Jesus in the Old Testament

1. While visiting my parents in Illinois at the end of last year I watched Larry King.

2. Mr. King was interviewing some guests who claimed to be psychics.

3. These people claimed they could contact the dead and perform other feats.

4. Along with the psychics were two men who doubted their claims.

5. One of the skeptics asked this question:

6. “If you can really predict things, why not predict something productive?

7. Why not predict where the next roadside bomb in Iraq will be?

8. Why not predict the next major disaster and help save lives?

9. No good answer was given to these questions.

10. Our world is fascinated with the idea of predicting the future.

11. Many have laid claim to some type of predictive ability.

12. Some have heightened intuition and do get premonitions.

13. Psychics claim more than premonition; they set themselves up as predictors.

WHAT WE SEE IN THE WORLD OF PREDICTIONS IS COMPLETELY UNLIKE THE INFORMATION FOUND IN THE BIBLE. ON NUMEROUS SUBJECTS GOD OFFERED ADVANCE PREDICTIONS CONCERNING WHAT WOULD ONE DAY HAPPEN. HEAVEN’S PREDICTIONS (WHICH ARE REALLY STATEMENTS OF FACT) ARE CLEARLY STATED, FILLED WITH DETAILS, MADE FAR IN ADVANCE OF THE PROMISED EVENT(S), AND AMAZING IN EVERY WAY.

a) Our young people are studying for their final lesson “Jesus in Genesis.”

b) Jesus has a part in the Old Testament just as He has a part in the New Testament.

2) This study will look at several predictive passages involving Him.

3) For instance, there is Gen. 3:15, a passage already read.

a) After the fall of Adam and Eve, a lot of things happened.

b) God said there would be strife between people and the forces of evil.

c) This battle would go on for a long time, but it would one day reach a new height.

d) Satan would strike at a heel someday but someone else would crush the devil’s head.

4) We do not know how much of this prophecy Adam and Eve would have understood.

5) We do know what Gen. 3:15 means.

6) God sent forth His Son born of a woman (Gal. 4:4).

7) Satan bruised the Lord’s heal when Jesus was crucified.

8) In the end, Satan’s head was crushed (Jesus overcame death and was appointed ruler over all).

9) When Jesus came into the world He came through the natural process (a woman gave birth to Him).

10) Mary’s pregnancy, however, was unique. She was a virgin and this was a matter of prophecy (Isa. 7:14).

11) The prophecies in Gen. 3 and Isa. 7 are impressive, but they are not isolated predictions that came true.

12) After Adam and Eve someone else received information about the Son of God.

a) Abraham was told (Gen. 12:3) that somehow through his family line all the nations of the earth would be blessed.

b) That is a pretty big promise.

c) Imagine God saying to us, “every person on the planet will be blessed by your family.”

d) How could God possibly do such a thing?

e) In the case of Abraham, God did it through the Lord.

f) Mt. 1:1 says that Jesus was in Abraham’s family tree.

g) If we look at the family line of Abraham we find that the nation of Israel developed.

13) Within Israel there were 12 tribes..

14) God said the promised person in Gen. 3 and Gen. 12 would come from one of these 12 tribes.

15) Gen. 49:10 says the selected tribe would be Judah.

a) If this prediction were just based on man’s wisdom (guessing), the chance of it succeeding was slim.

b) From Gen. 49 to New Testament times, a lot of time passed and many events happened.

c) Israel had gone into captivity. Nations rose and fell.

d) How could there be certainty that all the tribes would still exist in the first century?

e) How could it be known which of the twelve tribes would be the one from which the Lord came?

16) This knowledge was available because God is all knowing and everlasting.

17) God said the promised one would come from Judah and this is exactly what happened.

a) As Jesus family history is listed, Lk. 3:33 says He came from Judah.

b) About 70 years after the Lord entered into the world, Jerusalem was destroyed.

c) With the destruction came the loss of Jewish records.

d) Jesus came shortly before all the tribal distinctions were lost.

e) It may not have been in the “nick of time,” but it was towards the final days.

18) When the one promised in Gen. 3 came, it was said He would be heir to David’s throne (Isa. 9:7).

19) The coming one (Christ) would have a kingdom.

20) Isaiah predicted this 700 years before the Lord actually came.

a) How did Isaiah know that Israel would still be intact at this time?

b) How can someone know who will be a king in 700 years? Systems of governments change.

c) Take the United States for an example.

d) In 30 years, who will be the next President? Will our system of government be the same.

e) If it is the same, will the next President be a male or a female? What will be the person’s background?

f) We can’t predict 30 years or even 10 years but the Bible predicted 700 years in advance.

21) How would we like to predict facts about the birth of a president 100 years from now?

22) We can’t do it, but the Bible says this is exactly what was done with the Lord.

23) Micah 5:2 says the one promised in Gen. 3 would be born in Bethlehem.

a) We would not venture to guess about the birth state for a future president let alone the city.

b) Micah gave the city (and it was not a likely choice), and he was dead right.

c) This prediction was not some obscure statement hidden away in secrecy.

d) It was part of the Old Testament scriptures – in plain view for all to see.

e) When people asked where the Messiah was to be born, people referred to this verse.

24) Even if we could guess the general birthplace for a leader years in advance, we could not guess the time.

25) Yet, this is precisely what we find in regard to the Lord.

26) Dan. 9:25 gives the time for the Messiah’s birth.

27) Matthew tells us about the slaughter of innocent children (Mt. 2:16-18).

28) In an attempt to find and destroy the Lord, other male babies were put to death.

29) This was a very sad event, but it actually fulfilled a prophecy (Jer. 31:15).

30) There are too many promises and fulfillments to write them all off to chance.

31) We could stop here and say we have offered enough proof to conclude some things:

a) First, Jesus is describes in the Old Testament.

b) The Old Testament issues predictive prophecies and these are repeatedly fulfilled in the life of Christ.

c) Predictive prophecy proves the inspiration and reliability of the Bible.

d) God and not men authored the Scriptures.

32) While we could end here, there is lots more to consider.

33) Jesus and His family had to make a flight into Egypt (Mt. 2:14-15).

34) Hosea (11:1) predicted this would happen.

35) Judg. 13:5 refers to special children being called “Nazarenes.”

36) Mt. 2:23 says Jesus was one of these people; this had been predicted by the prophets.

37) At the beginning of the Lord’s life and throughout His life, Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament.

38) At the end of His life, the fulfillment continued.

a) We know how Jesus made His “triumphal entry” on a donkey.

b) We have this information in Jn. 12:13-15.

c) This was no chance event – it fulfilled a prophecy in Zech. 9:9.

39) Jesus was betrayed for 30 silver pieces of silver.

40) Let’s just overlook that the Lord’s actual betrayal was predicted.

41) The “sell out” price for the Lord was 30 pieces of silver (Zech. 11:12).

a) The exact amount of money was foretold.

42) This price didn’t come from an enemy; the Old Testament said Jesus would be betrayed by a friend.

43) Ps. 41:9 makes this prediction and it happened just as the writers said (Mk. 14:10; Mt. 26:14-15).

44) Judas tried to return the money but Jews didn’t think it was right.

45) The betrayal money was used for a potter’s field (Mt. 27:6-7).

46) Guess what? The Old Testament said this would happen, Zech. 11:13.

47) Judas took his life so there was an open space if you will in the band of the twelve.

48) Ps. 109:7-8 actually refers to this.

a) How did the writer know that Jesus would have special friends?

b) How did the writer know that just one of the 12 would go bad?

c) How did the writer know that another would be appointed to take his place?

d) What the Old Testament predicted about filling this spot is fulfilled in the New Testament (Acts 1:18-20).

49) Strange things can happen to people as they live their lives.

50) An Old Testament writer said the one from Gen. 3 would be falsely accused (Ps. 27:12; 35:11).

51) The gospels say this is exactly what happened (Mt. 26:60-61; Mk. 14:57).

52) How could this information been predicted a thousand years prior? It is all just as the Bible foretold.

a) When people are accused they usually say something.

b) It was predicted that Jesus would be accused (Isa. 53:7) but He would stay silent.

c) That is a hard prediction to make.

d) Yet, we know it is true (Mt. 26:62-63; Mk. 15:4-5).

53) Jesus faced more than accusations.

a) People spit upon Him and struck Him (Mt. 26:67).

b) These acts were predicted in Isa. 50:6. How could these facts be known?

c) How can know what will happen to us at the end of our lives?

d) We cannot but God does.

54) Soldiers divided Jesus’ garments and gambled for His clothing (Mt. 27:35).

55) These activities were predicted in Ps. 22:18.

56) Jesus would be crucified (pierced through His hands and feet, Zech. 12:10; Ps. 22:16).

57) Matthew (27:35) and John (20:27) say these predictions were right on target.

a) How could Old Testament writers have know Jesus would be crucified between thieves?

b) Isaiah said this would be the case in Isa. 53:12.

c) We know this prophecy came true (Mk. 15:27-28).

58) While on the cross Jesus agonized in thirst (Jn. 19:28).

59) What John said was predicted in the Old Testament (Ps. 22:15).

60) How did a writer know that Jesus would be in a condition where He would be thirsty?

61) How did the writer (Ps. 69:21) know gall and vinegar would be given to Him (Mt. 27:34)?

62) How did they know no bones would be broken (Ps. 34:20; Jn. 19:32-36).

63) How was it known the Lord’s side would be pierced (Zech. 12:10; Jn. 19:34)?

64) How was it known Jesus would be buried with the rich (Isa. 53:9; Mt. 27:57-60)?

65) How was it known that Jesus would have followers and they would desert Him (Zech. 13; Mk. 14:27)?

66) Prophecy upon prophecy is made about Jesus and not one was wrong.

a) Jesus is all the Old Testament said He would be and a whole lot more.

b) Jesus was sent from heaven, He is the only way, and we can know these things for sure.

c) We can have complete faith, hope and trust in the Lord.

d) From Genesis to Revelation we have information about Jesus Christ.