The Historical Uniqueness of Jesus Christ
Building on yesterday's meditation, we explore evidence that Jesus is God in human form. His divinity is supported by the fulfillment of prophecies written long before His birth:
Wilbur Smith, the American writer on theological topics, said:
"The ancient world had many different devices for determining the future, known as divination, but not in the entire gamut of Greek and Latin literature can we find any real specific prophecy of a great historical event, nor any prophecy of a Savior to arrive in the human race. Islam cannot point to any predictions of the coming of Mohammed uttered hundreds of years before his birth. Neither can the founders of any cult in this country rightly identify any ancient text specifically foretelling their appearance."[1]
Beyond Human Control: Precision in Prophecy
In the case of Jesus, He fulfilled over three hundred prophecies, including 29 on the day of His death. Many of these were beyond His control. Some might suggest He intentionally aimed to fulfill them, but consider the prophecy in Micah 5:2 that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem; this was written centuries before His birth and was precisely fulfilled in Jesus' birth details. Similarly, Isaiah predicted the Messiah would die with the wicked yet be buried in a rich man's tomb (Isaiah 53:9), fulfilled when Jesus was crucified between two thieves and laid in Joseph of Arimathea's tomb. Then there is the prophecy in Psalm 22:18 about soldiers casting lots for His clothing, which was also fulfilled as recorded in John 19:24-25. Here are just a few examples of these detailed prophecies.
Comparing Old Testament Predictions and New Testament Fulfillments
Old Testament Prophecy: "Even my close friend, whom I trusted, he who shared my bread, has lifted up his heel against me" (Psalm 41:9).
Fulfillment: "Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Jesus to them" (Mark 14:10).
Old Testament Prophecy: "I told them, 'If you think it best, give me my pay; but if not, keep it.' So they paid me thirty pieces of silver" (Zechariah 11:12).
Fulfillment: "Then one of the Twelve - the one called Judas Iscariot - went to the chief priests and asked, 'What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?' So they counted out for him thirty silver coins" (Matthew 24:14-16).
Old Testament Prophecy: "He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth" (Isaiah 53:7).
Fulfillment: "But Jesus still made no reply, and Pilate was amazed" (Mark 15:5).
Old Testament Prophecy: "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from the words of my groaning? O my God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer, by night, and am not silent" (Psalm 22:1-2).
Fulfillment: "About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, 'Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?' - which means, 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?'" (Matthew 27:46).
A Call to Faith: Examining the Evidence
The evidence is enormous if you are open-minded enough to receive it and Him. Consider the mathematical impossibility of one man fulfilling 300 prophecies by chance. If God was that precise about Jesus' life, He is equally precise about the details of yours. Where do you need to trust His timing today? Keith Thomas
Continue Your Journey…
If you found this meditation meaningful, there's much more to learn about the life of Jesus in the series, I’m New At This. Click on the study: Who is Jesus?
YouTube videos at: https://www.youtube.com/@keiththomas7/videos
[1] Wilbur Smith, The Incomparable Book, (Beacon Publications, 1961).