What could be more amazing than to read precise predictions of the events of a person's life hundreds of years before his birth? Surely that would be a mark of divine knowledge and involvement, wouldn't it?

The Old Testament is filled with just such prophecies—giving minute details of the life of Jesus of Nazareth, providing overwhelming evidence that there is a mind and power at work that far transcends the human mind. The accuracy of such prophecies shows us why we can—and should—believe in Bible prophecy.

Psalm 89:3-4 prophesies that Jesus would be a descendant of King David: "I have made a covenant with My chosen, I have sworn to My servant David: Your seed I will establish forever, and build up your throne to all generations." Isaiah 11:1 similarly prophesies that "there shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse [David's father], and a Branch shall grow out of his roots." Jesus' genealogies in Matthew 1 and Luke 3 verify that these prophecies were fulfilled.

God inspired Isaiah to tell us that Jesus would 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; confirmed in Matthew 1:18-23).

Additionally, Jesus' birth in Bethlehem was foretold: "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be Ruler in Israel, whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting" (Micah 5:2; confirmed in Matthew 2:1, 5-6).

Specifically, Jesus would live in Galilee (Isaiah 9:1-2) and in Nazareth: "Nevertheless the gloom will not be upon her who is distressed, as when at first He lightly esteemed the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, and afterward more heavily oppressed her, by the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, in Galilee of the Gentiles" (Isaiah 9:1). Matthew verified that this prophecy was fulfilled (Matthew 4:12-16).

Jesus would be announced by an Elijah-like herald, John the Baptist: "The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be exalted and every mountain and hill brought low; the crooked places shall be made straight and the rough places smooth; the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken" (Isaiah 40:3-5). Again, Matthew confirmed this prophecy's fulfillment (Matthew 3:1-3).

Jesus Christ's mission would include the Gentiles: "Behold! My Servant whom I uphold, My Elect One in whom My soul delights! I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the Gentiles" (Isaiah 42:1). Gospel writer Matthew, a Jew, recognized Jesus' fulfillment of this specific prophecy: "Behold, My Servant whom I have chosen, my Beloved in whom My soul is well pleased; I will put My Spirit upon Him, and He will declare justice to the Gentiles . . . And in His name Gentiles will trust" (Matthew 12:18, 21).

Other significant prophecies detailing the personal life and sacrifice of Jesus Christ were written down hundreds of years before they happened. A friend of Jesus would betray Him (compare Psalm 41:9 with Matthew 26:14-16). Jesus would die like a criminal (compare Isaiah 53:9, 12 with Mark 15:27-28). A rich man would bury Him in his own tomb (compare Isaiah 53:9 with Matthew 27:57-60).

Not one of Jesus' bones would be broken (compare Psalm 34:20 with John 19:32-36). Soldiers would cast lots for His garments (compare Psalm 22:18 with John 19:24). Jesus' side would be pierced (compare Zechariah 12:10 with John 19:34-37).

All these prophecies and more were written about the life, sacrifice and death of our Savior, hundreds of years before any of these events happened. There is no question that you and I can believe in Bible prophecy, for the One who foretold such important events is able to bring them about in every detail. GN