The name of the Messiah is Yehoshua (יהושע)
it means ‘Yah is salvation’ [Matthew 1:21]
This site uses Yeshua, a common alternative of his name.
THE PROMISE OF REDEMPTION
The first prophecy in Scripture is found in the Book of Genesis. It was pronounced by the Eternal Himself, after the deceiver (Satan) beguiled Eve. It is known as the Proto-evangelium or the First Gospel. The prophecy reads according to a literal rendering of the original language:
Genesis 3:15
And enmity I will set between you (the serpent) and the Woman and between your seed and her seed. He will bruise you (to) the head and you shall bruise him [of] the heel.
(Words of the Eternal in blue)
<the serpent>: interpreted as Satan.
<the Woman>: Eve in the immediate context and Yisrael in a wider context.
<her seed>: singular seed, understood as the Messiah’s coming.
<bruise you (to) the head>: Messiah’s victory over evil and death
<bruise him [of] the heel>: the crucifixion.
Shaul (Paul) alludes to Genesis 3:15 and interprets the word <bruise> to mean <crush>:
Romans 16:20
And the Elohim of peace shall crush Satan under your feet shortly.
Before looking at how Psalm 22 relates to the records of the crucifixion in the Gospels, it is important to note that Zechariah predicted this terrible event:
Zechariah 12:10
10 “They will gaze upon the One whom they have pierced. .. And there will be bitter lamentation in grief as over a firstborn son.”
Some of the disciples of the Nazarene were repulsed by the idea that the Messiah, Son of the Eternal יהוה, would suffer and die. When Yeshua started telling His apostles that he would have to travel to Jerusalem, endure a great deal of suffering at the hands of the Jewish hierarchy, and ultimately be executed, Kepha (Peter) rebuked him. The fisherman said:
Matthew 16:22 [The Scriptures - 2009] And Kepha took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “Be kind to Yourself, Master, this shall not be to You!”
Kepha’s rebuke of Yeshua before the disciples only resulted in a more serious rebuke from the Messiah :
Matthew 16:23 Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling-block to Me, for your thoughts are not those of Elohim, but those of men.” (Words of Yeshua in purple)
*[The term Yisrael refers to the land and to the people of the Eternal in both ancient and contemporary times. It is also a spiritual dimension and does not refer to the modern-day nation called Israel.]
Three hundred years before Yeshua, seventy two Jewish elders translated the Hebrew Writings (Old Testament), including Psalm 22, from Hebrew into Greek. It contains the words and emotions of a man who was being crucified upon a tree (stake/cross). It depicted a Jewish man of Hebrew lineage from Israel’s history. It seems like even his own kind and the Eternal had forsaken him. Now with angry mobs mocking around his nailed hands and feet he seemed to cry out to his Father. His bones are crushed out of place, his heart is about to fail within him, and He is parched with thirst. Psalm 22 paints a picture of Yeshua on the cross but it was written by King Dawid nearly 1000 years before Yeshua and 400 years before crucifixion was even practiced by the Romans.
On the surface, it sounds like Yeshua is cracking, a man in his final moments crying out to his Father, who is not there to help him. Yeshua was not questioning the Eternal. He was quoting from Scripture (Psalm 22), and pointing his listeners to a Psalm that described his appalling situation but actually ends in one of the most triumphant declarations in the entire Old Testament.
A SEEMINGLY DESPERATE CALL
The Psalm starts with the executed man making what seems to be a desperate call to his father (My El, My El). Yeshua the Messiah would pronounce the very same words centuries later. Those in attendance thought he was calling the prophet Elijah when he was actually pointing to the Psalm that predicted this moment.
(The verses of Psalm 22 will be in maroon)
Psalm 22:1 My El, My El, why have You forsaken Me
● Mark 15:34-35
34 But at three o’clock Yeshua cried out with a loud voice, “Elohi, Elohi, lama sabachthani?” which means, “My El, My El, why have You forsaken Me?”
35 Some of the bystanders, hearing Him, said, “Listen, he is calling for Elijah!”
(See DID THE ETERNAL REALLY ABANDON YESHUA AT THE CROSS)
THE CRIMSON OR SCARLET WORM
The man being executed in Psalm 22 made an enigmatic declaration :
Psalm 22:6
But I am a *worm, and no man
A closer look at the Hebrew word that was translated as worm points to Yeshua.
*[See ‘THE CRIMSON OR SCARLET WORM ]
King Dawid continues foretelling in precise detail the emotions, a suffering Jew surrounded by an Evil Synagogue of his own people who have pierced his hands and feet. His death is slow and agonising, marked by dislocated bones, great thirst, and an ever-weakening heart. And another marked feature that is most unusual, for some reason, left unexplained his clothing, inferring the Suffering One was nude or near-naked, was divided among some gamblers.
Because the description of this Suffering One is so intense, and the details so overwhelming, it may pass without notice that these events were going to be “recounted” or remembered in future generations. Something like a memorial by a generation of yet unborn. What is unusual is that the Hebrews executed by stoning and not impalement. So some unusual circumstances will bear upon the actual fulfilment of Dawid’s prophecy.
Those familiar with this startling prediction of Messiah’s suffering, over a thousand years before it happened, know that many of the features fit the actual execution of Yeshua the Nazarene. These may be examined by the testimony of several eyewitnesses or researchers into the actual events.
YESHUA IS DELIVERED TO PILATE
● Mark 15:1 – And immediately, in the morning, the chief priests had a council meeting with the elders and scribes and all the council Having bound יהושע (Yehoshua), they led Him away, and delivered Him to Pilate.
● Mark 15:19 –And they kept beating Him on the head with a reed and were spitting on Him. And bending the knee, they were bowing down to Him
PIERCING OF HANDS AND FEET
Psalm 22:16
For dogs have surrounded Me; A crowd of evil ones have encircled Me, Piercing My hands and My feet
<dogs> - refers to non-Yisraelites; in this case Roman soldiers.
● Mark 15:20 – And when they had mocked Him, they took the purple off Him, and put His own garments on Him, and led Him out to impale Him.
● Mark 15:23 – And they were giving Him wine mixed with myrrh to drink, but He did not take it.
[<myrrh> – a pain-killing drug given to individuals who were about to be stoned to death or crucified.]
● Mark 15:24a – And when they impaled Him . . .
● Mark 15:25 – And it was the third hour, and they impaled Him.
● John 19:23a – Then the soldiers, when they had impaled יהושע (Yehoshua) . . .
THE LOTS CAST FOR HIS GARMENTS
Psalm 22:18
They divide My garments among them, And for My raiment they cast lots
● Mark 15:24b . . . they divided His garments, casting lots for them, what each one should take .
.● John 19:23b . . . took His outer garments and made four parts, to each soldier a part, and the inner garment. But the inner garment was without seam, woven from the top in one piece.
● John 19:24 – So they said to one another, “Do not let us tear it. Let us draw lots for it.” This happened that the Scripture might be fulfilled which says, “They shared my garments among them, and drew lots for my clothing.”
THE INSCRIPTION ABOVE HIS HEAD
● Mark 15:26 – And the inscription of His accusation was written above: THE SOVEREIGN OF THE YEHUDIM (Jews)
(See THE HIDDEN NAME IN THE INSCRIPTION ON YESHUA’S EXECUTION STAKE)
THE JEERING AND MOCKING CROWDS
Psalm 22:7
7 All those who see Me mock Me; They shoot out the lip, they shake the head saying:
8 “He trusted in יהוה, let Him rescue Him; Let Him deliver Him, seeing He has delighted in Him!”
Mark 15:29 -And those passing by were blaspheming Him, shaking their heads and saying, “Ah! You who destroy the Dwelling Place and build it in three days
30 – save Yourself, and come down from the stake!”
31 – And likewise the chief priests and the scribes, mocking to one another said, “He saved others, He is unable to save Himself.
32 – “The Messiah? The Sovereign of Yisrael? Come down now from the stake, so that we see and believe.” And those who were impaled with Him were reproaching Him.
33 – And when the sixth hour came, darkness came over all the land until the ninth hour.
YESHUA THIRSTS
Psalm 22:15
My strength is dried like a potsherd, And My tongue is cleaving to My jaws;
28 After this, Yeshua, knowing that everything was now brought to an end, said–that the Scripture might be fulfilled, “I am thirsty.”
29 There was a jar of wine standing there. With this wine they filled a sponge, put it on the end of a stalk of hyssop, and lifted it to His mouth.
ANOTHER PIERCING
● John 19:34 – But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and instantly blood and water came out.
● Luke 23:46 – and Yeshua cried out in a loud voice, and said, “Father, to Thy hands I entrust my spirit.” And after uttering these words He yielded up His spirit.
MESSIAH TO SUFFER AND “POUR OUT HIS SOUL UNTO DEATH”
From this alone it seems not only clear but also miraculous that such a thousand-year-old Davidic prophecy foretold the suffering and death of Messiah. But, this does not prove to be the only specific prophecy of Messiah’s suffering and death. About 400 years after David composed Psalm 22, the great Hebrew prophet Isaiah provided an equally inspired prediction. It is recorded in Isaiah 52:13-53:12.
MESSIAH WILL BE CUT OFF AFTER THREE AND A HALF YEARS
Isaiah 53:8 had predicted the Servant of the Eternal (יהוה), or Messiah would be <cut off>. There is another prophet writing almost two centuries later who also foretells the cutting off of the Messiah, the prophet Daniel who writes from exile in Babylon. The key difference is that the approximate date of Messiah’s death is the subject. Though many will disagree with some of these conclusions, we present one startling view of this prophecy.
Daniel 9:24-27 predicts a period of 490 years – called 70 Weeks of Years — from the word to restore Jerusalem by Cyrus the Great in 455 (before Yeshua) until the appearance of Messiah in the year 29 (after Yeshua). Luke records this moment according to the Roman count of years to be the 14th year of Tiberius Caesar, considered by some to be 29 (after Yeshua).[Luke 3:1 ff] This would mean the 70th week of 7 years would begin in the year 29.
However, Daniel writes that Messiah will be <cut off> in the middle of this week of 7 years. Thus, about the year 33 AD Messiah would die.
MESSIANIC PROPHECIES INSTIL FAITH
Those who refuse to believe in prophecy will no doubt find their reasons to reject any kind of inspired predictions. However, for many reasonable minds throughout the ages, there has been enough truth found in these prophecies to instil a solid faith and trust in יהוה and His dynamic purpose. Particularly at this time of year, when the thoughts of many millions of Believers will turn to thoughts regarding the death and resurrection of Yeshua the Nazarene. These prophecies are a most appropriate subject for spiritual meditations as we keep proclaiming the death of the Master until he arrives.” 1 Corinthians 11:26
Source:
Mark Herber Miller – Nazarene Commentary 2000©. Used by permission.
In the original: The Eternal (יהוה) appears as ‘God’; Yeshua appears as ‘Jesus’; Messiah appears as ‘Christ’ and Scripture appears as the Bible.
Unless stated otherwise, Scripture was taken from The Scriptures
Copyright by Institute for Scripture Research
Used by permission