Unique in Prophecies

Unique  in   Prophecies  .

Jesus lived a miracle-filled and supernaturally empowered existence from his conception to his ascension. Centuries before his birth he was foretold by supernatural prophecy.

The Old Testament, which even the most ardent critic acknowledges was in existence centuries before Christ, predicted the where (Micah 5:2), the when (Daniel 9:26), and the how (Isaiah 7:14) of Christ’s entry into the world. He would be born of a woman (Genesis 3:15) from the line of Adam’s son Seth (Genesis 4:26), through Noah’s son Shem (Genesis 9:26–27), and Abraham (Genesis 12:3; 15:5). He would come through the tribe of Judah (Genesis 49:10) and would be the son of David (2 Samuel 7:12f.). The Old Testament predicted that Christ would die for our sins (Psalm 22; Isaiah 53; Daniel 9:26; Zechariah 12:10) and would rise from the dead (Psalms 2:7; 16:10).

All of these supernatural prophecies were uniquely fulfilled in Jesus Christ. This is not true of any great religious leader or person who has ever lived, including Muhammad.

Unique in Conception. Christ was not only supernaturally anticipated; he was also miraculously conceived. While announcing his virgin conception, Matthew (1:22–23) points to the prophecy of Isaiah (7:14). Luke, a physician, records this miraculous inception of human life (Luke 1:26f.); Paul alludes to it in Galatians 4:4. Of all human conceptions, Jesus’ stands as unique and miraculous.

Unique in Life. From his very first miracle in Cana of Galilee (John 2:11), Jesus’ ministry was marked by its miracles (cf. John 3:2; Acts 2:22). These were not healings of delusional illnesses, nor were they explainable on natural grounds. They were unique in that they were immediate, always successful, had no known re lapses, and healed illnesses that were incurable by medicine, such as persons born blind (John 9). Jesus even raised several people from the dead, including Lazarus whose body was already to the point of rotting (John 11:39).

Jesus turned water to wine (John 2:7f.), walked on water (Matthew 14:25), multiplied bread (John 6:11f), opened the eyes of the blind (John 9:7f.), made the lame to walk (Mark 2:3f.), cast out demons (Mark 3:10f.), healed all kinds of sicknesses (Matthew 9:35), including leprosy (Mark 1:40-42), and even raised the dead to life on several occasions (Mark 5:35f.; Luke 7:11–15; John 11:43-44). When asked if he was the Messiah, he used his miracles as evidence to support the claim saying, ‘Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised’ (Matthew 11:4-5). This outpouring of miracles was set forth ahead of time by prophets as a special sign that Messiah had come (see Isaiah 35:5-6). Nicodemus even said, ‘Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him’ (John 3:2).

Unique in Death. Events surrounding Christ’s death were miraculous. This included the darkness from noon to 3 p.m. (Mark 15:33) and the earthquake that opened the tombs and rent the temple veil (Matthew 27:51-54). The manner in which he suffered the excruciating torture of crucifixion was miraculous. The attitude he maintained toward his mockers and executioners was miraculous, saying, ‘Father forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing’ (Luke 23:34). The way in which he actually died was miraculous. As Jesus said, ‘I lay down my life—only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord’ (John 10:18). At the very moment of his departure, he was not overcome by death. Rather, he voluntarily dismissed his spirit. ‘Jesus said, ‘It is finished.’ With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit’ (John 19:30).

Unique in the Resurrection. The crowning miracle of Jesus’ earthly mission was the resurrection. It was not only predicted in the Old Testament (Psalms 2, 16), but Jesus himself predicted it from the very beginning of his ministry: He said, ‘ ‘Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.’ … But the temple he had spoken of was his body’ (John 2:19, 21; Matthew 12:40–42; 17:9). Jesus demonstrated the reality of his resurrection in twelve appearances over forty days to more than 500 people.

Unique in the Ascension. Just like his entrance into this world, Jesus’ departure was also miraculous. After commissioning his disciples, ‘he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them’ (Acts 1:10). Contrary to the view of some, this was not a ‘parable’ but a literal bodily ascension into heaven from which he will return in the same literal body to reign in this world (Acts 1:11; Revelation 1:7, 19–20). The great Christian creeds clearly emphasize the miraculous bodily ascension of Christ.

Unique in Sinlessness. Some of Jesus’ enemies brought false accusations against him, but the verdict of Pilate at his trial has been the verdict of history: ‘I find no basis for a charge against this man’ (Luke 23:4). A soldier at the cross agreed saying, ‘Surely this was a righteous man’ (Luke 23:47), and the thief on the cross next to Jesus said, ‘This man has done nothing wrong’ (Luke 23:41).

For a description of what those closest to Jesus thought of his character, Hebrews says that he was tempted as a man ‘yet without sinning’ (4:15). Jesus himself once challenged his accusers, ‘Which of you convicts me of sin?’ (John 8:46), but no one was able to find him guilty of anything. This being the case, the impeccable character of Christ gives a double testimony to the truth of his claim. Jesus is  sinless  unique God.