“I am telling you this now, before it takes place, that when it does take place, you may believe that I am He.” John 13:19 ESV1
Read John 13:18-20
At the Last Supper in the presence of His closest disciples, Jesus said these words:
“‘I am telling you this now, before it takes place, that when it does take place, you may believe that I am He’” (John 13:19).
This statement was made in context of His upcoming betrayal. This disloyalty had been predicted centuries before. Right before His comment, Jesus referenced the prophesy (see John 13:18 and Psalm 41:9).
Before too long, the disciples would be thrown into much confusion. Because the soon-to-occur events wouldn’t fit their preconceived ideas of how the Messiah would defeat their enemy, they would be tempted to doubt the Master they had followed for three and a half years was Who He said He was. So, Jesus reminded them of this Messianic prophesy.
As Jesus Himself explained:
“‘Everything written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled’” (Luke 24:44b).
If even one of the prophesies concerning the Messiah didn’t match Jesus, He would not be the promised Anointed One. So, let’s look at thirty specific Messianic prophesies and their fulfillment in Jesus Christ.
He Must Be the Son of God
“‘As for Me, I have set My King on Zion, My holy hill.’ I will tell of the decree: The LORD said to Me, “You are My Son; today I have begotten You. Ask of Me, and I will make the nations Your heritage, and the ends of the earth Your possession’” (Psalm 2:6-8).
“And the angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to Him the throne of His father, David, and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His Kingdom, there will be no end.’ And Mary said to the angel, ‘How will this be since I am a virgin?’ And the angel answered her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the Child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God’” (Luke 1:30-35).2
He Must Be the Seed of the Woman
“The LORD God said to the serpent, ‘Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and above all beasts of the field; on your belly, you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life. I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her Offspring; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel’” (Genesis 3:14-15).
“When the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law” (Galatians 4:4).
He Must Be the Seed of Abraham
“‘And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your Offspring after you. And I will give to you and to your offspring after you the land of your sojourning, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession, and I will be their God’” (Genesis 17:7-8).
“Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his Offspring. It does not say, ‘And to offsprings,’ referring to many, but referring to One, ‘And to your Offspring,’ who is Christ” (Galatians 3:16).
He Must Be the Seed of Isaac
“God said to Abraham, ‘Be not displeased because of the boy and because of your slave woman. Whatever Sarah says to you, do as she tells you, for through Isaac shall your Offspring be named’” (Genesis 21:12).
“Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah … and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called Christ” (Matthew 1:2 & 16).
“By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, of whom it was said, ‘Through Isaac shall your Offspring be named.’ He considered that God was able to raise people even from the dead, from which he also received him back as a type” (Hebrews 11:17-19).
He Must Be the Seed of David
“The LORD swore to David a sure oath from which He will not turn back: ‘One of the Sons of your body I will set on your throne’” (Psalm 132:11).
“‘And when He had removed [Saul], He raised up David to be their king, of whom He testified and said, “I have found in David the son of Jesse a man after My heart, who will do all My will.” Of this man’s Offspring God has brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus, as He promised’” (Acts 13:22-23).
“God … promised beforehand through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures, concerning His Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of Holiness by His resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 1:1-4).
He Must Be Born of a Virgin
“Therefore, the LORD Himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14).
“Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found to be with Child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered these things, 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 spoken by the prophet: ‘Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel, which translated means, God with us’” (Matthew 1:18-23).3
He Must Be Born in Bethlehem
“‘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’” (Micah 5:2).
“Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king” (Matthew 2:1a).
“And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with Child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth” (Luke 2:4-6).
Kings Must Worship Him
“May the kings of Tarshish and of the coastlands render Him tribute; may the kings of Sheba and Seba bring gifts! May all kings fall down before Him, all nations serve Him” (Psalm 72:10-11)!
“Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, ‘Where is He who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw His star when it rose and have come to worship Him.’ When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house, they saw the Child with Mary His mother, and they fell down and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered Him gifts, gold, and frankincense, and myrrh” (Matthew 2:1-2 & 11).4
He Must Be Called Out of Egypt
“When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt, I called My son” (Hosea 11:1).
“Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, ‘Rise, take the Child and His mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the Child, to destroy Him.’ And he rose and took the Child and His mother by night and departed to Egypt and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, ‘Out of Egypt, I called My son’” (Matthew 2:13-15).
Elijah Must Come Before Him
“A voice cries: ‘In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God” (Isaiah 40:3).
“‘Behold, I send My messenger, and he will prepare 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).
“‘Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes’” (Malachi 4:5).
“In those days, John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, ‘Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.’ For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said, ‘The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the LORD; make His paths straight”’” (Matthew 3:1-3).5
“‘What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is he of whom it is written, ‘“Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, who will prepare Your way before You.” Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist … if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come’” (Matthew 11:9-11a, 14).
“And the disciples asked [Jesus], ‘Then why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come?’ He answered, ‘Elijah does come, and he will restore all things. But I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him but did to him whatever they pleased. So also, the Son of Man will certainly suffer at their hands’” (Matthew 17:10-12).
He Must Be Anointed with the Spirit
“Your throne, O God, is forever and ever. The scepter of Your Kingdom is a scepter of uprightness; You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness. Therefore, God, your God, has anointed You with the oil of gladness beyond Your companions; Your robes are all fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia” (Psalm 45:6-8a).
“And when Jesus was baptized, immediately He went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on Him” (Matthew 3:16).
His Ministry Must Begin in Galilee
“But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time, He brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali but in the latter time, He has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations. The people who walked in darkness have seen a great Light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has Light shone” (Isaiah 9:1-2).
“Now when He heard that John had been arrested, He withdrew into Galilee. And leaving Nazareth He went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: ‘The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great Light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a Light has dawned’ From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, ‘Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand’” (Matthew 4:12-17).
He Must Enter Jerusalem on a Colt
“Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is He, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey” (Zechariah 9:9).
“Now when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, ‘Go into the village in front of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to Me. If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, “The Lord needs them,” and he will send them at once.’ This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet, saying, ‘Say to the daughter of Zion, “Behold, your King is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.”’ The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them. They brought the donkey and the colt and put on them their cloaks, and He sat on them. Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. And the crowds that went before Him and that followed Him were shouting, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD! Hosanna in the highest” (Matthew 21:1-5)!6
He Must Be Undesirable to Many
“For He grew up before Him like a young plant, 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” (Isaiah 53:2).
“‘Is not this the Carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us?’ And they took offense at Him” (Mark 6:3).
He Must Be Meek
“Behold My Servant, whom I uphold, My Chosen, in Whom My soul delights; I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the nations. He will not cry aloud or lift up His voice, or make it heard in the street; a bruised reed He will not break, and a faintly burning wick He will not quench; He will faithfully bring forth justice” (Isaiah 42:1-3).
“Jesus … withdrew from there. And many followed Him, and He healed them all and ordered them not to make Him known. This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: ‘Behold, My Servant Whom I have chosen, My Beloved with Whom My soul is well pleased. I will put My Spirit upon Him, and He will proclaim justice to the Gentiles. He will not quarrel or cry aloud, nor will anyone hear His voice in the streets; a bruised reed He will not break, and a smoldering wick He will not quench, until He brings justice to victory; and in His name the Gentiles will hope’” (Matthew 12:15-21).
He Must Be Without Guile
“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” (Isaiah 53:9).
“For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in His steps. 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” (1 Peter 2:21-25).
He Must Be Consumed with Zeal for The LORD’s House
“For zeal for Your house has consumed Me, and the reproaches of those who reproach you have fallen on Me” (Psalm 69:9).
“The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the Temple, He found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers sitting there. And making a whip of cords, He drove them all out of the Temple, with the sheep and oxen. And He poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. And He told those who sold the pigeons, ‘Take these things away; do not make My Father’s house a house of trade.’ His disciples remembered that it was written, ‘Zeal for Your house will consume Me’” (John 2:13-17).7
He Must Bear the Reproach
“But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by mankind and despised by the people. All who see Me mock Me; they make mouths at Me; they wag their heads; ‘He trusts in the LORD; let Him deliver Him; let Him rescue Him, for He delights in Him!” … Many bulls encompass Me; strong bulls of Bashan surround Me; they open wide their mouths at Me, like a ravening and roaring lion. (Psalm 22:6-8, 12-13).
“The chief priests, with the scribes and elders, mocked Him, saying, ‘He saved others; He cannot save Himself. He is the King of Israel; let Him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in Him. He trusts in God; let God deliver Him now, if He desires Him. For He said, “I am the Son of God.”’” (Matthew 27:41-43).
“For it is for Your sake that I have borne reproach, that dishonor has covered My face” (Psalm 69:7).
“For Christ did not please Himself, but as it is written, ‘The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me’” (Romans 15:3).
He Must Be Betrayed by a Friend
“Even My close friend in whom I trusted, who ate My bread, has lifted his heel against Me” (Psalm 41:9).
“‘I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But the Scripture will be fulfilled, “He who ate My bread has lifted his heel against Me.” I am telling you this now, before it takes place, that when it does take place you may believe that I am He’” (John 13:18-19).
His Followers Must be Scattered
“‘Awake, O sword, against My Shepherd, against the Man who stands next to Me,’ declares the LORD of Hosts. ‘Strike the Shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered; I will turn My hand against the little ones’” (Zechariah 13:7).
“Then Jesus said to them, ‘You will all fall away because of Me this night. For it is written, “I will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.” … But all this has taken place that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.’ Then all the disciples left Him and fled. (Matthew 26:31, 56).
He Must Be Sold for Thirty Pieces of Silver and that Money Must Be Used to Purchase the Potter’s Field
“Then I said to them, ‘If it seems good to you, give me my wages; but if not, keep them.’ And they weighed out as my wages thirty pieces of silver. Then the LORD said to me, ‘Throw it to the potter’—the lordly price at which I was priced by them. So, I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them into the House of the LORD, to the potter” (Zechariah 11:12-13).
“Then one of the twelve, whose name was Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, ‘What will you give me if I deliver Him over to you?’ And they paid him thirty pieces of silver” (Matthew 26:14-15).
“Then when Judas, His betrayer, saw that Jesus was condemned, he changed his mind and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders, saying, ‘I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.’ They said, ‘What is that to us? See to it yourself.’ And throwing down the pieces of silver into the Temple, he departed, and he went and hanged himself. But the chief priests, taking the pieces of silver, said, ‘It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, since it is blood money.’ So, they took counsel and bought with them the potter’s field as a burial place for strangers. Therefore, that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day. Then was fulfilled what had been spoken by the prophet Jeremiah, saying, ‘And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of Him on whom a price had been set by some of the sons of Israel, and they gave them for the potter’s field, as the LORD directed me’” (Matthew 27:1-10).
He Must Be Numbered with Criminals
“Therefore, I will divide Him a portion with the many, and He shall divide the spoil with the strong, because He poured out His soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors” (Isaiah 53:12a).
“And with Him they crucified two robbers, one on His right and one on His left. And those who passed by derided Him, wagging their heads and saying, ‘Aha! You who would destroy the Temple and rebuild it in three days, save Yourself, and come down from the cross’” (Mark 15:27-30)!
He Must Make Intercession for His Murders
“Yet He bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors” (Isaiah 53:12).
“And Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do’” (Luke 23:34a).
Lots Mus Be Cast for His Clothing
“They divide My garments among them, and for My clothing they cast lots. (Psalm 22:18).
“And they cast lots to divide His garments” (Luke 23:34b).
His Hands and Feet Must Be Pierced
“For dogs encompass Me; a company of evildoers encircles Me; they have pierced My hands and feet” (Psalm 22:16).
“They nailed His hands and feet to the cross” (Mark 15:24a TPT8).
“So, the other disciples told [Thomas], ‘We have seen the Lord.’ But he said to them, ‘Unless I see in His hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.’ Eight days later, His disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you.’ Then He said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here, and see My hands; and put out your hand, and place it in My side. Do not disbelieve, but believe’” (John 20:25-27).
He Must Die
“Therefore, I will divide Him a portion with the many, and He shall divide the spoil with the strong, because He poured out His soul to death” (Isaiah 53:12a).
“And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up His spirit. And behold, the curtain of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split. The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, and coming out of the tombs after His resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many. When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, ‘Truly this was the Son of God’” (Matthew 27:50-54)!
His Bones Must Not Be Broken
“‘This is the statute of the Passover: … you shall not break any of its bones’” (Exodus 12:43a, 46b).
“He keeps all His bones; not one of them is broken” (Psalm 34:20).
“But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs … He who saw it has borne witness—his testimony is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth—that you also may believe. For these things took place that the Scripture might be fulfilled: ‘Not one of his bones will be broken’” (John 19:33, 35-36).
His Side Must Be Pierced
“And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on Me, on Him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for Him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over Him, as one weeps over a firstborn” (Zechariah 12:10).
“But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water” (John 19:34).
He Must Rise from the Dead
“For You will not abandon My soul to Sheol, or let Your Holy One see corruption” (Psalm 16:10).
“‘Why do you seek the Living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how He told you, while He was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise’” (Luke 24:5b-8).
He Must Ascend to Heaven
“You ascended on High, leading a host of captives in Your train and receiving gifts among men, even among the rebellious, that the LORD God may dwell there” (Psalm 68:18).
“And He led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up His hands He blessed them. While He blessed them, He parted from them and was carried up into Heaven. And they worshiped Him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the Temple blessing God” (Luke 24:50-53).
Astounding!
Space and time prevent me from mentioning all of the hundreds of prophesies pointing to the Messiah that were fulfilled in Jesus. It is amazing to consider how Isaiah 53, which was written 750 years before Jesus walked the Earth, so accurately detailed what the Messiah would do. And it is astounding how Psalm 22, written 1000 years before crucifixion was invented, explained exactly what happened in that tortuous form of punishment.
What is even more flabbergasting is the fact that many of the Jewish religious leaders who knew the Scriptures inside and out and who were intimately aware of all of the prophesies that pointed to the Messiah could miss Him when He stood in their presence. They even resisted Jesus and attempted to prevent others from realizing He is the Messiah. May we take their downfall as a warning: let’s not be so consumed with religious activity and so concerned with correct doctrine that we miss Jesus and all He attempting to share with us.
1 Scripture quotations marked with ESV are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All Scriptures are taken from the ESV unless otherwise noted. To aid in understanding, I have capitalized references to God.
2 For more about this, check out https://blueturtletrails.com/so-this-is-what-blessed-feels-like/
3 For more about this, check out https://blueturtletrails.com/nobel-joseph/
4 For more about this, check out https://blueturtletrails.com/the-really-wise-men/
5 For more about this, check out https://blueturtletrails.com/removing-obstacles/
6 For more about this, check out https://blueturtletrails.com/the-key-to-unlocking-the-mystery/
7 For more about this, check out https://blueturtletrails.com/holy-house-cleaning/
8 Scriptures marked with TPT are from The Passion Translation of the Holy Scriptures. The Passion Translation is a registered trademark of Passion & Fire Ministries, Inc. Copyright 2020 Passion & Fire Ministries, Inc.