Don Stewart :: Did Jesus Make Predictions That Have Come True?

Yes. Jesus not only fulfilled prophecy in His own life, He Himself predicted events that were to come to pass some time in the future. One of the ministries of Jesus was that of a prophet. As has been true with prophecies fulfilled in His own life, His prophetic words have been literally and marvelously fulfilled.

We are going to look at a number of specific predictions that Jesus made as well as their fulfillment.

Prediction 1: His Words Would Be Everlasting

Jesus made the astounding prediction that "heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will by no means pass away" (Matthew 24:35). He predicted that His words would be everlasting.

An Amazing Prophecy By Jesus

We need to appreciate the amazing nature of this prophecy. Here was a man who lived in the first century A.D. with only a small group of followers, and His country was subject to the bondage of Rome. There were no modern means of mass communication or storage of a persons words, Yet Jesus made the statement that His words were eternal - they will never pass away. Although it seemed improbable at the time, it has occurred exactly as He predicted. The words of Jesus are still with us today, read and believed by untold millions. It has happened just as He said.

Prediction 2: The Story Of Mary Of Bethany

Mary of Bethany poured oil on the body of Jesus in anticipation of His coming death. The disciples rebuked her for wasting the oil, but Jesus said she had done a good thing.

Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a good work for me. For the poor you have with you always; but you do not always have me. For when she poured this perfume upon my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her (Matthew 26:11-13).

Jesus predicted that her story would be told wherever the gospel was preached. As He predicted, the story of Mary of Bethany, and her anointing of Jesus before His death, is still told today wherever the gospel is preached. The fact that you are reading about it right now continues to fulfill Jesus' prophecy.

Prediction 3: His Own Betrayal By One Of His Disciples

He also predicted that He would be betrayed by one of His own disciples.

And as they were eating, he said, "Truly I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me." And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began to say unto him every one, "Is it I, Lord?" (Matthew 26:21, 22).

This was literally fulfilled by Judas Iscariot.

While he was still speaking a crowd came up, and the man who was called Judas, one of the Twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him, but Jesus asked him, "Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?" (Luke 22:47,48).

Prediction 4: All Of His Disciples Would Leave Him

Jesus predicted that all His disciples would leave Him when He was betrayed.

Then Jesus told them, "This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written: 'I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.' But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee" (Matthew 26:31,32).

This was literally fulfilled when Jesus was arrested.

Then all the disciples deserted him and fled (Matthew 26:56).

Prediction 5: Peter Would Deny Him Three Times

Jesus also predicted that Peter would deny knowing Him three times.

Peter replied, "Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will." "I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "This very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times" (Matthew 26:33,34).

As Jesus had predicted this was literally fulfilled.

Then he began to call down curses on himself and he swore to them, "I don't know the man!" Immediately a rooster crowed. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: "Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times." And he went outside and wept bitterly (Matthew 26:74,75).

Prediction 6: He Would Suffer Because Of The Religious Rulers

He would suffer as a result of the religious rulers.

From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes (Matthew 16:21).

On the night of His arrest the religious rulers allowed Him to be beaten.

The men who were guarding Jesus began mocking and beating him. They blindfolded him and demanded, "Prophesy! Who hit you?" And they said many other insulting things to him (Luke 22:63-65).

Prediction 7: He Would Die In Jerusalem

Although attempts had been made on His life outside of Jerusalem, Jesus predicted that His death must take place there.

From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed (Matthew 16:21).

Jesus died in the city of Jerusalem.

Some women were watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome. In Galilee these women had followed him and cared for his needs. Many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem were also there (Mark 15:40,41).

Prediction 8: He Would Die By Crucifixion

Jesus predicted the exact manner of His death - crucifixion.

You know that after two days is the Passover, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified (Matthew 26:2).

Jesus died by crucifixion

It was the third hour when they crucified him. The written notice of the charge against him read: THE KING OF THE JEWS. (Mark 15:26,27).

Prediction 9: He Would Die During The Passover

Jesus also predicted His death would occur during the Passover celebration, and it would be by means of crucifixion.

You know that after two days is the Passover, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified (Matthew 26:2).

As He predicted His death took place at the Passover.

It was the day of Preparation of Passover Week, about the sixth hour. "Here is your king," Pilate said to the Jews. But they shouted, "Take him away! Take him away! Crucify him!" "Shall I crucify your king?" Pilate asked. "We have no king but Caesar," the chief priests answered. Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified (John 19:14-16).

Prediction 10: His Resurrection From The Dead On The Third Day

Jesus also predicted His resurrection from the dead. He said it would happen exactly three days after His death.

The Jews then said to him, "What sign do you show us as your authority for doing these things?" Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." The Jews then said, "It took forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?" But he was speaking of the temple of his body. So when he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he said this; and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had spoken (John 2:18-22).

Jesus predicted His resurrection.

From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised up on the third day (Matthew 16:21).

After Jesus' crucifixion the people remembered Jesus' prophecy.

On the next day, which followed the Day of Preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees gathered together to Pilate, saying, Sir, we remember, while he was still alive, how that deceiver said, 'After three days I will rise' (Matthew 27:62,63).

The chief priests and the scribes were the ones who arrested Jesus and brought Him to Pilate for execution. Yet three days after His crucifixion, Jesus was alive again. The angel at His tomb on that first Easter made it clear to those who arrived:

He is not here; for he is risen, as he said (Matthew 28:6).

Jesus was crucified on Good Friday and came back from the dead on Easter Sunday morning - three days by Jewish reckoning. Again, His predictions were literally fulfilled.

Prediction 11: The Coming Of The Holy Spirit

Jesus predicted the coming of the Holy Spirit.

But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you (John 14:26).

This was fulfilled on the Day of Pentecost.

When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance (Acts 2:1-4).

Prediction 12: The Destruction Of The City Of Jerusalem Within One Generation

After the Jewish nation rejected Jesus, He pronounced judgment upon them. Jesus predicted that the city of Jerusalem would be destroyed. Forty years before it occurred, Jesus gave specifics to its destruction:

For the days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side, and level you, and your children within you, to the ground (Luke 19:43,44).

Jesus predicted Jerusalem would be surrounded

But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near (Luke 21:20).

These Events Would Occur In The Same Generation

These events would occur in the same generation that Jesus was speaking.

Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place (Matthew 24:34).

At the time when Jesus made this prediction, there was no imminent threat to the city of Jerusalem. However, in A.D. 70, as Jesus had predicted, the city of Jerusalem was surrounded and destroyed by Titus the Roman. The reason Jesus gave for the fall of the city was the peoples' rejection of Him as Messiah, "because you did not know the time of your visitation" (Luke 19:44).

Prediction 13: The Temple In Jerusalem Would Be Destroyed

Another prediction of Jesus that was literally fulfilled concerns the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem. Jesus specified the manner of its destruction.

Then Jesus went out and departed from the temple, and his disciples came to him to show Him the buildings of the temple. And Jesus said to them, 'Do you not see all these things? Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down' (Matthew 24:1,2).

Same Generation

As was true with the city of Jerusalem, these events would occur in the same generation that Jesus was speaking.

Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place (Matthew 24:34).

This happened exactly as predicted. When Titus the Roman destroyed the city of Jerusalem in A.D. 70, he also destroyed the temple.

Prediction 14: The People Would Be Scattered

When Jesus predicted the destruction of the city of Jerusalem and the temple, He made clear the fate that awaited the Jewish people. The people will be scattered from their land and taken captive by other nations.

And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled (Luke 21:24).

This occurred just as He had predicted. When the city and temple were destroyed, the people were scattered to the ends of the earth. Those who were not killed when the city was captured, were sold into slavery.

Prediction 15: The Holy Land Would Be Ruled By Gentiles

Jesus also predicted the nation Israel would be dominated for a long period of time by the Gentile (non-Jewish) peoples.

And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled (Luke 21:24).

The land remained under Gentile domination for two thousand years. Except for a few short years in the second century the Jews had no rule over Jerusalem until 1967. The prediction that the nation would be subject to Gentile rule has been literally fulfilled.

Prediction 16: The Jewish People Would Be Persecuted

The people would not only be scattered, Jesus also predicted that the Jewish race would be persecuted. He said.

Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For indeed the days are coming in which they will say, "Blessed are the barren, the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed." Then they will begin to say to the mountains, "Fall on us!" and to the hills, "Cover us!" (Luke 23:28-30).

History records that the Jewish people have gone through terrible persecution as Jesus predicted. From the ghettos of the Middle Ages, to the Holocaust of World War II, the Jews have been a persecuted race, like no other people in history.

Prediction 17: Though Persecuted, The Nation Will Survive

Though scattered and persecuted, Jesus also predicted the Jewish people would not perish. Though the nation was to suffer terribly, Jesus made it clear they will still survive.

And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled (Luke 21:24).

They would be persecuted until the times of the Gentiles would be fulfilled. Once this period of Gentile rule was over, the Jews would again have self-rule.

Summary

We find that Jesus not only fulfilled prophecy in His own life, He also made predictions that have been miraculously fulfilled. There are at least seventeen specific predictions that He has made. Each of these predictions has been fulfilled exactly as they were given. They include the following. His words would be everlasting. Jesus predicted that his Words would never be forgotten. He correctly predicted that the story of Mary of Bethany would be preached forever. Jesus said that he would be betrayed. This betrayal would happen by one of his own disciples. He also said that all of the disciples would leave him. He would be by himself. Jesus told Peter that would deny him three times before the rooster crowed. Jesus predicted he would suffer because of the religious rulers. On a number of occasions he predicted his death would occur in Jerusalem. He said that he would die by crucifixion. His death would occur during the feast of the Passover. Death would not hold him for Jesus predicted that he would be raised from the dead. His resurrection would occur the third day after his death. He predicted the coming of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost. Jesus also said that the city of Jerusalem would be destroyed within a generation. The temple in Jerusalem would also be destroyed within one generation. Then the Jewish people would be scattered. While they were scattered, Gentiles would rule the Holy Land. The Jewish people would be persecuted during this time. Finally, Jesus predicted that although persecuted the nation would survive. All of these predictions have been literally fulfilled. This fact demonstrates beyond any doubt that Jesus was indeed a genuine prophet.