Fingerprint evidence is compelling in any criminal case. The premise is simple. Each individual has unique ridges on his or her fingers. When a print found on an object matches the pattern of ridges on a person’s finger, investigators can conclude with confidence that this specific individual has touched that object.
What does that have to do with the identity of the baby in the manger? There is evidence that is equal to fingerprints that establishes to a degree of certainty that Jesus is the Messiah of Israel and the world… prophecies about the coming of the Messiah in the Old Testament. These predictions form a ‘fingerprint’ that only the Messiah would be able to match. This would help the Jews rule out any imposters and validate the credentials of the authentic Messiah. Jesus fulfilled these.
Let’s look at a few of these…
The Messiah’s Manner of Birth – Virgin
“Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” (Isaiah 7:14).
Jesus was born of the virgin Mary (Luke 1:26-27, 30-310.
The Messiah’s Place of Birth – Bethlehem
“But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.” (Micah 5:2)
Jesus was born in Bethlehem (Luke 2:4-7).
The Messiah’s Ancestry – Abraham, Judah, David
“And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.” (Genesis 12:3).
Jesus was a descendant of Abraham (Matthew 1:1).
“The scepter shall not depart from Judah; nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.” (Genesis 49:10).
Jesus was a descendant of Judah (Luke 3:33).
“Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom,, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.” (Isaiah 9:7).
Jesus was a descendant of David (Luke 1:32-33).
The Messiah’s Death – Betrayal, False Accusations, Crucifixion
“Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.” (Psalm 41:9).
Jesus was betrayed by one of His twelve disciples, Judas Iscariot (Luke 22:47-48).
“False witnesses did rise up; they laid to my charge things that I knew not.” (Psalm 35:11).
Jesus was accused by false witnesses at His Jewish trial (Mark 14:57-58).
“… the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet. I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me. They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.” (Psalm 22:16-18).
Jesus was crucified (Mark 15:27-28; John 20:27). This prophecy depicted crucifixion as a form of execution (pierced hands and feet and bones out of joint) before it was invented by the Persians & perfected by the Romans.
The Messiah’s Victory – Resurrection
“But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me.” (Psalm 49:15).
Jesus resurrected after 3 days in the grave (Mark 16:6-7).
Was this all a coincidence? No. The odds that Jesus could fulfill only 8 prophecies is 1 in 100 million billion. That is millions of times greater than the total number of people who’ve ever walked the Earth. If you took 100 million billion silver dollars you could cover the state of Texas 2 feet high. If you marked one of them, what are the odds that a blindfolded person pick out the marked coin? It is the same odds Jesus could fulfill 8 prophecies. But there are over 48 prophecies. That’s a 1 in a trillion, trillion, trillion, trillion, trillion, trillion, trillion, trillion, trillion, trillion, trillion, trillion, trillion (13) – more than the atoms in the universe. It is no coincidence.
Maybe the gospels changed their story to make Jesus fit? That is not likely. The Gospel stories were circulated when many people knew the truth and would have objected if they wrote it wrong. Besides why would the writers fabricate stories and then be willing to be put to death for someone they knew wasn’t the Messiah? Besides, the Jews & Romans would have been all over the false information.
Could Jesus have made sure He fulfilled the prophecies? Some of the prophecies could have been fulfilled this way. While on the cross Jesus cried, “I thirst” to fulfill prophecy to drink vinegar (Psalm 69:21; John 19:28-30). He ministered in Galilee (Isaiah 9:1-2;; Matthew 4:13-16) and entered Jerusalem (Zech. 9:9; Mark 11:7-11) in fulfillment of prophecy. But how did He control the fact that the Jewish leaders paid 30 pieces of silver for His betrayal (Zech. 11:12; Matthew 26:15), or method of execution, or the soldiers gambling for his clothes (Psalm 22:17-18; Matthew 27:35-36), or his legs remaining unbroken after he died (Psalm 34:20; John 19:32-33)? How could he arrange for His resurrection? Or where He was born? It was impossible for Jesus to ensure He fulfilled every prophecy unless He controlled everything. And if that is true, He is God.
Jesus is the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies made hundreds of years before He came to earth. He, and only He, fulfilled the ‘fingerprint’ of the Messiah, the Son of God. He deserves our obedience, our worship, and our life. Surrender to Him today.