Ten Reasons Why I Believe in Jesus

Reason #9 The Prophecies

 

In his book "The Case for Christ" Lee Strobel writes the following story. 

 

It was an uneventful Saturday at the Hiller home in Chicago.  Clarence Hiller spent the afternoon painting the trim on the outside of his two-story house on West 104th Street. By early evening he and his family had retired to bed. However, what happened next would change criminal law in America forever. The Hillers woke in the early morning hours of September 19, 1910, and became suspicious that a gaslight near their daughter’s bedroom had gone out. Clarence went to investigate. His wife heard a quick succession of sounds: a scuffle, two men tumbling down the stairs, two gunshots, and the slamming of the front door. She emerged to find Clarence dead at the foot of the stairs. Police arrested Thomas Jennings, a convicted burglar, less than a mile away. There was blood on his clothes and his left arm had been injured—both, he said, from falling on a streetcar. In his pocket they found the same kind of gun that had been used to shoot Clarence Hiller, but they couldn’t determine if it was the murder weapon. Knowing they needed more to convict Jennings, detectives scoured the inside of Hiller’s home in a search for additional clues. One fact soon became obvious: the killer had entered through a rear kitchen window. Detectives went outside—and there, next to that window, forever imprinted in the white paint that the murder victim himself had so carefully applied to a railing only hours before his death, they found four clear fingerprints from someone’s left hand. Fingerprint evidence was a new concept at the time, in 1910, having been recently introduced at an international police exhibition in St. Louis. So far, fingerprints had never been used to convict anyone of murder in the United States. Despite strong objections by defense attorneys that such evidence was unscientific and inadmissible, four officers testified that the fingerprints in the paint perfectly matched those of Thomas Jennings—and him alone. The jury found Jennings guilty, the Illinois Supreme Court upheld his conviction in a historic ruling, and he was hanged.

 

This morning we are going to continue our series within a series; Ten Reasons Why I Believe in Jesus.  This morning we are looking at Reason #9; The Fingerprints of Jesus.  The Jewish people of the 1st century were expecting a Messiah.  Messianic expectations were high during the rule of Roman Empire over Israel.  The people wanted to be free from the Romans.  They felt it was time for a Messiah. Because, in their book, which we call the Old Testament, there are predictions of a Messiah who would come and change everything.  He would, not only be their Savior, but would establish a kingdom which would never end.  The Jewish people of the 1st century ached for this Messiah to be revealed.

 

Here is the question for this morning; was Jesus that Messiah?  Do the fingerprints of Jesus match the prophecies? All over the Old Testament there are these fingerprints looking forward to this one special person who would come and change everything.  Did Jesus fulfill these predictions which were written hundreds of years before he was born? Like Thomas Jennings, whose fingerprints in the paint got him hung; do the fingerprints of Jesus match the Old Testament predictions of The Messiah? 

 

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There are lots of Old Testament prophecies and references and subtle hints about the coming one, but we need some clear fingerprints.  Often, on TV anyway, they will say, "Well the fingerprints were to smudged.  They weren't sharp enough to get an AFIS match."  I want some sharp, no doubt about it, smudge-free fingerprints.  I think I have found 5. It only took 4 to convict Jennings.  5 should be enough to convict Jesus of being the Messiah.  But, you be the jury and see if these 5 prints convince you that Jesus was this expected Messiah.

 

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Print #1

Micah 5:2  "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 of old, from ancient times."

 

There is the print; this ruler of Israel will come out of Bethlehem.

 

Matthew 2:1-6  After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem  and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him." When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.  When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born.  "In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied, "for this is what the prophet has written:  "'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.'"

 

Print #1 Jesus was born where he was predicted to be born.  Convinced?  "Not yet?" Let's keep going.

 

Print #2

Isaiah 7:1-4, 16-16  When Ahaz son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, was king of Judah, King Rezin of Aram and Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel marched up to fight against Jerusalem, but they could not overpower it.  Now the house of David was told, "Aram has allied itself with Ephraim"; so the hearts of Ahaz and his people were shaken, as the trees of the forest are shaken by the wind.  Then the LORD said to Isaiah, "Go out, you and your son Shear-Jashub, to meet Ahaz at the end of the aqueduct of the Upper Pool, on the road to the Washerman's Field.  Say to him, 'Be careful, keep calm and don't be afraid. Do not lose heart because of these two smoldering stubs of firewood--

 

¹⁴ Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.  He will eat curds and honey when he knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right.  But before the boy knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right, the land of the two kings you dread will be laid waste.

 

This one is interesting; it is a dual prophecy.  It is two prophecies for the price of one.  God told Isaiah to tell King Ahaz that before a child can be born and learn right from wrong both these two kings would no longer be a problem.  Guess what?  It happened just like that.  But the cooler part is this prophecy had a second fulfillment.  The Messiah would be born of a virgin! 

 

Matthew 1:18-25 This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit.  Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.  But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.  She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."  All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:   "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel"--which means, "God with us."  When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.  But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

 

God is cool enough to get two for one!  Jesus'  fingerprint was a match to Isaiah 7:14!  Impressed yet?  Let's keep going.

 

Print #3

Zechariah 9:9 Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

 

Matthew 21:1-9  As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, "Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me.  If anyone says anything to you, tell him that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away."  This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet:  "Say to the Daughter of Zion, 'See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.'"  The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them.  They brought the donkey and the colt, placed their cloaks on them, and Jesus sat on them.  A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road.  The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, "Hosanna to the Son of David!" "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Hosanna in the highest!"

 

The crowd knew the prophecy.  Jesus fulfilled the prophecy.  They all shouted "Hosanna!" Convinced?  "Well, maybe Jesus did it because it was predicted.  He forced it."  Okay, but the print matches.  Let's get deeper. 

 

Print #4

This is really where it gets amazing and is convincing to me.  Isaiah 53 is a chapter each of us should know.  It predicts a Messiah of sorrows and sacrifice.  This was not the kind of Messiah the Jews of the 1st century were expecting.  But it shows who Jesus was really intended to be. 

 

Isaiah 53:1-12  

Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?  He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.  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.  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.  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.

 

Do I need to reference Matthew 27 & 28 to show how this was amazingly fulfilled in the crucifixion and the Resurrection?  The connections to who Jesus was and is and will be, is amazingly amazing!  This was not what people thought a Messiah should do, but it was what was predicted and what actually happened to Jesus!  Print #4 is whelming.  But Print #5 is overwhelming. 

 

Print #5

Jesus quotes this prophecy on the cross because he wants us to make sure we look at Psalm 22. 

 

Psalm 22:1-18

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from the words of my groaning?  O my God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer, by night, and am not silent.  Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One; you are the praise of Israel.  In you our fathers put their trust; they trusted and you delivered them. They cried to you and were saved; in you they trusted and were not disappointed. But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by men and despised by the people. 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." Yet you brought me out of the womb; you made me trust in you even at my mother's breast.  From birth I was cast upon you; from my mother's womb you have been my God.  Do not be far from me, for trouble is near and there is no one to help.  Many bulls surround me; strong bulls of Bashan encircle me.   Roaring lions tearing their prey open their mouths wide against me.   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. 

 

John 19:23-24,28-30  When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes, dividing them into four shares, one for each of them, with the undergarment remaining. This garment was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom.  "Let's not tear it," they said to one another. "Let's decide by lot who will get it." This happened that the scripture might be fulfilled which said, "They divided my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing." So this is what the soldiers did.   ²⁸ Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, "I am thirsty."  A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus' lips.  When he had received the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished." With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

 

Psalm 22:19-31

But you, O LORD, be not far off; O my Strength, come quickly to help me.  Deliver my life from the sword, my precious life from the power of the dogs.  Rescue me from the mouth of the lions; save me from the horns of the wild oxen.  I will declare your name to my brothers; in the congregation I will praise you. You who fear the LORD, praise him! All you descendants of Jacob, honor him! Revere him, all you descendants of Israel!  For he has not despised or disdained the suffering of the afflicted one; he has not hidden his face from him but has listened to his cry for help.  From you comes the theme of my praise in the great assembly; before those who fear you will I fulfill my vows.  The poor will eat and be satisfied; they who seek the LORD will praise him-- may your hearts live forever!  All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations will bow down before him,  for dominion belongs to the LORD and he rules over the nations.  All the rich of the earth will feast and worship; all who go down to the dust will kneel before him-- those who cannot keep themselves alive.  Posterity will serve him; future generations will be told about the Lord. They will proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn-- for he has done it.

 

Psalm 22 predicts the death of Jesus even to the details of thirsty, hands and feet being pierced, garments and cruelty of his death.  But Psalm 22 does not leave Jesus in the grave but there is rescue from Death in his Resurrection which is the message that goes to the ends of the earth for all generations!  Does that fingerprint match Jesus the Messiah, or what? 

 

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Let's put Reason #9 on the Jesus Body List

 

Let me leave you with a statement of Peter which to me summarizes Reason #9 of Why I believe in Jesus.  You, as the jury, can decide if the fingerprints of Jesus match the Old Testament predictions of who the Messiah would be. 

 

Acts 3:13-21 "The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go. You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this.  By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus' name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see.  Now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders.  But this is how God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, saying that his Christ would suffer. Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, and that he may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you-- even Jesus. He must remain in heaven until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets."

 

One more prediction; Jesus is going to come again to restore everything, as promised!

 

Los Alamos Church of Christ

February 21, 2010