It’s Jesus or Nobody

Most people who attend Christian Churches in North America are familiar with the reasons that Jesus is said to have fulfilled the prophecies about the Messiah. There is one, however, that for me is ultimately important. The usual ones are:

Born of a virgin

Family line of Abraham

Family line of Isaac

Family line of Jacob

Tribe of Judah

Family line of Jesse

Family line of David

Born at Bethlehem

Preceded by a messenger

Ministry to begin in Galilee

Ministry of Miracles

Teacher of parables

Enter Jerusalem on a donkey

Stumbling stone to the unbelievers

Resurrection


The following were prophesied from 1000 - 500 years before Jesus was born but were all fulfilled in one day.

Betrayed by a friend

Sold for 30 Pieces of silver

Money thrown into God’s house

Forsaken by his disciples

Accused by false witness

Quiet before his accusers

Hands and feet pierced

Made intercession for his persecutors

Hated without cause

Garments parted and lots cast

Gall and vinegar offered Him

His forsaken cry

Committed himself to God

Bones not broken

His side pierced

Darkness at noon

Buried in a rich man’s grave


Jesus had no control over the prophecies about:
1. Place of birth
2. Time of birth
3. Manner of birth
4. Betrayal
5. Manner of death
6. People’s reaction
7 Piercing, and
8. Burial

Professor Peter Stoner, while Editor of ‘Science Digest’ calculate that the odds of the 20 prophecies of what happened to Jesus on the last day of His life here on earth, to be 10 ^ -157, against them coming true in one man, accidentally. Scientists agree that 10 ^ -50 is the same as zero - impossible.

Having said that, the one prophecy that stands out for me is this one.

“And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple, even the Messenger of the covenant, whom you desire. “Behold, He is coming,” says the Lord of hosts. “But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner’s fire.” Malachi 3:1-2

Out of all the prophecies of the Messiah that Jesus fulfilled this is perhaps the most important for one reason. The Messiah, the One whom the Jews were seeking, the One who they longed to see would, according to Prophecy, come to the Temple, suddenly.

Why is that important?

The temple no longer exists.

The Messiah, according to prophecy, had to come to His temple suddenly, without warning, as a refiner’s fire, which Jesus did when He drove out the money changers. In no uncertain terms, Jesus said, “You have turned MY Father’s house . . .” He didn’t say, “Our Father . . . but “MY Father.”

Jesus let them know that the Son of God had arrived at the Temple as prophesied.

If the Messiah hasn’t appeared by 70AD, when the Temple was destroyed, He isn’t coming at all.

If the Messiah isn’t Jesus, it’s nobody.