There are over 300 prophecies in the Old Testament about the coming Messiah, many of which concern His death and resurrection. These prophecies include the defeat of Satan (Genesis 3:15), the establishment of an everlasting covenant with Abraham (Genesis 12:3; 17:19), and the lineage of King David (Isaiah 9:7). Isaiah 53 predicts the Messiah's suffering, rejection, and atonement, foreshadowing His crucifixion ("despised and rejected by men" in Isaiah 53:3–5). Other prophecies detail Judas’s betrayal for 30 pieces of silver (Zechariah 11:12–13), Jesus's silence before accusers (Isaiah 53:7), and His burial in a rich man's tomb (Isaiah 53:9; Matthew 27:57–60). The darkness at His crucifixion (Amos 8:9) and His resurrection (Psalm 16:10; Isaiah 53:11) are also foretold. These fulfilled prophecies serve as strong evidence of Jesus's identity as the Messiah and validate His role as Savior, being both fully God and fully man (John 5:39; Luke 24:44–47).
The fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus serves as compelling evidence of who He was and what He did. The Bible contains hundreds of specific prophecies concerning the Messiah, ranging from His lineage, birthplace, manner of death, and resurrection. Each of these prophecies is precisely fulfilled in Jesus, demonstrating His unique identity as the Savior of humanity. For instance, Genesis 3:15 predicts a "seed" who will crush the serpent's head, fulfilled in Jesus's victory over sin and Satan. Similarly, Isaiah 53:3–5 foretells His suffering and atonement, which are fully realized in His crucifixion and resurrection (John 19:17–30; Acts 2:23–24).
These prophecies provide strong evidence that Jesus is the only One who could fulfill them, supporting the claims of His divinity. As John 5:39 states, "You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me." The Old Testament Scriptures point directly to Jesus as the fulfillment of God’s promises, validating His role as both fully God and fully man. The consistent and detailed fulfillment of these prophecies reinforces the reliability of the Bible and the truth of Jesus's identity and mission (Luke 24:44–47; 1 Peter 1:10–12).