How does John 1:45 demonstrate the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies about Jesus? “Philip found Nathanael and told him, ‘We have found the One Moses wrote about in the Law, and whom the prophets foretold—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.’” This single sentence bridges centuries of expectation, tying Jesus to the entire sweep of Old Testament promise. What Philip Is Claiming - “Moses wrote about” → a reference to the Torah (Genesis–Deuteronomy). - “the prophets foretold” → covers the rest of the Hebrew Scriptures. - “Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph” → identifies a real, flesh-and-blood man as the long-promised Messiah. Prophecies from Moses (the Law) Fulfilled in Jesus - Deuteronomy 18:15–18 — A Prophet like Moses • Jesus speaks God’s very words (John 12:49–50). - Genesis 3:15 — Seed of the woman crushing the serpent • Jesus’ cross and resurrection defeat Satan (Hebrews 2:14). - Genesis 22:8, 14 — God will provide the lamb • John 1:29, 36 call Jesus “the Lamb of God.” - Numbers 21:8–9 — The bronze serpent lifted up • Jesus applies this picture to His own crucifixion (John 3:14–15). Prophecies from “the Prophets” Fulfilled in Jesus - Isaiah 7:14 — Born of a virgin → Matthew 1:22–23. - Micah 5:2 — Born in Bethlehem, ruler from eternity → Luke 2:4–7. - Isaiah 9:6–7 — Son given, government on His shoulders → Luke 1:30–33. - Isaiah 11:1 — Shoot from the stump of Jesse → Romans 15:12. - Zechariah 9:9 — King enters on a donkey → John 12:14–15. - Isaiah 35:5–6 — Blind see, lame walk → Matthew 11:4–5. - Psalm 22; Isaiah 53 — Suffering, pierced, yet victorious → John 19:23–37; Acts 8:32–35. Nazareth’s Surprising Role - Though Micah pinpoints Bethlehem for His birth, Jesus’ upbringing in Nazareth fulfills the theme of the Messiah being “despised and rejected” (Isaiah 53:3) and matches Matthew 2:23: “He will be called a Nazarene.” - Philip’s phrase “of Nazareth” underscores that the promised One has come in humble, ordinary circumstances—exactly as foretold. Why John 1:45 Matters - It shows early disciples instantly interpreted Jesus through the lens of Scripture. - It affirms that the entirety of the Old Testament—Law and Prophets—finds literal completion in Jesus. - It invites every reader to trace those promises and recognize the same conclusion Philip reached: the Messiah is here, and His name is Jesus. |
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