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This chapter is from a copyright book, 100 Prophecies, by Ray Konig. It is reprinted here with permission from the author. The new and expanded version of this book, now called 100 Fulfilled Bible Prophecies, is available at Amazon.com.
These 10 prophecies are among many in the Bible that foreshadowed and foretold details involving the betrayal, persecution and crucifixion of Jesus Christ.
Bible passage: Matthew 26:20,21
Written: During the first century AD, about 2,000 years ago
The Apostles of Jesus were in a unique position: They were able to see with their own eyes whether Jesus was the fulfillment of various Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah. And, they were able to see whether the prophecies that Jesus gave in regards to himself and his followers were being fulfilled.
Jesus prophesied, for example, that one of the 12 Apostles would betray him:
20 Now when the even was come, he sat down with the twelve. 21 And as they did eat, he said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me. (Matthew 26:20-21, KJV)
A short time later, Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus. The betrayal was followed by the arrest, trial, and execution of Jesus.
Bible passage: Matthew 26:31-32
Written: During the first century AD, about 2,000 years ago
In Matthew 26:31-32, Jesus alluded to an Old Testament passage found in Zechariah 13:7 and prophesied that his Apostles soon would flee from him:
31 Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad. 32 But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee. (Matthew 26:31-32, KJV)
Later, Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus, led a crowd of armed people to the place where Jesus and some of his followers were staying. Jesus was arrested and the Apostles fled:
But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled. (Matthew 26:56, KJV)
Bible passage: Matthew 26:34
Written: During the first century AD, about 2,000 years ago
After Jesus informed the Apostles, in Matthew 26, that they soon would abandon him, Peter responded that he would never abandon Jesus, even if everyone else did.
Jesus then specifically addressed Peter, prophesying that Peter would deny knowing Jesus:
Jesus said to him, "Most certainly I tell you that tonight, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times." (Matthew 26:34, WEB)
Soon after, Jesus was arrested and the Apostles scattered away from him. Later that night, as described in Matthew 26:69-75, Peter was approached by people who recognized him as an associate of Jesus. Peter denied what they said, claiming that he didn't know Jesus.
After Peter's denial, a rooster crowed, prompting Peter to remember the words that Jesus had spoken:
74 Then he began to curse and to swear, "I don't know the man!" Immediately the rooster crowed. 75 Peter remembered the word which Jesus had said to him, "Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times." Then he went out and wept bitterly. (Matthew 26:74-75, WEB)
Bible passage: Psalm 41:9-12
Written: As early as about 1000 BC, about 3,000 years ago
In Psalm 41, the psalmist spoke of being betrayed by a friend, someone close enough to have shared food with him (verse 9).
The psalms of the Bible were written before the time of Jesus, and many of them contain details that foreshadowed or foretold events in the life of Jesus, including his betrayal by a close friend.
As explained in Matthew 26:17-25 and Matthew 26:45-56, Jesus was betrayed by Judas Iscariot, who was one of the 12 Apostles, after sharing bread with him during the Last Supper. Later, Judas led a crowd of men armed with swords and clubs to the place where Jesus and some of his followers were staying, and Jesus was arrested. Jesus was executed a short time later.
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Here is Psalm 41:9-12 (KJV):
9Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.
10But thou, O LORD, be merciful unto me, and raise me up, that I may requite them.
11By this I know that thou favourest me, because mine enemy doth not triumph over me.
12And as for me, thou upholdest me in mine integrity, and settest me before thy face for ever.
Bible passages: Psalm 35:19 and Psalm 69:4
Written: As early as about 1000 BC, about 3,000 years ago
Like many of the Bible's psalms, Psalms 35 and 69 offer details that foreshadowed events that later happened to Jesus Christ. Among them is the detail of being hated without cause:
Let not them that are mine enemies wrongfully rejoice over me: neither let them wink with the eye that hate me without a cause. (Psalm 35:19, KJV)
They that hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of mine head: they that would destroy me, being mine enemies wrongfully, are mighty: then I restored that which I took not away. (Psalm 69:4, KJV)
In John 15:24,25, Jesus spoke of being hated without cause, even though he had performed many miracles.
Bible passage: Psalm 22:1-18
Written: As early as about 1000 BC, about 3,000 years ago
Psalm 22, which was written before the time of Jesus, contains many details that foreshadowed the crucifixion of Jesus.
Below is a partial list of details from the psalm, along with commentary as to how they foreshadowed events involving the crucifixion:
• In Psalm 22:16, the psalmist wrote of a man being encircled and having his hands and feet pierced, mauled, or attacked. During the crucifixion, Jesus was surrounded by enemies and his hands and feet were pierced with nails, as part of the crucifixion process. These events are described and alluded to in John 19:23-37; John 20:24-29; and Luke 24:37-40.
• The psalmist wrote of being mocked by an onlooker who said: "He trusted on the LORD that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him" (Psalm 22:8, KJV). After Jesus had been nailed to the cross, he too was mocked for his trust in God: "He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God" (Matthew 27:43, KJV).
• In Psalm 22:18, the psalmist wrote of onlookers gambling for pieces of clothing that belonged to the person being persecuted. As explained in Matthew 27:35, Roman soldiers gambled, by casting lots, for articles of clothing that had been removed from Jesus when he was being crucified.
Many Christian scholars have written about their views of the significance of Psalm 22 in regards to the crucifixion of Jesus. The late Charles Briggs, who had been a professor at the Union Theological Seminary, wrote the following in regards to Psalm 22:
These sufferings transcend those of any historical sufferer, with the single exception of Jesus Christ. They find their exact counterpart in the sufferings of the cross. ... This ideal is a Messianic ideal, and finds its only historical realization in Jesus Christ.
- Briggs, Messianic Prophecy.
In addition to the details in Psalm 22 that foreshadowed the crucifixion, it is worth noting that, in Matthew 27:46, Jesus is quoted as saying the same words that begin Psalm 22, after he had been nailed to the cross.
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Here is Psalm 22:1-18 (KJV):
1My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?
2O my God, I cry in the day time, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent.
3But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.
4Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them.
5They cried unto thee, and were delivered: they trusted in thee, and were not confounded.
6But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.
7All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying,
8He trusted on the LORD that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.
9But thou art he that took me out of the womb: thou didst make me hope when I was upon my mother's breasts.
10I was cast upon thee from the womb: thou art my God from my mother's belly.
11Be not far from me; for trouble is near; for there is none to help.
12Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round.
13They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion.
14I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels.
15My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death.
16For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.
17I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me.
18They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.
Bible passage: Isaiah 53:7
Written: About 2,700 years ago
The 53rd chapter of the book of Isaiah contains many prophecies about a Messiah, which were fulfilled by Jesus about 700 years later. In Isaiah 53:7, the prophet spoke of the Lord's servant (the Messiah) as being oppressed and silent, like a lamb being led to its slaughter.
The words of Isaiah aptly describe what happened to Jesus about 2,000 years ago, when he was being led to his execution. Many religious leaders in Jerusalem plotted to have Jesus killed. Jesus was arrested, falsely accused, put on trial, and crucified. But, like a lamb being led to its death, Jesus did not resist.
In fact, when one of Jesus' followers drew a sword and cut off the ear of one of the men who had come to arrest him, he healed the man's ear, told his followers to stop resisting, and allowed himself to be arrested. This is described in Luke 22:47-54.
Jesus continued to be cooperative during the trial that followed his arrest. During key moments of the trial, Jesus chose to be silent rather than to resist or protest the charges against him, even though his accusers were seeking to have him executed.
One example is recorded in Matthew 27:11-14, where Jesus was taken to Pontius Pilate, who had been appointed by the Romans to help govern the land of Israel. When Pilate asked Jesus a question about who Jesus is, Jesus answered. But, when his persecutors made accusations against him, Jesus was silent.
Even when Pilate asked Jesus if he had heard the accusations, Jesus continued to remain silent:
Then said Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee? And he answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly. (Matthew 27:13,14, KJV)
After the trial, Jesus continued to be cooperative while he was being led to Golgotha (Calvary) and while he was being crucified.
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Here is Isaiah 53:7 (KJV):
He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.
Note: the word dumb in this context means silent.
Bible passage: Isaiah 50:6,7
Written: About 2,700 years ago
In the book of Isaiah, Isaiah prophetically spoke of the Lord's servant (the Messiah) as being someone who would willingly suffer. One example can be found in Isaiah 50:6,7, which says that the servant would offer his back to those who beat him, and offer his face to those who spit on him.
These things later were recorded in the New Testament as having happened to Jesus, as being among the events that occurred after his arrest and before he was crucified.
In Matthew 26:57-68, for example, the people who had arrested Jesus took him to Caiaphas, who was the high priest, and the Sanhedrin. Caiaphas asked Jesus a question: "I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God." In response to Jesus' reply, Jesus was accused of blasphemy. Then he was spat upon, beaten, and mocked:
67 Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him; and others smote him with the palms of their hands, 68 Saying, Prophesy unto us, thou Christ, Who is he that smote thee? (Matthew 26:67-68, KJV)
And, in Matthew 27:11–26, Jesus was flogged after being questioned by the governor, Pontius Pilate.
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Here is Isaiah 50:6,7 (KJV):
6I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting.
7For the Lord GOD will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed.
Bible passage: Isaiah 53:12a
Written: About 2,700 years ago
In Isaiah 53:12, Isaiah prophesied that the Messiah would be "numbered with the transgressors," even though he was righteous (Isaiah 53:11) and had done no violence and had spoken no lies (Isaiah 53:9).
As explained in the New Testament, Jesus led a perfect and sinless life. Even so, he was falsely accused of being a criminal and he was crucified with two other men, both of whom were criminals deemed worthy of execution. In the Gospel of Mark, the author wrote the following in regards to the crucifixion of Jesus:
27 And with him they crucify two thieves; the one on his right hand, and the other on his left. 28 And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, And he was numbered with the transgressors. (Mark 15:27-28, KJV)
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Here is Isaiah 53:12a (KJV):
Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; …
Bible passage: Isaiah 53:12b
Written: About 2,700 years ago
In the last part of Isaiah 53:12, the prophet Isaiah described the Messiah as interceding on behalf of sinners:
and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. (Isaiah 53:12b, KJV)
The New Testament of the Bible describes Jesus as having died for our sins. It also says that he intercedes for us. One example can be found in Hebrews 7:23–25. Another can be found in the book of Romans:
32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. 34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. (Romans 8:32-34, KJV)
In fact, even while dying on the cross, Jesus prayed for the people who had crucified him:
Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. (Luke 23:34a, KJV)