Episode 612: Old Testament Prophecies and Easter

The story of Jesus saturates the metanarrative of the Bible, and prophecies of His first advent are found throughout the Old Testament. Allusions to Him also come up in micro ways, as many people and events hint at the work He would accomplish. One scholar, J. Barton Payne, has found as many as 574 verses in the Old Testament that somehow point to or describe or reference the coming Messiah. Alfred Edersheim found 456 Old Testament verses referring to the Messiah or His times. Conservatively, Jesus fulfilled at least 300 prophecies in His earthly ministry.

There are also many Old Testament prophecies that are seen as pointing toward the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. In today’s Top Ten List, we explore ten prophecies that are commonly seen as being fulfilled in the Easter story. These include prophecies about a suffering servant in Isaiah 52-53, a new covenant in Jeremiah 31, of a triumphal entry in Zechariah 9, and of the suffering of the righteous one in Psalm 22.

Other scriptures referenced include Psalm 16:9-10; Exodus 12: 1-11; Zechariah 12:10; John 19:37; Psalm 118:22-23; and Psalm 2:1-2.