What Old Testament prophecies align with the belief in Jesus mentioned here? Setting the Scene: John 2:23 “While He was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many saw the signs He was doing and believed in His name.” The crowd’s response—faith sparked by His signs—echoes specific Old Testament predictions about the Messiah. The verses below show how those ancient prophecies align with what takes place in John 2:23. Prophecies of Miraculous Signs • Isaiah 35:5-6 – “Then the eyes of the blind will be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. Then the lame will leap like a deer, and the mute tongue will shout for joy.” • Isaiah 42:6-7 – “…to open the eyes of the blind, to bring prisoners out of the dungeon and those sitting in darkness out from the prison house.” • Deuteronomy 18:15, 18-19 – “The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your brothers. You must listen to him.” Miraculous deeds, like Moses’, would validate that Prophet. • Malachi 4:2 – “For you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings.” These texts predict a Messiah who authenticates His identity by unmistakable works—just what the Jerusalem crowd witnessed. Prophecies That Anticipate Faith Sparked by Those Signs • Isaiah 11:10 – “On that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will seek Him.” • Isaiah 52:15 – “…kings will shut their mouths because of Him; for they will see what they have not been told.” • Psalm 118:26 – “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD.” The psalm foresees people publicly acknowledging the One sent by God—echoed when many “believed in His name.” Prophecies Linking the Messiah to the Temple and Passover • Malachi 3:1 – “Then the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to His temple.” John places Jesus in the temple just before 2:23, fulfilling Malachi’s picture. • Exodus parallels – Just as Passover commemorated deliverance by mighty signs, Jesus performs new signs during that very feast, signaling a greater redemption (cf. John 1:29; 1 Corinthians 5:7). Connection Points in John’s Gospel • John 1:45 – Philip identifies Jesus using Deuteronomy 18 language: “We have found the One Moses wrote about in the Law and the prophets.” • John 3:2 – Nicodemus affirms, “No one could perform the signs You are doing if God were not with him,” reflecting the very reason the Passover crowd believed. • John 5:36 – Jesus appeals to His works as fulfillment: “The works the Father has given Me to accomplish… testify about Me.” Putting It Together The signs of John 2:23 are not random miracles; they are the prophesied credentials of the Messiah: 1. They match Isaiah’s and Malachi’s promises of healing and sudden temple appearance. 2. They meet Deuteronomy’s test of the Prophet like Moses. 3. They stir the faith Isaiah, the Psalms, and Zechariah foresaw—a believing remnant recognizing the One who comes “in the name of the LORD.” Thus, every sign that moved people to believe at that Passover was another divine signature, confirming Jesus as the long-awaited fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy. |
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