At some point it takes more "faith" to believe in coincidence than the hand of God; such is the case with all the prophecies fulfilled in Jesus.

1. Luke 24:13-14
Now that same day two of them were going
to a village called Emmaus, about seven
miles from Jerusalem. They were talking
with each other about everything that had
happened.
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2. Luke 24:15-17
As they talked and discussed these things
with each other, Jesus Himself came up and
walked along with them; but they were
kept from recognizing Him. He asked them,
‘What are you discussing together as you
walk along?’ They stood still, their faces
downcast.
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3. Luke 24:18-19
One of them, Cleopas, asked Him, ‘Are you
only a visitor to Jerusalem and do not know
the things that have happened here in
these days?’ ‘What things?’ He asked.
‘About Jesus of Nazareth,’ they replied. ‘He
was a prophet, powerful in word and deed
before God and all the people.
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4. Luke 24:20-22
The chief priests and our rulers handed Him
over to be sentenced to death, and they
crucified Him; but we had hoped that He
was the One Who was going to redeem
Israel. And what is more, it is the third day
since all this took place. In addition, some
of our women amazed us. They went to
the tomb early this morning
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5. Luke 24:23-24
but didn’t find His body. They came and
told us that they had seen a vision of
angels, who said He was alive. Then some
of our companions went to the tomb and
found it just as the women had said, but
Him they didn’t see.’
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6. Luke 24:25-27
He said to them, ‘How foolish you are, and
how slow of heart to believe all that the
prophets have spoken! Did not the Christ
have to suffer these things and then enter
His glory?’ And beginning with Moses and
all the Prophets, He explained to them
what was said in all the Scriptures
concerning Himself.
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7. Luke 24:28-29
As they approached the village to which
they were going, Jesus acted as if He were
going farther. But they urged Him strongly,
‘Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the
day is almost over.’ So He went in to stay
with them.
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8. Luke 24:30-32
When He was at the table with them, He
took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began
to give it to them. Then their eyes were
opened and they recognized Him, and He
disappeared from their sight. They asked
each other, ‘Were not our hearts burning
within us while He talked with us on the
road and opened the Scriptures to us?’
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9. Prophecy provides
evidence to the DIVINE
inspiration of scripture, as
well as establishing Jesus’
CREDENTIALS as Messiah.
…they had HOPED Jesus was the One to
redeem Israel.
…a crucified Messiah was a STUMBLING
BLOCK to the Jew looking for a different kind
of redemption.

10. One objection is that the
gospels were ALTERED to
fit prophecy…
If anything, the biographies were not altered
to fit, but to shed light on what was
previously MISUNDERSTOOD.
Note: the Bible is the best attested historical
document we have, which is supported by
evidence.

11. Another objection is that
Jesus knew the prophecies
and INTENTIONALLY
fulfilled them.
Jesus had no CONTROL over numerous
prophecies

12. The CONTEXTUAL
objection alleging misuse
of the Old Testament.
The problem is not taking scriptures out of
context, but IGNORING the ones that are
not to our liking.

13. Well, it is just COINCIDENCE.
Peter Stoner rules out coincidence by the
science of PROBABLITY.
Critics sometimes attempt to REDATE
scripture…but it doesn’t fit the evidence.

14. Please take a moment to fill out your
Communication Card
My Next Step Today is to:
( ) Do the home life help (in bulletin)
( ) Reflect on the importance of Biblical prophecy
(perhaps Isaiah 53)
( ) Examine if I am embracing Jesus for Who He is or Who
I would like Him to be
( ) Ask God to reveal if I am guilty of ignoring texts I don’t
like.
( ) Reflect on my response to Jesus and what He did for
me
( ) Other________________________