Posted by Dena on February 29, 2004, at 22:10:09
In reply to faith problem, posted by dave1 on February 29, 2004, at 9:27:27
Dear Dave -
Do you believe that Jesus was delusional? Is that what you want to believe?
What does your heart tell you?
When you read what he said, how he taught, the miracles he performed, does it strike you that he sounds like a delusional man?
Could a delusional man have managed to fulfill all of the prophecies about the Messiah that Jesus fulfilled? Sure, some of them were within his power to fulfill, such as processing into Jerusalem, but could he really have fulfilled to whom he was born? And where he was born? And how he died? And where he was buried? Here are just a few of the prophecies he fulfilled while on this planet:
According to the Old Testament, the Messiah must...
Be born in Bethlehem -
Prophecy: Micah 5:2
Fulfillment: Matthew 2:1; Luke 2:4-7Be adored by great persons -
Prophecy: Psalms 72:10-11
Fulfillment: Matthew 2:1-11Be annointed with the Spirit of God -
Prophecy: Isaiah 11:2, 61:1
Fulfillment: Matthew 3:16; John 3:34; Acts 10:38Be hated without cause -
Prophecy: Isaiah 49:7; Psalms 69:4
Fulfillment: John 15:24-25Be undesired and rejected by His own people -
Prophecy: Isaiah 53:2, 63:3; Psalms 69:8
Fulfillment: Mark 6:3; Luke 9:58; John 1:11
Be plotted against by Jews and Gentiles together -
Prophecy: Psalms 2:1-2
Fulfillment: Acts 4:27Be betrayed by a friend-
Prophecy: Psalms 41:9, 55:12-24
Fulfillment: Matthew 26:21-25, 47-50; John 13:18-21; Acts 1:16-18Be betrayed for 30 pieces of silver -
Prophecy: Zechariah 11:12
Fulfillment: Matthew 26:16Have his price given for a potter’s field -
Prophecy: Zechariah 11:13
Fulfillment: Matthew 27:7Be forsaken by His disciples -
Prophecy: Zechariah 13:7
Fulfillment: Matthew 26:31, 56Be struck on the cheek -
Prophecy: Micah 5:1
Fulfillment: Matthew 27:30Be spat on -
Prophecy: Isaiah 50:6
Fulfillment: Matthew 26:67, 27:30Be mocked -
Prophecy: Psalms 22:7-8
Fulfillment: Matthew 27:31, 39-44Be beaten -
Prophecy: Isaiah 50:6
Fulfillment: Matthew 26:67, 27:26, 30Be thirsty during His execution -
Prophecy: Psalms 22:15
Fulfillment: John 19:28Be given vinegar to quench that thirst -
Prophecy: Psalms 69:21
Fulfilment: Matthew 27:34Be considered a transgressor -
Prophecy: Isaiah 53:12
Fulfillment: Matthew 27:38Be buried with the rich when dead -
Prophecy: Isaiah 53:9
Fulfillment: Matthew 27:57-60
Be sought after by Gentiles as well as Jews -
Prophecy: Isaiah 11:10, 42:1
Fulfillment: Acts 10:45Be accepted by the Gentiles -
Prophecy: Isaiah 11:10, 42:1-4, 49:1-12
Fulfillment: Matthew 12:21; Acts 10:45; Romans 15:9-12This is a small sample of the total number of prophecies about the Messiah which Jesus Christ fulfilled (the total number of prophecies that He fulfilled is more than 400).
He claimed to be the Messiah. Others made that claim about Him, & even willingly died rather than renounce Him. He performed miracles while here. His resurrection was witnessed by more than 500 people who saw Him alive, after His death.
To get a feel for the probabilities involved, consider this. An author and speaker named Josh McDowell calculated the odds of Jesus fulfilling only eight (out of more than 400) of the Messianic prophecies as 1 out of 10 to the 17th power (a one followed by 17 zeros). This is equivalent to covering the entire state of Texas with silver dollars two feet deep, marking one of them, mixing them all up and having a blind-folded person select the marked one at random the first time.
But you know, no one ever came to believe in Him because of the overwhelming evidence in His favor. Even in the face of the evidence, we can hold back, out of fear, reluctance, pride, stubbornness, etc. It all boils down to a leap of faith.
He said He is the Son of God. He said He is the way, the truth and the life. He said no one comes to the Father but by Him.
These are His words, not mine.
It all comes down to this: Was He telling the truth? Was He lying? Was He a lunatic.
You get to make that choice for yourself.
What does your heart tell you?
Shalom, Dena
poster:Dena
thread:318732
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/faith/20040113/msgs/318844.html