Seventeen Prophecies of Jesus Christ
By Pastor Pete Norris

In this study we will examine seventeen specific prophecies of the Old Testament that were fulfilled in the life of Jesus of Nazareth.

(1) His birth in Bethlehem from the tribe of Judah.

Old Testament - Genesis 49:10 The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.

Micah 5:2 But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

New Testament - Matthew 2:1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,

(2) He would be preceded by a messenger.

Old Testament - Isaiah 40:3 The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

New Testament - Matthew 3:1-2 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, 2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

(3) He would enter Jerusalem on a colt.

Old Testament - Zechariah 9:9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.

New Testament - Luke 19:35 - 37 And they brought him to Jesus: and they cast their garments upon the colt, and they set Jesus thereon. 36 And as he went, they spread their clothes in the way. 37 And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen;

(4) He would be betrayed by a friend.

Old Testament - Psalm 41:9 Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.

New Testament - Matthew 26:47 - 48 And while he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people. 48 Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying , Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast.

(5) His hands and feet would be pierced.

Old Testament - Psalm 22:16 For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.

New Testament - Luke 23:33 And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.

(6) He would be wounded by his enemies.

Old Testament - Isaiah 53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

New Testament - Matthew 27:26 Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.

(7) His betrayal for 30 pieces of silver.

Old Testament - Zechariah 11:12 And I said unto them, If ye think good, give me my price; and if not, forbear. So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver.

New Testament - Matthew 26:15 And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver.

(8) He will be spit upon and beaten.

Old Testament - Isaiah 50:6 I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting.

New Testament - Matthew 26:67 Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him; and others smote him with the palms of their hands,

(9) His betrayal money would be thrown in the temple.

Old Testament - Zechariah 11:13 And the LORD said unto me, Cast it unto the potter: a goodly price that I was prised at of them. And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them to the potter in the house of the LORD.

New Testament - Matthew 27:5-7 And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself. 6 And the chief priests took the silver pieces, and said, It is not lawful for to put them into the treasury, because it is the price of blood. 7 And they took counsel, and bought with them the potter's field, to bury strangers in.

(10) He would be silent before his accusers.

Old Testament - Isaiah 53:7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.

New Testament - Matthew 27:12-14 And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing. 13 Then said Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee? 14 And he answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly.

(11) He would be crucified with thieves.

Old Testament - Isaiah 53:12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

New Testament - Matthew 27:38 Then were there two thieves crucified with him, one on the right hand, and another on the left.

(12) People would gamble for his garments.

Old Testament - Psalm 22:18 They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.

New Testament - John 19:23-24 Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also his coat: now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout. 24 They said therefore among themselves, Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be: that the scripture might be fulfilled, which saith, They parted my raiment among them, and for my vesture they did cast lots. These things therefore the soldiers did.

(13) His side would be pierced.

Old Testament - Zechariah 12:10 And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.

New Testament - John 19:34 But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.

(14) None of his bones would be broken.

Old Testament - Psalm 34:20 He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken.

New Testament - John 19:33 But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs:

(15) His body would not decay.

Old Testament - Psalm 16:10 For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

New Testament - Acts 2:31 He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.

(16) His burial in a rich man’s tomb.

Old Testament - Isaiah 53:9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.

New Testament - Matthew 27:59-60 And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60 And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed.

(17) The darkness covering the earth.

Old Testament - Amos 8:9 And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord GOD, that I will cause the sun to go down at noon, and I will darken the earth in the clear day:

New Testament - Matthew 27:45 Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.

I would like for you as believers to understand that the fulfillment of these prophecies have been fulfilled through Jesus Christ. Please allow yourself to let the Holy Spirit minister to you as you study these scriptures.