Article By Mary Fairchild / Christianity Expert General Biblical Studies

The books of the Old Testament contain many passages about the Messiah—all prophecies Jesus Christ fulfilled. For instance, the crucifixion of Jesus was foretold in Psalm 22:16-18 approximately 1,000 years before Christ was born, long before this method of execution was even practiced.

 
After Christ's resurrection, preachers of the New Testament church began to declare officially that Jesus was the Messiah by divine appointment:

 
"Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified." (Acts 2:36, ESV)
 
Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 1:1-4, ESV)
 
A Statistical Improbability
Some Bible scholars suggest there are more than 300 Old Testament prophetic Scriptures completed in the life of Jesus Christ. Circumstances such as his birthplace, lineage, and method of execution were beyond Christ's control and could not have been accidentally or deliberately fulfilled.

 
In the book Science Speaks, Peter Stoner and Robert Newman discuss the statistical improbability of one man, whether accidentally or deliberately, fulfilling just eight of the prophecies Jesus fulfilled. The chance of this happening, they say, is 1 in 1017 power. Stoner presents a scenario that illustrates the magnitude of such odds:

 
Suppose that we take 1017 silver dollars and lay them on the face of Texas. They will cover all of the state two feet deep. Now mark one of these silver dollars and stir the whole mass thoroughly, all over the state. Blindfold a man and tell him that he can travel as far as he wishes, but he must pick up one silver dollar and say that this is the right one. What chance would he have of getting the right one? Just the same chance that the prophets would have had of writing these eight prophecies and having them all come true in any one man, from their day to the present time, providing they wrote using their own wisdom.
 
The mathematical improbability of 300, or 47, or even just eight fulfilled prophesies of Jesus stands as evidence to his messiahship.

 
Prophecies of Jesus

Although this list is not exhaustive, you'll find 47 messianic predictions clearly fulfilled in Jesus Christ, along with supporting references from the Old Testament and New Testament fulfillment.

 47 Old Testament Verses About Jesus as Messiah

     Prophecies of Jesus Old Testament Scripture New Testament Fulfillment

1 Messiah would be born of a woman. Genesis 3:15 Matthew 1:20 Galatians 4:4

2 Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. Micah 5:2 Matthew 2:1 Luke 2:4-6

3 Messiah would be born of a virgin. Isaiah 7:14 Matthew 1:22-23 Luke 1:26-31

4 Messiah would come from the line of Abraham. Genesis 12:3 Genesis 22:18 Matthew 1:1 Romans 9:5

5 Messiah would be a descendant of Isaac. Genesis 17:19 Genesis 21:12 Luke 3:34

6 Messiah would be a descendant of Jacob. Numbers 24:17 Matthew 1:2

7 Messiah would come from the tribe of Judah. Genesis 49:10 Luke 3:33 Hebrews 7:14

8 Messiah would be heir to King David's throne. 2 Samuel 7:12-13 Isaiah 9:7 Luke 1:32-33 Romans 1:3

9 Messiah's throne will be anointed and eternal. Psalm 45:6-7 Daniel 2:44 Luke 1:33 Hebrews 1:8-12

10 Messiah would be called Immanuel. Isaiah 7:14 Matthew 1:23

11 Messiah would spend a season in Egypt. Hosea 11:1 Matthew 2:14-15

12 A massacre of children would happen at Messiah's birthplace. Jeremiah 31:15 Matthew 2:16-18

13 A messenger would prepare the way for Messiah. Isaiah 40:3-5 Luke 3:3-6

14 Messiah would be preceded by a forerunner. Malachi 3:1 Matthew 11:10

15 Messiah would be rejected by his own people. Psalm 69:8 Isaiah 53:3 John 1:11 John 7:5

16 Messiah would be a prophet. Deuteronomy 18:15 Acts 3:20-22

17 Messiah would be preceded by Elijah. Malachi 4:5-6 Matthew 11:13-14

18 Messiah would be declared the Son of God. Psalm 2:7 Matthew 3:16-17

19 Messiah would be called a Nazarene. Isaiah 11:1 Matthew 2:23

20 Messiah would bring light to Galilee. Isaiah 9:1-2 Matthew 4:13-16

21 Messiah would speak in parables. Psalm 78:2-4 Isaiah 6:9-10 Matthew 13:10-15, 34-35

22 Messiah would be sent to heal the brokenhearted. Isaiah 61:1-2 Luke 4:18-19

23 Messiah would be a priest after the order of Melchizedek. Psalm 110:4 Hebrews 5:5-6

24 Messiah would be called King. Psalm 2:6 Zechariah 9:9 Matthew 27:37 Mark 11:7-11

25 Messiah would enter Jerusalem on a donkey. Zechariah 11:12 Matthew 21:4-5

26 Messiah would be praised by little children. Psalm 8:2 Matthew 21:16

27 Messiah would be betrayed. Psalm 41:9 Zechariah 11:12-13 Luke 22:47-48 Matthew 26:14-16

28 Messiah's price money would be used to buy a potter's field. Zechariah 11:12-13 Matthew 27:9-10

29 Messiah would be falsely accused. Psalm 35:11 Mark 14:57-58

30 Messiah would be silent before his accusers. Isaiah 53:7 Mark 15:4-5

31 Messiah would be spat upon and struck. Isaiah 50:6 Matthew 26:67

32 Messiah would be hated without cause. Psalm 35:19 Psalm 69:4 John 15:24-25

33 Messiah would be crucified with criminals. Isaiah 53:12 Matthew 27:38 Mark 15:27-28

34 Messiah would be given vinegar to drink. Psalm 69:21 Matthew 27:34 John 19:28-30

35 Messiah's hands and feet would be pierced. Psalm 22:16 Zechariah 12:10 John 20:25-27

36 Messiah would be mocked and ridiculed. Psalm 22:7-8 Luke 23:35

37 Soldiers would gamble for Messiah's garments. Psalm 22:18 Luke 23:34 Matthew 27:35-36

38 Messiah's bones would not be broken. Exodus 12:46 Psalm 34:20 John 19:33-36

39 Messiah would be forsaken by God. Psalm 22:1 Matthew 27:46

40 Messiah would pray for his enemies. Psalm 109:4 Luke 23:34

41 Soldiers would pierce Messiah's side. Zechariah 12:10 John 19:34

42 Messiah would be buried with the rich. Isaiah 53:9 Matthew 27:57-60

43 Messiah would resurrect from the dead. Psalm 16:10 Psalm 49:15 Matthew 28:2-7 Acts 2:22-32

44 Messiah would ascend to heaven. Psalm 24:7-10 Mark 16:19 Luke 24:51

45 Messiah would be seated at God's right hand. Psalm 68:18 Psalm 110:1 Mark 16:19 Matthew 22:44

46 Messiah would be a sacrifice for sin. Isaiah 53:5-12 Romans 5:6-8

47 Messiah would return a second time. Daniel 7:13-14 Revelation 19

These and many other Old Testament verses about Israel's Messiah were fulfilled in the New Testament life of Jesus Christ. Collectively they form the leading proof of Christ's deity. As Jesus went about his ministry, he knew that he was fulfilling these prophecies, and therefore, used this knowledge to confirm his claims of being the Son of God in the flesh:

 
Then Jesus said to them, "You foolish people! You find it so hard to believe all that the prophets wrote in the Scriptures. Wasn't it clearly predicted that the Messiah would have to suffer all these things before entering his glory?" Then Jesus took them through the writings of Moses and all the prophets, explaining from all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. (Luke 24:25–27, NLT).
 
"You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me!" (John 5:39, NLT)