Archive for the ‘Prophesies concerning Christ Jesus’ Category
Prophesies concerning Christ Jesus
At this time of year some people turn their thoughts to the reason for the season Christ Jesus. What evidence is there that Christ Jesus is who He and the Bible claim Him to be? Well for a start there are the many prophecies concerning Jesus.
Jesus had prophecies written about Him hundreds of years before He was born. The Old Testament has many verses foretelling of His coming which proved to be accurate. Two concerning His birth are as follows.
Jesus Christ would be born of a virgin and called Immanuel.
Isaiah was a prophet who wrote approximately 750 years before Christ’s arrival.
Isaiah chapter 7 verse14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.
Some 800 years later Matthew’s gospel tells us that this prediction had come to fruition:-
Matthew chapter 1 verse18 to chapter2 verse1 This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfil what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” –which means, “God with us.” When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus. After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem
On first reading there appears to be a discrepancy Isaiah said the child would be called Immanuel and in the book of Matthew, Joseph is told by the angel to name Him Jesus. There is a difference however; a person can be called or known by many names as Isaiah chapter 9 verse 6 says “His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Although these are not the names given to the Christ child by his parents they were still attributed to Him. The angel told Joseph to name Him Jesus but Jesus was also called many other names in the Bible. Immanuel means God with us a title or description of Him rather than a birth name.
Jesus Christ would be born in Bethlehem.
The prophet Micah wrote some 700 years before Jesus’ birth where the birth would take place:-
Micah chapter 5 verse 2 “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.”
Micah deliberately named the town Bethlehem Ephrathah to distinguish it as the town found in Judea; because there was also a town called Bethlehem in Northern Israel. Bethlehem Ephrathah was also the place where David was anointed king by Samuel. Once again Matthew tells us that this is indeed what happened.
Matthew chapter 2 verse 1. After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem.
The Gospel of Luke also confirms it.
Luke chapter 2 verses 4 to 7. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
Bible verses taken from the New International Version (NIV)