Reason 20: Math for the Skeptic

For the skeptic who believes -- if he or she believes at all -- that Jesus was simply a good teacher and nothing more or perhaps even a lot less...

Professor Peter W. Stoner, who wrote "Science Speaks," stated that the probability of just eight particular prophesies [about Jesus] being fulfilled in one person is 1 in 100,000,000,000,000,000. The eight prophesies were:

1) Messiah born in Bethlehem -Micah 5:2; fulfilled Matthew 2:1-7; John 7:42; Luke 2:47

2)Messiah to be preceeded by messenger -Isaiah 40:3; Malachi 3:1; fulfilled in Matthew 3:1-3; 11:10; John 1:23; Luke 1:17

3)Messiah to enter Jerusalem on a donkey -Zechariah 9:9; Luke 19:35-37; Matthew 21:6-11

4) Messiah betrayed by a friend -Psalm 41:9; 55:12-14; fulfilled in Matthew 10:4; 26:49-50; John 13:21

5) Messiah sold for 30 silver pieces -Zechariah 11:12; fulfilled in Matthew 26:15; 27:3

6) The money for which the Messiah is sold is thrown in the Temple -Zechariah 11:13; fulfilled in Matthew 27:5-7

7) Messiah silent before accusers -Isaiah 53:7; fulfilled in Matthew 27:12

8) Messiah to be crucified - Psalm 22:16; Zechariah 12:10; Isaiah 53:5,12; fulfilled in Luke 23:33; John 20:25; Matthew 27:38; Mark 15:27,28

This statement was validated by the American Scientific Affiliation (ASA).

This number has been illustrated this way: If we take 1 x 10 to the 17th power silver dollars and lay them on the face of Texas, they'll cover the state two feet deep. Now mark one of these silver dollars and stir the whole mass thoroughly, all over the state. Blindfold a man and tell him that he can travel as far as he wishes, but he must pick up one silver dollar only and say this is the right one, the marked one. What chance would he have of getting the right one?

With a tip of the hat to View from the East where this article -- and more -- can be found...