Uncovering the Clues

He broke the record for the “most portrayed literary human character in film and TV.” The popular fictional sleuth of Victorian and Edwardian England was almost called Sherrinford. The British author, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, masterfully portrays Sherlock Holmes as a detective known for his sharp observation, forensic science, and logical reasoning. He has been so popular that many have believed him to be a real person.

The investigator of Scripture will discover, after carefully studying clues in the Old Testament, that the promised Messiah is no fictional character, but Jesus Christ. Only in the Son of Mary do we find the fulfillment of the prophecies made to the patriarchs of the Old Testament.

For instance, Matthew traces the genealogy of Jesus back to Abraham and calls him “the Son of Abraham” (Matthew 1:1). The apostle Paul agrees that Jesus fulfills the promise to Abraham. “Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, ‘And to seeds,’ as of many, but as of one, ‘And to your Seed,’ who is Christ” (Galatians 3:16).

Even the Messianic title Son of David was applied to Jesus. When entering Jerusalem during the Passover, the multitudes who followed Him shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” (Matthew 21:9). Peter preached this truth at Pentecost after the resurrection. “Men and brethren, let me speak freely to you of the patriarch David. … Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, He would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne” (Acts 2:29, 30).

Study the Scriptures for yourself and you will conclude that the data unquestionably identifies Jesus as the Son of God, the Savior of the world. But remember, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven” (John 3:27).

Apply It:

Study several Old Testament prophecies about the coming Messiah (Micah 5:2; Isaiah 7:14; Psalm 22:1) and see if you can find their New Testament fulfillment.

Dig Deeper:

Psalm 34:20; Isaiah 53:4–8; Zechariah 12:10

Key Bible Texts

For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publickly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ. (Acts 18:28 KJV)