Since Jesus knew the prophecies of the messiah, wouldn't that make it very easy for him to fulfill them?

Question

I mean, if I knew that you would believe I am God if I guessed what hand you had a marble in (and already knew it was the left), then all I would have to do is say exactly what you wanted to hear. That Jesus was definitely an opportunistic guy!

Answer 1

Jesus performed many miracles while here on earth, yet skeptics refused to accept them as proof that he was God’s Spokesman. Why, some contended that it was “by means of Beelzebub the ruler of the demons” that Jesus performed certain miracles! Jesus acknowledged that some “miracles” performed by others were actually the works of Satan. (Luke 11:14-19; Matthew 7:22, 23.)
In the pages of the Bible itself, we find such proof—prophecy. Certainly, Jehovah as the God of truth and Source of all wisdom, the One knowing from the beginning the end, should be able to predict what will take place in future times, including our own. (Psalm 31:5; Proverbs 2:6; Isaiah 46:9, 10.) This he has done in his written Word, and often in great detail. Let us consider just one set of prophecies that center on Jesus Christ.

Prophecies That Prove Jesus to Be the Messiah

Hundreds of Bible prophecies found their fulfillment in Jesus Christ. Some may argue that Jesus and his disciples maneuvered things to this end. But could that really be? Consider some of the facts.

Neither Jesus nor his parents could have prompted a Roman caesar to issue a decree requiring Joseph and Mary to go to their hometown of Bethlehem for census and tax registration purposes just at the time of Jesus’ birth. So Romans, who were in no way interested in the outworking of Bible prophecy, played a part in Jesus’ being born in Bethlehem in fulfillment of the prophecy at Micah 5:2.
The more Jesus exposed the hypocrisy of the Jewish religious leaders, the more they wanted to kill him. But his death was not to come directly from the hands of his fellow countrymen. Had the Jews executed Jesus, they would likely have stoned him to death, since this was the means of inflicting the death penalty outlined in the Mosaic Law. (John 8:59; 10:31.) However, according to the prophecies, the Messiah had to be hanged on a stake to take away “the curse of the Law.” (Compare Deuteronomy 21:22, 23 with Galatians 3:13.) He had to be “lifted up” so that he might “draw men of all sorts.” (Compare Numbers 21:4, 9 with John 3:14 and 12:32, 33.) With impalement, as used by the Romans, there could be no doubt about the fulfillment of these prophecies. So the Romans, who were not interested in helping to fulfill Bible prophecies, again played a role in causing Jehovah’s Word of prophecy to be proved true.

Furthermore, while hanging on the stake, Jesus could do nothing to determine what was being done with his garments. He could not maneuver the Roman soldiers into casting lots over them. But they did, exactly as Bible prophecy foretold that they would! (Psalm 22:18; John 19:24) Again, it was the Romans, not Jesus or his disciples, who were involved in causing prophecy to ring true.

Jesus foretold that events would occur in Jerusalem in his generation that would mean the city’s abrupt end. (Luke 21:5-24) Over 500 years before Jesus’ time, Daniel had foretold this. (Daniel 9:26, 27) In the year 70 C.E., Jerusalem was destroyed. The words of Jesus and Daniel were fulfilled. Once again, Bible prophecy was stamped as reliable.

Will You Benefit From Prophecy?

What reason would children have to distrust the promises of parents who in the past had done only good things for them and who had always kept their word? Likewise, what reason would we have to distrust Jehovah’s promise of bringing about the Kingdom of his Son? What reason would we have to believe that Jehovah, who has done so much good for his creatures in the past, would all at once lose interest in their welfare?

There are no convincing arguments to that effect. Therefore, we have every reason to trust in Jehovah and his Word and to rest our hope in him. His reliable word of prophecy gives us a purpose for living. It directs our activity toward a worthwhile goal. It is truly of the greatest value to us today.

Answer 2

All the clear prophecies are in the New Testament. They were not dreamed up by Christians. Jesus said he would return. Really the Jewish position is confused. They claim that the Messiah will not be divine but expect him to do things that are supernatural. They you say that "Bible explicitly says that "signs" and "wonders" are NOT proof that anyone is a prophet. In fact, it says that there will come some who do miracles and signs and wonders and they will be false prophets" yet you believe in Moses and Elijah even though they did signs and wonders. Jews claim over and over again that Jesus cannot come again because "no man gets a second coming" yet they sit at you sader table with a setting for Elijah waiting for his second coming. They say that all the prophecies have to be done in one lifetime which is a sign in itself. You don't get that many of the miracles Jesus preformed were repeats of what Moses and Elijah did but on a large scale. Jesus message from the beginning was that he was greater than those that the Jews had before. Jewish scripture says that things would be different when the Messiah comes and those that believe in him see that it is.

Answer 3

Have you ever read all of the prophesies that the Messiah was to fulfill? I say to you this, it is by a long shot that anyone except for the true Messiah would fulfill all of them, just because he read them and understood them does not mean that he could cause them, for instance how would he manipulate others to cast lots for his clothes? How would he manipulate all the disciples to abandon him, when they were so ready to stand up and fight for him? How could he have manipulated the conception from a virgin mother? I am sure you get the point by now I forget exactly how many prophesies concerning the Christ there are but it over a hundred, so the chances of him knowing and manipulating them all is just so impossible it's not funny. Jesus is the Christ and he will do for you exactly what God promised Ezekiel 36:26

Answer 4

i see where you are coming from however there are many things wrong with your theory. Jesus WAS the messiah, no ordinary con artist can be born of a virgin, do all those miracles, die and then rise on the third day. He knew the prophosies because he was God and God knows all, especially the prophosies. he was the one who inspired man to write them. Also, if he was a fraud then why would he take it as far as the cross, what would he have to gain from that, except death? Unless he was the Messiah, then he would have a reason to die. He would be saving the world from eternal suffering.

Answer 5

He's not opportunistic and He didn't say things that people like to hear, He was hated and almost stoned for speaking truths about hypocrisy. He knew He's future is to die and it's not an easy task to bear the worlds sins on your back. He asked for strenght when He prayed in Gethsemane to His Father. He carried the cross a long mile and was beaten and crucified yet He's still being persecuted even today.
Please read the Gospel, I'm getting carried away.

Answer 6

Sure, for the easy ones. Anyone could. For instance, I could go ride a donkey into Jerusalem. Does that make me the Messiah?

The main tasks in the Messiah "job description" are a bit more difficult, such as bringing world peace, gathering the Jews, world recognition of God, building the Temple, etc.

Only when someone achieves these biggies you can assume he is the Messiah.

Answer 7

And then Judaism comes and, with the OT in hand (or Tanakh to be exact), tells you that Jesus did not fulfill the prophecies so he ain't the messiah. For them, he even fails to meet the prophecies he already knew. Then it comes the excuse that "it will be in the second coming" and I wonder, ain't the messiah supposed to meet the whole criteria and not just bits of it. Suspicious, huh?

Answer 8

There are indeed examples of Jesus saying to His disciples, "that it may be according to the prophecies" but there are many more examples of events reflecting prophecies that were not in a man's control. For example, as previously mentioned, the virgin birth but also things like the suffering of Bethlehem and out of Egypt will My Son come, etc., Way too many to be of coincidence and way too many to be orchestrated by all men much less one or His parents and Him, etc., At the time of the prophecy of His crucifixion, the practice had not been invented and those who did practice this form of execution were in no way knowledgeable of these prophecies when they did invent this form of execution. Way too many specifics for anybody's design unless there actually is a God to do the orchestrating.

Answer 9

they were written thousands of years before. God did know them and knew where and when and what. God does the most difficult and major complicated things we cannot even imagine could happen with ease, easier than man taking a breath. ask Jesus into your life and be born again by the power of the Gospel (an actual real life event in your real life) if you do this in a prayer sincerely God will answer you!

Answer 10

So what you're saying is Jesus was like an actor in a very long play with a huge amount of lines and stage direction to memorize. And the Oscar goes to . . .