How do we know Jesus is the Messiah foretold in the Old Testament?

The identification of Jesus as the Messiah is backed by numerous prophecies throughout the Old Testament that explicitly mention His life, death, and the details surrounding them. For instance, Zechariah 12:10 is quoted in John 19, where the piercing of Jesus is directly linked to the prophecy. The consistent fulfillment of Scripture in the New Testament reinforces this claim, as various events in Jesus's life align perfectly with prophecies made centuries prior. The witness of the apostles and early Christians further asserts that Jesus fulfilled these prophecies, making Him undeniably the Messiah.