Who Was Jesus?




The Biblical prophets disclosed many of the attributes that the Messiah would exhibit. There are numerous prophecies that speak specifically about the qualities the Messiah would possess, and the names that He would be referred to by. In faithfulness I have included the majority of them here. You may want to print this page for later study as it is quite lengthy, but it is important to realize the sheer magnitude of prophecies that were fulfilled in one person - Jesus.

If you would like to click here, you can skip to the bottom of the page where I will summarize what these prophecies state about our Savior.

Prophecy - "The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own brothers. You must listen to him. For this is what you asked of the LORD your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly when you said, 'Let us not hear the voice of the LORD our God nor see this great fire anymore, or we will die.'

The LORD said to me: 'What they say is good. I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers; I will put my words in his mouth, and he will tell them everything I command him. If anyone does not listen to my words that the prophet speaks in my name, I myself will call him to account.'" (Deuteronomy 18:15-19)

Fulfillment -

Prophecy - "The LORD has sworn and will not change his mind: 'You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.'" (Psalms 110:4)

Fulfillment - "Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath. God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged. We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek." (Hebrews 6:17-20)

Prophecy - "Tell him this is what the LORD Almighty says: 'Here is the man whose name is the Branch, and he will branch out from his place and build the temple of the LORD. It is he who will build the temple of the LORD, and he will be clothed with majesty and will sit and rule on his throne. And he will be a priest on his throne. And there will be harmony between the two.'" (Zechariah 6:12-13)

Fulfillment - "The point of what we are saying is this: We do have such a high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven," (Hebrews 8:1)

Prophecy - "I have installed my King on Zion, my holy hill." (Psalms 2:6)

Fulfillment - "The next day the great crowd that had come for the Feast heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, 'Hosanna!'
'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!'
'Blessed is the King of Israel!'" (John 12:12-13)

Prophecy - "See, I have made him a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander of the peoples." (Isaiah 55:4)

Fulfillment - "'You are a king, then!' said Pilate.

Jesus answered, 'You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.'" (John 18:37)

Prophecy - "He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young." (Isaiah 40:11)

Fulfillment - "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep" (John 10:11)

Prophecies -

Fulfillment -

Prophecy - "You are the most excellent of men and your lips have been anointed with grace, since God has blessed you forever." (Psalms 45:2)

Fulfillment - "All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his lips. 'Isn't this Joseph's son?' they asked." (Luke 4:22)

Prophecy - "He made my mouth like a sharpened sword, in the shadow of his hand he hid me; he made me into a polished arrow and concealed me in his quiver." (Isaiah 49:2)

Fulfillment -

Prophecy - "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 Gentiles, by the way of the sea, along the Jordan. The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned." (Isaiah 9:1-2)

Fulfillment - "When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he returned to Galilee. 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 to the sea, along 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.' From that time on Jesus began to preach, 'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.'" (Matthew 4:12-17)

Prophecies -

Fulfillment -

Prophecy - "He who vindicates me is near. Who then will bring charges against me? Let us face each other! Who is my accuser? Let him confront me! It is the Sovereign LORD who helps me. Who is he that will condemn me? They will all wear out like a garment; the moths will eat them up. Who among you fears the LORD and obeys the word of his servant? Let him who walks in the dark, who has no light, trust in the name of the LORD and rely on his God." (Isaiah 50:8-10)

Fulfillment - "Then he said to his disciples, 'Let us go back to Judea.'

'But Rabbi,' they said, 'a short while ago the Jews tried to stone you, and yet you are going back there?'

Jesus answered, 'Are there not twelve hours of daylight? A man who walks by day will not stumble, for he sees by this world's light. It is when he walks by night that he stumbles, for he has no light.'" (John 11:7-10)

Prophecies -

Fulfillment -

Prophecy - "but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked." (Isaiah 11:4)

Fulfillment - "Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny.

Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, 'I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything--all she had to live on.'" (Mark 12:41-44)

Prophecy - "A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice;" (Isaiah 42:3)

Fulfillment - "Jesus replied, 'Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor.'" (Matthew 11:4-5)

Prophecy - "He will not shout or cry out, or raise his voice in the streets. A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice; he will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on earth. In his law the islands will put their hope." (Isaiah 42:2-4)

Fulfillment - "Aware of this, Jesus withdrew from that place. Many followed him, and he healed all their sick, warning them not to tell who he was. This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: 'Here is my servant whom I have chosen, the one I love, in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations. He will not quarrel or cry out; no one will hear his voice in the streets. A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out, till he leads justice to victory. In his name the nations will put their hope.'" (Matthew 12:15-21)

Prophecy - "He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him." (Isaiah 53:2)

Fulfillment - "but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross!" (Philippians 2:7-8)

Prophecies -

Fulfillment -

Prophecy - "The Spirit of the LORD spoke through me; his word was on my tongue. The God of Israel spoke, the Rock of Israel said to me: 'When one rules over men in righteousness, when he rules in the fear of God, he is like the light of morning at sunrise on a cloudless morning, like the brightness after rain that brings the grass from the earth.'" (2nd Samuel 23:2-4)

Fulfillment -

Prophecy - "Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but my ears you have pierced; burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not require. Then I said, 'Here I am, I have come-- it is written about me in the scroll. I desire to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.'" (Psalms 40:6-8)

Fulfillment - "He said to them, 'This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.'" (Luke 24:44)

Prophecy - "When you ascended on high, you led captives in your train; you received gifts for men, even for the rebellious-- that you, O LORD God, might dwell there." (Psalms 68:18)

Fulfillment - "He called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness." (Matthew 10:1)

Prophecy - "I will place on his shoulder the key to the house of David; what he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open." (Isaiah 22:22)

Fulfillment - "To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open." (Revelation 3:7)

Prophecy - "The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, until he comes to whom it belongs and the obedience of the nations is his." (Genesis 49:10)

Fulfillment - "Then Nathanael declared, 'Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.'" (John 1:49)

Prophecy - "I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel. He will crush the foreheads of Moab, the skulls of all the sons of Sheth." (Numbers 24:17)

Fulfillment - "Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross. It read: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS." (John 19:19)

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 -

Prophecy - "Rejoice, O nations, with his people, for he will avenge the blood of his servants; he will take vengeance on his enemies and make atonement for his land and people." (Deuteronomy 32:43)

Fulfillment - "Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.'" (Luke 2:13-14)

Prophecy - "and he will delight in the fear of the LORD. He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears;" (Isaiah 11:3)

Fulfillment -

Through these prophecies we have discovered that the Messiah would be:
  • A Prophet
  • A Priest in the order of Melchiseedec
  • A King
  • The subject of angel's worship
  • A witness
  • A shepherd
  • Righteous
  • Humble
  • The cornerstone
  • The "Rock"
  • As the "Light of the morning"

He would also:

  • Speak in parables
  • Speak with a message of grace
  • Speak with words as sharp as a sword
  • Speak with authority from God
  • Minister in Galilee
  • Have the full Spirit of God upon Him
  • Have the Spirit of Wisdom
  • Have the Spirit of Understanding
  • Have the Spirit of Counsel
  • Have the Spirit of Might
  • Have the Knowledge of God
  • Have the Fear of God
  • Place His trust in God
  • Judge the poor with righteousness
  • Have compassion for the needy
  • Be responsible for the judgement of mankind
  • Not draw attention to himself
  • Have the appearance of an ordinary man
  • Say that the scriptures were written about Him
  • Give gifts to men
  • Have the key of David

He would also be called:

  • Wonderful Counselor
  • Prince of Peace
  • Just
  • Righteous

Jesus obviously fulfilled all of these prophecies. He was everything in this list and much, much more. But even beyond all of the Messiah's attributes more was foretold. The prophets also made many references to the actual events that would occur during the Messiah's ministry. Click 'Next' to see these prophecies.

Who Was Jesus?
The Messiah's Forerunner
The Events During the Messiah's Ministry
The 5 Steps to Salvation
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