The Death of the Messiah
During the time of Jesus of Nazareth, most of those waiting for the coming Messiah were looking for a conquering King that would deliver them from the oppression of the Roman government and establish God’s Kingdom on earth. This misunderstanding was evident by the disciples’ question in Acts 1:6, “Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel.”
While it is true that God will establish His Kingdom on earth for a thousand years, God’s plan from the beginning was for the Messiah to die a sacrificial death for the sins of mankind. There are several prophecies found in the Old Testament which point to the death of the promised Savior. We will consider two key texts in this study.
As you look over these Bible passages, ask yourself the question, “In all of history, who has fulfilled these prophecies?” When you find that person, you have found the Messiah, God’s promised Savior!
Prophecy 1: Psalm 22
During his earthly ministry, Jesus Christ prophesied on around nine different occasions regarding his own death. Some of those prophecies are very detailed. Consider the following one:
Matthew 20:17-19 “And Jesus going up to Jerusalem took the twelve disciples apart in the way, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death, And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him: and the third day he shall rise again.”
Besides this prophecy and the others given by Jesus, we find several others recorded in the Scriptures. For example, as you read through Psalm 22, it is clear that the first section of this psalm concerns the execution of the Messiah. However, Psalm 22 wasn't written by a contemporary of Jesus Christ, it was written by King David around 1000 years before his birth. As you read through the details of Psalm 22, consider how each prophecy was perfectly fulfilled by the crucifixion of Jesus.
vs. 1 “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”
Fulfillment: Matthew 27:46 “And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”
Explanation: The spiritual agony of Jesus when He took our sins upon Himself.
vs. 7-8 “All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head…”
Fulfillment: Matthew 27:41 “Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said…”
Explanation: The incredible shame that Jesus experienced as He hung upon the cross.
vs. 14 “I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint.”
Fulfillment: John 19:18 “Where they crucified him, and two other with him, on either side one, and Jesus in the midst.”
Explanation: Often, due to the process of crucifixion, the joints of the one being crucified would be separated.
vs. 15 “…and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws”
Fulfillment: John 19:28 “After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.”
vs. 16 “…they pierced my hands and my feet.”
Fulfillment & Explanation: The condemned was attached to the cross by his hands and feet being nailed to the beams. After the resurrection, Jesus said to His disciples, “Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.” (Luke 24:39).
vs. 18 “They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.”
Fulfillment: Matthew 27:35a “And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet…”
Conclusion: As you can see, David’s prophecy in Psalm 22 has a perfect fulfillment in the execution of Jesus of Nazareth by crucifixion. Can there be any doubt that Jesus of Nazareth was the very person that David was talking about, the Christ, the Son of God!
Prophecy 2: Isaiah 53
After accepting that Jesus is the Christ, the very one that was to die by crucifixion as the prophecies proclaimed, we need to ask another question, "Why would the Messiah need to die?" The answer to this question is thoroughly explained in the Scriptures. In the prophet Isaiah, chapter 53, written almost 700 years before the birth of Jesus, we clearly see the following truth: “The Messiah would die for the sins of man.” Consider some of the following quotes from this prophecy:
vs. 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities…
vs. 6 … the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
vs. 8 … for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.
vs. 10 Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin…
vs. 11 …for he shall bear their iniquities.
vs. 12 … and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many…
The Bible states that “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). God is holy and just and must punish man for his sin against Him. Concerning this punishment, the Bible states, “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). The word “death” in this passage refers to more than just physical death. It also includes spiritual and eternal death. In order to better understand the Biblical meaning of "death," it would be good to think of "separation." In other words, because of man’s sin, he is to be separated from God for all eternity in hell.
The prophecies that we have considered in this study clearly show God’s plan of salvation. God planned to send the Messiah to die for the sins of man. As we read in the New Testament, Jesus of Nazareth perfectly all of the prophecies. Jesus is the Messiah, the Christ!
Consider the following texts which explain the wonderful salvation that we can obtain in Jesus Christ:
Romains 5 : 8 "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
1 Peter 2:24 “Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree...”
1 John 2:2 “Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree...”
1 Corinthians 15 :3 "…Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures…”
How can you receive the salvation found in Jesus Christ alone? According to God’s Word, you must repent of your unbelief and sin and trust in Jesus Christ alone as your personal Savior. If you are not trusting in Jesus alone for salvation, we would like to encourage to make that decision right now!
Acts 10:43 “To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.”
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”