Imagine God had a super-important, secret plan to save the world, but He slowly gave His people clues about it over many, many years. That's what prophecies are. This lesson is all about those special clues, called prophecies, that God gave through people called prophets in the Old Testament (the first part of the Bible), long before Jesus was even born. These weren't just guesses; they were like puzzle pieces God gave to prepare everyone for the coming of someone very special called the Messiah.
Here are some examples:
Who His Mother Would Be: The prophet Isaiah, who lived hundreds of years before Jesus, gave a clue in Isaiah 7:14. It said, "The virgin shall conceive and bear a son." This was amazing because it meant Jesus would be born in a very special way, from a mother who was a virgin (Mary), showing He was truly from God.
Where He Would Be Born: Another prophet named Micah gave a clue in Micah 5:2. It said the Messiah would be born in a small town called Bethlehem. Even though Jesus' parents lived in Nazareth, a special event (a census) made them travel to Bethlehem just in time for Jesus to be born there, exactly as predicted!
How He Would Die: Even before a type of death called crucifixion was invented, a psalm (like a sacred song or poem) in Psalm 22 described in amazing detail what it would be like. It talked about hands and feet being pierced, and people mocking and staring. This was written long, long before Jesus died on a cross, yet it perfectly described His crucifixion.
These prophecies weren't just random lucky guesses. They were part of God's big, careful plan to show everyone who His Son, Jesus, truly was. Another amazing clue was given by the prophet Daniel in Daniel 9:24-27. This prophecy even predicted when the Messiah would arrive, talking about "seventy weeks" (which meant a period of years). And guess what? Jesus' time on Earth and His important work fit perfectly within that predicted timeframe!
Thinking about these prophecies also helps us understand something called typology. This is like seeing "previews" of Jesus in the Old Testament. For example:
The Passover lamb that was sacrificed in the Old Testament was a "type" or foreshadowing of Jesus, who would be the ultimate sacrifice (the "Lamb of God") to save us from our sins.
Jonah being in the belly of a fish for three days was a "type" of Jesus being in the tomb for three days before His resurrection.
When we study all these specific clues and see how perfectly Jesus fits them all, it gives us strong proof that Jesus truly is God's Son and that His mission to save us is real. It shows that God's plan has been unfolding throughout all of history, and Jesus is the ultimate "YES" to all of God's promises!
Scripture Passages:
Isaiah 7:14: "Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel."
Micah 5:2: "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times."
Psalm 22:16-18: "Dogs surround me, a pack of villains encircles me; they pierce my hands and my feet. All my bones are on display; people stare and gloat over me. They divide my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment."
Reflection Questions:
How does the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies strengthen your faith in Jesus as the Messiah?
The text says that God used "prophecies" to prepare His people for the Messiah. What are prophecies, and what was one example given of something they predicted about Jesus?
According to the text, how did the prophecies from Micah 5:2 and Psalm 22 prove true in Jesus' life and death?
What is "typology" as explained in the text? Give one example of an Old Testament "type" mentioned, and explain how it foreshadowed Jesus.
Multiple Choice Questions
According to the text, what was the main reason God gave prophecies to His people hundreds of years before Jesus' birth?
a) To confuse them about the future.
b) To show off His power.
c) To prepare them carefully for the coming of the Messiah.
d) To give them riddles to solve.
Which prophet foretold that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem?
a) Isaiah
b) Jeremiah
c) Micah
d) Daniel
The text mentions Psalm 22 gives a vivid description of what event, even before it was a common way to die?
a) A great flood.
b) A special kind of sacrifice.
c) A crucifixion.
d) A long journey.
Which prophet accurately predicted the timeframe of the Messiah's arrival with a "seventy weeks" prophecy?
a) Isaiah
b) Micah
c) Daniel
d) Jonah
Understanding "typology" helps us see how Old Testament figures, events, or objects can:
a) Become less important over time.
b) Show random connections to the future.
c) Foretell or foreshadow Jesus Christ.
d) Only relate to events in the Old Testament.