Found this online. I thought it was an interesting read.

Does Jesus fulfill the messianic prophecies?
1) why, where, and when



"Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves."

- John 14:11

"Nothing but falsehood ever attested itself by signs and wonders."

- Robert G. Ingersoll



4.1 Why believe Jesus is the one?

Of the billions of people born since the Old Testament prophecies were given, relatively few have claimed to be the Messiah. But among those who profess to be the rightful holder of this office, why should we believe Jesus to be the Christ, the promised Messiah? Why not someone else? Why not Jim Jones, David Koresh, Marshall Applewhite, or Sun Myung Moon? These latter characters may not seem like the most likely of candidates, but knowing how to identify the true Messiah remains a very critical concern.

The Old Testament looks forward to the Messiah's coming and the kingdom he was to establish. Because of the pre-eminent importance of the Messiah and of his mission, God revealed numerous unique qualifications through his prophets that allow for the Messiah's positive identification. The messianic prophecies qualify what the Messiah's gender will be, his lineage, place of arrival, year of appearance, how he would be received, the characteristics of his life and death, his resurrection, his kinship to God, his destruction of the wicked, and his reign into eternity.

The first characteristic we can glean from prophecy is that the Messiah will be a male. Obviously this narrows down the possible candidates from everyone to about half the population. We can further narrow down the possible candidates as we take each prophecy into account concerning the Messiah's birth, death, and return.

Now, there are also prophecies which tell what his demeanor will be, and how and what he will teach. Those particular prophecies may arguably be within the power of a person to self-fulfill. Because of this, we will set some of those aside and mainly focus on the prophetic fulfillments which the Messiah would have had little or no possibility of fraudulently manufacturing.


4.2 Where will the Messiah arrive?

PROPHECY (all quotation emphases mine):

But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from old, from ancient times. Micah 5:2 NIV

FULFILLMENT:

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David... While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born... Luke 2:4,6 NIV


4.3 What will be the Messiah's lineage?

PROPHECY:

The Lord had said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you... and all the peoples on earth will be blessed through you." Genesis 12:1-3 NIV

Then God said, "Yes, but your wife Sarah will bear you a son, and you will call him Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him." Genesis 17:19 NIV

The scepter will not depart from Judah, ...until he comes to whom it belongs and the obedience of the nations is his. Genesis 49:10 NIV

I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel. Numbers 24:17a NIV

FULFILLMENT:

Now Jesus himself was about thirty years old when he began his ministry. He was the son, so it was thought, of Joseph, the son of Heli, the son of Matthat,... the son of Nathan, the son of David, the son of Jesse,... the son of Judah, the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham,... Luke 3:23, 31-34 NIV


4.4 When will the Messiah arrive?

PROPHECY:

Seventy 'sevens' are decreed for your people and your holy city to finish transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone for wickedness, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the most holy. Know and understand this: From the issuing of the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Anointed One, the ruler, comes, there will be seven 'sevens', and sixty-two 'sevens'. It will be rebuilt with streets and a trench, but in times of trouble. After the sixty-two 'sevens', the Anointed One will be cut off and will have nothing. The people of the ruler who will come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. Daniel 9:24-26a NIV

FULFILLMENT:

The first question one might ask about this prophecy is, "What is a seven?" This can be traced back as early as the book of Leviticus. In Leviticus (25:2-5), the Lord decrees that land is to be farmed for six years and then "the land itself must observe a sabbath to the Lord". Every seventh year closed a sabbatical cycle in which the land was to be left unfarmed. This is illustrative of the seven being used here by Daniel (years are also the contextual units of time he opens the chapter with).

The first paragraph of this prophecy states that within the seventy sevens (70 x 7 = 490 years) God would accomplish six different tasks. But the second paragraph explicitly states that in seven plus sixty-two sevens ((7 + 62) x 7 = 483 years) after a decree is issued to restore and rebuild Jerusalem, the Anointed One would come and afterwards be cut off, or killed. At the time Daniel recorded this, the Israelites were still in captivity to Babylon.

So when was the decree finally given and what happened 483 years later?


-- INTERPRETATION #1

The decree was most likely issued by Artaxerxes. Artaxerxes issued two decrees which could place the death of the Anointed One in either AD 30 or 33. Dr. D. James Kennedy explains the older of several different schools of thought on this:

...We find that the 69 weeks [sevens] end in AD 26 with the Messiah being 'cut off' in AD 30. The traditional view which places the appearing of the Messiah at AD 26 would seem to be the most rational and clear understanding of this Old Testament passage.

It is very noteworthy, therefore, that it places the appearing of the promised Savior and King of the Jews at the same time as the baptism of Jesus. How do I know this? Luke makes it very clear that Jesus was baptized by John and publicly proclaimed to be the promised Messiah on the 'fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar' (Luke 3:1). Tiberius Caesar began his rule in AD 11 and therefore the fifteenth year of his reign would be AD 26.

This, therefore, clearly dates the baptism of Christ and His anointing by the Holy Spirit at the same time as the fulfillment of Daniel's prophecy. It also places Christ's death on the cross in AD 30, the very time when Daniel prophesied that the Messiah would be 'cut off, but not for himself'. 1 [emphasis mine]

Thus the six tasks that Daniel prophesied God would accomplish find their fulfillment in Jesus:

* finish transgression: the redemption and forgiveness which we needed because of our sin was finally accomplished by Jesus' death on the cross,
* put an end to sin: thanks to Jesus and his redemption of us, sin no longer has to have dominion over us (though sin will continue to exist for us to contend with until Christ's return),
* atone for wickedness: Jesus' sacrifice on the cross paid for our sins and reconciled us to God,
* bring in everlasting righteousness: Jesus' perfect and everlasting righteousness is now made available to us - without which no one can see the kingdom of God,
* seal up the vision and the prophecy: because Christ fulfilled all of the above prophecies, they are now sealed, and...
* anoint the most holy: God poured out his Holy Spirit upon his son Jesus the Christ.


-- INTERPRETATION #2

The other schools of thought concerning these seventy seven's or weeks of Daniel are probably indistinguishable to non-Christians or those unfamiliar with this issue. One includes the belief that the last seven of the 490 years is not contiguous to the first 483 years and is specially set aside for the time immediately preceding Christ's return (the prophetic fulfillments of God's six tasks then being more fully realized).

The other idea is that it was the pagan king Cyrus who issued the decree from which Daniel's timetable is to be calculated. Though Cyrus' decree slightly precedes Artaxerxes' (but proponents would argue for the same date as Artaxerxes), a rather compelling argument might be made from Isaiah chapters 44:26 through 45:4.

Regardless of your preferred interpretation of Daniel, any of these leave us with the fact that Jesus' appearance coincided with the prophesied time of the Messiah's arrival. Anyone hoping to claim messiahship had to arrive at that time. No one showing up years before or years after can claim to be the Messiah; certainly no one today can, nor can anyone in the future.

Daniel lastly prophesied that after the Messiah's death, the city and the sanctuary (temple) would be destroyed. This is exactly what the Roman army carried out on Jerusalem in AD 70 - a total annihilation of the city's people, temple, and structures.

2) how and what



"It is very pious to say and prudent to affirm that the holy Bible can never speak untruth -- whenever its true meaning is understood. But I believe nobody will deny that it is often very abstruse, and may say things which are quite different from what its bare words signify."

- Galileo Galilei

"Therefore I speak to them in parables; because while seeing they do not see, and while hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand."

- Matthew 13:13 NASB


4.5 How will the Messiah's coming be announced?

PROPHECY:

See, I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come," says the Lord Almighty. Malachi 3:1 NIV

See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers... Malachi 4:5,6 NIV


FULFILLMENT:

Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John... And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous - to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. Luke 1:13b, 17 NIV

This is the one [John] about whom it is written: "I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you." ...And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come." Matthew 11:10, 14 NIV

Jesus replied, "To be sure, Elijah comes and will restore all things. But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but have done to him everything they wished. In the same way the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands." Then the disciples understood that he was talking to them about John the Baptist. Matthew 17:11-13 NIV


4.6 What qualities will the Messiah possess?

PROPHECY:

"The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me [Moses] from among your own brothers. You must listen to him." Deuteronomy 18:15 NIV

FULFILLMENT:

For Moses said, "The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people... Indeed, all the prophets from Samuel on, as many as have spoken, have foretold these days. Acts 3:22-24 NIV


PROPHECY:

'The days are coming,' declares the Lord, 'when I will raise up to David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is right in the land... This is the name by which he will be called: The Lord Our Righteousness.' Jeremiah 23:5-6 NIV

FULFILLMENT:

Jesus said, 'My kingdom is not of this world...' 'You are a king, then!' said Pilate. Jesus answered, 'You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this reason I came into the world, to testify to the truth...' John 18:36-37a NIV

It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God - that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 1 Corinthians 1:30 NIV


PROPHECY:

You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek. The Lord is at your right hand; Psalm 110:4b-5a NIV

FULFILLMENT:

...Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek... Hebrews 6:20b NIV


4.7 What characterizes his life?

PROPHECY:

He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. Isaiah 53:3-4 NIV

FULFILLMENT:

Even after Jesus had done all these miraculous signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him. This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet... John 12:37-38 NIV

"If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first... He who hates me hates my Father as well. If I had not done among them what no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin. But now they have seen these miracles, and yet they have hated both me and my Father. But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law..." John 15:18,23-25a NIV


4.8 What characterizes his death?

PROPHECY:

But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. 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. By oppression and judgment he was taken away. And who can speak of his descendants? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was stricken. He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth. Isaiah 53:5-9 NIV

All who see me mock me; they hurl insults, shaking their heads: "He trusts in the Lord; let the Lord rescue him. Let him deliver him, since he delights in him." ...I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint. My heart has turned to wax; it has melted away within me. My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth; you lay me in the dust of death. Dogs have surrounded me; a band of evil men has encircled me, they have pierced my hands and my feet. I can count all my bones; people stare and gloat over me. They divide my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing. Psalm 22:7-8, 14-18 NIV

FULFILLMENT:

The chief priests accused him of many things. So again Pilate asked him, "Aren't you going to answer? See how many things they are accusing you of." But Jesus still made no reply, and Pilate was amazed... Again and again they struck him on the head with a staff and spit on him. Falling on their knees, they paid homage to him. And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out to crucify him. They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means The Place of the Skull). Then they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it. And they crucified him. Dividing up his clothes, they cast lots to see what each would get... They crucified two robbers with him, one on his right and one on his left. And the scripture was fulfilled which says, 'He was counted with the lawless ones'. Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads... Mark 15:3-5, 19-24, 27-29a NIV

But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus' side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water. The man who saw it has given testimony, and his testimony is true. John 19:32-35a NIV

As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus' body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and placed it in his own tomb... Matthew 27:57-60 NIV


4.9 What characterizes his resurrection?

PROPHECY:

Yet it was the Lord's will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes his life a guilt offering, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand. After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light [of life] and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities. Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. Isaiah 53:10-12 NIV

Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay. Psalm 16:9,10 NIV

FULFILLMENT:

From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. Matthew 16:21 NIV

He said to them, "This is what I told you while I was still with you. Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms." ...This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day,.. You are witnesses of these things." Luke 24:44, 46, 48 NIV

Seeing what was ahead, he spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to the grave, nor did his body see decay. God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact. Acts 2:31-32 NIV

For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep [died]. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also... 1 Corinthians 15:3-8 NIV