In the last lesson that I posted, we talked about prophesies and prophets. In this lesson, I would like to wrap up the Christmas season by teaching of the prophesies that pointed to the coming of Jesus, or the Messianic prophesies.

We have defined prophecies as special messages from God, sometimes predictions of the future that are uttered by a human spokesman. Some of these messages were taken from the prophet's words and writings, some from their lives and actions. There are over 300 prophecies in the Bible that speak of Jesus. Obviously I am not going to address all of these in this lesson, but I will address the ones that help us to know that Jesus truly is the Messiah, the Son of God.

In Genesis 49:10, the lineage or tribe of Jesus is foretold. Jesus was born of the lineage of David of the tribe of Judah â??The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, until he comes to whom it belongs (Jesus) and the obedience of the nations is hisâ?? Jesus is definitely worthy to have the ruler's staff and we are still working on obedience of the nations.

Jesus' birthplace was prophesied in Micah 5:2. â??But you, Bethelehem 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.â??

Daniel described the times that Jesus would be born into in Daniel 9:25 and 26. Know and understand this: From the issuing of the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Annointed One, there will be seven 'sevens' and sixty two 'sevens'. It (Jerusalem) will be rebuilt with streets and a trench, but in times of trouble. After the 62 'sevens', the Annointed One will be cut off and will have nothing. The people of the ruler who will come (Rome) will destroy the city and the sanctuary (Temple). The end will come like a flood. War will continue until the end and desolations have been decreed.â?? The great Temple at Jerusalem was destroyed along with the rest of the city in 70 AD by Vespasian. One wall of the Temple was left standing to remind the Jews of what they had lost. It stands today, and is known as the Wailing Wall.

I have already addressed the prophecies pertaining to the forerunner of Jesus, John the Baptist and Isaiah's prophecies pertaining to his ministry and career. The book of Zechariah is full of prophesies about Jesus. Zechariah 9:9 â??Rejoice greatly, Oh 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.â?? This prophecy refers to Jesus' entry into Jerusalem, less than one week before his crucifixtion. In Zechariah 12:10 the response to Jesus' death is prophesied. â??And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication.They will look on me, the one that they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a first born son.â??

I am going to finish this off by briefly going into the prophecies regarding Jesus' crucifixtion and resurrection in Psalms. Psalm 22 1-18 describes the crucifixtion like this: â??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, you cry out be day but 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 agianst me, I am poured out like water and all of 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.

After this grim description of the pain and suffering of the crucifixtion, we have Jesus' resurrection prophesied in Psalm 16:8-10 â??I have set the Lord always before me, Because he is always at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices, my body will also rest secure. Because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay. You have made known to me the path of life, you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

One thing came to me as I wrote this study. Jesus was aware of who he was and what his mission was. He really knew his scriptures, he used them to illuminate his lessons and argue with religious leaders that tried to entrap him. He knew all of these prophecies and more. He knew what his fate would be. This gave me even more respect and awe for Jesus. He was a very brave man.