Messianic Prophecies Fulfilled on the Day of Jesus’ Death

The Messiah’s Betrayal

Scriptural Prediction:“Even my bosom friend in whom I trusted, who ate of my bread, has lifted the heel against me.” (Psalm 41:9)

Realization:“Then Judas Iscariot, who was one of the Twelve, went to the chief priests in order to betray [Jesus] to them.” (Mark 14:10)

The Thirty Pieces of Silver

Scriptural Prediction: “I then said to them, ‘If it seems right to you, give me my wages; but if not, keep them.’ So they weighed out as my wages thirty shekels of silver.” (Zechariah 11:12)

Realization:“[Judas] said, ‘What will you give me if I betray him to you?’ They paid him thirty pieces of silver.” (Matthew 26:15)

The Messiah is Deserted

Scriptural Prediction:“‘Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, against the man who is my associate,’ says the Lord of hosts. Strike the shepherd, that the sheep may be scattered.” (Zechariah 13:7)

Realization:“All of them deserted him and fled.” (Mark 14:50)

The Use of the Blood Money

Scriptural Prediction:“Then the Lord said to me, ‘Throw it into the treasury’—this lordly price at which I was valued by them. So I took the thirty shekels of silver and threw them into the treasury in the house of the Lord.” (Zechariah 11:13)

Realization:“When Judas, his betrayer, saw that Jesus was condemned, he repented and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders. He said, ‘I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.’ But they said, ‘What is that to us? See to it yourself.’ Throwing down the pieces of silver in the temple, he departed; and he went and hanged himself. But the chief priests, taking the pieces of silver, said, ‘It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, since they are blood money.’ After conferring together, they used them to buy the potter’s field as a place to bury foreigners.” (Matthew 27:3-7)

The Messiah Remains Silent at His Trial

Scriptural Prediction: “He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.” (Isaiah 53:7)

Realization: “Then Pilate said to him, ‘Do you not hear how many accusations they make against you?’ But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed.” (Matthew 27:13-14)

The Messiah is Dishonored and Humiliated

Scriptural Prediction:“You know the insults I receive, and my shame and dishonor.” (Psalm 69:19a)

Realization: “[The soldiers] stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him.” (Matthew 27:28)

The Messiah is Beaten

Scriptural Prediction:“I gave my back to those who struck me, and my cheeks to those who pulled out the beard; I did not hide my face from insult and spitting.” (Isaiah 50:6)

Realization:“After flogging Jesus, [Pilate] handed him over to be crucified… [The soldiers] spat on him, and took the reed and struck him on the head.” (Matthew 27:26, 30)

The Messiah is Struck

Scriptural Prediction:“Strike the shepherd, that the sheep may be scattered.” (Zechariah 13:7)

Realization:“Then Jesus said to them, ‘You will all become deserters because of me this night; for it is written, “I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.”‘” (Matthew 26:31)

The Messiah’s Appearance is Disfigured

Scriptural Prediction:“There were many who were astonished at him—so marred was his appearance, beyond human semblance, and his form beyond that of mortals.” (Isaiah 52:14b)

Realization:“After flogging Jesus, [Pilate] handed him over to be crucified… [The soldiers] stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him… They spat on him, and took the reed and struck him on the head.” (Matthew 27:26b, 28a, 30)

They Gamble for the Messiah’s Garments

Scriptural Prediction:“They divide my clothes among themselves, and for my clothing they cast lots.” (Psalm 22:18)

Realization:“So [the soldiers] said to one another, ‘Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see who will get it.’ This was to fulfil what the scripture says, ‘They divided my clothes among themselves, and for my clothing they cast lots.’” (John 19:24)

The Messiah is Crucified

Scriptural Prediction:“But he was wounded for our transgressions,crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the punishment that made us whole,and by his bruises we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray;we have all turned to our own way,and the Lord has laid on himthe iniquity of us all… Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him with pain.When you make his life an offering for sin,he shall see his offspring, and shall prolong his days;through him the will of the Lord shall prosper.” (Isaiah 53:5-6, 10)

Realization:“When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus* there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left.” (Luke 23:33)

They Stare at the Messiah

Scriptural Prediction:“They stare and gloat over me.” (Psalm 22:17b)

Realization:“[The soldiers] sat down there and kept watch over him.” (Matthew 27:36)

The Messiah Thirsts

Scriptural Prediction:“My throat is parched.” (Psalm 69:3)

Realization:“[The soldiers] offered him wine to drink, mixed with gall; but when he tasted it, he would not drink it.” (Matthew 27:34)

They Give the Messiah Vinegar to Drink

Scriptural Prediction:“For my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.” (Psalm 69:21)

Realization:“A jar full of sour wine was standing there. So they put a sponge full of the wine on a branch of hyssop and held it to his mouth.” (John 19:29);”[The soldiers] offered him wine to drink, mixed with gall; but when he tasted it, he would not drink it.” (Matthew 27:34)

They Pierce the Hands and Feet of the Messiah

Scriptural Prediction:“They pierce my hands and feet.” (Psalm 22:16b, NIV)

Realization:“It was nine o’clock in the morning when they crucified him.” (Mark 15:25)

They Pierce the Messiah’s Side

Scriptural Prediction:“When they look on the one whom they have pierced, they shall mournfor him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a firstborn.” (Zechariah 12:10b)

Realization:“And the people stood by, watching” (Luke 23:35a) “One of the soldiers pierced [Jesus’] side with a spear.” (John 19:34a)

The Messiah’s Heart Breaks

Scriptural Prediction:“My heart is like wax;it is melted within my breast.” (Psalm 22:14)

Realization:“One of the soldiers pierced [Jesus’] side with a spear, and at once blood and water came out.” (John 19:34)

The Crowds Taunt the Messiah

Scriptural Prediction:“All who see me mock at me; they make mouths at me, they shake their heads; ‘Commit your cause to the Lord; let him deliver—let him rescue the one in whom he delights!’” (Psalm 22:7-8)

Realization:“Those who passed by derided him, shaking their heads… In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes and elders, were mocking him, saying, ‘He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down from the cross now, and we will believe in him. He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he wants to; for he said, “I am God’s Son.”‘” (Matthew 27:39, 41-43)

The Messiah is the True Lamb of God

Scriptural Prediction:“He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.” (Isaiah 53:7)

Realization:“The next day [John the Baptist] saw Jesus coming towards him and declared, ‘Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!’” (John 1:29)

They Do Not Break the Messiah’s Bones

Scriptural Prediction: “[The Paschal lamb] shall be eaten in one house; you shall not take any of the animal outside the house, and you shall not break any of its bones.” (Exodus 12:46)

Realization:“But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs… These things occurred so that the scripture might be fulfilled, ‘None of his bones shall be broken.’” (John 19:33, 36)

The Messiah Intercedes for Us

Scriptural Prediction:“He bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.” (Isaiah 53:12)

Realization:“Then Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.’” (Luke 23:34)

The Messiah Cries Out during His Suffering

Scriptural Prediction:“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from helping me, from the words of my groaning?” (Psalm 22:1)

Realization:“And about three o’clock Jesus cried with a loud voice, ‘Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?’ that is, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’” (Matthew 27:46)

Sinners are Associated with the Messiah

Scriptural Prediction:“He… was numbered with the transgressors.” (Isaiah 53:12b)

Realization:“When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left.” (Luke 23:33)

The Messiah is Cut Off (i.e. Dies)

Scriptural Prediction:“After the sixty-two weeks, an anointed one shall be cut off and shall have nothing.” (Daniel 9:26a)

Realization:“[Caiaphas said,] ‘You do not understand that it is better for you to have one man die for the people than to have the whole nation destroyed.’ He did not say this on his own, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus was about to die for the nation, and not for the nation only, but to gather into one the dispersed children of God.” (John 11:50-52)

The Messiah Cries Out in Victory and Triumph

Scriptural Prediction:“He has done it.” (Psalm 22:31b)

Realization: “When Jesus had received the wine, he said, ‘It is finished.’ Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” (John 19:30)

The Messiah Struggles With and Overcomes the Evil One

Scriptural Prediction:“‘I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.’” (Genesis 3:15)

Realization:“Now is the judgement of this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.’” (John 12:31-32)

The Messiah is Executed as a Criminal and Buried in a Rich Man’s Tomb

Scriptural Prediction:“They made his grave with the wicked and his tomb with the rich.” (Isaiah 53:9)

Realization:“When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who was also a disciple of Jesus. He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus; then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. So Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn in the rock. He then rolled a great stone to the door of the tomb and went away.” (Matthew 27:57-60)

*Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture verses are from the New Revised Standard Version.