these explicit messianic prophecies might be, I find myself more drawn to the implicit ones. Actually, there are cryptic portraits of the Messiah contained in such accounts as Jacob wrestling with the Angel, who turns out to be God (Gen. 32), or the mysterious portrait of God being struck down by Moses because of the sins of Israel (Exodus 17).

With either type of prophecy you might prefer, both illustrate the fact that the Bible is about the Messiah. In the Old Testament, Israel looked forward to His coming; in the New, we look in both directions – back to what He has done for us and ahead to His return.