|
|
 |
|
|
|
The first recorded prophecy regarding the Messiah can be found in the very first book of the Bible - Genesis 3:15. It says that God would put enmity between Satan's seed and a women's seed. But basic biology shows us that women don't have seeds, they have eggs that need to be fertilized by the seeds of men. So what does this verse mean? The Messiah would be born from a woman who's egg was not fertilized by a man, hence a women's seed; the Messiah would be born of a virgin.
It is particularly interesting that God revealed this prophecy so soon after man's fall from grace. He spoke those words immediately following Adam and Eve's decision to rebel against Him, thus allowing sin to enter into the world. It is obvious that God had this plan for salvation in place even before the creation and even before man chose to allow sin to enter into the world. And so we were promised a redeemer from sin at the very start of our sinful nature.
There are other verses that prophesied about the Messiah's miraculous virgin birth, as well as prophecies regarding the name that He would be given, and the very town that He would be born in.
Prophecies
-Fulfillment -
The angel answered, 'The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.'" (Luke 1:34-35)
All this took place to fulfill 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.'" (Matthew 1:21-23)
Prophecy
- "How long will you wander, O unfaithful daughter? The LORD will create a new thing on earth--a woman will surround a man." (Jeremiah 31:22)Fulfillment - "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.'" (Matthew 1:18-20)
Prophecy
- "Listen to me, you islands; hear this, you distant nations: Before I was born the LORD called me; from my birth he has made mention of my name." (Isaiah 49:1)Fulfillment - "But the angel said to her, 'Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus.'" (Luke 1:30-31)
Prophecy
- "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 5:2)Fulfillment - "After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, 'Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.'" (Matthew 2:1-2)
Prophecy
- "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:6)Fulfillment - "Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord." (Luke 2:11)
�
It is amazing that the Messiah's birth could be predicted so precisely, and it's even more amazing that Jesus' birth fulfilled all of these prophecies. But the Bible made even more predictions concerning the Messiah, and even made mention of the His childhood. Click 'Next' to see these prophecies.
|
|
|
|
|
Email your questions, comments or suggestions to me at [email protected]
Copyright � 2000 R. Mark Williams - All Rights Reserved.