Check out Isaiah 53 - This is an Old Testament prophecy that foretold the coming of the Messiah (Jesus Christ) before he was even born - his purpose, the method of his death, the rejection by his own people, etc. Every bit of it came to be.
http://bible.crosswalk.com/OnlineStudyBible/bible.cgi?new=1&word=isaiah+53§ion=0&version=niv&language=en
Here it is in print:
1 Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? 2 He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. 3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4 Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. 6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. 8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away. And who can speak of his descendants? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was stricken. 9 He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth. 10 Yet it was the Lord's will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes his life a guilt offering, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand. 11 After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities. 12 Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
In a post last week you told me you are an atheist - I find it interesting that you spend your time on FR in the Religion section? Do you see yourself as an antagonist, or someone who is seeking and would like to be proven wrong, or none of the above? Just curious ...
Have you read the book by Josh McDowell, Evidence that Demands a Verdict? He's a former atheist who read the Bible set out to disprove Christianity and could not do so. You might enjoy reading it.
I actually applied the Scientific Method to the Bible when I read it and there's a song that captures my results perfectly - "Evidence" by 4Him with lyrics that say, "I can't get past the evidence - of you" - "you" referring to God himself.
That's my story and I'm sticking to it. It's awesome to have an absolute like Christ to stand upon. He's a foundation that can not be shaken even when our own world's quake with circumstances. Consider the temporal versus the eternal and that helps to put things in perspective.
Let us take a look at the prophecy : )
2 He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground.
Was Mary barren? I don't think so.
He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.
Was Christ ugly? All the references I have seen indicate that he was comely, "And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth." That doesn't sound stricken by God to me.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.
When was Christ crushed? He wasn't. Am I healed by his wounds? I don't think so.
And who can speak of his descendants?
Christ had descendants? Are they Gods too? Are you a Dan Brown follower?
He was assigned a grave with the wicked
Was Christ buried in a grave of the wicked? I think not.
though he had done no violence
Christ didn't whip and drive out the money changers?
he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand.
My, my, my I don't even know what to say. That obviously didn't happen. I almost feel sorry for your feeble attempt at trying to show a true prophecy.
Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong,
Obviously this isn't a reference to Christ, unless God is schizophrenic.
Every bit of it came to be.
I just pointed out that the bulk of the prophecy never happened or wasn't true. Did you even read the prophecy before you offered it up? I especially liked the part about Christ having kids and an extended life.
In a post last week you told me you are an atheist - I find it interesting that you spend your time on FR in the Religion section? Do you see yourself as an antagonist, or someone who is seeking and would like to be proven wrong, or none of the above? Just curious ...
I am a seeker of truth. In general I am trying to understand why people like you believe the way you do. I find it fascinating that people believe an illusion, despite seeming to see the reality at the same time. In other words, I find how you deal with cognitive dissonance fascinating.
That's my story and I'm sticking to it. It's awesome to have an absolute like Christ to stand upon. He's a foundation that can not be shaken even when our own world's quake with circumstances. Consider the temporal versus the eternal and that helps to put things in perspective.
: ) And that is what I find fascinating, your faith trumps everything. Challenges to your faith actually reinforce your belief, that is incredibly powerful. It is a power harnessed by armies, religion, leaders, etc. You would be willing to lay down your life because of your belief. It explains the Muslim suicide bombers thinking.
I find trying to understand that kind of thinking, fascinating : ) I think it is tied directly to the belief in prophecy, which in turn is all about control of the future.