The Bible accurately predicted the coming of Jesus the Messiah hundreds of years before He was born in Bethlehem. The first clear Messianic prophecy jumped onto the pages of holy script in the third chapter of Genesis as God announced the consequences of sin to His fallen creation. “I will put hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel” (Genesis 3:15).
God first pronounced judgment on the sleezy, slithering serpent and then on the dastardly devil who had indwelt the serpent. God predicted that Eve, and every woman after her, would dislike snakes. That prophecy obviously came true! Secondly, God looked forward to Calvary as He predicted that Satan would strike the heel of the woman’s offspring, and a woman’s offspring would stomp on the head of Satan.
So, who is the offspring of woman? Biologically speaking, women don’t have offspring without the help of a man. There was, as you know, one exception to that biological law. Mary, the humble virgin, gave birth to Jesus. He is the only offspring of woman. From the very beginning of creation, God’s Word accurately predicted the coming of the Messiah. The cross appeared to be a victory for Satan, yet the cross was always God’s perfect plan. On the cross, Jesus paid the price for sin. “It is finished” (John 19:30) was the Messiah’s victory cry! Three days later, on the first Easter morning, Satan was defeated and Genesis 3:15 was fulfilled.
Another Messianic prophecy is printed a few chapters later as God invited Abram to leave southern Babylon and travel to a new home in a distant land. “Go from your land, your relatives, and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. I will make you into a great nation, I will bless you, I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, I will curse anyone who treats you with contempt, and all the peoples on earth will be blessed through you” (Genesis 12:1-3). The ultimate fulfilment of the promised blessings is found in Jesus, “the son of Abraham” (Matthew 1:1). The “peoples of the earth” are “blessed” by grace alone, through faith alone, in Jesus alone!
One more... The Old Testament clearly and correctly foretold that the Messiah would be the son of David and that the Messiah would sit on David’s throne. Through the prophet Nathan, God promised David: “The Lord himself will make a house for you. When your time comes and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up after you your descendant, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom ... Your house and kingdom will endure before me forever, and your throne will be established forever” (2 Samuel 7:11-16).
Isaiah, inspired by the Holy Spirit, wrote, “For a child will be born for us, a son will be given to us, and the government will be on his shoulders. He will be named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. The dominion will be vast, and its prosperity will never end. He will reign on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish and sustain it with justice and righteousness from now on and forever” (Isaiah 9:6–7). The genealogy found in Matthew’s first chapter details the generations from David down to Jesus. The Old Testament prophecy was fulfilled perfectly.
This week let’s look at several Messianic prophecies in the Old Testament and their marvelous and miraculous fulfillment in the Gospels. As we do, let’s be reminded of two things. First, God knew the end from before the beginning. And second, God’s Word is true! Always!
All Scripture quotations, except as otherwise noted, are from
Holman Bible Publishers’ Christian Standard Bible.
