Weekly Sermon Recap - 3.30.25

The Fulfillment of Prophecy: A Testament to God's Perfect Plan

In the grand tapestry of human history, there are moments that stand out as pivotal, earth-shattering events that change the course of everything that follows. Perhaps none is more significant than the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. But what makes this particular story so compelling is not just its impact, but the intricate web of prophecies that foretold these events centuries before they occurred.

Imagine, if you will, a master playwright crafting a story so complex, so detailed, that it spans thousands of years and involves countless characters, each playing their part to perfection. This is the story of God's plan for humanity, meticulously laid out in the Old Testament and brought to fruition in the New.

The sheer improbability of one person fulfilling even a fraction of these prophecies is staggering. Mathematician Peter Stoner calculated that the chance of a single individual fulfilling just 48 of the 324 Messianic prophecies would be one in 10 followed by 157 zeros. To put this in perspective, it would be like covering the entire state of Texas with silver dollars to a depth of two feet, marking just one of those coins, and then asking a blindfolded person to wander the state and pick up that single marked coin on their first try. The odds are, quite simply, astronomical.

Yet Jesus fulfilled not just 48, but all 324 prophecies about the Messiah. Many of these were completely outside of his control – his place of birth, his lineage, the manner of his death. This is not the result of coincidence or clever planning; it is the fingerprint of divine orchestration.

Let's consider just a handful of these fulfilled prophecies:

1. The Messiah would be preceded by a messenger (Isaiah 40:3, fulfilled in Matthew 3:1-3)
2. He would be born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14, fulfilled in Matthew 1 and Luke 1)
3. He would be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2, fulfilled in Matthew 2)
4. He would enter Jerusalem on a donkey (Zechariah 9:9, fulfilled in Matthew 21:1-11)
5. He would be betrayed by a friend for 30 pieces of silver (Zechariah 11:12-13, fulfilled in Matthew 26:14-16)
6. His hands and feet would be pierced (Psalm 22:16, fulfilled in John 19:23-24)
7. None of his bones would be broken (Psalm 34:20, fulfilled in John 19:33-36)
8. He would rise from the dead (Psalm 16:10, fulfilled in Matthew 28:1-10)

Each of these prophecies, and many more, came to pass exactly as foretold. But why is this important? What does it mean for us today?

First, it serves as a powerful testament to the divine authorship of Scripture. Only an all-knowing, all-powerful God could orchestrate events across millennia with such precision. This should bolster our faith and confidence in the reliability of God's Word.

Secondly, it reminds us that God has a plan – not just for the world at large, but for each of our lives individually. Just as He wove together countless threads to bring about the perfect timing and circumstances for Christ's coming, so too is He working in the intricate details of our lives.

This truth should bring us comfort in times of uncertainty or hardship. When things seem to be going in the opposite direction of what we expected or hoped for, we can take heart in knowing that God is still in control. Even in our worst moments, He is working out His purposes.

Consider Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane, facing the cruel reality of what lay ahead. He could have called down legions of angels to rescue Him, but He chose to press on, fulfilling the Father's will. Why? Because He saw beyond the immediate suffering to the joy set before Him – the redemption of humanity.

In the same way, we are called to endure, to press through our difficulties with our eyes fixed on the hope that lies beyond. The apostle Paul reminds us that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us (Romans 8:18).

This doesn't mean we won't face challenges or disappointments. But it does mean that we can face them with confidence, knowing that God is working all things together for good for those who love Him (Romans 8:28). Our task is simply to remain faithful, to not quit, to keep moving forward in obedience to His calling on our lives.

As we reflect on the fulfilled prophecies surrounding Christ's first coming, we can also look forward with anticipation to His return. Just as surely as He fulfilled every prophecy concerning His birth, life, death, and resurrection, so too will He fulfill every promise regarding His second coming and the establishment of His eternal kingdom.

In light of this, how should we then live? With hope, certainly, but also with purpose. We are called to be active participants in God's ongoing story of redemption. Each of us has a role to play, a calling to fulfill. And just as God provided everything necessary for Jesus to accomplish His mission, so too will He equip us for whatever He has called us to do.

Let us, therefore, approach each day with a sense of anticipation and wonder. What part of God's grand design will we get to participate in today? How might He use us to further His kingdom purposes? And when challenges arise – as they surely will – may we face them with the unwavering confidence that comes from knowing we serve a God who keeps His promises, who works all things according to His perfect plan, and who will one day bring everything to its glorious fulfillment.

In a world that often seems chaotic and unpredictable, the fulfilled prophecies of Scripture stand as a beacon of hope and assurance. They remind us that we serve a God who is intimately involved in human history, who cares deeply about each one of us, and who is faithful to complete the good work He has begun. May this truth encourage and strengthen us as we continue to walk in faith, eagerly anticipating the day when every prophecy will find its ultimate fulfillment in the return of our King.