The Old Testament prophecies about the coming of the Messiah
In Form One, we learnt that God used prophets to communicate His will to His people. Prophets were used by God to foretell future events among other duties. In the Old Testament, there are many prophecies concerning the coming of the Messiah. According to St. Luke’s Gospel, Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah. The title Messiah in Hebrew or Christ in Greek means the anointed one of God.
Jesus was born at a time when the Jews were looking forward to the fulfilment of the Old Testament scriptures about the Messiah. They too had their own expectations. They believed that the Messiah would:
- Be a great leader that is anointed by God .He would have the spirit of God.
- Be a descendant of King David and would rule from Jerusalem, the city of David.
- Be a political leader who would conquer the enemies of Israel, including the Romans who had colonised them.
- Follow the Mosaic law.
- Have priestly duties and would lead them to worship God.
- Be born in a noble family.
- Rule them with justice and righteousness.
When Jesus was born, many Jews did not realise that he was the long awaited Messiah. The revelation about his Messiahship was known to very few people such as the shepherds in Luke 2:8, Simeon Luke 2:29-32 and prophetess Anna Luke 2:36. Their expectations of the Messiah were not fulfilled in the person, of Jesus.
Messiah in the Old Testament
The Old Testament prophecies about the coming of the Messiah
(2 Samuel 7:3-17; Isaiah 7:10-16,91-7, 53; 61:1-2; Jeremiah 23:5-6; Psalms 41:9; Psalms 110:1-2; Micah5:2-5.)
The Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah were foretold by the prophets of God to make them look forward to their future restoration and their salvation. The Old Testament prophecies explained the following about the Messiah;
- Nathan’s prophecies (2 Samuel 7:3-17)
Prophet Nathan was instructed by God to reveal the following to King David:- His son would build a temple for God.
- David was promised that from his family, there would come a king who would establish God’s kingdom.
- God would establish an everlasting kingdom from the future king.
- God’s love will not be taken away from this future king.
- Isaiah’s prophecies (Isaiah 7:10-16)
- The Messiah would be born of a young virgin woman, this would be an extraordinary birth.
- The Messiah would be named, “Immanuel” meaning God with us. Isaiah 9:1-7.
- The Messiah would start his mission in Galilee where many foreigners lived Isaiah 9:1-7.
- He would be recognised and honored with the titles; “Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Eternal Father and Prince of peace.”
The Messiah would have royal power from God and would uphold righteousness and justice.
In Isaiah 53, the Messiah is described as follows by Prophet Isaiah:- He would not have any dignity or beauty to attract him to others.
- He would be despised, rejected and suffer much pain.
- The Messiah would faithfully endure the suffering that he would be subjected to.
- His suffering would bring healing to people and forgiveness.
- He would be arrested and sentenced to death.
- He would be very faithful in his work to God and that is why he would be honored.
- The Messiah would be filled by the spirit of God (Isaiah 61:1-2). He would be anointed to bring good news and heal broken hearted.
- He would announce release to those held captives in sin.
- Jeremiah’s propheies (Jeremiah 23:5-6)
- The Messiah would come from the lineage of David.
- He would be righteous and wise.
- He would be referred to as “The Lord our Salvation.”
- Psalmist’s prophecies (Psalms 41:9)
- The Messiah would be betrayed by his closest friend whom he trusted and even shared meals with. (Psalms 110:1-2).
- The Messiah is portrayed as a royal King who will conquer all his enemies using the power of God.
- He would sit at the right hand of God.
- Micah’s prophecies (Micah 5:2-5)
- The Messiah would be born in a town called Bethlehem.
- He would rule with God’s strength and bring peace.
The concept of the Messiah in the New Testament
(Luke 1:26-38; 2:1-2; 23:1-3; 24:50-51)
The concept of the Messiah in the New Testament is the fulfilment of the Old Testament prophecies. The New Testament writers wanted to prove that Jesus was the promised Messiah who was however different from the peoples’ expectations.
The following are some of the Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah that were fulfilled in St. Luke’s gospel.
- The Messiah would be born of a young virgin woman
Prophet Isaiah prophesied of a child who would be born of a virgin young woman. (Isaiah 7:14). This was fulfilled when Angel Gabriel was sent by God to Mary who is described as a virgin engaged to a man called Joseph to deliver the message that she would bear a son named Jesus. (Luke 1:27) - The Messiah would come from the lineage of David
The Messiah will be from the lineage of David. (Jeremiah 23:5-6) This is fulfilled in when Mary was engaged to Joseph who was a descendant of David. (Luke 1:27) - The Messiah would be born in the town of Bethlehem
Prophet Micah prophesied that the Messiah would be born in a small town in Judah called Bethlehem. This is fulfilled when Joseph and Mary went to Bethlehem to be registered in a census that had been decreed by the Roman emperor. It was in this town that Jesus was born. (Luke 2:4) - The Messiah would be given the throne of his Father David
According to 2 Samuel 7:3-17, God would establish an everlasting King who would come from the lineage of David. This is fulfilled when Angel Gabriel announced to Mary that the son she would bear would be given the throne of his Father David and his kingdom would never end. (Luke 1:33) - The Messiah would be called the ‘Son of God’
The prophet Isaiah prophesied that the Messiah would be recognised by titles such as Mighty God among others.This is fulfilled when Mary was told by the angel the son she would bear would be called “Son of God.” - The Messiah would be anointed by the spirit of God
In Luke 4:18-19, Jesus was in the synagogue and a scroll of Prophet Isaiah was handed to him. He read it and told the congregation that whatever was in the scripture had been fulfilled in him .This fulfils that the Messiah was anointed by the spirit of Lord. (Isaiah 61:1-2) - The Messiah would suffer
Prophet Isaiah prophesied about the Messiah who would suffer (Isaiah 53). This is fulfilled when Jesus underwent sufferings which include: Being rejected, insulted, being accused falsely, being beaten and executed. (Luke 23:1-35) - The Messiah would be betrayed
In Psalms 41:9, the Messiah would be betrayed by his close associates. This is fulfilled when Jesus when Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus to the Jewish religious leaders. (Luke 22:48)
Study Exercise 1
- Explain how Jesus fulfilled each of the Old Testament prophecies about the messiah as recorded in St. Luke’s gospel.
- Discuss how God’s promises to king David are fulfilled in Jesus Christ? (2 Samuel 7: 3-17; Jeremiah 23: 1-5). Give characteristics of the new Israel?
- Why did the Jews reject Jesus yet he fulfilled the Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah?
Group work
- Discuss how Jesus fulfilled each of the following titles:
- Son of David
- Prophet
- King
- Saviour
- Good Shepherd
- Messiah
- Son of man
- Son of God
- Prince of peace
- Christ
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