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Approximately 300 Messianic prophecies were written centuries
before the life of Jesus which foretold a coming Messiah. In this
section we will be discussing some of the most detailed Messianic
prophecies and how they were fulfilled in the New Testament life of
Jesus Christ.

The outline we will be following for this discussion is as follows:
1) Introduction: What are the Messianic Prophecies?
2) The Messianic Lineage
3) The Messianic Geography
4) The Messianic Ministry
5) The Messianic Betrayal
5) The Messianic Suffering
5) The Messianic Death
6) The Messianic Triumph
7) The Messianic Timing (My personal favorite!)
8) Answering Common Skeptic Questions
9)  Conclusion

The prophecies referring to the Messianic lineage are very exciting once we see their historical importance. For
centuries the ancient Jews kept meticulous records of their genealogies. These records existed even during times
of foreign captivity and immense persecution. The records were finally destroyed during the Roman invasion and
destruction of the Jewish temple in 70 A.D. This is important for two reasons:
  1. The records had to be in existence when the Messiah came in order to prove His lineage. Both Luke and
    Matthew were able to give a detailed lineage of Jesus to show He was a descendant of the required
    ancestors. Matthew lists the lineage of Joseph while Luke lists the lineage of Mary.
  2. Because the temple and the records were destroyed in 70 A.D., the Messiah must have been born before
    this time. We know from historical records Jesus lived in first century A.D. This happened at the perfect
    time- right before these records were destroyed, making it impossible to verify the claims of any other
    Messiah claimant.

Skeptic Interjection: Doesn't the Bible warn its readers against the use of "endless genealogies" in proving
Jesus to be the Messiah?
Answer: These two references are I Timothy 1:3-4 and Titus 3:9. However, this is where critics can get caught
in their own skepticism. Though Christian scholars have dated Matthew and Luke to have been written before
Timothy and Titus, many critics allege the two Gospels were written after Paul's epistles. This begs the question
how Paul would be refuting texts that did not yet exist! It is generally believed that Paul was combating heresies
surfacing within Gnostic, apocryphal, and pseudographical texts- not the canonical Gospels.

HE WOULD ULTIMATELY BE THE SON OF GOD
PROPHECY: “I will declare the decree: The Lord has said to Me, ‘You are My Son, today I have begotten You.’”
Psalms 2:7 "I will be His Father, and He will be My Son. I will never take My love away from Him as I took it away
from your predecessor. I will set Him over My house and My kingdom forever. His throne will be established
forever." I Chronicles 17:13-14
FULFILLMENT: “And suddenly a voice came from the heavens saying, This is My beloved Son, in whom I am
well pleased.” Matthew 3:17 "And a voice came from heaven: "You are My Son, whom I love. With you I am well
pleased." Mark 1:11

Skeptic Interjection: How do we know these Old Testament verses refer to the future Messiah and not just to
King David?
Answer: Many of the Messianic prophecies were double references which used historical applications to allude to
the future Messiah. While in the current sense a verse might directly be referring to Moses, King David, or the
Jewish people, it was also known by the Jews of antiquity as a reference to the Messiah. The early church father's
also explain the dualism of history as prophecy. Though critics claim many passages were only considered
prophecies after the fact, this allegation is proved incorrect once we investigate antiquity. The Talmud mentions
specific scriptures as Messianic prophecies, Matthew's Gospel often quotes the Old Testament prophecies before
posting the New Testament fulfillment, early apologists cite Scripture known to be considered Messianic
prophecy, etc. From our modern point of view the parallels seem far-fetched but they were well known at the
time.

HE WOULD BE BORN FROM THE SEED OF A WOMAN
PROPHECY: “And I will put enmity between you [Satan] and the woman and between your seed and her Seed.
He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.” Genesis 3:15
FULFILLMENT: “But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born
under the law.” Galatians 4:4

This prophecy actually contains three predictions:
  1. The Messiah would literally be the Son of God who would come to earth in human form by being born of a
    woman.
  2. After the fall of man in the Garden of Eden, we are told there will be a spiritual conflict between the Seed
    of Woman (The Messiah) and His adversary, the serpent (Satan).
  3. Though Satan thought he won a victory over Jesus during the Crucifixion, he only bruises the heel (a
    minor part of the body) while Jesus bruises the head (a vital part of the body) by defeating sin and death
    upon His resurrection.

HE WOULD BE FROM THE SEED OF ABRAHAM
PROPHECY: “In your [Abraham's] seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed because you have obeyed My
voice.” Genesis 22:18
FULFILLMENT: “The book of genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham.” Matthew 1:1
"The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. The Scripture does not say, 'and to seeds,' meaning
many people, but 'and to your seed,' meaning one person, who is Christ." Galatians 3:16

Skeptic Interjection: How do we know this verse refers to the Messiah and not only to Abraham's descendants
as a whole?
Answer: By stating the Messiah would come from the seed (not seeds) of Abraham, God is telling us the Messiah
would come from the Hebrew race. Furthermore, Galatians clarifies the original prophecy in Genesis by pointing
out the singular form of the word seed as a reference to one particular person.

HE WOULD BE FROM THE SEED OF ISAAC
PROPHECY: “But God said to Abraham… in Isaac your seed shall be called.” Genesis 21:12
FULFILLMENT: “Jesus… the son of Isaac.” Luke 3:23,34

Abraham had two sons: Ishmael and Isaac. By stating the Messiah will come from the line of Isaac, God
eliminates 1/2 of Abraham’s descendants. Again, we see the singular form of the word seed.


HE WOULD BE FROM THE SEED OF JACOB
PROPHECY: “I see Him but not now. I behold Him but not near. A Star will come out of Jacob, A Scepter out of
Israel.” Numbers 24:17
FULFILLMENT: “Jesus… the son of Jacob.” Luke 3:23,34

Isaac had two sons, Esau and Jacob. God is again eliminating 1/2 of the descendants. This prophecy also
mentions the specific wording I see Him- but not now. I behold Him, but not near. The book of Numbers was
transcribed by Moses around 1400 B.C. This verse tells us a great descendant will come from Jacob but will be
born in the distant future. We know from history Jesus was born roughly 1,400 years after this prophecy was
written.

HE WOULD BE FROM THE TRIBE OF JUDAH
PROPHECY: “…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 old, from ancient times.” Micah 5:2
FULFILLMENT: “Jesus… the son of Judah.” Luke 3:23,34

Jacob had twelve sons from which the twelve tribes of Israel originated. By specifying the Messiah would be from
the tribe of Judah, God eliminated the descendants of the eleven other tribes.

Skeptic Interjection: Jesus was never a ruler over Israel. How did He fulfill this prophecy?
Answer: Like we mention earlier, the seemingly contradictory references to both a humble yet triumphant
Messiah caused much confusion to the Jews of antiquity. When we look at the wording we can see the word will is
used twice: will come for Me One who will be ruler. This is one of the many verses referring to two separate
Messianic appearances.

HE WOULD BE FROM THE LINE OF JESSE
PROPHECY: “There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots.”
Isaiah 11:1
FULFILLMENT: “Jesus… the son of Jesse.” Luke 3:23,32

HE WOULD BE FROM THE HOUSE OF DAVID
PROPHECY: “...I will raise up to David a righteous branch. A King shall reign wisely and execute judgment and
righteousness in the land.” Jeremiah 23:5
FULFILLMENT: “Jesus… the son of David…” Luke 3:23,32

Jesse had eight known sons. By specifying the Messiah would come from the Davidian line, God eliminates
Jesse's other sons.

HE WOULD BE BORN OF A VIRGIN
PROPHECY: “The Lord will give you a sign: The virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name
Immanuel.” Isaiah 7:14
FULFILLMENT: “...God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to
a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary... the angel said to her... ‘You will be
with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the
Son of the Most High.’” Luke 1:26-27, 30-32

Skeptic Interjection: How could this prophecy be related to Jesus? His name was not Immanuel.
Answer: This seems like a contradiction until we are given the meaning of Immanuel in the following passage:
"She will give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their
sins. All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: The virgin will be with child and will
give birth to a son, and they will call Him Immanuel which means 'God with us.'" Matthew 1:21-23
Because the angel specifically tells Mary to name her son Jesus, we know Immanuel was a symbolic title instead
of a literal name. Matthew confirms this by explaining the meaning of the name Immanuel as God with us.
Though Jesus was His earthly name, He was also symbolically referred to as Lamb of God, Son of Man, Lion Of
Judah, etc. Though this prophecy literally refers to a virgin birth, it metaphorically refers to the Messiah coming
to earth in human form. Hence, God with us.

Skeptic Interjection: The Old and New Testament verses differ in their use of virgin. One refers to a woman of
marriageable age and the other refers to an actual virgin.
Answer: In the Masoretic text, the prophecy in Isaiah uses the Hebrew word almah (a woman of marriageable
age) whereas the verse in Matthew uses the Greek word parthenos (a pure virgin or woman of marriageable
age). However the translators of the Greek Septuagint (which is older than any existing Hebrew text) used
parthenos in their translation of the verse in Isaiah. The translators understood the verse in Isaiah as referring to
a literal virgin birth. Some critics argue Matthew could have used the Septuagint when writing his Gospel but this
claim, though possible, is based on supposition.

Skeptic Interjection: Wasn't this a specific prophecy meant for King Ahaz? God told Israel He would send an
immediate sign of the child Immanuel so that the Israelites would not be defeated in battle. Wasn't this prophecy
fulfilled by the prophetess' son in Isaiah 8:3-4?
Answer: The Child born in Ahaz's time was named Maher-shalal-hash-baz meaning quick to the plunder, swift to
the spoil. His name did not fulfill the prophecy literally or metaphorically as the child was in no way believed to
be God nor was his name Immanuel. The fulfillment of this prophecy in Ahaz's time was to show the Israelites
that God was with them (Immanuel) by sending the sign of the child Maher-shalal-hash-baz before battle. The
ultimate fulfillment of this prophecy occurred during the lifetime of Jesus. Once again we see the use of historic
applications and double references which were known to the Jews of antiquity.

HE WOULD BE BORN IN BETHLEHEM
PROPHECY: “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 in Israel, whose origins are from of old, from the days of eternity.” Micah 5:2
FULFILLMENT: “Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea." Matthew 2:1

By pinpointing the exact city of birth, God eliminates all the other cities in the world.

Skeptic Interjection: Bethlehem Ephrathah can refer to either the city of Bethlehem or to a descendant of
Bethlehem and Ephrathah.
Answer: Ephrathah (the ancient name of Bethlehem) can refer to either the city of Bethlehem or it can refer to
the Biblical characters of the same name. The key for our answer is the word or. Micah is referring to the city of
Bethlehem- not the individuals.

Skeptic Interjection: Bethlehem was the birthplace of King David. How do we know this verse even refers to
Jesus?
Answer: David was a mortal human being who possessed both a physical beginning and end but the verse in
Micah refers to someone who is eternal: from the days of old, eternity. Second, the Book of Micah was written
centuries after the life of David but the verse in question mentions one who will come (future tense)!

HE WOULD COME TO ZION
PROPHECY: "Rejoice greatly Oh daughter of Zion! Shout Oh daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming
to you!" Zechariah 9:9
FULFILLMENT: “And so all Israel will be saved as it is written: 'The Deliverer will come from Zion. He will turn
godlessness away from
Jacob. And this is My covenant with them when I take away their sins'" Romans 11:26-27

HE WOULD RETURN FROM EGYPT
PROPHECY: "Out of Egypt I called My Son." Hosea 11:1
FULFILLMENT: "So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt where he stayed
until the death of Herod." Matthew 2:14-15

With King Herod's growing paranoia over the jeopardy of his throne, he issued a decree to kill all male children
under the age of two years old. To escape Herod's wrath, Joseph took his family and escaped to Egypt.

Skeptic Interjection: The verse in Hosea is a reference to the Egyptian exodus. How is it a Messianic prophecy?
Answer: The prophecy in Hosea serves as a double reference to both the Egyptian exodus and the future
Messiah. The singular use of My Son as compared to My children shows the intent of a double reference to a
single individual as well as the people of Israel. Like we mention earlier, historic applications were understood by
the Jews of antiquity as a reference to the coming Messiah. The book of Hosea is also classified as a prophetic
book which uses metaphor throughout its text.

HE WOULD BEGIN HIS MINISTRY IN GALILEE
PROPHECY: "...In the past He humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future He will
honor Galilee of the Gentiles, by the way of the sea, along the Jordan." Isaiah 9:1
FULFILLMENT: “Now when Jesus heard that John had been put into prison, He departed to Galilee. And leaving
Nazareth, He came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the regions of Zebulun and Naphtali. From
that time Jesus began to preach and to say, 'Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.'" Matthew 4:12-13,17
"After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee proclaiming the good news of God." Mark 1:14

Mark explains although Jesus had traveled previously, He did not begin His ministry until entering Galilee.

Skeptic Interjection: The above prophecy states God will honor Galilee. What does this have to do with the
Messiah? Could it be a reference to King Hezekiah?
Answer: The verse in Isaiah may not seem like a Messianic prophecy until we read the context of the verse.
When we read further into the chapter we are told: "Unto us a Child is born. To us a Son is given. The
government will be on His shoulders. He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father,
Prince of Peace. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom establishing and upholding it with justice
and righteousness from that time on and forever." Isaiah 9:6-7
Once the context of the verse is taken into consideration we can clearly see this chapter is a Messianic passage.
The person foreseen by Isaiah would have the government against Him (both the Israelites and the Romans
persecuted Jesus) and His kingdom would be eternal. Hezekiah, though a righteous king, was still an earthly
king with a temporary throne.

HE WOULD BE A NAZARENE
PROPHECY: "A Shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse. From his roots a Branch will bear fruit." Isaiah 11:1
FULFILLMENT: "And He went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the
prophets: He will be called a Nazarene." Matthew 2:23

Skeptic Interjection: The Old Testament makes no mention of a place called Nazareth or the Nazarene people.
Answer: Our answer lies in the origin of the word Nazarene. The Hebrew translation of branch in the above
prophetic verse is netzer. In our fulfillment verse, the Greek word for Nazarene is Νazaphnoe, coming from the
Aramaic twig or branch. The King James Version of the Bible, published in 1611, translates the original Greek
word as a person from Nazareth but modern scholars now believe this translation to be incorrect. The Greek
word for a citizen of Nazareth is Nazarethaios. But Matthew uses Νazaphnoe (branch), not Nazarethaios (a person
from Nazareth). The error lies within the well-intentioned 17th century translators.

Skeptic Interjection: Are you saying Jesus was never associated with the city of Nazareth?
Answer: The Bible and Matthew both make it clear Jesus was a citizen of Nazareth, of Galilee, of Judea. I am
simply explaining the connection Matthew makes between the city of Nazareth and its root word meaning branch.

A MESSENGER WOULD PRECEDE HIM
PROPHECY: “A voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord. Make straight in the desert a
highway for our God.” Isaiah 40:3 "I will send My messenger, who will prepare the way before Me. Then
suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to His temple. The Messenger of the covenant whom you desire will
come." Malachi 3:1
FULFILLMENT: “John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, ‘Repent, for the
kingdom of heaven is at hand!’” Matthew 3:1-2

Isaiah and Malachi mention a messenger who will appear directly before the Messiah. This messenger was John
the Baptist whom the Bible describes as a prophet of the wilderness who warned the Jews to turn from their
apostasy. The word suddenly in Malachi refers to the imminent coming of the Messiah once this messenger
appears. From the writings of Josephus, we know John the Baptist and Jesus were contemporaries of one another.

Skeptic Interjection: Is it possible Jesus paid John to act as His messenger?
Answer: It's highly unlikely considering the volatile religious and political scene during this time. False prophets
were put to death under the accusation of blasphemy. The Bible also documents John's inquiry of Jesus as to
whether or not He was the actual Messiah. John was willing to die if needed but he was not willing to die for a lie.

HE WILL HEAL THE SICK
PROPHECY: “Then the eyes of the blind will be opened and the ears of the deaf will be unstopped. Then the lame
will leap like a deer and the tongue of the dumb will sing for joy.” Isaiah 35:5-6
FULFILLMENT: “The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the
dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor.” Matthew 11:5

HE WILL SPEAK IN PARABLES
PROPHECY: “I will open my mouth in a parable. I will utter dark sayings of old.” Psalm 78:2
FULFILLMENT: “All these things Jesus spoke to the multitude in parables; and without a parable He did not
speak to them.” Matthew 13:34

The New Testament shows Jesus' use of parables (metaphor) during His teachings. He used analogies to help His
listeners better understand the spiritual principles of His sermons.

HE WAS TO ENTER JERUSALEM ON A DONKEY
PROPHECY: “Behold, your King is coming to you. He is just and having salvation, humble, lowly, and riding on a
donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey.” Zechariah 9:9
FULFILLMENT: “And they brought him to Jesus. And they threw their own clothes on the colt, and they set Jesus
on him.” Luke 19:35

The prophecy in Zechariah reveals the attitude the Messiah will have during His first coming. The Jews were
expecting a glorious, triumphant Messiah who would overthrow Roman rule and establish the sovereign kingdom
of Israel. But Zechariah states the Messiah’s first appearance would be for the purpose of bringing salvation to
mankind with a spirit of humility.

Skeptical Interjection: Jesus was not an earthly king. How could the prophecy refer to Him?
Answer: The verse in Zechariah refers to a king- yet one who is humble, lowly, and riding on a donkey. Once
again, we must understand the Bible refers to two Messianic appearances: the first advent of humility, the second
advent of triumph. Jesus was considered the spiritual king of Israel and an earthly descendant of King David.

HE WILL BE REJECTED BY THE JEWS BUT ACCEPTED BY THE GENTILES
PROPHECY: "He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering." Isaiah 53:3
“The Gentiles shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.” Isaiah 60:3
FULFILLMENT: "He came to that which was His own, but they did not receive Him." John 1:11 “For so the Lord
has commanded us, ‘I have set you as a light to the Gentiles that you should be for salvation to the ends of the
earth.’ Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord.” Acts 13:47-48

This is an interesting prophecy because its fulfillment can still be seen today. The Christian (Gentile) Bible
consists of an Old Testament beginning with Genesis and ending with Malachi and a New Testament beginning
with Matthew and ending with Revelation. The orthodox Jewish Bible does not contain the Christian New
Testament because it does not accept the divinity of Jesus Christ. This prophecy was not only fulfilled in Jesus'
time, but is still currently being fulfilled in our time as well.

HE WILL BE BETRAYED BY A FRIEND
PROPHECY: “Even my familiar friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted up his heel against me.”
Psalm 41:9
FULFILLMENT: “Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him.” Matthew 10:4

Judas Iscariot was one of the original twelve apostles who dined with Jesus, traveled with Jesus, and would later
betray Jesus. Jesus was not handed over to the Romans by an adversary but by one of His closet followers.

Skeptic Interjection: Because Jesus knew Judas would betray him, how could the verse in Psalms be
considered a Messianic prophecy with the statement in whom I trusted?
Answer: Jesus entrusted Judas with many things. It is believed Judas was the treasurer of the apostles, Jesus
entrusted Judas with His teachings, they traveled and preached together, they shared meals, etc. Just because
Jesus had foreknowledge of Judas' actions does not mean Judas was not entrusted with many responsibilities of
an apostle.

HE WILL BE BETRAYED FOR 30 PIECES OF SILVER
PROPHECY: “Then I said to them, ‘If it is agreeable to you, give me my wages. And if not, refrain.’ So they
weighed out for my wages thirty pieces of silver.” Zechariah 11:12
FULFILLMENT: “What are you willing to give me if I deliver Him to you? And they counted out thirty pieces of
silver.” Matthew 26:15

Thirty pieces of silver was the standard price of a slave in the Old Testament, making this amount particularly
insulting.

Skeptic Interjection: Isn't there a verse in Matthew that attributes this prophecy to Jeremiah instead of
Zechariah?
Answer: This reference is found in Matthew 27:9 (Then what was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was
fulfilled...). If you notice throughout the Book of Matthew, Matthew frequently mentions the Old Testament
prophecies before he records the fulfillments by Jesus. Whereas Mark dedicates his Gospel to the Romans and
Luke focuses his attention towards the Gentiles, Matthew appeals to his fellow Jews, trying to convince them
Jesus alone fulfilled the prophecies. The Jews of antiquity realized the lesser-known verses in Jeremiah as being
Messianic which is why Matthew references them. Though the verses in Jeremiah (18:2, 19:2, and 32:6-9) seem
vague and far-fetched to us, Matthew summarizes and combines the prophetic symbolism of Zechariah and
Jeremiah into one reference, giving credit to the better-known prophet, Jeremiah, which was a frequent exegetic
method used in antiquity when referring to the prophets.

THE SILVER WILL BE THROWN INTO THE TEMPLE FOR THE POTTER’S FIELD
PROPHECY: “So I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them into the house of the Lord for the potter.”
Zechariah 11:13
FULFILLMENT: “Then he threw down the pieces of silver in the temple and departed. And they consulted
together and bought with them the potter’s field, to bury strangers in.” Matthew 27:5,7

Skeptic Interjection: Does the Syriac Old Testament use the word treasury instead of potter? If so, does this
damage the credibility of Zechariah's prophecy being Messianic?
Answer: I do not have access to the Syriac texts but if the word treasury is used, it would make sense when we
read the following verse in Matthew: "It is against the law to put this into the treasury, since it is blood money."
Matthew 27:7
Judas took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them into the temple. But because the priests did not want to
accept the blood money used to condemn an innocent man, they used it to maintain the potter’s field. The verse
in Matthew implies Judas tried to return his money to the temple treasury but the priests would not accept it.

HE WILL BE DENIED BY HIS DISCIPLES
PROPHECY: “Strike the Shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.” Zechariah 13:7
FULFILLMENT: “Then they all forsook Him and fled.” Mark 14:50

Jesus is often referred to in Scripture as a Shepherd. When Jesus was arrested, His disciples were so afraid of
persecution, they deserted Him until after the resurrection.

HE WILL BE SILENT BEFORE HIS ACCUSERS
PROPHECY: “He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth.” Isaiah 53:7
FULFILLMENT: “And while He was being accused by the chief priests and elders, He answered nothing.” Matthew
27:12

The Scriptures make it clear there were many false witnesses called to give testimony against Jesus. Yet Jesus
kept silent at His trial because He knew these things must take place in order for Him to atone for the sins of
mankind.

HE WILL BE FLOGGED
PROPHECY: “But He was wounded for our transgressions. He was bruised for our iniquities. The chastisement for
our peace was upon Him and by His stripes we are healed.” Isaiah 53:5
FULFILLMENT: “Then he released Barabbas to them. And when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered Him to be
crucified.” Matthew 27:26

Not only does Isaiah refer to the scourging Jesus receives, he even reveals the reasons for Jesus’ suffering.
Isaiah explains the Messiah would endure such things to save us from the judgment of sin and death.

HE WILL BE TORTURED
PROPHECY: “I gave My back to those who struck Me and My cheeks to those who plucked out the beard. I did
not hide My face from
shame and spitting. Isaiah 50:6
FULFILLMENT: “Then they spat in His face and beat Him. And others struck Him with the palms of their hands.
Matthew 26:67

HE WILL BE MOCKED
PROPHECY: “All who see Me ridicule Me. They shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying, ‘He trusted in the
Lord. Let Him rescue Him. Let Him deliver Him, since He delights in Him!’” Psalm 22:7-8
FULFILLMENT: “When they had twisted a crown of thorns, they put it on His head, and a reed in His right hand.
And they bowed the knee before Him and mocked Him saying, ‘Hail, King of the Jews!’” Matthew 27:29 “In the
same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. ‘He saved others,’ they said ‘but
he can’t save Himself! He’s the King of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him.
He trusts in God. Let God rescue Him now if He wants…’” Matthew 27:41-43

The Roman soldiers mocked Jesus by constructing a crown made of thorns and handed Him a reed to imitate a
royal scepter. Once Jesus was on the cross, the people mocked Him by asking if He was so beloved of God, why
was God not rescuing Him? They did not understand the spiritual concepts regarding the crucifixion and the
atonement for sin.

HIS HANDS AND FEET WILL BE PIERCED
PROPHECY: “Dogs have surrounded me. A band of evil men has encircled me. They pierced My hands and My
feet.” Psalm 22:16 "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..." Zechariah 12:10
FULFILLMENT: “And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him.” Luke 23:33

Jesus was crucified in the typical Roman manner: His hands and feet were nailed to the cross using large spikes.
This is very interesting considering crucifixion had not yet been invented. Both verses refer to the different
reactions of the witnesses:
  • Psalms refers to the witnesses who rejected Jesus as the Messiah and rallied for His crucifixion.
  • Zechariah refers to the witnesses who accepted Jesus as the Messiah and mourned at His crucifixion.

HE WILL SUFFER WITH COMMON SINNERS
PROPHECY: “Because He poured out His soul unto death, He was numbered with the transgressors.” Isaiah 53:12
FULFILLMENT: “Then the two robbers were crucified with Him, one on the right and another on the left.”
Matthew 27:38

HIS FOLLOWERS WOULD FORSAKE HIM
PROPHECY: “My loved ones and my friends stand aloof from my plague, and my relatives stand afar off.” Psalm
38:11
FULFILLMENT: “But His acquaintances and the woman who followed from Galilee stood at a distance watching
these things.” Luke 23:49

HE WOULD BE STARED UPON
PROPHECY: “I can count all My bones. They look and stare at Me.” Psalm 22:17
FULFILLMENT: “And the people stood looking on.” Luke 23:35

Though this prophecy literally states the Messiah would be stared upon during His suffering, there is an
underlying reference that needs to be explained: the meaning of I can count all My bones. During a typical
crucifixion, the weight of the body being pulled down on the cross would disjoint the bones and make them
appear more prominent than usual. Count all My bones is a direct reference to the state of Jesus' body on the
cross.

LOTS WILL BE CAST FOR HIS GARMENTS
PROPHECY: “They divide My garments among them, and for My clothing they cast lots.” Psalm 22:18
FULFILLMENT: “The soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took His garments and made four parts, to each
soldier a part, and also the tunic. Now the tunic was without seam, woven from the top in one piece. They said…
‘Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be.’” John 19:23-24

The verse in Psalms seems contradictory until the prophecy becomes fulfilled at the cross. Jesus' garments were
distributed among the soldiers but the tunic was awarded to one soldier by the casting of lots.

HE WOULD BE GIVEN GALL AND VINEGAR TO DRINK
PROPHECY: “They also gave me gall for my food and for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.” Psalm 69:21
FULFILLMENT: “They gave Him sour wine mingled with gall to drink…” Matthew 27:34 "A jar of wine vinegar was
there so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a hyssop stalk, and lifted it to Jesus' lips." John 19:29

Skeptic Interjection: When you read the context of the verse in John, it seems like Jesus provoked the
soldiers to fulfill this prophecy.
Answer: The whole purpose of the Messianic prophecies was to reveal the identity of the true Messiah once He
appeared. In order to have this prophecy fulfilled as a sign to us, Jesus cried out I thirst. What the soldiers chose
to offer Jesus was their decision alone. Jesus could not control what He was offered.

HIS BONES WOULD NOT BE BROKEN
PROPHECY: “He guards all His bones. Not one of them is broken.” Psalm 34:20
FULFILLMENT: “But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs.”
John 19:33

A typical crucifixion can last quite a while as the victim could linger for days before expiring. Many crucifixion
victims died from asphyxiation as they would have to continually push up against the cross in order to breathe.
After a certain amount of time, the guards would come along and break the victim’s legs so he could no longer
support himself. However, because Jesus had died earlier than anticipated, His bones were not broken. Instead...

HE WOULD BE PIERCED
PROPHECY: “They will look on Me whom they pierced.” Zechariah 12:10
FULFILLMENT: “But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear.” John 19:34

To ensure Jesus had already expired, a Roman soldier pierced his side with a spear instead of breaking His legs.

THE LAND WOULD BE DARKENED
PROPHECY: “And it shall come to pass in that day says the Lord God that I will make the sun go down at noon
and I will darken the earth in broad daylight.” Amos 8:9
FULFILLMENT: “Now from the sixth hour until the night hour there was darkness over all the land.” Matthew 27:
45

The Jews counted twelve hours from sunrise to sunset. The sixth hour would be noon and the ninth hour would be
3:00 p.m.

Skeptic Interjection: Why is there no mention of such an event outside the Bible?
Answer: The darkness which covered the land was documented by two Roman historians, Phlegon and Thallus.
The authors write about an eerie darkness that lasted several hours in the middle of the day during the Passover
on which Jesus was crucified. Although the secular historians try to dismiss the unusual event as an eclipse,
astronomers prove that due to the alignment of the planets a solar eclipse cannot occur during Passover, which is
carefully scheduled to coincide with the full moon. Their quotes may be read on this page.

HE WOULD BE BURIED IN A RICH MAN’S TOMB
PROPHECY: “And they made His grave with the wicked- but with the rich at His death.” Isaiah 53:9
FULFILLMENT: “There came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph…and [he] asked for the body of Jesus…
When Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and laid it in his new tomb.” Matthew 27:
57-60

Death by crucifixion was reserved for the lowest classes. Most victims were left to decompose on the cross
without being given a proper burial. Out of the countless victims who suffered this fate, only one body has been
recovered with traces to the Roman Empire around the time of Jesus. Isaiah was able to foresee Jesus receiving
a distinguished burial after a lowly death. This leads us to one last point...

HE WOULD BE CURSED FOR HANGING ON A TREE
PROPHECY: "You must not leave His body on the tree overnight. Be sure to bury Him that same day because
anyone who is hung on a tree is under God's curse." Deuteronomy 21:23
FULFILLMENT: "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written:
'Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.'" Galatians 3:13

The verse in Deuteronomy refers to the Jewish law regarding those executed by hanging. Their bodies were not
to be left in such a state after nightfall due to desecration laws. Because His body was removed prior to nightfall,
Jesus' body was not considered unclean according to Jewish law.

Skeptic Interjection: Is Paul admitting Jesus was cursed? How could this be if Jesus led a sinless life?
Answer: The New Testament makes it clear Jesus' body was removed by nightfall. His physical body did not
become unclean by Jewish standards. Paul is making a reference to the spiritual curse of sin Christ accepted for
our sakes. Because Jesus defeated the power of sin and death, He also broke the power of the curse which He
accepted in our place.

HE WOULD ATONE FOR THE SIN OF MAN
PROPHECY: “And He bore the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors.” Isaiah 53:12
FULFILLMENT: “God presented Him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in His blood…” Romans 3:25

Before the arrival of the Messiah, Jews were required to atone for their own sins by bringing sacrifices to the
tem