August 9, 2016
Part 1 of 3
Preamble
This article would not have been possible, but for the very learned and wise people who have written out of love about Jesus Christ. I am amazed at their knowledge and at times I get goose bumps just listening to some of them, or reading their works. While I have tried to give credit to these wonderful people, it is very possible that I may not have acknowledged all of them while borrowing from their wisdom. I sincerely apologize to them.
Although this article is about Jesus Christ and Christianity, it is not my intention to force the idea that Christ is the greatest personality to walk the face of this Earth in history, or that Christianity is the greatest religion there is. I believe anyone who cares and cares enough honestly will find the truth for themselves.
I don’t know if I love Christ as much as the many who even today face death doing His work; but, I know there are a lot of Christians who struggle with questions about Christ and Christianity. I have mostly encountered them during counselling and also while giving motivational talks. As I am not a Christian scholar and have never pretended to be, I initially struggled with some of the questions. I knew then that unless I had the answers, I would only leave both my counsellees and those who seek answers about Christ, in limbo, including me.
There are some other personal points I wish to air. I get confused with some people getting “offended” by religious articles. Actually, I am offended when I find someone glorifying drinking liquor, just to cite one example.
It is also interesting that some people feel they don’t mind the concept of God, but find religion repulsive. This is very difficult to respond to because the disgust may originate from various reasons. Again, to cite one example, someone may not like the rules that a religion may advocate, or the person may have experienced a lot of hurt and pain. We all want our freedom and we all want to make our rules. Imagine a world that is on autonomous drive! Rules form the very foundation of society, or any institution, if it has to work.
If you are on a flight and the pilot says that he knows more about the aircraft than Boeing and decides to fly the aircraft the way he pleases, I wonder how many will be amused with that. Sure, we don’t like rules; and in the post-modern world we have a huge problem with objective moral reasoning. However, we sure as hell, will not go to sleep without locking our doors. When it comes to one’s self, all rules are laid out for everyone else to follow.
Citing history, many are quick to point out that Christians have committed a lot of atrocities; and, they would not be entirely wrong. This remark, however, overlooks two factors: Firstly, there is not a single verse in which Jesus is seen to advocate hurting someone, let alone killing someone. When Peter cut off the ear of the soldier who had come to arrest Jesus, He admonished Peter and commanded him to put the sword away. Not just that, He healed the ear of the soldier. (And I am not even going into the hundreds of millions of murders committed by atheistic regimes. Nothing comes close to it – nothing!) Now, before someone jumps out of their seat, I am not saying atheists cannot be good people.
Secondly, there are sinners and trouble makers in people of all faiths, and at some point in history the majority has committed a lot of atrocities against the minorities. Do their scriptures justify violence, or teach the extent of forgiveness and love Jesus does? That you must find out!
Every single Hindu friend of mine agrees that Christians are the most politically and socially peaceful people in India. The attack on Christians, therefore, is very perplexing and not to mention, very disturbing. I am totally against forceful conversions, if they are taking place. It may be possible that certain newer Christian sects (and never the Catholic Church) may offer money and that, too, is absolutely wrong. As you read, I have explained why it is unacceptable to the Catholic Church, of which I am a member.
Having said that, if you have baked a cake – for the first time – and you find it very, very delicious, would you sit quietly and eat it by yourself, or share your experience with others with a large grin?
If you see someone really happy and telling you that he has been touched by God, no one will understand the depth of his joy, but he will not be able to contain himself. I can almost see the Apostles running out on to the streets and shouting with joy, “Hey come and listen to what we have seen,” after they had experienced the Risen Jesus. Arguably, no one would be able to put a lid on an earth-shaking experience like this.
Ask someone if he has seen a ghost and not shared the experience. It is impossible not to!
I also believe that anyone who is forced to convert (including with the lure of money) against their will can file a police complaint. Why attack and beat up people, and burn their homes and place of worship? This is what uncivilized people do. And even if you don’t agree, a hundred people attacking a few is nothing but an act of cowardice. Why attack priests and nuns who will never use physical violence in retaliation? Doesn’t that alone show how much Christians value peace?
If you feel so strongly about your faith, why not fight the many social ills within our country? Christians don’t kill Christians and they are certainly not killing non-Christians in the name of God. Throughout the world (fortunately it is not happening in our country), Muslims are killing Muslims. We are not talking about small numbers, they are appalling high. And, look at the violence against the people of lower caste Hindus by the people of upper caste Hindus that is still taking place – that, too, in 21st Century India!
People say that the ones who are creating problems are a few, but sadly a few is all it takes to destroy the fabric of unity of our country, or any country for that matter, and to instill fear in children. I would still like to believe that India largely remains a tolerant nation. If that is the case, then we still have a lot to hope for.
There’s one last point before I move onto the subject because I have digressed enough. It is a popular misconception that only Christians believe their religion is exclusive. Every man or woman believes the religion they align themselves with is unique. From some quarters, Hindus believe that propagating one’s faith is wrong. There are a growing number of movements in western countries that preach Hinduism and some Christians have embraced that faith. I believe we should weigh all the facts before making accusations.
I would like to move on now…
What Christianity Does Not Offer
People often argue that God is powerless because of all the evil that is taking place in the world. God could have created a world where there would be no crime of any sort, except that He would have to make us without free will; and, that means turning us into robots. What’s the problem with that? To start with, you would not know what love is, because you would not feel it. If you have someone with whom you exchange love, you will understand what that sensation does to you and why people over the millennia confess that words cannot describe the feeling. If you don’t have anyone to love and no one loves you, and still don’t care about it, then I can only feel sorry for you. And, I mean it.
If you still insist that God is powerless, and you could have designed a better world, then your notion of God is so tilted that it is better for you to remain in doubt than practice any faith, especially the Christian faith. Here’s why: Christianity does not offer any escape from reality.
Two types of sins have been identified from Christ’s teachings. A sin that you commit deliberately – called the sin of commission. The second one is called the sin of omission. Essentially, it is a sin we commit by not doing good – not just when the opportunity is there, but not creating opportunities to reach out. In many religions, the teaching is that if you don’t do any good at least don’t do any bad. This teaching can hardly uplift the downtrodden and the poverty stricken. That is why Jesus set a new and higher standard.
If we see a lame person and say, “He is born that way because of the sins from his previous life and I can’t interfere with what God has done to him,” then we are committing a sin of omission. Jesus has not even remotely made a provision for it.
Birth, life, death, and heaven or hell, run linear in the Christian faith.
Following Christ is Tough
As scary as it may sound, the truth is we cannot do enough good to attain a seat in heaven. The standards set by Jesus are way above all other standards.
As a person with ideas of love and peace that many find extreme, Jesus is not happy that we just love our neighbors. Again, the standard is raised to its highest platform in Mark 12:31, where He says, “Love your neighbor AS YOURSELF,” and He adds, “There is no greater commandment than this.” The preceding commandment is “Love your God with all your heart…”
In 1 John 4:20 you see a bridging of loving God and neighbors, “Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.”
Jesus has also emphasized on guarding our thoughts from sinful temptations. For example, this is what He has said: “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery’; but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” Mathew 5:28
If you think that’s tough, try this one: "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” Mathew 5:43
Jesus’ message on forgiveness is loud and clear. “Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother who sins against me, up to seven times?” Jesus said to him, "Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.” Mathew 18:21-22
I would have loved to see the look on Peter’s face. First you have to deal with all the suffering and pain, and then you have to deal with these overbearing rules.
What Does Christ Offer?
So is there anything good that Christ offers? The first thing Christ offers is His love. If you think He does not love you, then you have failed to look at Him on the cross and asked, “Why would God suffer so much for me?” I know I would not give my life for someone who does not love me, or cares about me. Do you know of any God who has sacrificed Himself the way Jesus did – even in mythology?
Jesus also gives us dignity. The Holy Bible says that God has made man in His image and, therefore, everyone has to be treated equally. This verse cuts through any and all discriminations.
The one thing that Jesus as God offers me is something no other god offers: while a seat in heaven can simply not be earned, it is offered out of the unfathomable generosity of a compassionate Jesus Christ. However, none of us get a preview of heaven; it is something that must be accepted on faith.
Often a question arises about the Christian view of homosexuality and, particularly, in the West some people are rightly offended at the lack of tolerance shown by some Christians. Again, it is important to judge the religion by its book, not by individuals who make their own rules. When an adulteress was brought before Jesus by some men whose intentions were far from good, Jesus was first reminded that according to the Mosaic Law she deserved to be stoned. He was then asked his opinion. Jesus’ response is a glaring reminder on tolerance. He said, “Let the first person who has not sinned throw the first stone.” Clearly, Jesus does not want us to take the law into our own hands because we are all sinners. Apart from tolerance and forgiveness, He is ingraining in us some civic sense, too.
If we are in pain and suffering, Jesus does not tell us it is an illusion. There is evil, real evil, in this world and no other God bears the scars of evil than Jesus Christ. Here he offers us his shoulders to cry upon, when He says, “Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Matthew 11:28-30
Jesus is a personal and unconditional absolute; not an impersonal, mindless form of energy that is incapable of any feelings towards the human race. All scientific evidence points to a universe that is designed; it could not have come from a mindless form of energy. With all its complexities, it is still highly organized.
Being Indifferent, or Making a Difference
When Jesus was being questioned by Pontius Pilate, He was asked, “What is the truth?” Without waiting for an answer, the Roman Procurator, walked away. This is perhaps one of the greatest ironies in history and is repeated even today by so many individuals. Pilate was a few feet away from the very embodiment and incarnation of truth, from the very God who said, “I am the Truth,” and did not wait for an answer. Anyone who searches for the truth with an open mind and an open heart, and with honesty, will not be able to look away from Christ. God’s eternal will ultimately is to make His kingdom available to all.
Religion has a wide definition, but I think it shows the path to our Creator. If you are among the growing number of people who hate religion because of the deplorable actions of people belonging to a particular faith, then you must judge the religion by its scriptures. If you dislike, let’s say geography, because your teacher’s approach to the subject was bad, then as a grown up individual the least you could do is take an independent look at the books on the subject and then judge for yourself.
Someone could always say, “I am perfectly happy with what I believe in, so why bother?” I believe nothing answers this question better than what Dr. Oz Guinness says, “Contrast is the mother of clarity.” If the contrast setting on your television screen is not set correctly, you are not going to see the richness of any color, sometimes you may miss a color altogether. Now apply that to your life.
If you are not particularly fond of God because you think He does not exist, how does your worldview explain love, hope, and charity among the many other beautiful things that we see around us? If you say there is evil, how do you know it is evil, unless you know there is good? What is your source of moral reasoning? Could random proteins and enzymes produce all this? If you are merely a product of evolution, then killing is not evil, it is a necessary function in the evolutionary scheme of things.
Why is Seeking Truth Important?
John Polkinghorne, an English theoretical physicist, theologian, writer and priest, considers "the question of the existence of God is the single most important question we face about the nature of reality," and quotes Anthony Kenny who said, "After all, if there is no God, then God is incalculably the greatest single creation of the human imagination."
We all struggle with doubts because truth and error, good and evil, are so intertwined. It is okay to doubt because we don’t want anyone to take advantage of us. But, to live in doubt – when it relates to seeking the ultimate truth - is like choosing to shut down the very quest for our purpose in life, which from time to time haunts us.
Does God get offended when we doubt about Him? I don’t think so. Isaiah 1:18 in the Holy Bible says, “Let us reason together, says the Lord.” Christianity is a reasonable faith and Christ will pass any test. It is easy to talk to someone who has a genuine doubt, but wants to know. The same does not work with someone who is filled with cynicism.
“Why could Jesus not come in full glory so that no one would have doubt about his God stature?” Imagine God coming down in full glory and telling a group of people that he is God. I really wonder how many people would buy that. Even the one who puts forward this question will have difficulty!
So, why choose to come as an ordinary person? If a king wants to become one with his people, would he dress up as an ordinary citizen and mingle with his subjects, or would he ride his royal steed with his royal guards riding along? We all know the answer to that.
Jesus did precisely that. He took on a humble birth among the common class and for thirty years He lived humbly amongst them before He began His ministry. He entered humankind - living their emotions, their joys and their miseries, all the time remaining sinless. Jesus’ purpose for coming down as an ordinary person – apart from dying for the sins of mankind – was to show solidarity with human kind in everything. I can imagine Him saying, “I have made you. I want to experience it all because I want you to know that I am not indifferent to your sufferings.” Only during His ministry did Jesus reveal His divine nature every once in a while; and, that too never once for himself – not even in His suffering and death. There was a clear purpose for those divine manifestations – so that His chosen few would come to believe in what He was saying and later spread what they had heard. Clearly, it has worked.
Establishing the Truth
As young as they may be, children come up with amazing questions. One of the first questions posed to me by a 10th standard student during a catechism class is this: If people of different religions worship their own god, then who is the real God? A few months ago, I was talking to boarders in a hostel in Mangalore that belong to different faiths and a similar question unexpectedly came up. I approach questions in a manner where I help students think.
Also, aware that a direct answer could make me look biased towards Christianity, I give two parameters to seek the truth. The criteria I feel that one must fulfill before accepting any god as the Truth; and any religion as the true religion are these: Is the god you worship a god of history? Did he claim divinity and is there any evidence of the claims he made? If God is real, then it only makes sense that He would leave a mark of His existence. If God has not left us any sign, and He expects us to believe in Him, then as a fair God, He will know that He is asking too much of us.
I also advise people that reading the text by looking at the context is very important. A wholesome approach is necessary because – after all – the answer we seek is the most essential question in anyone’s life because it is motored by the soul. And beware of speakers who pick up verses or quote half a verse to prove something that is simply not true. Verify what is being said.
The Critical Difference
If you look at the world’s three monotheistic religions – Judaism, Christianity and Islam – you will see that they differ on one imperative truth. The Jews say that Christ died, but did not rise. The Qur’an says that Jesus was taken up to heaven before any harm came to him. The Holy Bible says that Christ died and was resurrected.
Before I go into the eyewitness and historical evidence, I have two questions that have not been answered by my Muslim friends. If Jesus was a prophet and Allah held Him is such high esteem, (even the Qur’an states that Jesus will come again to pass judgement), why would He lie about His own death and resurrection? Secondly, the Qur’an confirms the virgin birth of Jesus, but at the same time says that He is not the son of God. How is that possible? Who else could have impregnated the Virgin Mary without physically touching her? I am not a historian or a religious scholar, but these are plain questions of logic. Perhaps someone could enlighten me.
A prophet makes prophecies and if the prophecy is not fulfilled, then he cannot be from God. Further, and this is covered in detail, in Jesus more than 300 prophecies were fulfilled – many made by other prophets who came centuries before Him and some made by Him about Himself. This is not just extraordinary; it is beyond comprehension. They remain some of the most profoundly striking aspects of Jesus’ God stature.
So how do we resolve this crucial difference, after all both books cannot be right? For Christians it is logical that if Jesus did not die and rise as He said, then everything else He said is questionable. The death and resurrection of Christ is and still remains pivotal to Christianity.
There is only one way to resolve this difference; and, that is, to consider the evidence. Evidence and God, how does that work, one might ask? It does if God has indeed come to earth. All evidence, including evidence outside the Holy Bible, confirms that both Christ’s death and His resurrection had – indeed – taken place. In discussions I avoid circular reasoning; that is, I believe in something because the Holy Bible says so; the Holy Bible says so that is why I believe. Further, to a non-believer the Holy Bible may look like a doctored book even though it is perhaps the most thoroughly dissected and critically studied book in the world that has withstood all tests.
Some Facts About the Holy Bible
The Holy Bible is unique in many ways:
1. Composition
The Holy Bible is comprised of 73 separate books, and it was written over a period of at least 1400 years by more than 40 authors. The writers of the Holy Bible came from different social and occupational backgrounds. They wrote in completely different geographic environments and under different circumstances (for example Moses – in the desert; Jeremiah – in a prison; David – in the mountains and in his palace; Paul – in prison; Luke – during his journeys; John – during his exile on Patmos).
The Holy Bible was composed on three different continents (Asia, Africa and Europe) and in three languages (Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek).
2. Thematic Unity
Unity in its objective: Although the Holy Bible was written by about 40 different authors across centuries; and, although these writers lived on three different continents and belonged to various cultures, the Holy Bible has a unifying objective. The main theme is to give answers to these basic questions:
Who is God?
Who is man?
Is there a possibility for a relationship between God and man, and if so – how?
The Holy Bible wants to lead man to God (John 20:31 and 2 Timothy 3:14-17).
Unity in its contents: The whole of the Holy Bible is about ONE CENTRAL FIGURE – Jesus Christ. Basically, the complete Old Testament points to Him, be it through metaphors or be it through direct prophecies. The New Testament shows us the fulfillment of these prophecies and the meaning and the consequences of the coming of Christ.
3. Accuracy
The Holy Bible itself tells us how it was written: “All Scripture is inspired by God” (2 Timothy 3:16). Men “moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God” (2 Peter 1:21). The Greek word for inspired, theopneustos, means “God-breathed.” The Holy Spirit carried men along, moving and guiding them as they wrote in their own words what God wanted them to say. Thus, we have verbal inspiration, because the words of the original text were inspired by God.
Many indicators for the accuracy of the Holy Bible can be found in the fields of science, such as astronomy, physics, medicine, or biology. No historic fact in the Holy Bible ever has been shown to be in error.
One of the strongest objective evidences of biblical inspiration is the phenomenon of fulfilled prophecies. The Holy Bible is essentially unique among the religious books of mankind in this respect.
4. Survival
It has survived time. Although the Holy Bible was written on perishable material and therefore had to be copied by hand for many centuries until the art of printing had been invented, neither its accuracy nor its existence has suffered.
It has survived persecution. The Holy Bible has withstood the most malicious onslaughts of its enemies like no other book. For centuries people have tried to burn, ban, and outlaw the Holy Bible.
It has survived criticism. An army of rationalists arose who thought up the wildest and most intense attacks against the Holy Bible. But nevertheless, the Holy Bible has been distributed more, read more and cherished more than any other book. When you mention China, anything but the Holy Bible comes to mind. Yet, the largest selling book in China is the Holy Bible. Printers cannot cope with the demand for this book.
Prophecies Fulfilled in Christ - No Parallel in History
There are more than 300 prophecies that were fulfilled in Jesus Christ. No other figure in HISTORY holds this distinction. A few are listed below – all fulfilled prophecies can be found in the New Testament’s four Gospels of Mathew, Mark, Luke and John. Please note these are not ambiguous verses. The prophecies fit only one person in history - Jesus:
The Messiah would be preceded by a messenger (John the Baptist)
Bible prophecy: “A voice cries: ‘In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD…’” Isaiah 40:3
Prophecy written: Between 701-681 BC
Prophecy fulfilled: About 27 AD
Isaiah foretold the virgin birth of Jesus
Bible prophecy: “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
Prophecy written: Between 701-681 BC
Prophecy fulfilled: About 5 BC
The Messiah would be born in Bethlehem
Bible prophecy: “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
Prophecy written: Between 750-686 BC
Prophecy fulfilled: About 5 BC
Jesus would perform miracles
Bible prophecy: “Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then shall the lame man leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute sing for joy.” Isaiah 35:5-6
Prophecy written: Between 701-681 BC
Prophecy fulfilled: About 27-31 AD
The Messiah would enter Jerusalem while riding on a donkey
Bible prophecy: “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
Prophecy written: Between 520 and 518 BC
Prophecy fulfilled: About 31 AD
There would be a son called God
Bible prophecy: “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6-7
Prophecy written: Between 701-681 BC
Prophecy fulfilled: About 5 BC
The Messiah would be rejected
Bible prophecy: “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.” Isaiah 53:1-3
Prophecy written: Between 701-681 BC
Prophecy fulfilled: About 31 AD
Daniel predicted when an anointed one would be rejected
Bible prophecy: “Seventy weeks are decreed about your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to put an end to sin, and to atone for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal both vision and prophet, and to anoint a most holy place. Know therefore and understand that from the going out of the word to restore and build Jerusalem to the coming of an anointed one, a prince, there shall be seven weeks. Then for sixty-two weeks it shall be built again with squares and moat, but in a troubled time. And after the sixty-two weeks, an anointed one shall be cut off and shall have nothing. And the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. Its end shall come with a flood, and to the end there shall be war. Desolations are decreed.” Daniel 9:24-26
Prophecy written: About 530 BC
Prophecy fulfilled: About 31 AD
All of these events later happened, in the same order in which they are described in Daniel 9:24-26:
1. After the Medo-Persians had conquered the neo-Babylonian empire about 2500 years ago, they ruled a vast empire that included the land of Israel. About 2400 years ago (about 445 BC), Persian king Artaxerxes gave permission to the Jews to rebuild Jerusalem, which was still in ruins after having been destroyed earlier by the Babylonians.
2. The Jews rebuilt the Temple and the city of Jerusalem.
3. Then, about 2000 years ago, Jesus entered Jerusalem as the Messiah who had been promised by Old Testament prophets. But, many people rejected Jesus as the Messiah and he was crucified by the Romans.
4. About 40 years after Jesus was crucified, the Romans destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple. (The Temple has not been rebuilt since then).
Jesus will be betrayed by a friend
Bible prophecy: “Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me.” Psalms 41:9
Prophecy written: About 1000 BC
Prophecy fulfilled: About 31 AD
Jesus would be betrayed for 30 pieces of silver
Bible prophecy: “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
Prophecy written: Between 520 and 518 BC
Prophecy fulfilled: About 31 AD
Jesus would be spat upon and beaten
Bible prophecy: “I gave my back to those who strike, and my cheeks to those who pull out the beard; I hid not my face from disgrace and spitting.” Isaiah 50:6
Prophecy written: Between 701-681 BC
Prophecy fulfilled: About 31 AD
God's servant would be silent before his accusers
Bible prophecy: “He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth;
like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent,
so he opened not his mouth.” Isaiah 53:7
Prophecy written: Between 701-681 BC
Prophecy fulfilled: About 31 AD
God's servant would die for our sins
Bible prophecy: “But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities…” Isaiah 53:4-6
Prophecy written: Between 701-681 BC
Prophecy fulfilled: About 31 AD
Zechariah also foreshadowed the crucifixion of Jesus
Bible prophecy: “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
Prophecy written: Between 520 and 518 BC
Prophecy fulfilled: About 31 AD
God's servant would be buried in a rich man's tomb
Bible prophecy: “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
Prophecy written: Between 701-681 BC
Prophecy fulfilled: About 31 AD
Jesus' Resurrection
Bible prophecy: “For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption [earthly decay].” Psalm 16:10
Prophecy written: About 1000 BC
Prophecy fulfilled: About 31 AD
Bible prophecy: “But you, O LORD, be gracious to me, and raise me up, that I may repay them!” Psalm 41:10
Prophecy written: About 1000 BC
Prophecy fulfilled: About 31 AD
Jesus foretold his death and resurrection
Bible prophecy: “And as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside, and on the way He said to them, ‘See, we are going up to Jerusalem. And the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn Him to death and deliver Him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified, and he will be raised on the third day.” Matthew 20:17-19
Prophecy written: During the first century
Prophecy fulfilled: About 31 AD
Jesus told Peter that the church would survive and thrive
Bible prophecy: “And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Matthew 16:18
Prophecy written: During the first century
Prophecy fulfilled: Up to the present from the time it was made
One must ask the question, “How would the prophets, centuries before Christ was even born, know of the events to come unless it was revealed to them by a DIVINE source.” That is why the Holy Bible is considered to be a book of divine revelations.
(Continued in Part 2 of 3…)
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