As believers, we need to understand that Jesus did not appear in a vacuum over 2,000 years ago; but that He came in fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies. The first Messianic prophecy is found in Genesis 3:15, “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, and you shall bruise Him on the heel.”
This prophecy foretells of an event that would take place thousands of years later, the birth of Jesus our Messiah and His victory over darkness and its head- satan. Isaiah gives us one of the most direct Messianic prophecies: “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel, God with us” Isaiah 7:14, which we see fulfilled in Matthew 1:20-23.
The New Testament begins in Matthew 1:1 with the genealogy of Jesus as the son of David, the son of Abraham. The LORD said to David: “…Of the fruit of your body I will set upon your throne” Psalm 132:11. To Abraham, God said: “In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice” Genesis 22:18. Abraham of course is the father of all the Hebrew nations, and both Joseph and Mary are direct descendants of Abraham!
There are numerous Old Testament scriptures that accurately depict the lineage of Jesus.
Genesis 12:3, 17:19, 21:12, 22:18, 49:10 | Revelation 5:5 | Jeremiah 23:5 | Numbers 24:17 | 2 Samuel 7:12-13 | Isaiah 9:7
Beloved, I want to encourage you to take some time to investigate the many prophecies of Jesus in the Hebrew Bible. Here are just a few more examples:
When we see in the Old Testament how Jesus fulfills the Messianic prophecies, we become absolutely convinced and secure in our faith – Jesus is indeed the only way to God.
“And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12