You can listen to the sermon on my podcast after 3/16/20 at: https://www.buzzsprout.com/697261/2972893
Intro:
• People are really bad at predictions, estimating the probability of an outcome.
o [slideshow of bad predictions made by experts over the past century.
o Reasons why:
? Internal bias
? Unable to synthesize all the facts. (We cherry pick the data)
? We don’t always know what is important to consider.
• We’re going to talk about probability and the most improbable person in all creation.
o Probability is a numerical description of how likely an event is to occur or how likely it is that a proposition is true.
• What are the odds of these prophecies being fulfilled by one man and why does it matter?
• We begin with Psalm 2.
Seeing the Messiah in Psalm 2
Psalm 2:7 NLT 7 The king proclaims the LORD’s decree: “The LORD said to me, ‘You are my son. Today I have become your Father.
• Utilized by NT writers in different contexts:
• vv. 1-2 are quoted by the early church in response to persecution.
Acts 4:25–26 NLT 25 you spoke long ago by the Holy Spirit through our ancestor David, your servant, saying, ‘Why were the nations so angry? Why did they waste their time with futile plans? 26 The kings of the earth prepared for battle; the rulers gathered together against the LORD and against his Messiah.’
• God Himself audibly references v. 7 twice in response to Jesus’ actions:
Psalm 2:7 NLT 7 The king proclaims the LORD’s decree: “The LORD said to me, ‘You are my son. Today I have become your Father.
Matthew 3:16–17 ESV 16 And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; 17 and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”
Matthew 17:5 NLT 5 But even as he spoke, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy. Listen to him.”
V. 9 is referenced in Revelation 3x to appeal to Christ the King’s rule over creation:
Psalm 2:9 NLT 9 You will break them with an iron rod and smash them like clay pots.’ ”
Revelation 19:15 NLT 15 From his mouth came a sharp sword to strike down the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod. He will release the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty, like juice flowing from a winepress.
• This Psalm provides an excellent place to dive into many other prophecies of the messiah in the OT.
The Messiah in the Old Testament
• Let’s briefly explore several OT prophecies and their fulfillment in the NT
• The goal is NOT to have you retain all seven specific prophecies but to get a sense of the scope of biblical prophecy of the messiah.
Jesus’ birth:
Micah 5:2 NLT 2 But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, are only a small village among all the people of Judah. Yet a ruler of Israel whose origins are in the distant past, will come from you on my behalf.
• Mt 2:6
Forerunner:
Malachi 3:1 NLT 1 “Look! I am sending my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. Then the Lord you are seeking will suddenly come to his Temple. The messenger of the covenant, whom you look for so eagerly, is surely coming,” says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies.
• see Mk 1.2
Entering Jerusalem on a Foal:
Zechariah 9:9 NLT 9 Rejoice, O people of Zion! Shout in triumph, O people of Jerusalem! Look, your king is coming to you. He is righteous and victorious, yet he is humble, riding on a donkey— riding on a donkey’s colt.
• See Mt. 21.5
Betrayed by a Friend:
Zechariah 13:6 NLT 6 And if someone asks, ‘Then what about those wounds on your chest?’ he will say, ‘I was wounded at my friends’ house!’
• See Lk. 22.22
Sold:
Zechariah 11:12–13 NLT 12 And I said to them, “If you like, give me my wages, whatever I am worth; but only if you want to.” So they counted out for my wages thirty pieces of silver. 13 And the LORD said to me, “Throw it to the potter”—this magnificent sum at which they valued me! So I took the thirty coins and threw them to the potter in the Temple of the LORD.
• See Mt. 27.9-10
Silent Before Accusers:
Isaiah 53:7 NLT 7 He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter. And as a sheep is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth.
• See Acts 8.32; Mt. 26.63
Hung on a Tree:
Psalm 22:16 ESV 16 For dogs encompass me; a company of evildoers encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet—
• See Jn 19.37
In Context
• Discussed just seven prophecies. OT has approximately 300 recognized passages that apply to Christ. Written by many authors in scattered locations over 100’s of years. No coordination, no collusion.
• Reason for covering these seven is to highlight just how very improbable it is that one man has fulfilled just these.
• Mathematician (Dr. Peter Stone) has calculated how probable it is that one person could fulfill just these seven. His numbers reviewed by independent group of statisticians and confirmed to be good science.
• He computed that the odds of Jesus doing this at one in 10 to the 17th power. That is one in one quintillion. A vast number. His illustration is that if you had that many silver dollars, you could cover the whole state of Texas two feet deep. Imagine you painted one of them red and asked a blindfolded person to go out and find that one red silver dollar on the first try. That’s how likely it is that Jesus could fulfill just these prophecies we’ve discussed.
• Now, remember there are many, many, more in the OT. Add just 40 more of these prophecies to the equation and the number gets to 1 in 10(157th). That’s one followed by 157 zeros. Essentially impossible by any human agency. This is divine.
Why This Matters
• Our culture is increasingly skeptical of the claims of Christianity.
• Often believers are tempted to doubt the core beliefs of our faith.
• If others deny that Jesus is the Messiah, the savior of the world, then we must be able to explain how one many can fulfill so many detailed prophecies.
• It is reasonable to question and explain away one prophecy but the cumulative weight of the whole is a strong basis for our faith.
Luke 6:46–48 NLT 46 “So why do you keep calling me ‘Lord, Lord!’ when you don’t do what I say? 47 I will show you what it’s like when someone comes to me, listens to my teaching, and then follows it. 48 It is like a person building a house who digs deep and lays the foundation on solid rock. When the floodwaters rise and break against that house, it stands firm because it is well built.
Conclusion:
• While we’re not very good at predicting the future or outcomes, the Bible shows us the One who fulfilled every prophecy ever made about him.
• We can trust Him.
