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At almost every turn the gospels record events in Jesus' life that
fulfill prophecies spoken centuries, even millennia before His birth.
The letters, particularly that to the Hebrews, continue showing
how Jesus fulfilled prophecy. Revelation shows the final fulfillment
of prophecy in the consummation of the Kingdom of God for all eternity.
Prophecy fulfills multiple purposes the two primary purposes in
the context of this discussion being:
First – That Jesus arrival on earth was not an unexpected
occurrence but was planned even before creation began.
Second – That in foretelling specific aspects of His ministry
they served as Jesus' credentials, validating Him before His audience.
1) Jesus' arrival on earth in human
form was planned before creation existed
2 Timothy 1:8-10 – Therefore do
not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner,
but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to
the power of God, 9 who has saved us and called us with a holy calling,
not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and
grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began, 10
but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ,
who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light
through the gospel.
2) Jesus told the Pharisees that Moses
had spoken of Him
John 5:46-47 – For if you believed
Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me. 47 But if you
do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?
On this verse Adam Clarke writes:
He wrote of me - For instance, in reciting the prophecy of Jacob,
Genesis 49:10 (The scepter shall not depart from Judah, Nor a lawgiver
from between his feet, Until Shiloh comes; And to Him shall be the
obedience of the people). And in Deuteronomy 18:18 (I will raise
up for them a Prophet like you from among their brethren, and will
put My words in His mouth, and He shall speak to them all that I
command Him). Confer this with Acts 3:22 (For Moses truly said to
the fathers, "The LORD your God will raise up for you a Prophet
like me from your brethren. Him you shall hear in all things, whatever
He says to you"), and Acts 7:37 (This is that Moses who said
to the children of Israel, "The LORD your God will raise up
for you a Prophet like me from your brethren. Him you shall hear").
Besides, Moses pointed out the Messiah in a multitude of symbols
and figures, which are found in the history of the patriarchs, the
ceremonial laws, and especially in the whole sacrificial system.
All these were well-defined, though shadowy representations of the
birth, life, sufferings, death, and resurrection of the Savior of
the world. Add to this, Moses has given you certain marks to distinguish
the false from the true prophet, Deuteronomy13:1-3 (If there arises
among you a prophet or a dreamer of dreams, and he gives you a sign
or a wonder, and the sign or the wonder comes to pass, of which
he spoke to you, saying, "Let us go after other god" —which
you have not known—"and let us serve them," you
shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of
dreams, for the LORD your God is testing you to know whether you
love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul);
Deuteronomy18:22 (when a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD,
if the thing does not happen or come to pass, that is the thing
which the LORD has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously;
you shall not be afraid of him), which, if you apply to me, you
will find that I am not a false but a true prophet of the Most High
God.
In many ways Moses was also a type of Jesus. Both Jesus and Moses:
— Were preserved in childhood (Exodus 2:2-10,
Matthew 2:14,15)
— Contended with masters of evil (Exodus 7:11,
Matthew 4:1)
— Fasted forty days (Exodus 34:28, Matthew 4:2)
— Controlled the sea (Exodus 14:21, Matthew 8:26)
— Fed a multitude (Exodus 16:15, Matthew 14:20,21)
— Had radiant faces (Exodus 34:35, Matthew 17:2)
— Endured murmurings (Exodus 15:24, Mark 7:2)
— Discredited in the home (Numbers 12:1, John
7:5)
— Made intercessory prayers (Exodus 32:32, John
17:9)
— Spoke as oracles (Deuteronomy 18:18)
— Had seventy helpers (Numbers 11:16,17, Luke
10:1)
— Established memorials (Exodus 12:14, Luke 22:19)
— Re-appeared after death (Matthew 17:3, Acts
1:3)
3) Of the hundreds of Old Testament prophecies concerning Jesus
(see Jesus is the Messiah) and His role as the messiah the chances
of eight of these (birth in Bethlehem; preceded by a messenger;
entry into Jerusalem on a donkey; betrayal by a friend; sold for
thirty pieces of silver; money thrown into God's house and used
to purchase the Potter's field; silence before His accusers; death
by crucifixion) being fulfilled in one person is equivalent to the
following: Cover the province of Ontario to a depth of 40 centimeters
with toonies. Throw one marked toonie into the middle of it all.
Stir vigorously. Pick out one single toonie and have that toonie
be the one that is marked.
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