Jesus in the Old Testament
Old Testament Prophecies of the First Coming of Jesus Christ
Jesus is not only revealed in the New Testament, He is also prophesied about in the Old Testament. Here are some Old Testament scriptures that vividly proclaim His first coming. They are followed by New Testament scriptures which confirm the prophecies of the coming Christ: God with us. These were written hundreds of years before Christ. Some over 1000 years BC.
Most sections below contain two color groups.
BC Old Testament (BC Before Christ) Prophecies before Christ are in black.
AD New Testament (AD Anno Domini)Events-On or after the birth of Christ are in red.
Then beginning with Moses and with all the Prophets (Hebrew Scriptures), He (Jesus) explained to them the things written about Himself in all the Scriptures. Luke 24:27
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The Genesis prophecy
BC The Genesis account which occurred 6,000 to 8,000 years ago.
Genesis 3:14-15 God speaking to the serpent (Satan) after he deceived Adam and Eve .
So the Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, “Cursed are you above all livestock and all wild animals! You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life. And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring (seed) and hers; he (Jesus) will crush your head, and you will strike his (Jesus) heel.”
(Jesus) Added for clarity.
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The Virgin Birth of Jesus Christ
BC Isaiah 7: 14-15 prophecy
Written 686-739 years before Christ
Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. He shall eat curds and honey when he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good.
AD Hundreds of years after Isaiah's prophecy, the Apostle Matthew wrote this in Matthew 1: 20-23 ...behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet "Behold, the virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call Him Immanuel" (which means, "God with us").
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A Child is Born.
BC Isaiah 9: 6-7 prophecy
Written 686-739 years before Christ and after King David.
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government will be upon His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish and sustain it with justice and righteousness from that time and forevermore.
AD Hundreds of years after Isaiah's prophecy Luke 2: 6-7
While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
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Jesus Born in Bethlehem
Truly God. Truly Man. BC Micah 5:2 prophecy. Written 700-735 years before Christ and after King David
But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.
AD At least 700 years after Micah's prophecy Matthew 2: 1-2
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 when it rose and have come to worship him.”
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Jesus comes down to live a humble life.
As a child raised in a lowly village. BC Isaiah 53:1-2
Written 686-739 years before Christ
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 form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him.
AD Hundreds of years after Isaiah's prophecy Luke 2:39-40
And when they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. Now the Child continued to grow and to become strong, increasing in wisdom; and the favor of God was upon Him.
Nazareth's population at the time of Jesus: About 400 according to archeologist's estimates.
Nazareth was a place of no status : Nathanael asked - "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?"
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Jesus lived, preached and healed the sick
in the region of Galilee.
BC Isaiah 9:1-2 prophecy
Written 686-739 years before Christ
Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those in distress. In the past He humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future He will honor the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations: The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death, a light has dawned
AD Hundreds of years after Isaiah's prophecy
The Apostle Matthew wrote this in Matthew 9:35.
Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.
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Jesus enters Jerusalem riding on a donkey.
BC Zechariah 9:9 prophecy. Written 520 Years before Christ
Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
520 Years after the Zechariah prophecy
AD Luke 19:35-38
They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it. As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road. When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen: “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”
His Suffering
He was Despised.
BC Isaiah 53:3 prophecy
Written 686-739 years before Christ
He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Hundreds of years after Isaiah's prophecy
AD Mark 6:3
Isn’t this the carpenter, the son of Mary and the brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? Aren’t His sisters here with us as well?” And they took offense at Him.
AD Matthew 22:15
The Pharisees got together and planned how they could trick Jesus into saying something wrong.
AD John 11:53
So from that day on they planned together to kill Him.
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He was Oppressed and Unfairly Judged
BC Isaiah 53:8
Written 686-739 years before Christ
By oppression and judgment he was taken away. Yet who of his generation protested?
Hundreds of years after Isaiah's prophecy
AD Matthew 26:57
Those who had arrested Jesus led Him away to the house of Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and elders had gathered.
AD Matthew 26: 59-60
Now the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were seeking false testimony against Jesus in order to put Him to death. But they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward.
AD Mark 14: 55-56
The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death, but they did not find any. Many testified falsely against him, but their statements did not agree.
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He Kept Silent before His oppressors.
BC Isaiah 53:7
Written 686-739 years before Christ
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 its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.
Hundreds of years after Isaiah's prophecy
AD 1 Peter 2:23
He did not retaliate when he was insulted, nor threaten revenge when he suffered. He left his case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly.
AD Matthew 27: 12-14
And when He was accused by the chief priests and elders, He gave no answer.
Then Pilate asked Him, “Do You not hear how many charges they are bringing against You?”
But Jesus gave no answer, not even to a single charge, much to the governor’s amazement.
AD Hebrews 12:3
Consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
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The Suffering Servant
Beaten and Scourged
BC Isaiah 50: 6
Written 686-739 years before Christ
I gave My back to those who strike Me, And My cheeks to those who pull out My beard; I did not hide My face from insults and spitting.
Hundreds of years after Isaiah's prophecy
AD Matthew 26:67-68
Then they spit in his face and struck him with their fists. Others slapped him and said, “Prophesy to us, Messiah. Who hit you?”
AD Mark 14:65
...And the guards took him and beat him.
AD John 19:1-3
So Pilate then took Jesus and had Him flogged. And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and placed it on His head, and put a purple cloak on Him; and they repeatedly came up to Him and said, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and slapped Him in the face again and again.
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BC Isaiah 52: 13-15
Written 686-739 years before Christ
Behold, My Servant will prosper, He will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted. Just as many were appalled at Him- His appearance was disfigured beyond that of any man, and His form was marred beyond human likeness- so He will sprinkle many nations. Kings will shut their mouths because of Him. For they will see what they have not been told, and they will understand what they have not heard.
AD See Entire New Testament.
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Our Sins were upon Him.
BC Isaiah 53: 4-6
Written 686-739 years before Christ
Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
Hundreds of years after Isaiah's prophecy
AD Matthew 27: 26
Flogged and Crucified by the Romans.
... and when he scourged Jesus, he delivered Him to be crucified.
AD 1 Peter 2:22-25
He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
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The Crucified Christ
BC Psalm 22:15-18 prophecy
Written 400-1400 years before Christ.
15 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. 16 For dogs surround me; a band of evil men encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet. 17 I can count all my bones; they stare and gloat over me 18 They divide my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing.
The Masoretic text, 600 AD, differs in verse 16. It reads: "like a lion” rather than “they have pierced.”
However verse 16 in the Dead Sea Scrolls, written before Christ, reads: " they have pierced"
Hundreds of years after the Psalm prophecy.
AD Matthew 27: 33-36
They came to a place called Golgotha (which means “the place of the skull”). There they offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall; but after tasting it, he refused to drink it. When they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes by casting lots. And sitting down, they kept watch over him there. Above his head they placed the written charge against him: this is jesus, the king of the jews.
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He was buried in a rich man's tomb.
BC Isaiah 53:9
Written 686-739 years before Christ
And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth.
Hundreds of years after Isaiah's prophecy
AD Matthew 27:57
As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away.
Crucified and Risen from the Dead.
God's Plan.
The Perfect Sacrifice for sinful man.
BC Isaiah 53:10-11 Written 686-739 years before Christ
Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand. After he has suffered, 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.
Hundreds of years after Isaiah's prophecy AD Luke 9:22 Jesus said:
“The Son of Man must suffer many terrible things,” he said. “He will be rejected by the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He will be killed, but on the third day he will be raised from the dead.”
AD 1 Corinthians 15:6 The Risen Lord appears to men.
Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time...
AD Acts 1:9 The Risen Lord taken up to Heaven
And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.
God's Love for All who believe
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16
