Is Christianity Based on Facts? Where is the Proof?

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One of the greatest proofs for the truth of the bible lies within the bible itself. And specifically how the Old Testament predicts the coming of Jesus. What he would look like? How he would be punished? Why he died. How he died. What his death accomplished  Today's reading is from Isaiah 52-53, commonly called the "Suffering Servant" passages. They were written 700-800 years before Jesus was born. I have listed the prophecies predicted by Isaiah, and then their fulfiillment, as reported by the gospel writers, and the apostle Paul's letters. These were written about 30-40 years after Jesus' death. Therefore Paul and the apostles could not have written things that were historically untrue, or the Christian faith could have been easily called a hoax. 

Old Testament Prediction

1. "But many were amazed when they saw him. His face was so disfigured he seemed hardly human, and from his appearance, one would scarcely know he was a man." Isaiah 52:14

New Testament Fulfillment 

"The men who were holding Jesus began to mock Him and beat Him. 64They blindfolded Him and kept demanding, “Prophesy! Who hit You?" Luke 22:63

"They spit on him, and the staff and struck him on the head again and again." Matthew 27:30

Old Testament Prediction

2. "And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for his own sins! But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed. All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own.Yet the Lord laid on him the sins of us all."

New Testament Fulfillment

"God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." 1 Corinthians 5:21

"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Romans 6:23

"When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd." Matthew 9:36

 "But we have one (Jesus) who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin." Hebrews 9:15

"Then Pilate had Jesus taken and whipped." John 19:1

Old Testament Prediction

3. "Unjustly condemned, he was led away." Isaiah 53:8

New Testament Fulfillment

"And they began to accuse him, saying, “We have found this man subverting our nation. He opposes payment of taxes to Caesar and claims to be Messiah, a king.” Luke 23:2

Old Testament Prediction

4. But he was struck down for the rebellion of my people. - Isaiah 53:8

New Testament Fulfillment

 But they insisted, “He stirs up the people all over Judea by his teaching. He started in Galilee and has come all the way here.” Luke 23:5

Old Testament Prediction

5. And because of his experience, my righteous servant will make it possible for many to be counted righteous, for he will bear all their sins. - Isaiah 53:11

New Testament Fulfillment

For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.  1 Peter 3:18

It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 1 Corinthians 1:30

I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!” Galatians 2:21

For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.” Romans 1:17

What do you think? Isaiah was written 700-800 years before Christ. What is the chance of Jesus fulfilling all of these prophecies. Some have said Jesus knew them and orchestrated all of these events to make it look like he fulfilled all these prophecies.

How could Jesus have orchestrated the whipping, the beating, the disfigurement of his face? How could he fake being accused of starting a rebellion, and being punished with death despite doing nothing?

There is only one answer that is tenable. Jesus was the true fulfillment of the Old Testament Messianic prophecies. 

The events of Isaiah's day were historical. The events of Jesus' day, including his death and resurrection, were historical. Christianity is the only belief system whose basic and instrinsic tenets, including how we are saved from our sin, are validated by historical events. 

I hope this gives you confidence of what you believe in, if you are a believer in Jesus as Messiah. I hope this gives you something to think about if you are still seeking to determine what you believe at the claims of Christianity, and specifically about who Jesus claimed to be and how his life backed that up.