Places of the Messiah
Contents
The Messiah would be born in Bethlehem.
Prophecy: "But you, Bethlehem Ephratah, you are little to be among the clans of Judah, yet out of you shall One come forth for Me Who is to be Ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from ancient days - eternity" (Micah 5:2)
Fulfilment: "Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king..." (Matthew 2:1).
The Messiah would be born during a time of massacre.
Rachel's name, used in the following prophecy, is naturally associated with Bethlehem, by the fact that her tomb was in that neighbourhood.
Prophetic Forecast: "Thus says the Lord: A voice is heard in Ramah, lamentation and bitter weeping; Rachel is weeping for her children; she refuses to be comforted for her children, because they are not" (Jeremiah 31:5).
Fulfilment: "Then Herod, when he realized that he had been misled by the wise men, was furiously enraged, and he sent and put to death all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that territory who were two years old or under, reckoning according to the date which he had investigated diligently and learned exactly from the wise men" (Matthew 2:16).
The Messiah would come forth from Egypt as a child.
Prophecy: "When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt" (Hosea 11:1).
Fulfilment: "And having risen, he took the Child and His mother by night and withdrew to Egypt, and remained there until Herod's death. This was to fulfil what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, Out of Egypt have I called My Son" (Matthew 2:14-15).
The Messiah would be called a "Nazarene."
When Isaiah spoke of Jesus as "the Branch," he used the word "Neh-tzer, meaning "the separated one" or "the Nazarene."
Prophecy: "And there shall come forth a Shoot out of the stock of Jesse (David's father), and a Branch out of his roots shall grow and bear fruit" (Isaiah 11:1)
Fulfilment: "He went and dwelt in a town called Nazareth, so that what was spoken through the prophets might be fulfilled , He shall be called a Nazarene (meaning Branch, Separated One)" (Matthew 2:23).
The Messiah would have a forerunner go before Him.
Prophecy: "A voice of one who cries, Prepare in the wilderness the way of the Lord - clear away the obstacles - make straight and smooth in the desert a highway for our God" (Isaiah 40:3).
"Behold, I send my messenger and he shall prepare the way before Me. And the Lord, the Messiah, Whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; the Messenger or Angel of the covenant Whom you desire, behold, He shall come, says the Lord of hosts" (Malachi 3:1).
"Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and terrible day of the Lord comes" (Malachi 4:5).
Fulfilment: "In those days there appeared John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness (desert) of Judea, and saying, Repent - that is, think differently; change your mind, regretting your sins and changing your conduct - for the kingdom of Heaven is at hand. This is he who was mentioned by the prophet Isaiah when he said, The voice of one crying in the wilderness - shouting in the desert: Prepare the road for the Lord; make His highways straight (level, direct)" (Matthew 3:1-3).
"He said, I am the voice of one crying aloud in the wilderness..." (John 1:23).
"This is he concerning whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before Your face, who shall make ready Your way before You" (Luke 7:27).
The Messiah would begin His ministry in Galilee.
Prophecy: "In the former time, the Lord brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time He will make it glorious, by the way of the sea of Galilee, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations. The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in the land of intense darkness and the shadow of death, upon them has the light shined" (Isaiah 9:1-2).
Fulfilment: "(Jesus) withdrew into Galilee. And leaving Nazareth He went and dwelt in Capernaum by the sea, in the country of Zebulun and Naphtali, that what was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah might be brought to pass" (Matthew 4:12-14).