In the time of Jesus, there were four similarly large, bustling cities around the Sea of Galilee: Korazin, Capernaum, Bethsaidas and Tiberias. (see map)

Korazin, Capernaum and Bethsaida were all cursed by Jesus for spurning his miracles. Tiberias wasn't.

Within a few hundered years, Korazin, Capernaum and Bethsaida had all seperately been destroyed by earthquakes. Tiberias wasn't. It now has a population of about 35,000.

Jesus fulfilled all the prophecies of the Jews about their Messiah, against overwhelming odds. Here are seventeen prophecies made 500 years before the birth of Jesus, and their fulfillment in Him:

1. He was born in Bethlehem from the tribe of Judah.

The Old Testament Prediction:

"But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
though you are small among the clans of Judah,
out of you will come for me
one who will be ruler over Israel,
whose origins are from of old,
from ancient times."
(Micah 5:2)

"The scepter will not depart from Judah,
nor the ruler's staff from between his feet,
until he comes to whom it belongs and the
obedience of the nations is his."
(Genesis 49:10)

The New Testament Fulfilment:

"After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem."
(Matthew 2:1)

2. He was be preceded by a messenger.

The Old Testament Prophecy:

"A voice of one calling:
'In the desert prepare
the way for the Lord;
make straight in the wilderness
a highway for our God.'"
(Isaiah 40:3)

The New Testament Fulfilment:

"In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea and saying, 'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.'"
(Matthew 3:1-2)

3. He entered Jerusalem on a colt.

The Old Testament Prediction:

"Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion!
Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem!
See, your king comes to you,
righteous and having salvation,
gentle and riding on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey."
(Zechariah 9:9)

The New Testament Fulfilment

"They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it. As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road.
When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen."
(Luke 19:35-37)

4. He would be betrayed by a friend.

The Old Testament Prediction:

"Even my close friend, whom I trusted,
he who shared my bread,
has lifted up his heel against me."
(Psalm 41:9)

The New Testament Fulfilment:

"While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people. Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: 'The one I kiss is the man; arrest him.'"
(Matthew 26:47-48)

5. His hands and feet were pierced.

The Old Testament Prediction:

"Dogs have surrounded me;
a band of evil men has encircled me,
they have pierced my hands and my feet."
(Psalm 22:16)

The New Testament Fulfilment:

"When they came to the place called the Skull (Calgary), there they crucified him, along with the criminals--one on his right, the other on his left."
(Luke 23:33)

6. He was wounded by His enemies.

The Old Testament Prediction:

"But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was upon him,
and by his wounds we are healed."
(Isaiah 53:5)

The New Testament Fulfilment:

"Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified."
(Matthew 27:26)

7. He was betrayed for 30 pieces of silver.

The Old Testament Prediction:

"I told them, "If you think it best, give me my pay; but if not, keep it." So they paid me thirty pieces of silver."
(Zechariah 11:12)

The New Testament Fulfilment:

"and asked, "What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?" So they counted out for him thirty silver coins."
(Matthew 26:15)

8. He was spat upon and beaten.

The Old Testament Prediction:

"I offered my back to those who beat me,
my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard;
I did not hide my face
from mocking and spitting."
(Isaiah 50:6)

The New Testament Fulfilment:

"Then they spit in his face and struck him with their fists. Others slapped him."
(Matthew 26:67)

9. His betrayal money was thrown in the Temple and then given to buy a potter's field.

The Old Testament Prediction:

"And the LORD said to me, "Throw it to the potter"-the handsome price at which they priced me! So I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them into the house of the LORD to the potter."
(Zechariah 11:13)

The New Testament Fulfilment:

"So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself. The chief priests picked up the coins and said, "It is against the law to put this into the treasury, since it is blood money." So they decided to use the money to buy the potter's field as a burial place for foreigners."
(Matthew 27:5-7)

10. He was silent before his accusers.

The Old Testament Prediction:

"He was oppressed and afflicted,
yet he did not open his mouth;
he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,
and as a sheep before her shearers is silent,
so he did not open his mouth."
(Isaiah 53:7)

The New Testament Fulfilment:

"When he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he gave no answer. Then Pilate asked him, "Don't you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?" But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge--to the great amazement of the governor."
(Matthew 27:12-14)

11. He was crucified with thieves.

The Old Testament Prediction:

"Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,
and he will divide the spoils with the strong,
because he poured out his life unto death,
and was numbered with the transgressors.
For he bore the sin of many,
and made intercession for the transgressors."
(Isaiah 53:12)

The New Testament Fulfilment:

"Two robbers were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left."
(Matthew 27:38)

12. People gambled for His garments.

The Old Testament Prediction:

"They divide my garments among them
and cast lots for my clothing."
(Psalm 22:18)

The New Testament Fulfilment:

"When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes, dividing them into four shares, one for each of them, with the undergarment remaining. This garment was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom.
^'Let's not tear it,' they said to one another. 'Let's decide by lot who will get it.' This happened that the scripture might be fulfilled which said, 
'They divided my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing.'
So this is what the soldiers did."
(John 19:23-24)

13. His side was pierced.

The Old Testament Prediction:

"And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son."
(Zechariah 12:10)

The New Testament Fulfilment:

"Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus' side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water."
(John 19:34)

14. None of His bones were broken.

The Old Testament Prediction:

"He protects all his bones,
not one of them will be broken."
(Psalm 34:20)

The New Testament Fulfilment:

"But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs."
(John 19:33)

15. His body did not decay.

The Old Testament Prediction:

"because you will not abandon me to the grave,
nor will you let your Holy One see decay."
(Psalm 16:10)

The New Testament Fulfilment:

"Seeing what was ahead, he spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to the grave, nor did his body see decay."
(Acts 2:31)

16. He was buried in a rich man's tomb.

The Old Testament Prediction:

"He was assigned a grave with the wicked,
and with the rich in his death,
though he had done no violence,
nor was any deceit in his mouth."
(Isaiah 53:9)

The New Testament Fulfilment:

"As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus' body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away."
(Matthew 27:57-60)

17. Darkness covered the Earth.

The Old Testament Prediction:

"'In that day,' declares the Sovereign Lord,
'I will make the sun go down at noon
and darken the earth in broad daylight.'"
(Amos 8:9)

The New Testament Fulfilment:

"From the sixth hour until the ninth hour darkness came over all the land."
(Matthew 27:45)

For those mathematical people out there:
In Daniel 9 v 25 it is written that until the time of the Messiah it would be seven sevens and sixty-two sevens. This is 69x7 = 483. Daniel 9 v 25 was written in 458 BC. Herod died in 4 BC, making Jesus' birth 4 BC too. Jesus started ministry 26 AD. 458 + 26 = 484. And of course, you have to remember there was no Year 0, it went from 1 BC to 1 AD. So 484 - 1 = ? Yup. 483. Good mathematician that Daniel.
And if you followed all that - most impressed.