Jonathan Joensen Due 03/07/25

In what ways does Jesus fulfil the Messianic prophecies in

Isaiah? Consider both fulfilled and unfulfilled prophecies.

Jesus is prophesied in many places throughout Isaiah as the coming Messiah. But the
Prophecies are often given wholistically and not necessarily specified when. We today, on
this side of the cross know that Christ will come again, however this wasn’t clear from Old
Testament prophecies such as in the book of Isaiah. The prophecies regarding the Messiah
tend to flow together, meaning Jesus’s 1st and 2nd advent could even appear in the same
paragraph.

Perhaps the clearest example might be from Isaiah 61:1-2, because we can directly witness
Jesus’s method of quoting it as recorded in Luke 4:17-21.A Jesus stops quoting in the middle
of verse 2 (of course in that time, verse numbers weren’t a concept). This is because, as
Jesus states in Luke 4:21, only what He read was what had been fulfilled.

This passage depicts a clear understanding of the 2 core ways in which to understand how
Jesus fulfil the Messianic prophecies in Isaiah (as well as in other prophetic scriptures). The
Messiah appears to have prophecies of 2 different categories which the church now
recognises (since Christ’s ascension) as a 1st and 2nd Coming of Christ. This explains why
the disciples asked about Jesus’s 2nd step (as they were still coming to an understanding of
God’s full plan) in Acts 1:6-7.B

Jesus as the Messiah had 2 ministries which play out in His 2 Advents. The first commonly
refer to Jesus as the suffering servant, and His second Coming describes Him as the
conquering King.

The title "Suffering Servant" isn't directly from scripture but a more general title that the
Messiah is given is as the Lord’s “Servant” (like Isaiah 42:1).C the most famous passage that
presents Jesus in the light of this title would be Isaiah 52:13-53:12.
52:13 & 15 hint of His role as being the exalted king, but not until fulfilling His role as a
servant (ch53). It foretells of his humble beginning and appearance.
Isaiah also offers other prophecies of the messiah's humble birth earlier in the book like
Isaiah 7:14D (although, Isaiah most likely was unaware of this prophecy being applied to the

A
Luke 4:17-21 17 and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where
it is written: 18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed
free, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” 20 Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and
sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. 21 He began by saying to them,
“Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”
B
Acts 1:6-7 6 Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the
kingdom to Israel?”
7
He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.
C
Isaiah 42:1 1 “Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on
him, and he will bring justice to the nations.
D
Isaiah 7:14 14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son,
and will call him Immanuel.
Jonathan Joensen Due 03/07/25
E
Messiah, as it also had a present fulfilment in his time) & 9:6–7 which starts off addressing
his birth but also again addresses prophecy yet to be fulfilled..!

Several verses depict language of harsh suffering, as 52:14 describes His injuries and 53:5
foretells the manner of His death, (even before crucifixion was an executionary method) as
well as stating the purpose – “for our transgression [and] iniquities” to take our punishment!

It can’t be mistaken that the Messiah had a ministry that involved humility and suffering
which was very much neglected in unbelief by Israel in Jesus’s first Coming.

But Jesus will come again as the “conquering King”. Isaiah 42:13F particularly depicts this
scene pronouncing how “the Lord will march out like a champion” and like a warrior. Again
Isaiah 66:15–24 describes how Jesus will come. This is such a different description to how
Jesus is also described in other prophecies. This shows the 2 fold plan of God’s provision of
Christ in 2 different manners. Ultimately, the ending scenario has Jesus as the ruling king
(Isaiah 9:7).G

So, what should we make of the unfulfilled prophecies?

Interpreting prophecy may seem intimidating or confusing (It has felt that way for me
personally in the past) but it shouldn't need to be. The key is to maintain a consistent
hermeneutic (method of interpretation) - that being a consistent literal reading. We can be
confident in this approach particularly due to our advantaged position since we have the full
revelation of scripture and can see firsthand how God so precisely fulfils scripture through
Christ’s 1st Coming!
Therefore we should be consistent and interpret the unfulfilled prophecies in the same
manner - literally.

Bibliography
Brearley, F. (2025). Notes on Isaiah.
preceptaustin. (n.d.). Messianic Prophecies in Isaiah. Retrieved from preceptaustin:
https://www.preceptaustin.org/messianic-prophecies-in-isaiah
thebible.org. (n.d.). Multiple Bible Versions: NKJV, ESV, NIV, NLT. Retrieved from Parallel
Plus: https://thebible.org/gt/index

E
Isaiah 9:6 6 For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
F
Isaiah 42:13 13 The Lord will march out like a champion,
like a warrior he will stir up his zeal;
with a shout he will raise the battle cry
and will triumph over his enemies.
G
Isaiah 9:7 7 Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s
throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and
forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.