Christmas – the commemoration of the birth of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem, more than 2000 years ago – is a most joyous occasion all over the world. Jesus Christ, also called Jesus of Nazareth or Jesus of Galilee, is the founder of Christianity and, according to the teachings of Christianity, the Son of God and the Lord Saviour of the World, whose deeds and message are recorded in the New Testament. The principal source of information about the life of Jesus is the record of four evangelists, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Each of the four Gospels is said to have written from an individual perspective.
According to the Biblical Gospel account, miraculous events surrounded the conception and birth of Jesus. He was legally the son of Joseph, a carpenter of Nazareth, but is believed by his followers to have been miraculously conceived by his mother, Mary, through God’s Holy Spirit.
Philosophers and Bible researchers are of the opinion that the term ‘Jesus Christ’ designates not only a historical person who lives in Palestine during the reigns of the Roman emperors Augustus and Tiberius, but also one who has been the object of Christian faith and worship for more than 20 centuries. Jesus Christ can be described chiefly on the basis of the way he was remembered by the believing community that took his name and worshipped him as the Messiah. Was Jesus truly the Messiah? Let us see!
Many centuries before Jesus’ birth, the Hebrew prophets foretold the coming of the Messiah, which in Hebrew means ‘Anointed one’. Those prophets gave specific details about the future Messiah’s life – including his line of descent, where and when he would arrive, and what would happen to him.
Christians in the first century C.E. believed that these prophecies were fulfilled in Jesus and that he was the Messiah. This belief has also been continuing in the Christendom throughout the last more than 20 centuries. Is this conclusion correct? Do Bible prophecies bear the hallmark of divine inspiration or, are they merely the work of clever humans? Let us look at just four of the many prophecies regarding the Messiah, and in each case, we will consider the evidence.
Prophecy I: “He will sit on David’s kingly throne”. Isaiah 9:7, “Knox”.
Fulfillment: Matthew’s Gospel opens with the words: “The book of the history of Jesus Christ, son of David, son of Abraham”. Matthew then traces Jesus’ descent through David, as does the Gospel writer Luke. – Matthew 1:1-16; Luke 3:23-38.
What history reveals: The writings of Jewish historian Josephus indicate that genealogical records of Jewish families were available in public archives. Those records were destroyed in 70 C.E. when Jerusalem was pillaged. But prior to Jerusalem’s destruction, the claim that Jesus was a descendant of David had been widely publicized. (Matthew 9:27; 20:30; 21:9). Had that claim been false, anyone could have challenged or even disapproved it. Yet, there is no record that anyone attempted to do so.
Prophecy 2: “O Bethlehem Ephrathah, the one too little to get to be among the thousands of Judah, from you there will come out to me the one who is to become ruler in Israel”. Micah 5:2.
Fulfillment: Jesus was born in Bethlehem. When Caesar Augustus ordered a census, Jesus’ foster father, Joseph, was obliged to go from Nazareth to “Judah, to David’s city, which is called Bethlehem, because of his being a member of the house and family of David, to get registered with Mary”. While there, Mary “gave birth to her son” Jesus. – Luke 2:1-7.
What history reveals: Archaeology confirms that the Romans conducted censuses in the Middle East for the purpose of tax collection and military conscription. Evidence of one such census can be seen in an edict of the Roman Governor of Egypt in 104 C.E. which reads: Seeing that the time has come for the house to house census, it is necessary to compel all those who for any cause whatsoever are residing out of their homes (districts) to return to their own homes, that they may both carry out the regular order of the census, and may also attend diligently to the cultivation of their allotments.”
Prophecy 3: “From the going forth of the word to restore and to rebuild Jerusalem until Messiah the Leader, there will be seven weeks, also sixty-two weeks”. – Daniel 9:25.
Fulfillment: The period of time specified in Daniel’s prophecy amounts to 69 units of 7 years each, or 483 years. The rebuilding of Jerusalem began in 455 B.C.E. As prophesized 483 years (69 weeks of years) later, in 29 C.E., Jesus became the Anointed One, or Messiah, when he was baptized and anointed with God’s holy spirit.” – Luke 3:21, 22.
What history reveals: In the early part of the first century C.E., “the people were in expectation” of the Messiah’s arrival. (Luke 3:15). In his book ‘A History of Messianic Speculation in Israel’, Jewish Scholar Abba Hillel Silver writes that the period before the destruction of Jerusalem “witnessed a remarkable outburst of Messianic emotionalism”. He also notes that “the Messiah was expected around the second quarter of the first century”. The anticipation of the Jews, Silver writes, was based on “the popular chronology of that time”.
Prophecy 4: “He will make his burial place even with the wicked ones, and with the rich class in his death.” – Isaiah 53:9.
Fulfillment: Jesus was executed alongside two condemned criminals, yet he was buried in a quarried-out tomb donated by a wealthy believer, Joseph of Arimathes. Matthew 27:38, 57-60; John 19:38.
What history reveals: Numerous ancient historians testify that Jesus was executed as a criminal. Archaeological investigations in Palestine have uncovered ancient tombs consisting of chambers or vaults cut into rock. Having such a tomb already prepared and available would not have posed a problem for a wealthy and influential person such as Joseph of Arimathea.
The foregoing represents just a few of the many Messianic prophecies that were fulfilled in Jesus. Clearly, no human could falsify the fulfillment of those detailed prophecies. Their precise fulfillment strengthens our faith that God was their Source and that he will yet bring all the foretold Messianic blessing to reality for obedient mankind.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to one and all!
(The writer is a freelance journalist)
