[boatbums]

I hope your "noggin" is feeling better. ☺

I agree with you about Messianic prophecies. We can look at Psalm 22, which talks about hands and feet being pierced (v. 16) as well as all the crucified one's "bones are out of joint" (v. 14) - something that WOULD happen from being hung stretched out and then the cross dropped into a hole. Verse 18 says, "They divide my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment." - something that DID happen to Jesus. What is truly shocking to me is how the ancient Jewish religious leaders knew about all these prophecies - knowing exactly how to identify the Messiah when he came - yet many STILL rejected Jesus in spite of his fulfilling them.

Some skeptics have stated that Jesus put himself in the situations so that it would only appear like he was the one prophesied, but that is such a ridiculous notion it's hard to imagine it answers the many questions that would arise. Questions such as how Jesus could have determined where he would be born and what lineage he would have or that his mother would be a virgin. I find it laughable that they could think Jesus would be up on the cross directing the Roman soldiers on how to divide his clothing and to not rip up his cloak. He couldn't have known after he died that the soldiers wouldn't break his legs (a standard act to speed up the execution) but which fulfilled Psalm 34:20 which says, "He keeps all his bones; not one of them is broken." and which John 19:31-37 says:

Now it was the day of Preparation, and the next day was to be a special Sabbath. Because the Jewish leaders did not want the bodies left on the crosses during the Sabbath, they asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies taken down. The soldiers therefore came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with Jesus, and then those of the other. But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water. The man who saw it has given testimony, and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, and he testifies so that you also may believe. These things happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken,” and, as another scripture says, “They will look on the one they have pierced.”

Thank you for your kind words. It blesses me to hear when the Lord uses this forum to encourage others.

[redleghunter]

Good post. It was that abomination of a movie “The Last Temptation” which pitched the idea Jesus methodically checked off prophecies to be fulfilled. The lead actor William Defoe was seen having meetings with the disciples telling them what must come next. So we have a new generation of skepticism based on that movie and the explosion of atheist internet sites spreading the lies.

[thecodont]

Thank you for your examples of the Messianic prophecies, and your mention of Evidence That Demands a Verdict (I'll have to go buy myself a copy).

[Elsie]

... or that his mother would be a virgin.

Some folks claim that 'young woman' could replace 'virgin' in the prophecy.

A 'young woman' having a child is no big deal; as they do it all the time.

However; Joseph was so upset about 'something', that he was going to get rid of Mary before the Lord stopped him.

[metmom]

Some skeptics have stated that Jesus put himself in the situations so that it would only appear like he was the one prophesied, but that is such a ridiculous notion it's hard to imagine it answers the many questions that would arise.

That is so ludicrous....

Why would someone put themselves in the position to be CRUCIFIED to death?

If you're looking to be a messiah and savior, you don't go dying a horrible death like that. Cause once you're dead, it's all over.

Unless, of course, you really DO rise from the dead.

And then if that happens, then you weren't a fake anyway.