HopeLives365

Guest (Male): The prophecies of the Bible are amazing. The most precise prophecies were fulfilled the last 24 hours of Jesus' life. They prove beyond a shadow of a doubt for those who have open minds to honestly consider the evidence who Jesus really is.

Guest (Female): This is HopeLives365 with Pastor Mark Finley. Today's message: More Than Mere Man. Enjoy and remember you can always catch up with past messages and stay up to date with HopeLives365 and Pastor Mark by going to HopeLives365.com. And now, Pastor Mark Finley.

Mark Finley: Dr. James Strange of the University of South Florida in the United States was fascinated with the 48 specific prophecies of Christ's birth, life, death, and resurrection. This university professor developed a complex mathematical formula to discover the statistical possibility of a mere man fulfilling each of these incredibly amazing prophecies.

His conclusion: the chances are one trillion to the 16th power. That is one with a whopping 144 zeros after it. It was absolutely impossible for any ordinary human being to accomplish what Christ did. Jesus himself used the evidence of fulfilled prophecy to demonstrate that he was the world's true Messiah.

Shortly after his resurrection, Jesus met two of his disciples on the Emmaus road. They were deeply distressed over the events of the last few days. They were confused and perplexed. The Holy Spirit blinded their eyes so they did not immediately recognize Jesus' identity. He chastised them, asking, "Oh foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all the prophets have spoken! Ought not the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into his glory?" Luke 24, verse 25 and 26.

Jesus clearly pointed out the events which so confused their minds, and he said these events were fulfillment of prophecy. The Savior then shared amazing insights from the word of God that left no doubt of his identity. He unfolded who he was from the prophecies of the Old Testament. And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded to them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

Wouldn't it have been fascinating if we could have been there? Wouldn't it have been thrilling if someone would have recorded Jesus' discussion with these two disciples and we could play back the taped version today? Although we were not there, we have a pretty good idea of what Jesus said. The reason we know it is because he told us.

He began at Moses with the first five books of the Bible: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. And then he continued through the Old Testament, pinpointing with uncanny accuracy the predictions of the Old Testament prophets, which were fulfilled in his life. Jesus' life was a life written beforehand. Jesus' biography was written in advance.

Now most biographies are written at the end of a person's life or after they've died. Jesus' biography was written before he was born. Prophecies centuries old were fulfilled in his life. Most biographers begin with the birth of the person they're writing about. Millenniums before Jesus was born, the human race looked forward to his coming.

At least 1500 years before Christ's birth, Moses wrote of the Messiah who would bruise the serpent's head, while at the same time his heel would be bruised. This is found in Genesis chapter three, verse 15. Every sacrificial lamb offered by the Old Testament believers was a vivid testimony that they believed the Messiah would come to deal a crushing blow to the evil one.

The Bible prophet Isaiah reveals that the Lord himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. Isaiah seven, verse 14. The name Immanuel of course means what? You know, God with us. The virgin birth is one of Christianity's central truths. Jesus was not conceived naturally. He was supernaturally conceived in the womb of Mary by the Holy Spirit.

The virgin birth was a miracle. Mary was troubled when she discovered she was pregnant. She was a virgin. How could this be? How is it possible that she's with child? It was impossible. She couldn't be pregnant. Joseph her fiancé was equally so troubled and quietly planned to break off the engagement to save them from both public and personal embarrassment.

At this critical juncture, the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary declaring—we find this in Luke chapter one, verse 27, verse 30 and 31—the angel says, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you found favor with God. And behold, you'll conceive in your womb and bring forth a son, and call his name Jesus."

The same angelic visitor appeared to Joseph quoting Isaiah's prophecy regarding the Messiah being born of a virgin, explaining, "Do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife." Listen, the angel's coming to Joseph here, and what is the angel saying? "Don't be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit."

Jesus was more than a good man. Jesus was more than a religious teacher. Jesus was more than an ethical philosopher. Jesus was more than an itinerant preacher. Jesus was the divine son of God conceived supernaturally in Mary's womb by the Holy Spirit. Wonder of all wonders, marvel of all marvels, truth of all truths, Isaiah predicted the virgin birth over six centuries in advance.

Now the details regarding Jesus' birth are clearly revealed. The prophet Micah in chapter five, verse two of his book, hundreds of years in advance, reveals this significant detail: "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to me the one to be ruler in Israel, whose goings forth, that's whose origins, have been of old from everlasting."

Most people are aware that Jesus' hometown was Nazareth. Bethlehem is some 90 miles south of Nazareth. In the days of Jesus, Bethlehem was a small village. It was truly little among the thousands of Judah. How would a woman nine months pregnant arrive in that very city predicted by Micah the prophet centuries before? How could she possibly arrive there the very night of Jesus' birth?

Now look, under normal circumstances, women don't usually take 90-mile donkey rides when they're ready to deliver a baby, right? When's the last time you knew of a woman who's nine months pregnant that would take this donkey ride some 90 miles? It doesn't happen, does it? But it was a decree of Caesar Augustus that brought the holy family to Bethlehem.

The census was actually conducted by Cyrenius, the governor of Syria for tax purposes. It required whole families to leave their homes and return to the city of their birth. How did the ancient prophet know Bethlehem would be the birthplace of the Messiah? Bible prophets do not guess. They're inspired by the living God. And did you notice it said in Micah five, verse two, "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah"?

You see, there were two Bethlehems. One was in Judea in Ephrathah. This would be Bethlehem Ephrathah. There was another Bethlehem in the north. I was born in Norwich, Connecticut, but there's also a Norwich, England. So to say Mark Finley was born in Norwich, you'd have to say where? Was he born in England? Was he born in Connecticut in the United States? I happened to be born in Norwich, Connecticut, the United States.

So simply to say that Jesus would be born in Bethlehem would not be sufficient enough to identify the specific location of his birth. And here the prophet Micah says Bethlehem Ephrathah, the exact place. Bible prophecy does not guess. It knows. Jesus would be born of a virgin. Jesus would be born in Bethlehem Ephrathah of Judea.

And in one of the oldest Messianic prophecies ever recorded, the Hebrew prophet Balaam declares—Numbers 24, verse 17—"A star shall come out of Jacob; a scepter shall rise out of Israel." The three Magi from the East noted this star in the night sky, which marked Christ's arrival. They traveled into Jerusalem to inquire where the child was. They expected the entire city to be buzzing with talk about the Messiah.

These wise men from the East anticipated all Israel would worship the newborn King. They were stunned at the lack of enthusiasm regarding the birth of the Messiah. When Herod learned of their presence in Jerusalem, he sent for them. He inquired what time the star appeared. He then sent them on their way and told them to bring word to him when they found the Messiah so he could worship him as well.

The gospel writer Matthew records the story of the Magi following the star, which led them directly to the newborn babe in Bethlehem. Then God forewarns the Magi in a dream: don't go back to Herod because Herod's intent was simply to kill this male child whom he thought would usurp his throne in the kingdom. You read about this in Matthew chapter two, verse 1 to 12. God miraculously led the Magi to the tomb in exactly the right time.

Now do you remember when Jacob blessed his sons and he foretold the coming of the Messiah? When the dying Jacob gathered his sons together for the patriarchal blessing, he encouraged Judah with these words: "A scepter will not depart from Judah nor a lawgiver from between his feet until Shiloh come." Genesis 49, verse 10.

Shiloh of course is another name for the Messiah. It literally means "The One Who Brings Peace." Jesus is the great peacemaker. He brings peace, reconciliation, forgiveness, grace, and mercy.

Guest (Female): We'll be right back with Pastor Mark Finley. We thank you for listening and hope you're enjoying today's message. Our mission is to attractively present the Christ-centered biblical truths of scripture in a practical, relevant way to people around the world so that they may experience the abundant life that Christ offers and effectively share with confidence his life-changing truths with others. You can support this ministry and help us reach even more by going to HopeLives365.com/donate. And now, back to Pastor Mark Finley.

Mark Finley: You see, Jacob's prediction clearly spells out that Judah would be the ruling tribe at the time of the Messiah's birth. Jacob's prediction was exactly fulfilled. The patriarch had 12 sons, so the odds of the old man guessing right were about one in 12. I'm not a betting man, but if I were, I wouldn't take 12 to one odds, would you?

The odds of Jesus being born in Bethlehem are even greater. There were at least a thousand to one. I wouldn't take those odds any time, and neither would you. But the prophecies go on and they're incredibly remarkable. The prophecies detailing Christ's life in advance are specifically given by God to reveal who Jesus really is.

They're not given to simply satisfy our intellectual curiosity. In one of the most extensive prophecies of the Bible, the prophet Isaiah outlines Jesus' ministry in advance. Speaking of the lifework of the Messiah, the prophet states, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because the Lord has anointed me to preach good tidings to the poor. He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and the opening of the prison to them who are bound, to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord." Isaiah 61, verse one and two.

Jesus' life testifies to the accuracy of the prophet's words. He preached good tidings to the poor. His grace, the good news of the gospel, lifts those who are broken, bruised, and crushed with guilt. He offers new beginnings. He heals the brokenhearted. Those who've seen their loved ones swallowed up by the jaws of death find reassurance in the Christ who is resurrected from the dead. The Savior dries their tears. He gives them hope for tomorrow.

In Jesus, death is not the end of the road. There's a glorious day of resurrection coming. Sometime ago, a repair wizard in Sydney, Australia placed this sign over the door of his shop: "Everything mended here, except broken hearts." This practical genius could fix washing machines, televisions, radios, cars, and bicycles, but not broken people.

His exception is Jesus' specialty. There's no problem too great for Jesus to solve. There's no difficulty too hard for him to unravel. There's no obstacle too severe for him to deal with. Isaiah's prophecy continues: "He's sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and the opening of the prison to those who are bound." Down through the centuries, Jesus has proven capable of setting the captive free. He's the great liberator.

People captive to alcohol and drugs are set free in Jesus. People in bondage to lust, greed, selfishness, and anger are set free in Jesus. People locked in the prison of despair, discouragement, and depression are released by Jesus. Let me give you a dramatic example. A young woman named Eileen was admitted to the hospital convinced that she had multiple sclerosis. She showed many signs of that disease, many symptoms.

But neurological tests revealed no traces of the disease. When psychiatrist William Wilson told her about this, she became angry. Eileen still continued to insist, "I have multiple sclerosis." Yet all the tests proved negative. All of the symptoms that she had could be pointing to something else. During later visits, Dr. Wilson discovered that this young woman was really suffering from a long bout of depression. She had a lot of anxiety and stress in her life.

But for Eileen, having a physical problem seemed a whole lot better than having a mental problem and facing her challenges. Dr. Wilson had come to believe that a relationship with God can help in a person's healing. Eileen seemed quite distressed in this idea. She wanted to know how she could have a Christ-centered life. And she said, "Look, I've not understood this before. This is a perplexing idea to me, but I'm interested. I want to pursue it."

And so they did. The psychiatrist talked to her about learning to trust Jesus as a Savior, surrendering one's will to Christ as Lord. Here is revelation's key to receiving the liberating power of the Spirit in your own life and what Eileen needed. Revelation 22, verse 17 says, "Let him who thirsts come. And whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely."

Dr. Wilson explained to Eileen that as she made a conscious act of her will to surrender her life to the lordship of Jesus Christ, a wonderful change could take place in her whole life. About a week later, Eileen asked Jesus to come into her life and she prayed to be filled with the Holy Spirit. After that, Dr. Wilson encouraged Eileen to ask God for wisdom to understand her illness, whatever it was.

Eileen prayed. Her depression intensified, but in this pain, the lights came on. She finally realized that her problem was depression, not the multiple sclerosis she was sure she had. Dr. Wilson continued counseling with Eileen, praying with her. Her symptoms began to go away and soon she was ready to go home.

But back at home she was surrounded by her old environment. That horrible feeling of depression began to overwhelm her again. She felt nauseated. She could hardly focus. This went on for two hours until she collapsed on the floor. Eileen struggled, but she couldn't move. It seemed that all her old symptoms were back.

But at that moment, something struck her, a revelation. She realized that deep inside she was struggling against God. She'd been so stubborn she hadn't fully surrendered her life to him. And so Eileen said, "God, I give up. I give up." She asked God to forgive her for her pride, to enable her to serve him. She began to face each day with anticipation and joy in Jesus Christ, not in herself, in the joy in Jesus.

She saturated her mind with the word of God. She read the promises of God's word. Slowly, gradually, the depression left her. Slowly, gradually, the symptoms left her. You see, Jesus liberates us from our captivity.

Now I'm not suggesting to you that a person with multiple sclerosis can be delivered from that. Not at all. I'm not suggesting to you for one minute that your depression led to your multiple sclerosis. Here's what we know about Eileen's story. Now listen carefully. Eileen did not have multiple sclerosis. Eileen had physical symptoms that she diagnosed herself with as having it.

And those physical symptoms were the result of her depression, not the result of a physical disease. And what Dr. Wilson, the psychiatrist, did was deal with the fact that Jesus can liberate the captive. He can liberate us by giving us strength and power and comfort. The prophecies of the Bible are amazing. Prophecies that were filled in Jesus' last 24 hours of his life are some of the most incredible.

The most precise prophecies were fulfilled the last 24 hours of Jesus' life. They prove beyond a shadow of a doubt for those who have open minds to honestly consider the evidence who Jesus really is. The prophet Zechariah predicted that Jesus would ride into Jerusalem on a donkey in Zechariah 8, verse 9. Passion Week began with Jesus' triumphant entry into the city on a donkey as the prophet foretold.

The gospel writer Mark confirms the authenticity of this prediction with these words: "Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their garments on it." Mark 11, verses seven, nine, and 11. Jesus' betrayal by a close friend was predicted in Psalm 41, verse 9 in words too clear to be misunderstood. What does Psalm 41, verse nine say? "Even my familiar friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted up his heel against me."

Jesus was not betrayed by an enemy. One of his own disciples, Judas, sold out his integrity for a paltry 30 pieces of silver, the price of a common slave. Zechariah the prophet, writing more than 600 years in advance, accurately foretold the Savior's betrayal price: "If it is agreeable to you, give me my wages; and if not, refrain. So they weighed for my wages 30 pieces of silver." Zechariah 11, verse 12.

How did Zechariah know centuries before Christ that the price of a slave would be 30 pieces of silver? The prophet's prediction was fulfilled to the last detail. But that's not all. Zechariah continued, saying, "Throw it to the potter—that princely price they set on me. So I took the 30 pieces of silver and threw them into the house of the Lord for the potter." Zechariah 11, verse 13.

Now here are three very specific predictions. First, Jesus would be betrayed for 30 pieces of silver. Secondly, the blood money would be returned to the priest by casting it on the floor of the temple. Thirdly, the priest would use the money to purchase a potter's field as a burial place for strangers. The historical narrative in the gospel of Matthew records that this is exactly what happened.

Each detail was fulfilled as predicted. This is true through the entire crucifixion scene. The prophets of the Old Testament foretold each detail with amazing accuracy. Listen to these seven details:

1. Jesus would be silent in suffering when he was crucified. Isaiah 53:7. He was.

2. Jesus will be whipped, smitten, and flogged. Isaiah 50, verse six and Isaiah 53, verse five. He was.

3. Jesus would be crucified. Zechariah 12, verse 10.

4. Jesus would receive vinegar to drink. Psalm 69, verse 21.

5. Jesus' garments would be divided among the soldiers who crucified him, but they'd cast lots for his seamless robe. Psalm 22, verse 17 and 18.

6. Jesus would not have one of his bones broken, although the bones of each of the thieves would be broken. Psalm 34, verse 10.

7. Jesus would not remain in the grave; his body would never see corruption. He would be resurrected from the dead. Psalm 16, verse 10; Psalm 48, verse 15; Psalm 68, verse 18.

Now look, these prophecies, 48 of these prophecies, were fulfilled exactly—exactly with precise detail, with minute detail, exactly like the Bible says. The Christ of prophecy is the living Christ. The great world leaders are in their tombs. Death has claimed their lives down through the ages: Abraham Lincoln, George Washington, Vladimir Lenin, Mao Zedong, Winston Churchill, Charlemagne, Napoleon, Alexander the Great, and a host of others who've commanded some of the world's largest armies, ruled some of the world's greatest empires, lived the most lavish lives are buried in sealed crypts.

Their voices are silent. Their powerful influences largely gone. The armies they commanded have passed off the scene of history. But Jesus is different. His tomb is empty. He is alive!

Guest (Female): You've been listening to HopeLives365 with Pastor Mark Finley. We hope you've enjoyed today's message and remind you that you can find more in our many ministry resources at HopeLives365.com. And you can support this ministry by going to HopeLives365.com/donate. And now, a final thought from Pastor Mark.

Mark Finley: Isn't it time to surrender to the Lord who can help you understand and grow? Isn't it time to give your will into the hands of the one who can fill you with good things? Friend, Jesus is more than a good man. Jesus is more than an ethical teacher. Jesus is more than some religious philosopher. He's the divine son of God.

And he's changed thousands and thousands of people who at times have felt desperate. What are you holding back from him? What are you resisting surrendering to him? Open your heart to him right now, and he will change your life.

Let's pray. Father in Heaven, you're the life-changing Christ. You're the all-powerful Christ. You're the one who can change our lives. So Jesus, just now, move in our hearts, move in our lives. Father, we open our hearts to you. We don't want to resist anymore. We don't want to turn our back on you anymore. We don't want to run away from you anymore. Oh God, we open our hearts to you just now and come as the living Christ, the resurrected Christ, and work a miracle in our hearts. In Jesus' name, Amen.