What An Amazing Coincidence!

What a coincidence! A guy named Daniel lived over 2500 years ago and wrote a prediction of the final entry of the Messiah into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. After that day He would be cut off, a sudden violent end. Then after that, the temple would be destroyed. What do I mean?

535 BC – Daniel gets a revelation from God, 69 periods of 7 years will pass from the decree of the great king Artaxerxes to rebuild Jerusalem and we know this date, March 14, 445 BC. (first day Nisan 445 BC, Nehemiah 2:1-6)

173,880 days = 69 X 7 years (Jewish calendar 360 days per year)

Translating into our calendar with 365 days per year, leap years, and the normal leap year correction (leap year is dropped every 128 years) ...

Actual Date: April 6, 32 AD

What a coincidence! That’s the day Jesus entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. His ministry began in the 15th year of Tiberius Caesar (Luke 3:1) and we know his rule began in 14 AD. Check it out Christ’s ministry was three years ending in 32 AD. Not sure? According to the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, England, the Sunday before Passover was April 6, 32 AD. And Jesus was crucified 3 ½ days later. And Titus the Roman general destroyed the temple in 70 AD. HUMMM.

Want another coincidence? Another prophet predicted years in advance, the exact town the Messiah would be born in, Bethlehem Ephrathah (Micah 5:2) They had cities and places with the same name, just like we do here in America. Do you know how many Grand Rapids there are? Micah was clear which one the Messiah would come from, but wait, that is where Jesus was born! And Herod the king had all babies murdered in that town when he heard of Jesus’ birth. So how many men could have entered Jerusalem on the right day, from the right town, and be crucified on the right day? One? HUMMM.

Another prophet (Zechariah 9:9) said the Messiah would enter on a donkey, just an unusual detail to be added since there are various ways people travelled in Jerusalem, and why would it matter except Jesus did enter Jerusalem that day and that way. What a coincidence! Isaiah, another prophet, added Messiah would suffer and be rejected (Isaiah 53:1-3). Man, history proves Jesus suffered and was rejected by Israel. Another coincidence, the Messiah would be betrayed for 30 pieces silver (Zech 11:13). No way, another coincidence with Jesus, because His friend Judas (Psalm 41:9), sold Him out for 30 pieces of silver. And yes coincidence of coincidence, these coins were thrown on the temple floor and used to buy a potter’s field (Zech. 11:13). Check the history, Judas did throw the coins unto the temple floor, and now it was blood money so the priests did not keep it, but bought the field.

Predicted hundreds of years in advance, Jesus was crucified (Psalm 22:16). Soldiers gambled for His clothes (Psalm 22:18), no bones would be broken (Psalm 22:17), given gall and vinegar (Psalm 69:20-22), and pierced with a spear (Zech. 12:10). Coincidence! Insignificant? Yawn!

Will you think again and realize THIS IS A BIG DEAL! God came to earth, so it is a big deal. This is the real deal. He would not have wasted His time, nor given His life in such a sacrifice if it did not matter. How much clearer can He show His love for us? And if you think for a minute, you will go to heaven, without radically changing your ways and selling out completely to Him you will be stunned one day soon. Receive His forgiveness, ACCEPT His Life for yours. Remember the real Easter happened 2000 years ago. It seems unbelievable because it has been so long. But, look outside, you believe the earth has been here a lot longer, what makes reality change because it has been 2000 years? It is relevant to you right now.