Messianic Prophecies Fulfilled Part 1

In the 15th chapter of the apostle Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians we find the Biblical definition of the Gospel: “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you THE GOSPEL which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that CHRIST DIED FOR OUR SINS ACCORDING TO THE SCRIPTURES; And that HE WAS BURIED, and that HE ROSE AGAIN the third day ACCORDING TO THE SCRIPTURES.” (1st Corinthians 15:1-3)

Twice in those 3 quotes verses we see the words “according to the Scriptures”. Paul was referring to the Old Testament Scriptures which he mentioned earlier in the same letter (1st Corinthians 10:1-11). Jesus Christ’s death for sinners as well as His resurrection from the dead were both foretold in the Old Testament many centuries before His birth. The Lord Jesus appealed to the Old Testament in its 3 main divisions (Law, Prophets and Psalms) to show that the He as the promised Messiah had to suffer: “And He (Jesus) said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were WRITTEN IN THE LAW OF MOSES (Torah), and in THE PROPHETS, and in THE PSALMS, concerning me. Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, And said unto them, Thus IT IS WRITTEN, and thus IT BEHOVED CHRIST TO SUFFER, AND TO RISE FROM THE DEAD the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.” (Luke 24:44-47)

Paul also used the Old Testament Scriptures to show that Christ, the promised Messiah, had to die and rise again from the dead: “And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days REASONED WITH THEM OUT OF THE SCRIPTURES, opening and alleging, that CHRIST MUST NEEDS HAVE SUFFERED, AND RISEN AGAIN FROM THE DEAD; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ.” (Acts of the Apostles 17:2-3)

The apostle Peter on the Day of Pentecost (Acts chapter 2) used the Old Testament to prove to his Jewish hearers that the Messiah had to rise again from the dead : “Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it. For DAVID SPEAKETH (in the Psalms) CONCERNING HIM (Jesus Christ), I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved: Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope: Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance.” (Acts of the Apostles 2:24-28 )

Peter then tried to show to the Jews that those words written by David were not written about David but about the Messiah: “Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. Therefore (David) BEING A PROPHET, and KNOWING THAT GOD had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he WOULD RAISE UP CHRIST TO SIT ON HIS THRONE; He (David) SEEING THIS (many centuries) BEFORE before SPAKE OF THE RESURRECTION OF THE CHRIST, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. THIS JESUS hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.” (Acts of the Apostles 2:29-32)

The Cross was not God’s Plan B.  It was necessary that the Messiah suffer before entering into His glory: “Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand THE SUFFERINGS OF CHRIST, AND THE GLORY THAT SHOULD FOLLOW.” (1st Peter 1:10-11) “Then He (Jesus) said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe ALL THAT THE PROPHETS HAVE SPOKEN: OUGHT NOT CHRIST TO HAVE SUFFERED THESE THINGS, AND TO ENTER INTO HIS GLORY?” (Luke 24:25-26)

Only Messiah’s shed blood could bring about the perfect, final, never-needed-to-be-repeated-again atonement. The Law of Moses testifies of the need for shed blood to bring about atonement : “For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.” (Leviticus 17:11)  The prophet Daniel testifies that Messiah the Prince that should be manifested to Israel 483 years (69 prophetic “weeks” or “sevens” – a year for each prophetic “day” – see Ezekiel 4:4-6) after the Decree of Cyrus the Persian (see Ezra 1:1-4) in order to put an end to the animal sacrifices which could never permanently take away sin : “Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks…And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off (in other words : killed), but not for himself (but in order to save others as a atoning sacrifice for sinners bringing about “reconciliation for iniquity” – Daniel 9:24): … and in the midst of the week (3 and a half years into His ministry to the Jews) He (Messiah the Prince) shall cause (by voluntarily being “cut off” on behalf of sinners as an atoning sacrifice) the sacrifice and the oblation to cease (for believers)…” (Daniel 9:25a,26a,27a)

see also : Messianic Prophecies Fulfilled Part 2