I love this time of year: Christmas lights, get-togethers, hot chocolate.

My appreciation has grown as I’ve gotten older, though. Like most children, I was enamored with all the presents. I knew Christmas was about more, but it’s difficult to see past the material sometimes, especially as a child.

As I think on the reason for the season this year—the birth of Jesus over two thousand years ago—I think about the mind-blowing ways God tells us of His Son. You see, God told us hundreds of years before the birth of Jesus how to recognize Him.

We don’t have to hope salvation is attainable or guess at the method at which we can attain it. There are over three hundred prophecies Jesus fulfilled in His life, death, and resurrection.

Over three hundred. And all the Messianic prophecies were or will be fulfilled by Him.

It would be impossible for anyone to satisfy the vast number of them without being of God. So should we not believe what Jesus said while He was here on earth if He claimed to be God in the flesh? We should believe everything He said.

I’ve made a list of the prophecies I know. I hope you find it useful. You can visit the following websites According to the Scriptures if you’d like to see more.

Prophecies of Messiah Fulfilled in Jesus

#1 – Born of a virgin.

Prophecy

Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel.

— Isaiah 7:14 NASB

Fulfillment

The angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God.

— Luke 1:35 NASB

#2 – Descended from Abraham and would bless all nations.

Prophecy

And I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.

— Genesis 12:3 NASB

Fulfillment

The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “ALL THE NATIONS WILL BE BLESSED IN YOU.“

— Galatians 3:8 NASB

#3 – More specifically, He would descend through Isaac, Jacob, Judah, Jesse, and David.

Prophecy

(said to Isaac) The LORD appeared to him and said, “Do not go down to Egypt; stay in the land of which I shall tell you. Sojourn in this land and I will be with you and bless you, for to you and to your descendants I will give all these lands, and I will establish the oath which I swore to your father Abraham.

I will multiply your descendants as the stars of heaven, and will give your descendants all these lands; and by your descendants all the nations of the earth shall be blessed; because Abraham obeyed Me and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes and My laws.”

— Genesis 26:2-5 NASB

(said to Jacob) Your descendants will also be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south; and in you and in your descendants shall all the families of the earth be blessed.

— Genesis 28:14 NASB

(said to Judah) The scepter shall not depart from Judah, Nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, Until Shiloh comes, And to him shall be the obedience of the peoples.

— Genesis 49:10 NASB

(said of Jesse) Then a shoot will spring from the stem of Jesse, And a branch from his roots will bear fruit.

— Isaiah 11:1 NASB

(said to David) When your days are complete and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your descendant after you, who will come forth from you, and I will establish his kingdom.

— 2 Samuel 7:12 NASB

Fulfillment

When He began His ministry, Jesus Himself was about thirty years of age, being, as was supposed, the son of Joseph, the son of Eli, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph, the son of Mattathias, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Hesli, the son of Naggai, the son of Maath, the son of Mattathias, the son of Semein, the son of Josech, the son of Joda, the son of Joanan, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, the son of Neri, the son of Melchi, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmadam, the son of Er, the son of Joshua, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Simeon, the son of Judah, the son of Joseph, the son of Jonam, the son of Eliakim, the son of Melea, the son of Menna, the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan, the son of David, the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Salmon, the son of Nahshon, the son of Amminadab, the son of Admin, the son of Ram, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah, the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor, the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Heber, the son of Shelah, the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech, the son of MethuSelah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalaleel, the son of Cainan, the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.

— Luke 3:23-38 NASB

#4 – Priest after the order of Melchizedeck (not a Levite).

Prophecy

The LORD has sworn and will not change His mind, “You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek.”

— Psalm 110:4 NASB

Fulfillment

This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil, where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.

— Hebrews 6:19-20 NASB

#5 – Preceded by a forerunner.

Prophecy

A voice is calling, “Clear the way for the LORD in the wilderness; Make smooth in the desert a highway for our God.”

— Isaiah 40:3 NASB

“Behold, I am going to send My messenger, and he will clear the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple; and the messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight, behold, He is coming,” says the LORD of hosts.

— Malachi 3:1 NASB

Fulfillment

(John the Baptist) Then they said to him, “Who are you, so that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?” He said, “I am A VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS, ‘MAKE STRAIGHT THE WAY OF THE LORD,’ as Isaiah the prophet said.”

— John 1:23 NASB

John answered them saying, “I baptize in water, but among you stands One whom you do not know. It is He who comes after me, the thong of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.”

These things took place in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing. The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! This is He on behalf of whom I said, ‘After me comes a Man who has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.’

— John 1:26-30 NASB

#6 – Ministry of miracles.

Prophecy

Then the eyes of the blind will be opened And the ears of the deaf will be unstopped. Then the lame will leap like a deer, And the tongue of the mute will shout for joy. For waters will break forth in the wilderness And streams in the Arabah.

— Isaiah 35:5-6 NASB

Fulfillment

Now when John, while imprisoned, heard of the works of Christ, he sent word by his disciples and said to Him, “Are You the Expected One, or shall we look for someone else?” Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and report to John what you hear and see: the BLIND RECEIVE SIGHT and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the POOR HAVE THE GOSPEL PREACHED TO THEM. And blessed is he who does not take offense at Me.”

— Matthew 11:2-6 NASB

#7 – Declared to be the Son of God.

Prophecy

For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.

— Isaiah 9:6 NASB

Fulfillment

…concerning His Son, who was born of a descendant of David according to the flesh, who was declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead, according to the Spirit of holiness, Jesus Christ our Lord.

— Romans 1:3-4 NASB

#8 – The Great “I AM” (God)

Prophecy

Then Moses said to God, “Behold, I am going to the sons of Israel, and I will say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you.’ Now they may say to me, ‘What is His name?’ What shall I say to them?”

God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM”; and He said, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”

God, furthermore, said to Moses, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘The LORD, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is My name forever, and this is My memorial-name to all generations.

— Exodus 3:13-15 NASB

Fulfillment

“Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.”

So the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?”

Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am.”

— John 8:57-58 NASB

#9 – Presented to Jerusalem riding a donkey.

Prophecy

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; He is just and endowed with salvation, Humble, and mounted on a donkey, Even on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

— Zechariah 9:9 NASB

Fulfillment

The disciples went and did just as Jesus had instructed them, and brought the donkey and the colt, and laid their coats on them; and He sat on the coats. Most of the crowd spread their coats in the road, and others were cutting branches from the trees and spreading them in the road.

The crowds going ahead of Him, and those who followed, were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David; BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD; Hosanna in the highest!”

— Matthew 21:6-9 NASB

#10 – Despised.

Prophecy

He was despised and forsaken of men, A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; And like one from whom men hide their face He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.

— Isaiah 53:3 NASB

Fulfillment

And all the people in the synagogue were filled with rage as they heard these things; and they got up and drove Him out of the city, and led Him to the brow of the hill on which their city had been built, in order to throw Him down the cliff.

— Luke 4:28-29 NASB

#11 – False witnesses against Him.

Prophecy

Malicious witnesses rise up; They ask me of things that I do not know.

— Psalm 35:11 NASB

Fulfillment

Now the chief priests and the whole Council kept trying to obtain false testimony against Jesus, so that they might put Him to death. They did not find any, even though many false witnesses came forward.

But later on two came forward, and said, “This man stated, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and to rebuild it in three days.’”

— Matthew 26:59-61 NASB

#12 – Betrayed by a friend.

Prophecy

For it is not an enemy who reproaches me, Then I could bear it; Nor is it one who hates me who has exalted himself against me, Then I could hide myself from him. But it is you, a man my equal, My companion and my familiar friend.

— Psalm 55:12-14 NASB

Fulfillment

Now Judas also, who was betraying Him, knew the place, for Jesus had often met there with His disciples.

Judas then, having received the Roman cohort and officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, came there with lanterns and torches and weapons.

— John 18:2-3 NASB

#13 – Friends fled.

Prophecy

Because of all my adversaries, I have become a reproach, Especially to my neighbors, And an object of dread to my acquaintances; Those who see me in the street flee from me.

— Psalm 31:11 NASB

Fulfillment

And they all left Him and fled.

— Mark 14:50 NASB

#14 – Silent before accusers.

Prophecy

Those who seek my life lay snares for me; And those who seek to injure me have threatened destruction, And they devise treachery all day long. But I, like a deaf man, do not hear; And I am like a mute man who does not open his mouth.

— Psalm 38:12-13 NASB

Fulfillment

And while He was being accused by the chief priests and elders, He did not answer. Then Pilate said to Him, “Do You not hear how many things they testify against You?” And He did not answer him with regard to even a single charge, so the governor was quite amazed.

— Matthew 27:12-14 NASB

#15 – Rejected.

Prophecy

He was despised and forsaken of men, A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; And like one from whom men hide their face He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.

— Isaiah 53:3 NASB

Fulfillment

But the governor said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas.” Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said, “Crucify Him!” And he said, “Why, what evil has He done?” But they kept shouting all the more, saying, “Crucify Him!”

— Matthew 27:21-23 NASB

#16 – Not a bone broken.

Prophecy

He keeps all his bones, Not one of them is broken.

— Psalm 34:20 NASB

Fulfillment

Then the Jews, because it was the day of preparation, so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.

So the soldiers came, and broke the legs of the first man and of the other who was crucified with Him; but coming to Jesus, when they saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs.

— John 19:31-33 NASB

#17 – Parted His garments and cast lots for them.

Prophecy

They divide my garments among them, And for my clothing they cast lots.

— Psalm 22:18 NASB

Fulfillment

Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took His outer garments and made four parts, a part to every soldier and also the tunic; now the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece.

So they said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it, to decide whose it shall be”; this was to fulfill the Scripture: “THEY DIVIDED MY OUTER GARMENTS AMONG THEM, AND FOR MY CLOTHING THEY CAST LOTS.”

— John 19:23-24 NASB

#18 – Christ crucified.

Prophecy

And Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on the standard; and it came about, that if a serpent bit any man, when he looked to the bronze serpent, he lived.

— Numbers 21:9 NASB

Fulfillment

As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life.

— John 3:14 NASB

And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself. But He was saying this to indicate the kind of death by which He was to die.

— John 12:32-33 NASB

#19 – Forsaken because of our sin.

Prophecy

My God, my God, why have You forsaken me? Far from my deliverance are the words of my groaning.

— Psalm 22:1 NASB

Fulfillment

About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “ELI, ELI, LAMA SABACHTHANI?” that is, “MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?

— Matthew 27:46 NASB

#20 – Buried in rich man’s tomb.

Prophecy

His grave was assigned with wicked men, Yet He was with a rich man in His death, Because He had done no violence, Nor was there any deceit in His mouth.

— Isaiah 53:9 NASB

Fulfillment

When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who himself had also become a disciple of Jesus. This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered it to be given to him.

And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock; and he rolled a large stone against the entrance of the tomb and went away.

— Matthew 27:57-60 NASB

#21 – Resurrection.

Prophecy

He will swallow up death for all time, And the Lord GOD will wipe tears away from all faces, And He will remove the reproach of His people from all the earth; For the LORD has spoken.

— Isaiah 25:8 NASB

Fulfillment

But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP in victory.”

— 1 Corinthians 15:54 NASB

#22 – Faithful Priest.

Prophecy

But I will raise up for Myself a faithful priest who will do according to what is in My heart and in My soul; and I will build him an enduring house, and he will walk before My anointed always.

— 1 Samuel 2:35 NASB

Fulfillment

Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.

— Hebrews 2:17 NASB

but Jesus, on the other hand, because He continues forever, holds His priesthood permanently. Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.

— Hebrews 7:24-25 NASB

#23 – All nations blessed by Him.

Prophecy

May his name endure forever; May his name increase as long as the sun shines; And let men bless themselves by him; Let all nations call him blessed.

— Psalm 72:17 NASB

Fulfillment

The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “ALL THE NATIONS WILL BE BLESSED IN YOU.” So then those who are of faith are blessed with Abraham, the believer.

— Galatians 3:8 NASB

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As long as this post is, I’ve only touched on the many prophecies Jesus filled. There are hundreds more. I honestly can’t get over that.

Like Lee Strobel, I don’t have enough faith to not believe in Jesus. On that note, please check out my page Weary Sparrow if you’ve never surrendered your life to Jesus.

What are your favorite prophecies? Share in the comments below. Merry Christmas!

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Additional Resources

• Free Christmas Bundle to Remind Us of the Reason for the Season from HISsparrowBlog
• How to Embrace This Season from Milk & Honey Faith

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